Finding the best mouse for your needs, especially when you're a designer, is one of the most important things you can do. Your mouse is one of the main ways you interact with your PC, and as you'll be using the mouse for hours on end, it's vitally important that its comfortable to hold, while also offering you all the tools and features you need.
Because the Mac is often considered the designer’s computer, there are some handy tools and applications that are Mac-only. Overall, though, more software is available for the PC, especially if you are focused on a particular industry, gaming or 3-D renderings for architecture. The best iPad apps for design Whether you're sketching, creating typography, or using vectors, find out which free and paid iPad apps are worth downloading to create your best design work. By Digital Arts Staff| on August 15, 2017 Share. Best Answer: Depending on your budget, the best desktop computer to use would be the Mac Pro, note that you will have to also buy a Thunderbolt 4k display to go with it. Otherwise, an iMac would do fine. Alternatively, if you wanted to be a lot more portable, the Macbook Pro 15' w/ Retina would be very suitable.
The best mouse for your needs will be ergonomic, while also offering fast and accurate performance. When putting together this list of the best mice for designers, we've picked a wide range of mice. From budget mice that are small and easy to carry around with you, to wireless wonders with all kinds of extra buttons and features – and everything in between.
With such a huge range of mice to choose from, how do you find the best mouse for you? Worry not, as in this guide, we've rounded up what we think are the best mouse options available right now, while our dedicated price comparison tool checks through thousands of deals to show you the best prices from the most trustworthy retailers.
Not quite what you're after? We also have buying guides for the best left-handed mouse and the best stylus for iPad.
DPI: 4,000 | Interface: Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless | Buttons: 7 | Ergonomic: Right-handed | Features: Scrolling wheel, Customizable buttons, Thumb wheel, ergonomic build
Logitech produces some of the most responsive computer mice on the market, which is pretty handy when you need a tool with precision. Its cordless Logitech MX Master 2S Wireless Bluetooth Mouse improves on almost every aspect of the original MX Master, offering unrivalled comfort thanks to its ergonomic design. You can comfortably use it for hours on end, and it features a super-responsive scroll wheel that lets you browse web pages or documents at your own speed, depending on how fast you flick the wheel.
Buttons located on the side of the mouse also let you flit between windows, and you can configure the buttons to help speed up your workflow. It's wireless as well, which gives you more freedom when working on your desk. The only downside is that it is expensive.
DPI: 4,000 | Interface: Bluetooth (up to three devices); USB-C | Buttons: 6 | Ergonomic: Right-handed | Features: Ergonomic build, Easy-Switch and Flow-Enabled, Fast recharging, Cursor speed switch
The Logitech MX Vertical is an extremely comfortable mouse to use. The handshake grip is designed to reduce the stress on your wrist and hand muscles. You can connect to up to three devices at a time, and a handy button on top of the mouse enables you to switch between different computers instantly. It also promises fast recharging and smooth performance. On the downside, there's no slot of a wireless receiver, and the quirky and slightly bulky design won't be for everyone.
DPI: 1000 | Interface: 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity; USB receiver | Buttons: 3 | Ergonomic: Ambidextrous | Features: Scroll wheel
If you're after a reliable, cheap, no-frills option, try the Logitech M185. This wireless mouse comes with an unobtrusive nano USB receiver, and offers 2.4GHZ connectivity that promises virtually no delay or dropouts. It works with Windows, Mac, Chrome OS and Linux, and is super-simple to get started with: just plug in the receiver and start using the mouse.
Of course, for this price, you're not getting anything fancy. While the symmetrical design can be used in either hand (good news for lefties), if you're going to be using it for long hours you might want to consider something with a more ergonomic design.
The best mouse for Apple devices
DPI: 1300 | Interface: Bluetooth | Buttons: 0 | Ergonomic: Ambidextrous | Features: Multi-touch
Apple was late to join the innovative mouse party then it created the Magic Mouse. Its replacement, the imaginatively titled Magic Mouse 2, has a super-light design and laser-tracking capabilities that make it easy to flick between InDesign CC pages and make even the smallest changes on practically any surface.
However, the downside is that it’s perhaps a little over-sensitive at times. The multi-touch area on the top of the mouse, which lets you scroll in any direction, can sometimes become frustrating when you want to keep your finger in the same place for a long period of time. But for Magic Mouse evangelists, there is nothing that comes close to this mouse.
Alternatively, a lot of designers prefer the Apple Magic Trackpad 2, which brings Force Touch pressure-sensitive technology (as seen in the screen of the Apple Watch) and the trackpad of the 2015 12-inch MacBook. Or for a cheaper option, try the older Apple Magic Trackpad.
The best ergonomic mouse for creatives
DPI: 1000 | Interface: USB | Buttons: 5 | Ergonomic: Vertical | Features: No
Sure, the Anker Vertical Ergonomic Optical Mouse looks weird. It’s vertically aligned to encourage healthy, neutral 'handshake' wrist and arm. But once you get used to it, it’s a cheap and very comfortable way to avoid RSI. If you're a digital creative that spends a lot of time using a mouse for work, then having one that is comfortable to use is essential. After all, if you injure yourself and cannot work, it could mean you lose money. That makes this odd-looking mouse a very wise investment, which is why we think it's the best ergonomic mouse for digital creatives.
Versatile and feature-packed mouse
DPI: 1,600 | Interface: Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless (pairs with up to three devices) | Buttons: 6 | Ergonomic: Right-handed | Features: Scrolling wheel, Logitech Darkfield Laser Tracking, unifying receiver, easy-switch tech, gesture function
Smaller than Logitech’s flagship, the MX Master, the Logitech MX Anywhere 2 is the ideal travel mouse for digital creatives that work on the road. It can connect to three different devices via Bluetooth, and it can last all day with just four minutes of charging!
Despite its small size, it still comes with the high-build quality we've come to expect from Logitech. It's not as ergonomic as other mice in this guide, but if you're looking for a mouse to carry around with you, this is the one to go for.
DPI: 512 – 2048 | Interface: Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless | Buttons: 8 | Ergonomic: Right-handed | Features: Trackball, USB dongle, Logitech ‘Flow’ software compatibility for use with up to three PCs simultaneously, micro USB charging, precision mode
The MX Ergo Wireless is a distinctly retro-looking mouse thanks to its trackball. While many mice-makers have ditched trackballs in favour of optical laser mice, Logitech has continued to release trackball mice, and for that we're thankful. For many people, the tactile trackball makes working on creative projects much more intuitive and comfortable, and the MX Ergo Wireless can be used flat or at a 20-degree angle.
The legend returns
DPI: 3200 | Interface: Wired | Buttons: 5 | Ergonomic: Right-handed | Features: classic design, programmable buttons, subdued white lighting
For people of a certain age, the Microsoft Intellimouse will bring back strong memories of a real workhorse of a mouse, that wasn't flashy, but did the job brilliantly. Microsoft has tapped into that nostalgia with the Microsoft Classic Intellimouse, which modernises the classic design and improves the sensor, allowing users to ramp up the DPI to 3,200. It’s not wireless, but for a comfortable and dependable mouse, this is a brilliant update to a computing icon.
DPI: 10,000 | Interface: USB | Buttons: 5 | Ergonomic: Right-handed | Features: lighting effects
Just like designers, gamers need a mouse that is sensitive and accurate, so it stands to reason that gaming mice are a good option for designers too. And the Razer range of gaming mice is one of the most responsive out there.
Razer mice have three types of sensors – dual, laser and optical – and an ergonomic shape designed to support the flow of your hand. The Razer Deathadder mouse is the bestseller (as well as the cheapest), and features an optical sensor and rubber side grips. It also syncs with all of your mouse settings stored in the Cloud.
The best budget mouse
DPI: 1000 | Interface: Bluetooth | Buttons: 2 | Ergonomic: Ambidextrous | Features: No
Microsoft's Bluetooth Mobile Mouse 3600 is, in our view, the best budget mouse money can buy these days. Although it has a rock-bottom price, it has impressive build quality and is very reliable. This is because Microsoft isn't just a software company – it also makes some very good peripherals, such as this mouse. It's small enough to easily carry around with you as well, which is handy if you do a lot of work on the road.
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