Best Mouse for Programmers in 2024

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The job of a computer programmer can be challenging yet rewarding. Of course, you need the right tools, including a good computer, to do the job. However, the accessories also matter; we’re talking about your computer mouse.

The design of most computer mice will result in pain and fatigue after just a few hours of use, which is not ideal for someone who spends hours daily on the computer. An ergonomically friendly computer mouse will keep your hand in a natural and relaxed position and help prevent pain and fatigue.

The problem is that thousands of computer mice are on the market, making finding the right one difficult. So, with that in mind, we’re going to review the best mouse for programmers.

Comparison Chart

41FUstjMOLL. SL500
Anker 2.4G Wireless Vertical Ergonomic Optical Mouse, 800 / 1200 /1600 DPI, 5 Buttons for Laptop, Desktop, PC, Macbook – Black
31ZaJoFYUdL. SL500
Logitech MX Ergo Wireless Trackball Mouse Adjustable Ergonomic Design, Control and Move Text/Images/Files Between 2 Windows and Apple Mac Computers (Bluetooth or USB), Rechargeable, Graphite – Black
316bOiVJYFL. SL500
Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Mouse (L6V-00001)
Logitech MX Master 3 Advanced Wireless Mouse
41c3ttl vsL. SL500
TECKNET Wireless Mouse for Laptop, 2.4G Wireless Computer Mouse with 3200 Adjustable DPI, 30 Months Battery, Ergonomic Grips, 6 Buttons Cordless Mouse, Portable Optical USB Mouse for PC, Laptop, Mac

Best Mouse for Programmers: Reviews

Anker 2.4G Wireless Vertical Ergonomic Optical Mouse

41FUstjMOLL. SL500

This ergonomically friendly and convenient mouse is ideal for programming, gaming, and more.

Review

This vertical computer mouse is a very ergonomically friendly and comfortable design that will keep your hand upright and alleviate pressure in the wrist joint. This allows your wrist and arm to be in a natural position, preventing strain, pain, and fatigue.

Moreover, this mouse uses optical tracking technology that is much more sensitive than standard optical mice, which creates precise and smooth tracking on various surfaces. In fact, you don’t have to use a mouse pad, and it will work just fine.

In addition, the DPI, or dots per inch, is adjustable from 800, 1200, and 1600 DPI. So you can set it to match your needs, whether programming, gaming, or basic internet surfing.

Another feature is that it goes into power saving mode after it has been idle for 8 minutes, allowing it to save batteries. This wireless mouse uses a wireless USB dongle to connect to your computer. The extra buttons include a back and forward button.

To finish things off, this mouse is made of pretty durable materials, so it should last, even if you drop it a few times.

Pros

  • Ergonomically friendly design
  • Various buttons
  • Durable design
  • Cost-effective
  • Great tracking
  • Adjustable DPI

Cons

Some people may find the position uncomfortable

Logitech MX Ergo Wireless Trackball Mouse

31ZaJoFYUdL. SL500

This Logitech mouse is ergonomically friendly, and you can use it for hours without fatigue or pain; plus, it has additional great features.

Review

This mouse features a trackball on the side where your thumb goes. This allows you to scroll up and down through your pages with relative ease. This trackball is quite comfortable to use and very sensitive and accurate.

You can change the tilt or angle of it between 0 degrees and 20 degrees, which makes this mouse ergonomically friendly. This adjustment allows you to change the mouse’s position to achieve an ergonomic and neutral hand position.

Your hand and wrist will be in a neutral position, without bending, preventing pain and fatigue. This is useful for a programmer using their computer for hours daily

Moreover, it has a precision mode button, an easy switch button, and a variety of customizable buttons you can set for what you need. Furthermore, this mouse is built with pretty durable materials. Considering the reasonable price, it is surprisingly durable.

The batteries here can last several days, and it takes only a couple of hours to fully recharge the mouse. Remember that this is a Bluetooth mouse, so connecting with any device should be easy.

This mouse also features fairly precise and sensitive tracking for precision use for whatever the job involves. We think it is an excellent option.

Pros

  • Ergonomic design
  • Comfortable to use
  • Customizable buttons
  • Good sensitivity and tracking
  • Durable design
  • Reasonable price

Cons

Some people might not like the large tracking ball

Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Mouse

316bOiVJYFL. SL500

This is another computer mouse designed for comfort with ergonomic features, although this model is simpler than others we have looked at. It has a highly unique and eye-catching design.

Review

This uniquely designed computer mouse features an ergonomic shape with a thumb scoop. In addition, the mouse’s height and angle are designed to help keep your hand in a neutral position.

The left side, where your thumb is, is slightly raised off the surface; instead of bending your hand sideways to use the mouse, you can keep it in a neutral position.

Moreover, this mouse is very small and compact, ideal for small hands. However, this mouse may be too small for some people.

This USB mouse features a wireless connection and has excellent battery life. The battery life might not be as good as other models, but it should last a few days on a single charge.

In addition, this computer mouse comes with unique tracking technology for precise control on any surface. The precision is outstanding. Furthermore, it has a Windows button to access the start menu with a single touch.

Pros

  • Great price
  • Ergonomically friendly
  • Precise tracking on most surfaces
  • One touch access to start menu
  • Small, lightweight, and compact

Cons

  • May be too small for some people
  • Battery life could be better

Logitech MX Master 3 Advanced Wireless Mouse

This is an advanced computer mouse designed for comfort, speed, and precision. However, it is on the expensive side, but you get what you pay for, and here you get quality.

Review

This is another computer mouse designed with comfort and ergonomic friendliness in mind.

First, the left side of it is angled slightly upwards, underneath your thumb. So, instead of bending your hand sideways to use this mouse, you can keep it in a neutral position. As a result, your wrist and hand will be in an excellent position to help prevent fatigue and pain. At the same time, it also has a thumb well to ensure proper ergonomic position.

In addition, this mouse comes with a scroll wheel and two buttons located by the thumb, another scroll wheel for your index finger, and the regular left and right click mouse buttons. This allows you to adjust the setup; you can customize your buttons in any way you want and save various configurations.

Therefore, you can quickly access your preferred button setups. This mouse is awesome for gaming, programming, and surfing, as you can easily switch functionalities.

Moreover, this mouse has a 4000 DPI sensor, making it five times faster and more precise than a standard mouse. As a result, you can always hit the right pixel, and it also allows for high-speed and accurate tracking. In fact, tracking on this mouse is precise; you can even use it on glass.

You can connect this mouse to your computer using either the USB receiver or Bluetooth. This wireless mouse will last up to 70 days on a single charge using the USB-C recharging cable. You only have to charge this mouse for one minute to give you 3 hours of use, with a full recharge taking a couple of hours.

In addition, this mouse is durable and should last for quite some time. Just to be safe, it comes with a one-year limited hardware warranty if anything goes wrong with it.

Pros

  • Very fast and accurate
  • Works on virtually any surface
  • Dual connectivity modes
  • Customizable buttons with setup memory
  • Ergonomically friendly design
  • Very durable
  • Comes with a one-year warranty

Cons

Quite expensive

TECKNET Wireless Mouse

41c3ttl vsL. SL500

If you are looking for a simple and affordable mouse with adjustable features that won’t cost you a fortune yet will keep you comfortable, this is another excellent option.

Review

This computer mouse is partially designed with comfort in mind. It’s not quite as ergonomically friendly as other mice we reviewed, but it holds its own. The left side is slightly tilted upwards, which allows for a neutral and relaxed hand position.

A thumb well is located on the side of the mouse for a comfortable place to put your thumb. It’s not the most comfortable computer mouse, but it does well, especially considering the rock-bottom price.

However, it has an adjustable DPI that can be adjusted to six different levels—800, 1200, 1600, 2000, 2400, and 3200.

This provides high-speed and accurate tracking, so you can be precise and efficient with your work. In addition, the tracking on this mouse works so well that you don’t even need a mouse pad to use it.

However, this mouse requires two AA batteries to function, so it is not rechargeable, but those two batteries will allow for up to 30 months of use.

Moreover, it has independent power switches and a sleep mode to minimize battery consumption. It is a wireless mouse with a USB nano receiver with a range of up to 50 feet.

Furthermore, you don’t need to install any drivers on your computer to use it. Finally, this computer mouse is durable, as it can be used for up to 8 million clicks before it starts to wear down.

Pros

  • Great price
  • Fairly comfortable
  • Adjustable DPI
  • Great sensitivity
  • Fairly durable considering the price

Cons

Not as ergonomically friendly as other options

Buyer’s Guide

Before you go shopping, there are important considerations to keep in mind.

Wired or Wireless

One of the most significant considerations you want to keep here is whether to get a wired or a wireless mouse. In reality, wired mice are ideal for people who use their computers for many hours daily.

The reason for this is quite simple: You never have to worry about the batteries running out, and you won’t have to deal with connectivity issues due to wireless malfunctions. Unfortunately, the wire can get in the way of efficient and precise use.

So, you may want to consider a wireless mouse, as there is no wire to get in the way. However, if you get a wireless mouse, ensure it will provide a strong and efficient connection, whether by wireless USB dongle or Bluetooth.

In addition, if you go for a wireless mouse, pay attention to whether or not it has rechargeable batteries. Whether or not it has rechargeable batteries, consider how long a single charge or a set of batteries will last.

Scroll Wheel

Next, look at how well built the scroll wheel is if the mouse comes with a scroll wheel. A mouse with a scroll wheel makes navigation easier, especially when moving through long lines and many code pages.

Also, consider whether you want the scroll wheel to be located between the left and right click mouse buttons or if you would rather have a tracking ball under your thumb.

Of course, it depends on your preference and what is more comfortable for you, especially if you scroll with your thumb or index finger.

Ergonomic Design

Perhaps one of the most important considerations is how comfortable the mouse is, especially in ergonomic design. For example, many computer mice are flat, which means you have to bend your hand from the neutral position to use it.

You never want the palm of your hand facing downwards, as this means that your arm is turned sideways, which is not good for your hand, wrist, forearm, or elbows. In addition, this kind of mouse can quickly cause fatigue, making your arm painful. Therefore, look for an ergonomically friendly mouse tilted upwards on the left side—under the thumb.

If the mouse is tilted upwards or even vertical, you don’t have to bend your hand sideways to use it, keeping your hand and wrist in a neutral and ergonomically friendly position. This will help prevent pain and fatigue. At the same time, a mouse with a thumb well located on the side is ergonomically friendly.

Tracking and Sensitivity

Something else to consider is how sensitive the tracking is. This concerns the DPI, or dots per inch, which decides how fast the mouse can move and how accurate it is in terms of clicking on a specific pixel. Therefore, look for a computer mouse with a very high DPI.

Even better is a computer mouse that allows you to adjust the DPI. As you can see from our reviews, some models allow you to adjust the DPI between 800 and 3200, with one of the mice coming with a 4000 DPI. Of course, if you are programming or gaming, the higher the DPI, the better.

Durability

A computer mouse with a very durable design is built of high-quality materials. However, this often comes down to cost, as you get what you pay for. Therefore, if you need a high-quality mouse that will last many years of computer programming, we recommend investing in a high-quality and durable mouse.

Extras

Extras you may want include adjustable position features. Moreover, some have buttons that can be adjusted or customized for function performance.

FAQ

What is a Vertical Mouse?

A vertical mouse is a regular computer mouse that has been turned on its side to provide a neutral and comfortable hand position. It allows your hand to be in a neutral position instead of having to turn your hand sideways as you do with normal mice. This allows for comfortable use without fatigue after just a few hours.

How to Use Your Mouse for Maximum Productivity?

To get the most out of your computer mouse, you want it to be ergonomically friendly and comfortable because efficiency is related to comfort. Moreover, a very high DPI mouse allows for excellent efficiency and productivity.

How Good are Trackball Mice?

How good trackball mice are depends on your needs and what feels the most comfortable to you. For example, some people prefer a trackball under their thumb to scroll through pages. So it all comes down to whether or not you feel comfortable with this kind of mouse.

How Many DPI is Good For Programming?

DPI, or dots per inch, is important when choosing a mouse for programming. The higher the DPI is, the faster mouse will move, although it can make it hard to be accurate. Therefore, we recommend going for something reasonably moderate, between 1500 to 2500 DPI.

Are Wireless Mice Faster Than Wired?

Wireless mice are usually not faster than wired mice because of how the connection works. However, that physical connection provides excellent speed and efficiency.

Final Thoughts

If you are looking for the best mouse for programmers, we recommend the Anker 2.4G Wireless Vertical Ergonomic Optical Mouse. It has a comfortable position, a durable design, and great functionality for a reasonable price.

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