'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?
ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.
When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.
ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form.
Logitech Ergo M575, hands on: An affordable ergonomic wireless trackball
Trackballs are an acquired taste. Some look on them as oddities, but here's a confession: I've been using a trackball for well over a decade and find the arrangement comfortable and easy to work with. I also use an ergonomic keyboard, and I've never had a hint of RSI. Are the two factors related? Maybe, but I can't know for certain. But I do know the trackball as a format gets the thumbs-up from me, as it were.
Logitech's Ergo M575 comes in graphite (above) or off-white, but there's no version for left-handed users.
Logitech's latest trackball, the Ergo M575, costs £44.99 (inc. VAT) or $49.99, and comes in either off-white or graphite, both with a mid-blue coloured ball located on its left side where it'll fall under your thumb (if you're right-handed; there isn't a version for lefties). The overall design resembles earlier trackballs from Logitech, such as the M570 and my own everyday trackball, the MX Ergo. It's a good design, it works well, and Logitech hasn't messed with it.
The idea is that your palm sits comfortably on the main body and your thumb moves the ball, which moves the cursor, while first and second fingers address the wheel and buttons. The wheel sits between two large buttons, with a pair of smaller buttons towards the left, sitting proud so they're easy to find with the forefinger. The Ergo M575's main palm rest area has a slightly ridged pattern, which Logitech says is an aid to grip. I don't know about that: my MX Ergo is ridge-free, and I grip it just fine. Still, even if the ridges don't offer any usability advantage, they do look nice.
SEE: Hiring Kit: Computer Hardware Engineer(TechRepublic Premium)
One thing the Ergo M575 lacks that's present on the MX Ergo is the ability to change the on-desk angle via a metal footplate. I tend to use the more upright position, so working flat on the desk with the Ergo M575 took a little getting used to, but anyone new to the trackball format won't be concerned about that.
You can remove the trackball to clean out the cavity.
Computer connectivity is via either Bluetooth LE or proprietary 2.4GHz wireless -- a USB dongle catering for the latter sits under a cover that also protects the trackball's AA battery. It's easy to switch between connectivity methods using a button on the base, while a switch next to the button turns the mouse off so it doesn't drain the battery when it's not in use. It's interesting that Logitech has reverted to standard battery power -- the MX Ergo has a rechargeable battery. Logitech says the Ergo M575's AA battery will last up to two years with the USB receiver, or 20 months when using Bluetooth.
The laser sits in a recess in the cavity that houses the ball, which over time will accrue dust and other detritus, reducing the ball's freedom of movement and causing jerky or unreliable movement. I have the same issue with the MX Ergo, but the ball pops out easily so the cavity can be cleaned. Logitech has put a hole on the underside of the Ergo M575 through which a smallish finger can squeeze to push the ball out of its cavity. It's an easy job to do.
Top ZDNET Reviews
I found using the Ergo M575 to be a smooth and trouble-free experience. The two large buttons deliver a satisfying 'click', while the small buttons respond with a quiet 'thunk'. You can refine accuracy up to 2000dpi, although the 400dpi default will be enough for most users. To change the tracking resolution and customise the Ergo M575's buttons -- including making bespoke settings for particular applications -- Logitech offers its free Options software. This app offers more complexities than many of us are likely to need, while remaining easy to use. Logitech does well on the sustainability front too, using recycled plastic in the product where it can, and entirely cardboard packaging -- even printing the quick-start guide on the internal packaging rather than on a separate sheet, which is a nice touch.
Logitech still sells the MX Ergo, but it costs £99.99/$99.99 compared to £44.99/$49.99 for the M575. The MX Ergo does have two more buttons and some additional features, but the M575 is a great choice for an entry-level trackball.
RECENT AND RELATED CONTENT
Hands-on: Logitech MX Ergo wireless trackball mouse
Hands-on: Logitech Ergo K860 Natural Keyboard
Hands-On: Logitech MX Vertical and MX Anywhere 2S Mice
Remote work: 10 ways to upgrade your working from home setup
Best mouse in 2021: The top computer mice compared
Read more reviews
- Espresso Display, hands on: A slim and stylish external touch-screen
- Coolpo 360 video conference camera review: Facial tracking features and panoramic room view
- Xiaomi Mi 11 review: Snapdragon 888 chipset, 120Hz OLED screen, 108MP camera, all at a good price
- Acer ConceptD 7 Ezel review: A multi-mode creator laptop with impressive GPU performance
- Nomad brings MagSafe to case lineup: Bests Apple leather case with 10-foot drop protection