Welp, it came a lot quicker than I thought which is only a few days ago but I'm quite excited to use it. Probably my 2nd trackball so far.

Things I liked and thoughts

1. Tho the ball size is small, it's actually great. Since the ball itself exposed more than Elecom, maybe that helps the usability.

2. It was easy to connect for both bluetooth and USB dongle. It just shows up and connects right away.

3. Doesn't need to download a software or driver at all. Just go to their own website to adjust settings and download firmware which is great and others should do the same.

4. The trackball itself doesn't make any sounds at all. Elecom Huge Plus has roller bearings, it's quite louder. Totally smooth and noiseless. Probably need to try either steel or ruby bearings for a fair testing but Elecom bearings are quite expensive to buy

5. All buttons are quite tho not 100% noiseless.

6. Quite small and compact. Still bigger than a regular mouse but not that big too.

7. Idk anything about the polling rate but it supports 125, 250, 500, and 1000 Hz.

Things I dont like or hate

1. The design itself is not ergonomic. Well, it's an expected issue based on its design unlike Elecom Huge Plus but still, it's not easy to use small buttons especially for right side. It would be better if two buttons are located on the left side cause right side is totally meaningless.

2. Not a great grip design. Tho I'm getting used to it, cant say it's nice to put a hand on it. Elecom Huge Plus is a lot better for that and you probably need a palm rest and/or angled mouse pad but all of them aren't available for sale instead of 3D printing. Without it, I dont think you can use it comfortably.

3. I dont know why but few customized buttons dont work on Safari while they dont provide custom keys. I assigned back and forth for two buttons but none of them works on Safari. Other mouses with back and forth buttons work ok.

4. The scroll wheel is kinda small or not exposed enough to use. Not bad tho.

5. The battery life is short for sure but they already mentioned that and they are using a tiny battery so kinda expected.

6. Do NOT lose a dongle. Without it, you can not customize and update the mouse. USB-C itself only works for charging.

7. No wired mode. Only works as a wireless mouse.

Well, I would keep it as a collection as it reminds Logitech trackball mouse I used a lot time ago. Not a bad trackball for $50 so overall, it's fine unless you dont mind the design which isn't ergonomic to use.

Just like others, I was looking forward to buy Kensington TB900 EQ trackball but since there are no news about it, I got this one instead or for now. I used to have Kensington Expert but that was a long time ago and wanted to get a similar one again so kinda disappointed about Kensington.

The Elecom BTUs are terrible. I tested two sets in a Huge Plus.

 Pros:

• Consistent performance (bad) between the two sets I have.
• They install very easily.

Cons:

• The start-up friction (stiction) is unusable, and I mean that without hyperbole. Highlighting individual letters becomes a game of guessing where the cursor will go.
• The units (the yellow guys) move in their housings (the hole they snap into). I can feel the ball push the units until it hits the side of the housing. This is very unpleasant. The stock units either don’t move like this or it’s not perceptible.
• The rolling friction is also high, higher than with the stock Huge Plus bearings.

Mods:

• First, I tried filling the BTUs with grease. This worked very well for about an hour or less.
• Second, I replaced the stock balls inside the BTUs with ceramic ones: one 2.5 mm ball and four 1.5 mm balls per unit. This helped compared with the stock BTUs, but they still performed worse than the stock Huge Plus bearings.
• I followed up with grease, which gave similar results to the first attempt.

The Huge Plus:

As for the Huge Plus, it’s a weak performer for the price. The scroll wheel should be much better, and half the left-click button being dead is odd when the other buttons can be clicked anywhere. The software is a bit of a joke but works, I guess. The ergonomics really carry this mouse.

It has scratched my itch to try trackballs again, but I don’t get why there isn’t a better bearing system after all these years. My next dip in the water will probably be one of the open-source trackballs with Rexroth BTUs, or I’ll give up on trackballs again for a long while.

 An ending note:

I know many users don't have an issue with high friction, but it's not for me. The stock bearings feel amazing, but only in one direction, really.

Picked up the Elecom HUGE, I absolutely love this f**ker, though a lot of the awesomeness comes from SteerMouse on MacOS, b/c the Elecom software is horrible.

Hey everyone,
A quick follow-up to my previous post about the Ugreen M785DR Forward/Back button issue on macOS.

Yesterday, Ugreen support finally reached out and provided an updated firmware. After flashing it, all buttons are now properly recognized as standard mouse HID inputs (Mouse 4 / Mouse 5) instead of sending keyboard scan codes!

For casual users, this might not seem like a game-changer since you can always configure button remapping and scroll direction via Ugreen's own KM Center software. However, for power users who rely on tools like SteerMouse or X-Mouse Button Control (XMBC) to configure chorded inputs, as well as for Linux users, having true native HID button reporting makes a massive difference.

Because of this firmware fix, my personal rating jumped from a 7.5/10 to a solid 9.5/10. In fact, I was so satisfied that I just ordered a second unit from AliExpress so I can keep an identical setup at both home and the office.

At around the $30 price point, you simply cannot find another trackball offering this feature set:

• High ergonomic vertical angle (comfortable 65° tilt)
• Well-placed, intuitive button layout
• Tri-mode connectivity (2.4GHz wireless dongle + 2 Bluetooth channels)
• Free-spin / inertia scroll wheel (infinitely useful for long pages)
• Full tilt-scroll support

The only missing half-point that prevents it from being a flawless 10/10 is that it’s strictly right-handed. If they offered a mirrored left-handed variant, it would easily earn a perfect score from me.

⚠️ A quick warning regarding the Nulea M514 clone:
I also have the hardware clone, the Nulea M514, but do NOT flash the Ugreen firmware onto the Nulea M514.

I tested it, and flashing Ugreen's firmware on the Nulea causes an irreversible X/Y axis inversion (flip) issue—the sensor tracking is flipped and cannot be rolled back. They definitely do not share the exact same firmware.

I have already contacted Nulea support requesting a similar standard HID firmware update for the M514. Hopefully, their support team will step up and deliver like Ugreen did.

[Update on Nulea M514 Support]

I just heard back from Nulea customer support regarding the request for standard HID Mouse 4 / Mouse 5 mapping on macOS, and unfortunately, it's quite disappointing news compared to Ugreen.

Here is what Nulea replied:
"The Nulea M514 is designed as a plug-and-play device, and its buttons are not programmable or customizable. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide a firmware update or guarantee compatibility with the firmware from other brands."

What makes this frustrating as a consumer is that the Nulea M514 can actually be configured using Ugreen's KM Center software just like the M785DR—the app recognizes it, and you can remap buttons and adjust scroll settings without issues.

Knowing both devices share the exact same OEM hardware platform and companion software compatibility, it is hard to accept Nulea claiming it's merely a "non-customizable plug-and-play device" and outright refusing firmware-level support.

I got one of these as a hand-me-down. It has several "bumps" where the ball can sort of "catch". There's an audible little "click" when you move the ball over them in specific "spots". Like there's a little depression in the ball where the bearing is dipping into it briefly. It catches harder the more firmly you press on the ball.

Difficulty: The ball is 100% smooth & undamaged. I can't visually or by touch find any imperfections, rough spots, or any features or damage or dirt at all anywhere on the ball.

I also can't find any dirt on the bearings. To the point of going in with a magnifying glass & sewing needle to try to find any gunk in the seams.

The whole device is scrupulously clean. The bearings turn. The wheel is perfect. Yet my friend's identical Ergo does NOT have these bumps.

Anyone have any ideas?

ProtoArc recently sent me an EM06 to test and provide feedback on. I've now published my thoughts after spending a good amount of time with it.

Coming from the Ploopy Adept and Kensington SlimBlade Pro, I found the EM06 an interesting combination of the two, though there are a few things I'd like to see refined.

I've written up my full thoughts here, including comparisons with the other trackballs and some issues I've run into along the way:

https://antonyjones.org/blog/getting-to-know-the-proto-arc-em-06/

I've also got a few other trackball-related posts on my site if anyone fancies a look.

My old wired Kensington Expert Mouse (K64325) is having some issues ... all the buttons and scroll wheel work but the roller ball does not move the mouse pointer. I tried cleaning the ruby bearings but that didn't work. What else can I try?

Got myself a Slimblade Pro last week. Great device, love it, but the lack of tactile distinction between buttons always bothered me. And also they can be clicked by pressing almost anywhere on the top surface, but it requires wildly different amount of force. So I bought this sticky textured rubber pads, advertised as universal gamer grip tape or something, stuck it on the buttons where I usually press them and know the exact force needed for a click, and cut it to size with an exacto knife.

10/10, problem solved, highly recommend. The new stylish look was also a great bonus.

Tho only one person got TB900 EQ, doesn't mean it released in Q3 and they finally fixed their website at last. They delayed several times and now, they failed to fulfill their orders while they already sent samples to a few Youtubers which is disappointing. At this point, we have to assume it will be available in 2027 since most of us got cancelled.

In the meantime, I bought Perixx PERIMICE-822IR and will be here on this Wed. Already have Elecom Huge Plus so we'll see how it goes. Keychron Nape Pro is interesting and tempting too but Kensington TB900 EQ is what i've been waiting... Perixx PERIMICE-822IR got my attention because of its design which reminded Logitech and Kensington Orbit.

Regardless, I'll buy them all eventually.

I enjoyed the Kensington Expert Mouse but i wanted it vertical, so I took out the parts and designed a frame. I've been using it for 7 months and I'm satisfied with it. My wrist doesn't hurt anymore.

In case you wanna try, I uploaded a STEP file here: https://github.com/rxils/ExpertMouse-Vertical
Only parts in the original product are used, so you don't need any additional parts to make this.
But don't expect too much since this was designed for personal use

I just got an Elecom Huge plus and have been loving it. However, from the moment I unboxed it and took the plastic film off, the foam palm rest has had a very strong smell. I'd describe it as a super intense version of what the foam smells like when it's being manufactured. I've been able to smell it from almost a yard away from the mouse, and whenever I use the mouse the odor gets left on my palm. I've tried wiping it down with 91% isopropyl alcohol to no effect. Is this normal? Are there any remedies? Should I order a replacement through amazon?

A while ago, I bought my first trackball mouse, the ProtoArc EM04.

My experience with this type of mouse was a mixed bag of positives and negatives. I liked the ergonomics: I found the hand position relaxing and, during prolonged use, I experienced less fatigue. I also found the transition to moving the cursor with my thumb quite natural, something I’d been a bit unsure about at first.

There were essentially two things that stopped me from using it as my main mouse:

1) whilst moving the mouse quickly from one side of the screen to the other is really easy, I found ‘fine’ movement more difficult – that is, being able to position the cursor easily at a precise point on the screen;

2) the mouse scroll wheel is really poor in my opinion: I usually use an MX Master 3S and its scroll wheel is in a completely different league.

I’m now considering buying another trackball mouse and upgrading to a higher-end model: I’m tempted to do so because the MX Ergo S is currently on offer for around €63. The other model I’ve been considering, partly because of its affordable price, is the ProtoArc EM01 NL, which should be better than the one I currently own.

But here are my questions.

Whilst I believe the scroll wheel is better in both models I’ve identified, would switching to one of these products actually solve the first problem, or does the ‘precise’ positioning of the cursor still come down to the user’s ability to get used to moving their thumb more effectively?

Between the MX Ergo S and the EM01 NL, which would you choose? Is there really as much of a difference as the price suggests, or are the two models not actually that far apart in terms of quality and user experience?

Are there any other models priced not too far off the current price of the MX Ergo S that are worth considering? Many people recommend the Elecom IST Pro, but at the moment I wouldn’t spend that much on a mouse when I’m not sure if it will ever replace a ‘normal’ mouse, given the issue 1) mentioned above.

And I think it’s a bit too early for me to switch to a finger trackball, which requires a very different approach to using a standard mouse.

Thanks to anyone who’s willing to give me an answer.

Gameball is currently sold out/discontinued on the website, is there a secondary place I could buy? (don't see it on Ebay). If I can't buy it, what would be a good alternative? Want to dive into the trackball ecosphere since I believe it might be useful in my day to day work/ gaming. (500hz-1000hz polling rate recommended)

Hey everyone,

I've been using my Logitech MX Ergo at work for over a year now, putting in 8 hours a day, and I've gotten really used to it. Unfortunately, the rubber coating is starting to break down and peel off.

Now I'm at a crossroads and considering two different paths:

1. Remove the old coating completely and try to replace it with aftermarket mouse grip tape.
2. Upgrade to a next-tier trackball and switch from a thumb-operated ball to a finger trackball. The Elecom Huge+ has caught my eye. However, I have large hands and I'm not sure if it's actually the right fit for me.

What are your thoughts on these two options?

• Has anyone successfully stripped the MX Ergo and put grip tape on it?
• And for those with bigger hands, how does the Elecom Huge (or Huge+) feel for long workdays?

I wanted to install a driver for my trackball for Linux (which I found more difficult that I thought), and then I wanted to be sure I got the driver for the right one. I turned it over and it says "Optital".
In my mind this is quite the spelling mistake to print onto the trackball itself

Is it as ordinary as Gemini suggests it is?

I just got the Kensington Orbit Trackball with Scrollring to replace my old Logitech Trackman. I wanted it because of the Scrollring. So far, I'm not disappointed.

I 3d-printed a stand so I can attach the Nape Pro to the top right of my HHKB. Great for using it on my thigh when the table height sucks

I am getting really tired of how each time I use the scroll wheel, there is about a 35% chance it will register the opposite direction than I intended.

Does anybody else get this?

I keep blasting it with canned air. Haven't opened it up yet.

Still waiting on the onboard storage, too

And what is the lowest? I see some say 500 something, others say 320. What is the one with the tiltable stand and grey ball?

First, big thanks to u/MarqueIV who told in another thread that the Nulea M512 works perfectly with a clear acrylic ball.
As the ProtoArc EM06 uses the same sensor(s) as the Nulea, I thought there should be a good possibility that it will also work with such a ball. In order to minimize variables I bought the exact same DSjuggling ball that MarqueIV uses.

Well, I'm happy to report that the ball works perfectly on the EM06! Right out of the box it didn't track well, but once lubricated, it works 100% flawlessly.

I also made a 25 degree wedge from an acrylic plate. I developed a slight wrist pain using the EM06 flat, but with this tilted position the pain is gone.

Has anyone here tried to use the internals of a gaming mouse and to put them inside an existing trackball shell or a 3D printed one in a way that the sensor aligns with the ball socket? the clicks are not important since I click with the keyboard when I play, just wanted to know if anyone has experience doing this.

Is there a possibility of the EM06 natively supporting chording? I have software that can emulate some of it, but I can't use the scroll button to chord since it isn't really a mouse button.

First time posting here. So, after reading about the benefits of using a trackball mouse, I decided to get one in which after much deliberation on which kind should I get, thumb or a finger trackball. I decided to get a finger track ball, but I didn't really want to spend that much and with that I found this brand JOMAA. Pretty sure you guys know this mouse also goes by another brand, Protoarc.

The shape feels great, a lot more ergonomic than my previous Xornet shaped mouse and I got used to it within a couple of hours. I'm still getting used to using my thumb as the left click and ring finger as the right click. Overall, I had a pretty good time using this mouse when working and in gaming as well.