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What is the best ergonomic mouse for macOS?

over 5 years ago from , Designer at Heydays

What are people's preferences in mice for macOS?

I have a difficult time using Apple’s Magic Mouse in longer stretches of time due to its lack of palm support. I do however love its natural all-direction scrolling. Is there any ergonomic mice that works well with macOS in terms of smooth OS scrolling? MX Master 2S is on my list, but again I don’t know if it plays nice with macOS.

As a side-note I’ve entertained the idea of placing a Magic Trackpad on the left side of my keyboard to assist with scrolling (I think both Marco Arment and MKBHD use this setup), but I would like to avoid this unless I need to.

48 comments

  • Alejandro CamaraAlejandro Camara, over 5 years ago

    MX 2S plays really nice with Mac. I have the thumb buttons to move between spaces and the "infinity" wheel really helps for scrolling long webs or documents

    16 points
    • Afnizar Nur Ghifari, over 5 years ago

      Me too! It's a great mouse and really ergonomic.

      2 points
    • Artur Eldib, over 5 years ago

      +1 for logitech mouses. Very comfortable, much better than magic mouse

      1 point
    • Fabian O.Fabian O., over 5 years ago

      +1 as well. But my second scroll wheel stopped working after one of the latest updates, anyone else with that problem?

      0 points
    • Anders TherkildsenAnders Therkildsen, over 5 years ago

      +1

      0 points
    • Antek GrzankaAntek Grzanka, over 5 years ago

      -1

      I bought MX 2S but after 2 weeks I returned to magic mouse. Scrolling is still inferior to scrolling on magic mouse, where the experience feels native and snappy (with MX for some reason the view has to catch up while on MM it's always there). Additionally, I work with a timeline a lot (premiere pro, ableton) and large Sketch files and it was really frustrating to scroll horizontally. Even on fastest setting it was wayyyy to slow. Not to mention that MX cannot match how nicely it is to switch desktops using gestures. I also felt that MX is too loud and it's fancy wheel is a gimmick.

      It's indeed very ergonomic though and I with MM could match that one day...

      1 point
      • Simon GustavssonSimon Gustavsson, over 5 years ago

        This is what I feared, that the scrolling is inferior to a Magic Mouse. However as I mentioned, the Magic Mouse sadly isn’t a good option for me ergonomically.

        3 points
      • Mick NMick N, over 5 years ago

        If you need touch scrolling perhaps the Surface Arc Mouse might fit the bill?

        I don't know if that will greatly improve ergonomics for you (it at least appears to have a more natural curve than the magic mouse) and I'm not sure what compatibility is like either—but hey it might be worth a look?

        0 points
    • Simon GustavssonSimon Gustavsson, over 5 years ago

      Thanks! I will need to try the MX 2S out. I remain somewhat skeptical though, as Antek mentioned in this thread that the scrolling does not feel as native as a Magic Mouse or a trackpad.

      1 point
    • Jesse BrackJesse Brack, over 5 years ago

      My favorite mouse for the last 5+ years, I've used it since the first iteration.

      0 points
    • Radley MarxRadley Marx, over 5 years ago

      How is the scrollwheel on the 2S? The older Master had a problem with rollover when scrolling.

      For example, if you scrolled through a list, stopped on an item, and let go of the wheel, the list would move up or down 25-80 pixels. Logitech's "solution" for this bug was to turn off free-scrolling, so it wasn't really fixed.

      0 points
  • Mark O'NeillMark O'Neill, over 5 years ago

    Why would you use the trackpad just for scrolling?

    I use a Magic Trackpad in place of a mouse after having wrist and shoulder pain. I find it much better as you don't need to move your arm and wrist movement is minimal if you set mouse tracking speed high. It seems like it would be difficult for things like drawing in Illustrator but once you are used to it it is just a easy as using a mouse.

    4 points
    • Simon GustavssonSimon Gustavsson, over 5 years ago

      That sounds like an interesting idea, although I’ve felt a strain in my hand the days I’ve had to only use the trackpad on my MBP. I don’t know if I could relax my hand/arm only using the Magic Trackpad the same way I can on a mouse with a palm rest…

      0 points
      • Mark O'NeillMark O'Neill, over 5 years ago

        The laptop dictates where the trackpad is on the desk so it is uncomfortable because you have to move your body to place your hand level with the centre of the screen.

        You can position the Magic Trackpad wherever you like and it sits just slightly raised above the desk surface where your hand naturally falls so you only have to move your fingers.

        It may not work for you, but it has had a profound effect on my ability to sit and work for longer periods of time without discomfort so I would certainly recommend giving it a try.

        4 points
        • Simon GustavssonSimon Gustavsson, over 5 years ago

          Absolutely true. I will give it a try! :-)

          0 points
          • Mattan IngramMattan Ingram, over 5 years ago

            I also get the strain in my hand when using MBP trackpad, but having a separate one properly placed to the side of your keyboard (or wherever your arm rests naturally) makes a world of difference, and the huge surface area of the new Magic Trackpad is a pleasure to use with gestures.

            0 points
  • Rick WaaldersRick Waalders, over 5 years ago

    I have the Logitech M500 corded mouse, I've been using it for years on macOS and love it.

    I don't like wireless mouses and the magic mouse isn't even a real mouse IMO.

    4 points
    • Simon GustavssonSimon Gustavsson, over 5 years ago

      How is the scrolling on this one? Choppy/step-wise like other traditional mice?

      0 points
      • Account deleted over 5 years ago

        It's very step-ish. Not like using a trackpad. I honestly didn't notice a difference until right now though.

        0 points
    • Account deleted over 5 years ago

      Me too. It's the perfect mouse.

      0 points
  • Andy BrownAndy Brown, over 5 years ago

    I use a Magic Mouse (3 days a week) and the Logitech MX Master (2 days a week) and I'd choose the MX Master as the better mouse.

    The Magic Mouse is pretty good. It's a little small and the scrolling annoys me sometimes – it seems to go mad in Photoshop and Illustrator sometimes.

    The Logitech MX Master has some lovely customisation settings and works great with macOS. I like having a few extra buttons too.

    You can see the sort of settings you get here...

    Logitech Settings

    2 points
    • Simon GustavssonSimon Gustavsson, over 5 years ago

      Yep, I will definitely try out the MX Master. After watching a couple of videos on it, it looks like there’s a smooth scrolling option within the Logitech customization app that I want to try out in detail.

      1 point
  • Ryan RushingRyan Rushing, over 5 years ago

    Almost our entire agency (5/6 people) uses the Evoluent Vertical Mouse, and we love it. The vertical design keeps forearm strain down, and there are plenty of buttons to program to get more use out of. I'm a huge evangelist.

    1 point
    • Rhys JonesRhys Jones, over 5 years ago

      Totally agree with this. The vertical mouse is the way to go. I had spent 6 years using various Logitech MX mouses and before that just your generic run of the mill crap.

      I started developing wrist and should pain in my early 30's. I read up about the Evoluent Vertical Mouse and grabbed one. It has been a real joy to use ever since, works fine on both PC and Mac and if your using a Mac then get BetterTouchTool to program the buttons, it's bliss!

      It does take a while to get use to the vertical positioning of the mouse grip, but after some time a normal mouse grip feels horrid.

      1 point
  • Taulant SulkoTaulant Sulko, over 5 years ago

    I'd recommend Microsoft Sculpt. The rock-like shape makes the grip easy and natural. It really feels like your are holding onto something.

    1 point
  • Jan SemlerJan Semler, over 5 years ago

    Back in the days i used a lot the microsoft intellimouse, great mouse, and the mouse is back. Huge downside, still with cable. But from the ergonomic perspective a good machine.

    1 point
  • Muhammad Ahsan, over 5 years ago

    I have suffered multiple RSI tendon injuries in multiple fingers. I tried many ergonomic solution even vertical mice too but in the end the best mouse for me was Microsoft 4000 mouse and it plays well with my 5K iMac but sometimes it shows few jumpy movements but then it comes back to normal. Should I try MX 2S as my hand is of medium size?

    0 points
  • Nathan NormanNathan Norman, over 5 years ago

    I've had a great experience with Logitech g602 paired with SteerMouse. The multiple buttons can be programed to whatever functions you want allowing you to move the mouse less thus leading to less wrist strain.

    0 points
  • Nefi Hwang, over 5 years ago

    I used several Logitech mouses including G500s, M330, and M325, the best of which is G500s. The most important reason why I'd recommend it is that it performs perfectly with its high-efficiency. Logitech's famous 'Infinity Scroll' and 3 custom side-button set as forward, back and double-click which really impressed me. It helps me a lot with more than 2 times-efficiency for work. All in all, Logitech's mice are the best mice I've used.

    0 points
  • Harper Lieblich, over 5 years ago

    There's really nothing that comes close to the gestural/scrolling/swiping fidelity of the Magic Mouse. But if you're experiencing any kind of repetitive stress related pain, the gestures should come in a distant second. Your health is WAY more important.

    If that's the case, your number one option is to switch to a Wacom tablet. The Intuos Pro Small is more than enough for most mouse users.

    Your second best option is something like the Sharkk mouse, which puts your hand in a more natural orientation.

    0 points
  • Greg Warner, over 5 years ago

    I use an Amazon basics wireless mouse, which isn't ideal but is words better than a Magic Mouse for me. I want to try a Microsoft Surface Precision Mouse tho. Anyone using it?

    0 points
  • Tyson KingsburyTyson Kingsbury, over 5 years ago

    wacom tablet. accept no substitutes. :)

    in all seriousness, I've been using a wacom tablet for almost the entirety of my career (which began in the mid-90's)...

    In that time, I've lost count of the folks I've worked with that have developed issues with carpal tunnel etc....

    I mention that whole wacom tablet thing to anyone I work with... It's definitely saved me from having to deal with the same issues...

    and honestly. doing design or drawing with a mouse feels like drawing with a fucking brick.

    0 points
    • Simon GustavssonSimon Gustavsson, over 5 years ago

      Hah! I have two Wacom tablets in different sizes that I use whenever I need to do any drawing. But for rather precise movements i Sketch, and a lot of switching back and forth to the keyboard, I’ve switched back to a mouse. I felt that, even though I’d been using the Wacom exclusively for several years, I wasn’t as precise and quick when doing UI design as a mouse. Plus, I would always have to hold the pen awkwardly or lay it down whenever I’d have to do double-hand typing, which got annoying after a while…

      0 points
      • Tyson KingsburyTyson Kingsbury, over 5 years ago

        lol...yup....it's always a toss up....lay it down, or hold it awkwardly :)

        happens all the time to me as well.... still love it though.... :)

        0 points
  • JD Welch, over 5 years ago

    I regularly switch between five pointing devices to combat my RSI. Best of the lot is the Evoluent VerticalMouse; by far the most comfortable for extended use. I have the Mac version. I'm also a fan of the Kensington Expert trackball; big bonus is chorded buttons (press two or three buttons together for a custom action). +1 to MX Master as well; it's powerful but not terribly comfortable. I also use a Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad for variety. I just pick whatever's the most comfortable at the time. The new Logitech Ergo trackball looks promising.

    0 points
  • Account deleted over 5 years ago

    I got g602. It looks terrible. It's your typical nerdy gaming mouse with funky diagonal stuff but one of the best ergonomics I've ever experienced. I had Logitcech g5 and died eventually after seven years of torture. G602 feels much more flimsy then g5 but I can say that it's much more durable than the g5. Side buttons are actually a plus to show desktop etc.

    Also if you play dota, you must get this mouse.

    0 points
  • Mircea Z, over 5 years ago

    I've been using an MX Master for almost 6 years now but I recently switched to an Anker® Ergonomic Vertical Mouse and it's a good choice in my opinion. It is a bit light and that is annoying. Might have to "hack" it and glue some coins inside:) Still looking for some good software, something similar to Logitech Options so I can fully configure it.

    One feature that I like about the MX, that I would like to bring with me, is using the gesture button on the side to "click"+scroll zoom in and out. Also use the buttons on the side to centre stuff vertically and horizontally. Side scroll not so much.

    *Edit Found the software it's called SteerMouse. Can do a lot of cool stuff

    0 points
    • Simon GustavssonSimon Gustavsson, over 5 years ago

      Interesting! I prefer light mice myself, so that wouldn’t be an issue I believe. It looks kind of cool, but if it provides no better scrolling experience than the MX 2S, I might try the MX first.

      0 points
    • Richard Quay, over 5 years ago

      Agree on the MX, I use it at my desk and keep the MX anywhere in my bag for when traveling.

      Amazon is having a sale right now one them too. Check out lifehacker for details.

      0 points
  • Yavuz Yilmaz, over 5 years ago

    I often use the touchpad, especially with the latest MacBook Pro, it's really improved and very usable.

    For the tasks I can't manage with my touchpad I'm using Logitech MX Master with unified dongle which can also connect my MacBook via bluetooth without a dongle. Ergonomically it's really comfortable and it's quite responsive to use. I'd definitely recommend it.

    0 points
  • Lucas MoralesLucas Morales, over 5 years ago

    +1 for the Logitech MX 2S — it's hard to go back to any other mouse now

    0 points
  • Karl Lind, over 5 years ago

    This might be obvious, but why not try a Wacom?

    Or Elevationlabs Magicgrips: https://www.elevationlab.com/products/magicgrips-for-magic-mouse

    0 points
    • Simon GustavssonSimon Gustavsson, over 5 years ago

      I have a Wacom tablet, but in my experience it’s not the best for the type of work I do (mostly UI stuff in Sketch).

      I’m not sure Magicgrips would solve the need for a palm rest for me, but it’s definitely worth noting. Thanks!

      0 points