The Best Mice for Programming and Long Coding Sessions

Quiet clicks keep it discreet on calls. Its new dongle uses an upgraded radio chip and antenna, which Logitech says doubles connection strength, and the shell has improved stain resistance. The plastics include recycled material, and the battery uses recycled cobalt.

It is the only pick here with a USB-C dongle or Bluetooth connection; the Lift has a bluetooth or Logi Bolt connection instead. It is shaped for right hands only. It was the highest-priced of the 6 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the Pro Click V2 Vertical and the rest. The maker doesn't give its battery life; if that figure matters, the Ergo M575S runs for up to 18 months.

Its 8,000 DPI sensor tracks even on glass. Its 8,000 DPI sensor tracks on glass, and Quiet Clicks cut click noise by about 90%. The MagSpeed wheel scrolls quickly through long files and stops on a line.

No other pick in this guide offers a bluetooth connection; compare the MX Master 4, which has a USB-C dongle or Bluetooth connection. It is shaped for right hands only. Its price falls between the Lift and the Pro Click V2 Vertical, based on our last check. Buyers who need a confirmed battery life should compare it with the Ergo M575S, which runs for up to 18 months.

It adds whisper-quiet clicks and a SmartWheel, and connects over Bluetooth or Logi Bolt. Logitech sizes it for small to medium right hands, with a 57-degree angle and a padded thumb rest. The soft-textured grip suits all-day office use.

The plastic parts include certified post-consumer recycled plastic, and it works with Windows, macOS, iPadOS, Chrome OS and Linux. It shares a bluetooth or Logi Bolt connection with the Ergo M575S; the MX Master 3S goes with a bluetooth connection. You also get certification by leading ergonomists.

Vertical mice put your hand in a handshake position; allow a week to adjust, and check the hand size. It connects over Bluetooth or a Logi Bolt receiver; Bolt does not pair with older Unifying receivers. It was priced above the Ergo M575S and below the MX Master 3S at the time of writing.

It has up to 18 months of battery life, the longest here. On button count it sits mid-pack at 3: the Pro Click V2 Vertical offers 6, and the Orbit comes in at 2. Like the Lift, it has a bluetooth or Logi Bolt connection, while the MX Master 4 uses a USB-C dongle or Bluetooth connection.

You also get Smart Actions shortcuts. A trackball stays still on the desk, so it suits cramped desks, but precise selection takes practice. It is shaped for right hands only.

It connects over Bluetooth or a Logi Bolt receiver; Bolt does not pair with older Unifying receivers. Its price falls between the Orbit and the Lift, based on our last check.

Its AI Prompt Master button can trigger AI tools with one click through Razer Synapse. On button count it leads this guide at 6, ahead of the Ergo M575S (3). It is the only pick here with a vertical with base support grip; the Orbit has a finger-operated trackball grip instead.

It also comes with 18-zone lighting. Vertical mice put your hand in a handshake position; allow a week to adjust, and check the hand size. On price it sat fifth of 6, between the cheaper MX Master 3S and the pricier MX Master 4, at the time of writing.

It is the least expensive pick here and includes a detachable wrist rest. A detachable wrist rest cushions the hand, and free software assigns functions to both buttons and the scroll ring. Its 2 button count is the fewest in this group; the Pro Click V2 Vertical leads at 6.

You get a finger-operated trackball grip here, which sets it apart from the Pro Click V2 Vertical and its a vertical with base support grip. A trackball stays still on the desk, so it suits cramped desks, but precise selection takes practice. It cost the least of the 6 picks at the time of writing, with the Ergo M575S the next step up. There is no published battery life figure, whereas the Ergo M575S runs for up to 18 months.