Why You Can Trust CNET Hands-on with the new $50 Logitech Ergo M575 Wireless Trackball
The company has released a more affordable wireless trackball. We take it for a spin.
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It's new mice season for Logitech. Having recently released its MX Anywhere 3 and MX Master for Mac, the peripheral-maker is adding the Ergo M575 Wireless Trackball to its Ergo Series lineup. The M575 is a little smaller and little less swanky feeling than its MX Ergo wireless trackball, but at $50, it costs half the price and replaces the M570 wireless trackball.
I'm a fan of trackballs -- they're good for people who have limited desk space within which to move around a standard mouse, or need to keep arm movements to a minimum to avoid repetitive strain. With a trackball, the device remains stationary and you use your thumb to maneuver the ball.
The M575 doesn't feel as sturdily built as the MX Ergo (yes, it's lighter) and the trackball doesn't feel quite as precise as the MX Ergo's. Also, the MX Ergo allows you to pair with a second device -- and switch between them -- while this model doesn't. All that said, while I prefer the MX Ergo, I didn't feel I lost that much with the Ergo M575 and its upgraded design (from the M570) fit my medium-sized hand well.
Its design has been upgraded in small but significant ways from the M570 wireless trackball.
Indeed, Logitech seems to be targeting people with more diverse hand sizes with its latest mice. It says the Ergo M575's "ergonomic design allows for a wide range of hand sizes to rest on the sculpted shape" and the "angled scroll wheel keeps your fingers in a more natural and comfortable position."
Available in graphite and off-white colors for right-handed people, the trackball runs on a single AA battery and includes Logitech's USB Unifying Receiver (which requires USB-A) for Windows and Mac PCs, which can be stored in the battery compartment. Thankfully, you can also connect via Bluetooth and not use the USB dongle, which I ended up doing with an Apple MacBook Pro. Logitech's Options software allows you to customize the buttons to your preferences.
The older M570 is down to $30 on Amazon, so maybe we'll see the M575 come down in a bit in due time. But if you like trackballs but found the MX Ergo a little out of your price range, the M575 is a good alternative for less.
The Ergo M575 is powered by a single AA battery and is very energy efficient.