A wireless mouse that doesn't suck

[blueskull]

Is there a mouse, preferably wireless, that does not double click or random click over years of use?

I just found today my Logitech MX Anywhere 2S developed a random self clicking on middle button that causes quite a havoc (imagine 10+ apps opened simultaneously just because it clicked a few times when I moved over the taskbar).

And of course, Logitech is known for making mice with double clicking, and so far, since my first Logitech mouse, G9, back in 2008, no one has survived more than 2 years of use. I know I can replace the switches, but certain switches are not replaceable (side buttons are flex PCB switches built into the FPCs), and modern wireless mice are harder and harder to open without damaging them.

So far, Razer gave me good switch quality, but I really love the switchable frictionless scroll wheel of Logitech, and unfortunately, they patented it.

As for frictionless scrolling, I've tried touch sensing based scrolling, with MSFT Arc 2, Magic Mouse 2 and ThinkPad X1 Mouse. The first requires 3 fingers for middle click, which is a problem as it's small, and I have fat fingers. The second one doesn't have middle click as all, and Apple "patched" the APIs used by third party apps to emulate middle click. The third one doesn't work in macOS at all.

As a heavy Altium user, I NEED MIDDLE CLICK. Apple's scrolling is different than PC's. PC mice drivers send out fewer scroll signals without step size, while Apple mice drivers send out more scroll signals with step size info, so Apple can implement high res scrolling. Unfortunately, for apps doesn't support this and used raw input (games, VMs, etc.), that means macOS sends out too many scroll events, thus making it way too sensitive. Making things worse is the acceleration, both on tracking and on scrolling.

To make it simple, macOS (with current version of Parallels) will not work with Altium properly on scrolling, so without scrolling, middle click is the only way to move through a large design, thus I absolutely need middle clicking.






TL;DR: I need a mouse with Bluetooth connectivity, three long lasting buttons and preferably switchable frictionless scroll wheel.

Any suggestions?

[Mr. Scram]

I've experienced the same issue you have. Things tend to work well until a year or so in. Then you get various problems like choppy reception or missing or superfluous clicks.

[BravoV]

All my mouses have replaceable microswitches, I did it frequently as mostly they're the culprit.

[olkipukki]

Is there a mouse, preferably wireless, that does not double click or random click over years of use?

Not wireless - one of Razer Deathadder 2013 Essential lasted almost 6 years, another still fine, both in use on PC/Mac.
I replaced the broken one with Razer Deathadder Elite recently.

P.S.
I'm not a gamer.

[tautech]

I've bashed a wired USB Logitech Trackman for years and with some Altium usage too.
If it died tomorrow I'd try one of these:
https://www.logitech.com/en-nz/product/mx-ergo-wireless-trackball-mouse?crid=7

[Rerouter]

I'm still using the same Microsoft wireless mouse 5000, All I've had to do is unscrew it and clean out the scroll wheel every year or so. the non stick pads are still using there original adhesive with no raised corners after 4 tear downs to do the clean out.

Though it does chew through 2 rechargeable AA's in about 4 weeks of moderate use.

I got it as a combo with a keyboard, the keyboard was rubbish, but the mouse is good.

And its still able to be purchased new.

[JustMeHere]

Use something like a playing card and see if there is any dirt stuck under the buttons.

[Halcyon]

Just grab an old fashioned Microsoft PS/2 ball mouse. The one's I've had for many years are still perfectly fine.

[wraper]

Dunno process in China but in EU/US with Logitech you can get replacement without ever sending original mouse back. That somewhat makes things better. This way I got two G700 and two G903. They developed double click problem, got replacement sent to me, fixed old one myself. Actually double click issue is strange since they use Omron switches which supposedly should be good.

[CatalinaWOW]

I must not click as often or heavily as you.  I have a couple of logitech M310 that are old enough I can't really remember when it they were purchased.  One is definitely nearing four and the other is probably older.  Both are doing fine, and meet my number one requirement, long battery life.  I have had wireless mice that demanded a new battery every other month which is just nasty.

[tautech]

If it died tomorrow I'd try one of these:
https://www.logitech.com/en-nz/product/mx-ergo-wireless-trackball-mouse?crid=7

Imaginably, it won't play CS:GO well.

Dunno but have you ever used a Trackman (not Trackball) ?
This style for thumb use:


No mousepad required and only the footprint they take on your bench, knee or wherever you want to use them.
I converted my retired EE buddy to them a year or two back and he's now sold on them.

[tautech]

Dunno but have you ever used a Trackman (not Trackball) ?
No mousepad required and only the footprint they take on your bench, knee or wherever you want to use them.
I converted my retired EE buddy to them a year or two back and he's now sold on them.

Tempted. I should try one at BestBuy tomorrow.

The Bay of evil has a good few 2nd hand ones for not too bad pricing:
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=Logitech+trackman&_sacat=0

Like anything Logitech you need their bloated driver package to get the full choice of button assignments.
I assign the scroll wheel press to ALT + LEFT which of course is very quick Back in many programs and browsers.

[tautech]

The Bay of evil has a good few 2nd hand ones for not too bad pricing:

Like anything Logitech you need their bloated driver package to get the full choice of button assignments.
I assign the scroll wheel press to ALT + LEFT which of course is very quick Back in many programs and browsers.

I was thinking the MX Ergo. Benefit of a current product is I can walk in a store and test drive it.
Also, ALT is assigned in my system, as SHIFT doesn't work well in Parallels+macOS, so I have to use ALT for horizontal scrolling in Altium.
The third button (and aux button) can both be useful especially in a VM environment where shortcuts are not all available.

Sooner or later I will have to either ditch Altium for KiCAD or ditch macOS for Windows.

Ah OK, the one I linked earlier.

The pic I linked a post or two back of the USB Trackman is the one we use as both the wife and I have preferred them for at least 15 years. Only in the workshop the teflon guides for the ball get grime and gundge from the ball and need to flick the ball out with a pencil and clean the guides each year or so. You can feel the drag on the ball when they need cleaning, otherwise not an ounce of bother with them over all those years.
Not sure I'd like the MX Ergo and that it rocks around where I now prefer a static mouse and one you can really rest your hand on.
If you get MX Ergo be sure to come back with some comments about it.

Windoze 10 Enterprise has been great and not too much different from 8.1 or 7 for that matter.
Take charge and get it set how you want and it's just fine.

[tautech]

Some MX Ergo user comments at the foot of this page from our major NZ PC retailer:
https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/MSELOG3745150/Logitech-MX-Ergo-Advanced-Bluetooth-And-Wireless-T

[Dundarave]

You might have a look at the Logitech M557:

https://www.logitech.com/en-ca/product/bluetooth-mouse-m557

I've used them with my laptops for 4 years now and have never had an issue with them:  I think they're great and wouldn't use anything else.  I've never understood why anyone puts up with dongled mice when Bluetooth versions are available... it's crazy.

[Halcyon]

Just grab an old fashioned Microsoft PS/2 ball mouse. The one's I've had for many years are still perfectly fine.

So I can clean both the balls and the clit . Seriously, my computer doesn't even have a PS2 interface.
PS2/USB adapters only work on mice with native USB controller (it's sorta pass through device), not on mice with only real PS2 interface. Besides, not wireless.

In all seriousness though, I've used Microsoft mice for decades. Even the cheap ones are decent and really last. I wasn't too fussed on wireless so last time I needed keyboards/mice, I just bought a 5-pack from Dell. These are the mice I use: https://www.dell.com/en-au/work/shop/microsoft-basic-optical-mouse-black-for-business-5-units-per-pack/apd/a5694110/pc-accessories

They get abused but they just seem to keep working. The middle scroll wheel is a click as expected, but it also has a second "sideways right" click.

[wraper]

Logitech mice are not that bad. They don't break within their rated 1 year warranty period. On average, each mouse I had survived for about 2.5 years.
In most part of China, the minimum legal warranty period is 1 years, while certain provinces (Zhejiang, Guangdong, etc.) have 2 year minimum.
I'm currently in US, and while federal laws require an implied 4 year warranty, the process can be tedious (requiring proof of purchase, requiring shipping back, etc.), so once the one year BesyBuy in-store warranty expires, I consider it written off.

Logitech gaming mouses and many others usually have 2-3 year warranty even in US. Strange that your MX Anywhere 2S has only 1 year while cheaper non gaming product has 3 years https://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/wireless-mouse-m325-business?crid=7
EDIT: I checked more mouses and it seems only MX series have 1 year warranty. Even <$10 B100 has 3 year warranty.

[mzzj]

Logitech M705. Can't say for sure how long I have had mine but seems like forever. Even batteries last 3 years which is pretty good accomplishment.

[GregDunn]

I have gone through a buttload of wireless mice of several brands on different computers, and they have all been too heavy (batteries + extra junk inside) and full of connectivity issues.  Every couple of years I think I've been too harsh and try another one, but they all irritate me too much to keep them.  The Logi Trackman lasted the longest, but I do a lot of photo editing and freehand work, which is a poor fit for using my thumb.  I always come back to a Logi wired mouse, and the only times they get replaced are when something physically wears out and can't be repaired.  IOW, I haven't found a wireless mouse that doesn't suck.   

[Bassman59]

Mine lasted 2 years, but still, for a premium product that once was $100, that's not acceptable.

Dunno if it's something you'd like but the Kensington Expert Mouse trackballs are pretty great and are still $100. I have one at home and one at the office, both are seriously nearing 15 years of daily use and they still rock.

To clean you just take the ball out and wipe all of the grunge out.

Reprogram them so (if you're right handed) the LMB is the lower left button and the RMB is the upper right, just where your fingers normally rest. Make the upper left your middle mouse button.

Logitech stuff is just crap. I have one of their fancy wireless remotes that is no longer supported. My wife had one of their "solar" wireless keyboards, which use an internal rechargeable 2032-style battery but even with replacing that battery the keyboard stops working.

[SiliconWizard]

If you want something robust and not grossly overpriced, don't go for wireless crap.
Use a good wired mouse. My current one is a Roccat Kone pure, which works well for pretty much anything.
I've tried a lot of mice over the years, including wireless ones. I've never found a single wireless mouse that was worth it. Always ended up getting rid of them.

[tautech]

Yeah battery life can be the killer for wireless but I see that new Logitech Trackman has a rechargeable Li-Po 500mAh battery that presumably still works while charging.
Apparently up to 4 months use without recharge.

[Ranayna]

Logitech M705. Can't say for sure how long I have had mine but seems like forever. Even batteries last 3 years which is pretty good accomplishment.

The M705 is, or rather was, a good mouse. I especially loved the third side button that you could use by pressing down with the knuckle of your thumb. I used that one for middle mouse button, since i often have the trouble of accidentally scrolling when clicking the mousewheel.
But Logitech in their infinite wisdom decided to get rid of that button on newer releases of the M705 

And to be fair, that one as well has or had reliability issues. I had two that broke after between 1 and 2 years of daily office use. One even broke before the original batteries ran out 
I'm on my third M705 now (i just love the format as a good compromise between size and usability), and I am still sorely missing that button.
But also, not bluetooth.

On my private gaming mouse (cabled G500s) i already replaced the microswitches once. It was easy to do with a desoldering gun (stupid interposer board with soldered 2 by 5 header), but removing the gilders was destructive.

As far as i know, Logitech is the only manufacturer that offers that switchable mousewheel.

[Ian.M]

Its the nuisance factor of the cord that keeps many of us on wireless.  e.g. at the bench, the keyboard lives in a keyboard draw to protect it from solder splatter and general crud, (heck, the mouse goes into the keyboard draw before messy jobs), and keeping the mouse mat clear of clutter is sometimes challenging.  If I had a mouse cord running to the back of the bench it would be a lot worse, tangling with test leads & what have you.

 I *NEED* a five button mouse as I make heavy use of per-application mouse macros^* for most of the programs I regularly use, and am mostly ambidextrous so strongly prefer a mouse that doesn't have an excessively handed 'ergonomic' shape.  I can cope with paired buttons 4 & 5 on the side that fall under my left little finger rather than my right thumb so don't need a fully left handed mouse. 

Wireless device dongle proliferation isn't major issue - just tape a dollar store four port hub on the end of an extender lead to the underside of your desk (assuming its not metal topped), and the devices are closer to their receivers.  If you don't need the extra range, tape the hub to the back of the host.  Bluetooth, (or some sort of cross-brand 'unifying' receiver) would be nice but is far from essential except perhaps for laptop and tablet users.

My requirements don't really leave much choice at the affordable end of the price range.  If I find a five button mouse I can stand, I usually buy an identical spare as soon as I've used it for a month or two, then resign myself to maintenance sessions every six months or so to try to keep them working smoothly as long as I can.

However its the lack of quality and common sense design as you go up the price range that's worrying.  Using limited life non-replaceable membrane switches, and mechanical encoders for the wheel should be the domain of dollar store mice not the higher end mice they frequently appear in.  Gliders should be replaceable standard diameter Teflon rods push-fitted into internally fluted holes and *NOT* over the case screws.

Maybe its time for an OSHW 'mouse for life' project, with replaceable sensors, buttons, various power and connection options and a range of 3D printable shells.  Once there's a viable prototype that's compact enough and not too battery hungry, maybe do a kickstarter for the main board with a range of shell, sensor and connection options. Personally, I'd be holding out for a customisable 7 button mouse, with a pair of thumb buttons on each side that could be mapped to 5 button mode for either left or right hands or as HID keyboard buttons for OSes that don't have decent multi-button mouse support, and a IBM 'Trackpoint' style nub stick^# instead of a tilt/scrollwheel.  Others no doubt would prefer an optical encoder wheel with force sensing tilt.  An optional real middle button, instead of or as well as 'wheel click' would also be great.

* Using X-Mouse Button Control as I have low tolerance for Logitech (and other vendor) crapware.

# I always found Trackpoints to be a PITA for CAD etc. where you need pixel resolution + the ability to go straight in any direction, but they would have made a very nice scrollwheel,  I regret I never 'met' the IBM mouse that had one on it.

[rsjsouza]

Logitech V470 that gets occasional use but is very well built. it is small for my hands but compact.
Logitech LX8 that takes 8+ hours of use daily - about 7~8 years of use by now.
Logitech M510 that takes 6~8 hours of use weekly - about 6~7 years of use by now.