If you are always on the go, then owning one of the best travel mice is crucial. Travel mice will allow your wrists to have the comfort of your home computing set up anywhere. These mice connect to your laptop (and can connect to your desktop), creating more mobility than the traditional trackpad.
Wires matter. When there is no long cord to detangle during your commute, you know you have a great travel mouse. There are options with retractable cords like the Sabrent Mini Travel Mouse, or wireless options like the VicTsing Wireless Mouse and Mouse Pad, which comes with a mouse pad!
You can customize your needs when choosing the best travel mice for you!
The VicTsing has so many features packed in that it’s almost unfathomable that this little mouse is so budget friendly. Let’s run them down: the mouse comes with five adjustable optimized CPI settings (indicating the tracking speed of the mouse) — 800, 1200, 1600, 2000, and 2400. Once you have the sensitivity set right, you can bet that the thing will last a long time since the company tested it for 5,000,000 keystrokes. The 2.4 GHz wireless and the optimized chip allows for wireless connectivity up to 33 feet away. The ergonomics are also thought through with slots and indents for each finger, while the battery life ensures the most possible play on a single AAA. Finally, the mouse supports pretty much any OS under the sun with compatibility for Windows, Mac and even Linux.
Best Wireless
VicTsing Wireless Mouse
“In terms of comfort, this was our favorite travel mouse we tested, as the mouse has grooves designed for even the smaller fingers on the right hand.” — Rebecca Isaacs, Product Tester
Logitech’s Ultrathin Touch Mouse T630 is wireless, weighs 6.88 ounces and measures 1.73 x 5.43 x 4.09 inches. The portable T630 is roughly the size of a credit card and is built with a brushed metallic body and smooth silky surface. Unlike other portable mice on the list, it includes wireless Bluetooth technology for connectivity and charges via USB to a full charge in only minutes. The device features intuitive gestures with Windows 8 like enlarging images and scrolling.
Best Compact
Logitech Ultrathin Touch Mouse T630
Note that, since there is no universal compatible unit, the T630 comes in two versions for Mac and Windows.
“Our only concern in terms of performance with the Logitech was the scrolling button. It felt jerky, even with optimal settings on the Control Panel.” — Rebecca Isaacs, Product Tester
Best Budget
Sabrent Mini Travel USB Optical Mouse
Sabrent’s wired mini travel mouse features a “plug-and-play” feature where it requires no software for installation: it’s compatible with both your PC and Mac. Its ultra portable design means it weighs only 1.5 ounces and measures 2.44 x 6.46 x 1.57 inches. It includes a robust and lightweight ABS for silent clicking, a multifunction wheel, as well as a 1200 DPI for optical tracking precision.
Note that it comes in black only.
“It’s important to keep in mind that this is a wired, ergonomic mouse that relies on a USB port connection. So while it doesn’t require any batteries, it can be problematic if you need more than 25 inches the cable provides.” — Rebecca Isaacs, Product Tester
By far one of the most interesting and ground-breaking travel mice out there is Microsoft’s RVF-00052 Arc Touch Mouse. It’s built with a flexible curved design that can be manipulated and bent to contort to your comfort, as well as flattened for easy storage.
Best for Comfort
Microsoft RVF-00052 Arc Touch Mouse
Microsoft’s Arc Touch Mouse does not include a physical scroll wheel, but instead, responds with precision to the movement speed of your finger on its sensor. It uses a light vibration feedback to scan through your documents and Web pages. The RVF-00052 includes BlueTrack technology, designed with the combination of optical and precision lasers, making it adaptable to any surface.
Moreover, this mouse includes two AAA batteries with a battery life of up to six months and is compatible with the most current operating systems on the market.
“While it can work across multiple surfaces, expect some sacrifice on the sensory technology, especially on more hardened surfaces like faux wood desks.” — Rebecca Isaacs, Product Tester
The small Verbatim Mini Travel Optical Mouse measures 8.5 x 1.5 x 4.9 inches and weighs only three ounces. It features a retractable USB cable and offers a USB 2.0 interface that’s compatible with USB 1.1. ports. It works with all modern operating systems across the board, including Mac OSX, Windows 7 and Linux kernel 2.6 and higher. Unlike some other mice on the list, the Verbatim offers a one-year limited warranty in case anything goes wrong with your mouse. Buyers love the product for its small versatile design. Colors come in black, blue, pink, purple, red, and green.
Best Design
Verbatim Mini Travel Optical Mouse Metro Series
Targus’ Cord-Storing Optical Moue AMU76US has an ergonomic shape and design, a retractable USB cable and 1,000 DPI optical sensors. The Targus Cord-Storing Optical Mouse AMU76US weighs just 3.2 ounces and measures 2.25 x 1.5 x 4.25 inches. It comes in a black and grey design and is compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems. Comes with a one-year warranty.
Best Wired
Targus Cord-Storing Optical Mouse AMU76US
Razer has earned its place on these lists as kind of the industry standard for mainstream gaming gear. But after scouring the range, we ended up going with one of Logitech’s top gaming steeds. The G403 comes with its own set of impressive specs: a 1 ms response rate of 1000 Hz (both wirelessly and on USB), a glide coefficient that rivals even wired at-home mice, a 20-million click durability rating, a 32-bit ARM processor, as well as the ability to customize its LED color up to 16.8 million different ways. Plus, if you’re running low on battery, it allows for simultaneous charging and wired operation. But our favorite part about this is that the thing doesn’t look needlessly flashy like most gaming mice, so it’ll be just as at home answering e-mails on the train as it is owning FPS opponents in your hotel room.
Best for Gaming
Logitech G403
What to Look for in a Travel Mouse
Retractable Cord
Choose a travel mouse that comes with a retractable USB cord if you need a wired mouse. The great thing about a retractable USB cord is that it makes the mouse that much easier to pack up and store in whatever limited space you’re working with.
Wireless
If you don’t mind packing extra batteries, wireless mice make good traveling companions. Since there’s no wire to worry about, you’re free to position the mouse on whatever surface is convenient. Look for one that uses Bluetooth instead of a proprietary connection if you don’t want to have to worry about dongles.
Optical vs. Laser
Optical mice are less accurate and sensitive than laser mice, but they work better on a wider range of surfaces. If you don’t think you’ll always have a perfect surface available, and you don’t want to haul around a rigid mouse pad, choose an optical mouse or a hybrid.
