A solid budget trackball, Logitech\u2019s wireless Ergo M575S delivers much of the comfort and core performance of the company’s stellar MX Ergo S for about half the price.<\/b>
\nLogitech makes some of the best desktop input devices, but they aren\u2019t always cheap, with flagship models fetching over $100 at full price. Then there are more approachable models like its Ergo M575S, a budget-friendlier alternative to Logitech\u2019s latest trackball, the Editors’ Choice-award-winning MX Ergo S. The M575S costs about half as much as the manufacturer\u2019s premier model. This boiled-down version of Logitech\u2019s ergonomic trackball handles the basics well enough, but it misses out on some cooler Logitech features, mainly centered in its software. (Too bad; they wouldn\u2019t have cost the company much to include.) We maintain the MX Ergo S as our top trackball pick, though the Ergo M575S will serve budget buyers well enough.Design: Familiar Shape, Fewer Frills
Aesthetically, the M575S isn\u2019t terribly different from its more expensive counterpart, the MX Ergo S. Its 1.9-by-3.9-by-5.2-inch (HWD) shell curves inward to fit right-handed users (sorry, southpaws), and is canted about 5 degrees off your desk to help prevent wrist strain. However, the M575S’s shell lacks the MX Ergo S’s grippy texture and additional tilting options.
The M575S also copies the MX Ergo S’s layout. A pair of additional buttons sits to the left side of your index finger, and a simple textured scroll wheel splits the main inputs. Unlike its fancier version, the M575S lacks directional tilt-scrolling for its scroll wheel, and it doesn’t have the extra single thumb button above its trackball.
The M575S has one small advantage over the Ergo S, though: its possible color palette. Instead of the default matte gray, the M575S offers five shell-and-trackball combinations to choose from. While your options are limited to blue, white, black, or gray, it made me wish the Ergo S had similar customization choices.
As for the power source, the M575S runs on a single AA battery and doesn\u2019t offer wired use or USB-C charging. The device pairs with your device via Bluetooth or the Logi Bolt unifying USB-C receiver, which can be shared with some new Logitech peripherals to provide 2.4GHz radio-frequency (RF) connectivity.
I lament any accessory that uses disposable batteries or ergonomic devices that lack adjustment options. But on the flip side? Less heft. The M575S is about half the weight of the MX Ergo S, and light enough to be considered portable, provided you don\u2019t mind the bulk of a trackball stuffed in your backpack.Testing the Ergo M575S: My Fingers Say It’s Well-Rounded
Unsurprisingly, my experience with the Ergo M575S was very similar to my time with the MX Ergo S. The two main buttons use the same switches as the Ergo S and provide a satisfying tactile response while remaining virtually silent. That’s a nice addition for anyone who wants to avoid making much noise in a co-working space.
I missed the additional body tilt the MX Ergo S offers, but the M575S is still one of the most ergonomic input options I\u2019ve used in years. It might take a little getting used to if you\u2019ve never used a trackball before. But I\u2019d still recommend the M575S over something like a vertical mouse if you need relief from repetitive stress or other symptoms aggravated by poor wrist posture. A trackball like this reduces the wrist motion associated with mouse use. Wrist-pain sufferers may want to consider, however, that the MX Ergo S lets you pivot the trackball’s body to elevate your hand closer to a perpendicular position relative to your desk surface, more of a \u00ab\u00a0handshake\u00a0\u00bb grip. It all comes down to personal comfort.
Trackballs need regular cleaning to perform their best. Like other Logitech trackballs, cleaning the Ergo M575S is a simple matter of popping out the ball and using a cotton swab to clear any buildup on the rollers or sensor. While the tracking resolution of the sensor is fine enough to let you quickly sweep across multiple monitors, like other trackballs the Ergo M575S can have some difficulty handling pinpoint, precision applications like Adobe Photoshop or DaVinci Resolve, at least without practice.
I reflexively grouse about a peripheral that uses disposable batteries, but to its credit, the Ergo M575S is remarkably power-efficient. Even after several weeks of testing, the AA cell still registered a 100% level in the Logi Options Plus software.Software: Can’t Seize the Actions Ring
Speaking of the Options Plus software: It’s a well-rounded and functional customization suite for adjusting Logitech peripherals. It lets you record macros, adjust sensitivity settings, or remap inputs. Its most novel addition, the Actions Ring, isn\u2019t available on the Ergo M575S, though. On the MX Ergo S, the Actions Ring, when triggered, pops up a small, round menu around your on-screen cursor. The menu has up to eight selections, and each selection can include nested functions, drastically increasing the number of macros and shortcuts at your fingers.
That’s disappointing, because it would’ve been a simple matter to remap one of the Ergo M575S’s existing inputs to pull up the new feature. This feels like something that could be easily fixed with a future software\/firmware update, but it currently comes across as a bit of an arm-twist on Logitech’s part, to spur power users to buy the pricier MX Ergo S.<\/p>\n