KensingtonSlimBlade™ Pro Wireless Trackball, Rechargeable Battery, Bluetooth 2.4GHz Connection Options (K72080WW)

In a world dominated by standard mice, the Kensington Trackball Mouse offers a refreshing — and highly functional — alternative. Designed for users seeking precision, comfort, and space efficiency, Kensington’s line of trackball mice (particularly the Expert Mouse and SlimBlade models) has earned a strong reputation among graphic designers, video editors, accessibility users, and anyone looking to reduce wrist strain. After several weeks of use, I can confidently say this mouse is more than a niche tool — it’s a productivity powerhouse.Ergonomic Design & ComfortThe most immediate difference is how you interact with the device. Unlike a traditional mouse, the Kensington trackball stays stationary. You control the cursor by rolling the ball with your fingers or palm. This design is a huge win for ergonomics — it eliminates constant wrist and arm movement, reducing the risk of repetitive strain injuries (RSIs), especially during long work sessions.The included wrist rest (on models like the Expert Mouse) adds another layer of comfort. It’s soft, detachable, and encourages a neutral hand posture. Over extended use, I noticed significantly less tension in my forearm and shoulder compared to using a regular mouse.Precision & ControlThe large, smooth-rolling ball is surprisingly accurate. Once you get used to the motion (which takes about a day or two), fine control becomes second nature. Whether you’re navigating through spreadsheets, editing photos, or simply browsing the web, the trackball allows for quick, pixel-level precision — especially useful for design work.Customizability is another standout. The KensingtonWorks software lets you program each of the buttons (typically four on the Expert Mouse) to suit your workflow — from copy/paste shortcuts to opening apps or executing macros. Scroll ring functionality is also intuitive and surprisingly satisfying. Rotating the ring around the ball allows for fluid, smooth scrolling that quickly becomes second nature.Build Quality & DurabilityKensington devices are built like tanks. The materials feel premium, with a sturdy plastic body, high-quality ball bearings, and tactile buttons that hold up well under daily use. Unlike many traditional mice that begin to degrade after a year or two, a Kensington trackball can last years with minimal maintenance — just an occasional cleaning of the ball and socket.Learning CurveThere is a brief adjustment period if you’ve never used a trackball before. It may feel awkward initially, but within a few days, most users adapt quickly. The payoff is worth it — less movement, better posture, and surprisingly faster navigation once you’re accustomed to the motion.Final ThoughtsThe Kensington Trackball Mouse isn’t just an alternative pointing device — it’s a serious upgrade in terms of comfort, control, and customization. Whether you're managing multi-monitor setups, working long hours at a desk, or dealing with wrist issues, this mouse delivers reliable performance with thoughtful design.Rating: 5/5 – Ergonomic, precise, and built to last. An excellent investment for professionals and power users alike.

I've used variations of the original Kensington Smart Mouse (trackball) since the mid-90s and have been hesitant to make the change to this model because of the change in the scrolling mechanism compared to the current Expert Mouse, with a mechanical scroll ring. I did not know if I could adapt or would like the change, but I immediately found the SlimBlade intuitive, and it had even better performance than the old scroll ring. My biggest fears were dispelled.Overall, it is quite an improvement over the older Expert Mouse (trackball).This trackball can be directly connected to the computer, and the cable is a standard USB-C variety. I have two old cabled trackballs in the junk drawer due to cable shorts. I also have a couple of the older versions with the dongle that are worn out, too. I preferred the dongle version in the older Expert Mouse, but they went through batteries and did not always work correctly. I was excited to read that the SlimBlade can last months on a single charge using the dongle, so it is like the best of both worlds.The construction of the SlimBlade is a big improvement over the old Smart Mouse. It is sleek and less prone to clogging, which was a constant cat-hair problem in the past. To me, the buttons are easier to click, and it is much quieter. One of the things I notice most is that it is less bulky than my old favorite, the Kensington Smart Mouse; it is a pleasure to use.

Update 03-03-25I have purchased several SlimBlade Pro trackballs now. My wife has switched to the Nulea trackball as she finds the ball placement more comfortable (the ball sits closer to the buttons). I prefer the SlimBlade, but I do have an issue with the balls. Two of the balls have a flaw (a small bubble in the plastic perhaps) a small cavity maybe 2mm in diameter that catches in the bearings. This is very annoying. I replaced one ball with a LYDD replacement. The LYDD ball is smooth with no flaws (yet, at least). I will probably buy another LYDD ball but I should not need to.---Update:One problem with the scroll wheel on the Expert is that design means stuff can get into the mechanism. My current Expert has a balky scroll. I decided to give the SlimBlade a second look. This one has a stable frame so that is good. The scroll on the Expert, when not gritty is better. I hope that the open bottom under the ball on the SlimBlade means that grit falls through and not into the trackball. The older ball from my Expert works better for me on the Slimlade, it is not so slick. Some people hate the scroll click, I do not mind it but it would be nice to have an option in KensingtonWorks. The lower profile of the SlimBlade is preferable for me. The buttons on the Expert are a little stiffer which I prefer. The built in battery on the SlimeBlade is a nice feature.It has been five days and I am comfortable with the little differences between the SlimBlade and the Expert. I think the scroll is slightly better on the Expert (so long as grit is not in the mechanism. Since the Expert can get gritty it is a toss-up with the SlimBlade giving a slightly less capable but more consistent feel. The clicky noise does not bother me like some others. The buttons are too soft, lots of miss-fires. But I like the lower profile a lot. You cannot make a lower profile for a 55mm ball. I also like the built in battery. The Expert was a battery eater. I will see how long the SlimBlade runs on a charge. I can run the SlimBlade on a cord if needed the Expert will not do this.With Expert, I would occasionally lose the point with the computer wakes up. This usually required a power cycle to fix. I have not seen this with the SlimBlade (this may be a function of the latest KensingtonWorks).---I have used an Expert wireless for years. But I never liked that high ball placement. I thought that I would give this a try. Well, the lower ball placement is great but the scroll is so-so. I live in NV which means dry, and a dry finger tends to slide on the ball rather than scroll the window. This is not a problem with normal tracking since I can get two or three fingers on the ball. The other annoying issue is that the frame in slightly twisted so the whole thing rocks (in a bad way). A 1mm shim solves this but for such a pricey device, this is not a reasonable solution. I returned it.