Tried and tested: the best mouse for your computer

From mice that stand upright to those that glow the colours of the rainbow, here are the best gadgets to control your computer.

No cords, no balls, no delays: computer mice have come a long way and these are the best for clicking and screening.

LOGITECH LIFT

This upstanding mouse could save your wrist

$130, logitech.com/au

PROS

– Comfortable, ergonomic design

– Swift, quiet operation

– Available in three colours

CONS

– Not rechargeable

– Requires some practice

– Left version sold overseas

If you haven’t used a “vertical” mouse before, this upstanding and outstanding model might be the one to convert you. The Logitech Lift is designed to keep your hand in a natural position while you direct the pointer across your screen, letting it rest on the desk while also putting its buttons and scrollwheel in reach of your fingers and thumb. The new 57-degree angle can take a moment of adjustment but the mouse is incredibly well designed, surprisingly quiet and accurate, and will work with Windows, Mac and Google devices. One downside: it does require an AA battery.

VERDICT: ★★★★★

MICROSOFT OCEAN PLASTIC MOUSE

A cheap and cheerfully created accessory

$35, microsoft.com

Twenty per cent of Microsoft's Ocean Plastic Mouse is made from plastic recovered from oceans and waterways.

PROS

– Made with recycled plastic

– Lightweight design

– Non-slip texture

CONS

– Windows use only

– Uses an AA battery

– Feels cheap in the hand

Microsoft deserves extra credit for this project: a cheap, accessible mouse that uses recycled plastic that has been plucked out of the ocean and other waterways. The outside shell of this mouse is made up of 20 per cent recycled plastic, giving it a unique, speckled look and the user a feeling they’ve bought something less environmentally harmful. The mouse itself isn’t flashy — the scrollwheel is a little stiff — but all the necessary tools are there to control a Surface device. It’s also worth noting this green mouse does use a AA battery, though it’s designed to work from it for a year.

VERDICT: ★★★½

APPLE MAGIC MOUSE

The Mac’s favourite mouse gets a piano black update

$139, apple.com/au

PROS

– Sleek, glossy device

– Multi-Touch surface

– Long-lasting battery

CONS

– Awkward charging port

– Uses Lighting connection

– Fingerprint magnet

Apple’s Magic Mouse is iconic in its minimalism. This mouse features no buttons on its top, no scrollwheel, nor a switch. Instead, its surface is packed with sensors that let you slide a finger to scroll down a page, and click on its left and right side to make selections. The tech giant has just updated this mouse with a piano black finish to suit more home office environments, and it’s an attractive look. Sadly, the update has not improved the mouse’s major design flaw: a recharging port on the bottom of the mouse so you can’t use it while topping up the battery.

VERDICT: ★★★★

GTEK CYBORG 700

A colourful, quick and inexpensive gaming mouse

$99, jbhifi.com.au

PROS

– Speedy operation

– Colourful light show

– Plenty of controls

CONS

– Heavy for a gaming mouse

– Noisy clicks

– Basic plastic finish

This sub-$100 gaming mouse achieves a lot for its price. The GTEK Cyborg 700 promises lag-free communication with your computer and delivers it, speeding across one screen or two without noticeable delay. It’s also easy to set up, requiring just a USB plugged into your computer, and a recharge from a USB-C cable plugged in up front. The Cyborg 700 also boasts bright RGB lighting and a few extra controls, including a switch to control its on-screen speed, and forward and back buttons near the user’s thumb. It’s heavier than pricier models but gets the job done.

VERDICT: ★★★½

APPLE MAGIC TRACKPAD

Like the mouse on your laptop but for the big screen

$209, apple.com/au

PROS

– Multi-finger gestures

– Simple to set up

– Now available in black

CONS

– Not as precise as a mouse

– Still uses Lightning port

– Comparatively expensive

Even if you’ve used a trackpad on your laptop, swapping a regular mouse for a touch-sensitive slab of metal and glass can be a risky move. But while there’s an adjustment period needed, you can do a lot more with a Magic Trackpad connected to your Mac. Sweep four fingers up this pad, for example, and you can see whatever apps you have open. Swipe three from side to side and you can switch virtual screens. It still uses a Lightning port and it’s not as quick to use as a mouse in some instances, but this device is surprisingly slick.

VERDICT: ★★★★

Originally published as Tried and tested: the best mouse for your computer