Logitech makes some of the best desktop input devices, but they aren’t 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’s latest trackball, the Editors' Choice-award-winning MX Ergo S. The M575S costs about half as much as the manufacturer’s premier model. This boiled-down version of Logitech’s 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’t 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.
Aesthetically, the M575S isn’t 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’t 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’t mind the bulk of a trackball stuffed in your backpack.
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’ve used in years. It might take a little getting used to if you’ve never used a trackball before. But I’d 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 "handshake" 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.
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’t 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.
Final Thoughts
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Logitech Ergo M575S
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
The Ergo M575S makes the right concessions to hit its $50 price, and it's a solid pick if your budget goes that far and no further. If Logitech made the Actions Ring available with this model, I would be an even bigger fan.
If you can live without the otherwise excellent Logi Options Plus software and want a good, budget-friendly trackball, also explore Kensington's options. The Pro Fit Ergo T550, for instance, offers a similar form factor and superior features at around the same MSRP ($49.99) as the Ergo M575S. The better pick between the two might come down to which one is on sale that day.
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About Our Expert
Whether building my own keyboards from scratch or benchmarking new PC components, I've dedicated my career to making gaming more approachable to a wider audience. Since 2016, I have contributed to a variety of publications, including PCMag, PC Gamer, The Verge, and Polygon, writing roundups, reviews, and wider commentaries on the gaming industry. I graduated from CUNY Brooklyn College with a degree in Television/Radio Broadcasting. A lifetime gamer, I also dabble in bicycle maintenance, creative writing, playing board games, and emulating old PC titles for modern machines.
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