The best mouse for photo and video editing in 2022: boost comfort & control
The best mouse for photo and video editing needs to promise two main things. One is a precise level of control, so you can make fine edits to your images and footage, quickly and easily. And in that regard, the more buttons there are, the better. This allows you to assign frequently used commands and shortcuts to each button, saving you lots of time navigating through menus or executing keyboard shortcuts.
Another must-have is good ergonomics: the mouse must fit well in the hand and promote good wrist and arm posture. In fact, buying the best mouse could well make the difference between years of comfortable editing versus the onset of aches and pains... so why wouldn't you?
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Other considerations come down to price and whether you want a wired or wireless mouse. These days even entry-level mice are often wireless and offer very reliable pointer tracking. You also needn't worry about replacing batteries every five minutes, as most wireless mice can last many months and even years on one or two AA batteries.
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When it comes to accuracy, pointer precision is worth keeping an eye on, but it needn't be a deal-breaker. Measured in dpi (dots-per-inch), this measurement is of paramount concern for gamers, but generally even a modest mouse from a reputable brand will easily have good enough pointer precision for photo and video editing.
So what's the best mouse for you? Whether you're using the best student laptops or the best desktop computer for photo editing, below you'll find the top contenders. We'll explain how they differ, and what each one has to offer, so you can make the most informed decision.
Best mouse for photo and video editing
1. Logitech MX Master 3S
The best mouse for photo and video editing overall
Buttons: 7 | Sensor precision: 8000dpi | Connection: Wireless (Bluetooth & 2.4GHz) | Ergonomic: Right-handed | Features: Easy switch to connect to different devices, USB-C quick charging, gesture button
High precision
Quiet operation
Very ergonomic
Right-handed use only
Pricey
This is our pick as the best mouse for photo and video editing today, unless you're left-handed (in which case, check out the Contour Unimouse Left Hand Wireless, number 7 on our list).
For right-handed people, the MX Master 3Ss' highly ergonomic shape fits beautifully in the hand, with an extended thumb rest for added comfort. Controls are also extensive and very versatile, with twin thumb buttons placed directly beneath a secondary thumb-operated scroll wheel. The primary scroll wheel uses Logitech's clever MagSpeed Electromagnetic scrolling to provide precision when rotated slowly, or hyper-fast scrolling when flicked at speed.
The wheel's milled steel construction and silent operation further enhance this mouse's premium feel. It's so quiet, you might be tempted to do a little bit of productive work when you're on a phone or Zoom call. Preset shortcuts for the supplementary mouse buttons are available for Photoshop, Premiere, and other popular programs, plus there's even gesture control.
A 8000DPI laser sensor gives supreme pointer precision, even on glass, with excellent wireless connectivity using Logitech's USB BOLT Receiver. Battery life is up to 70 days, and you'll find a USB Type-C charging port at the front.
2. Microsoft Ergonomic Mouse
The best wired mouse for photo and video editing
Buttons: 5 | Sensor precision: 1000dpi | Connection: Wired, USB 2.0 Type-A | Ergonomic: Right-handed | Features: Ergonomic shape, metal scroll wheel
Ergonomic shape
Reasonably priced
Not wireless
Photo and video editing are time-consuming activities that rely heavily on mouse usage, so it makes a great deal of sense to ensure your new mouse is as ergonomic as possible to help prevent aches and pains. Thankfully, you don't need to spend big money to get such a basic requirement as comfort, as the Microsoft Ergonomic Mouse is exactly that: ergonomic.
Sure, the design isn't quite as radical as you get with some other premium mice, but then this is way less expensive. And there's a generous thumb rest, above which is cited two thumb buttons for convenient shortcut accessibility.
A metal scroll wheel adds a further touch of class, while the 1000dpi tracking sensor is plenty precise enough for all but hardcore gaming. Drawbacks? This is a wired mouse, so it's best paired with a desktop computer where you're less likely to miss wireless freedom.
3. Apple Magic Mouse 2
The best mouse for MacBooks
Buttons: 1 | Sensor precision: 1300dpi | Connection: Wireless (Bluetooth) | Ergonomic: Right or left-handed | Features: Gesture control, slim profile, rechargeable
Multi-touch gesture control
Rechargeable
Travel-friendly
Only one physical button
Not very ergonomic
Having stressed how good ergonomics should be for photo and video editing mouse, here's an exception to the rule: Apple's Magic Mouse 2. Its sleek shape makes zero attempt to be comfortable in the hand, but on the plus side, it will slide into a laptop bag much more easily than a chunkier alternative, and it's suitable for right or left-handed users. What's more, most travel-friendly laptop mice are usually so small that they're far from comfortable.
Where the Magic Mouse 2 scores highly is its features. Its smooth top surface acts like a second trackpad for your MacBook, as it's able to recognize multi-touch gestures for horizontal or vertical scrolling and other Mac OS gesture shortcuts. Factor the wireless Bluetooth connectivity and built in Li-ion rechargeable battery and the Magic Mouse 2 is a good choice for MacBook users on the go.
See also • Best Mac mouse • Best Mac keyboard
4. Logitech G604
The best mouse for photo editing and gaming
Buttons: 15 | Sensor precision: 16000dpi | Connection: Wireless (Lightspeed & Bluetooth) | Ergonomic: Right-handed | Features: Dual mode hyper-fast scroll wheel, onboard memory, mechanical Button tensioning system
Lots of buttons
Great tracking
Built to last
Overkill for non-gamers
Expensive
Logitech's G-series mice are predominately designed for gaming, but where most gaming mice look frankly ridiculous in an office setting, the G604 has much more subtle styling that makes it just as suitable for photo and video editors as gamers.
The advantage with picking a gaming mouse over a traditional conventional is they're built to withstand serious abuse. Plus, in the case of the G604, you get more buttons than on a 1980s Hi-fi. There are 15 in total, with six operated by the thumb alone. That gives you scope to assign loads of Photoshop or Final Cut shortcuts to each button, so assuming you can then remember which does what, you can seriously speed up your workflow.
The G604's 16,000 dpi tracking sensor is way more precise than you'd ever need for image editing, and the same goes for the 'Lightspeed' wireless connection with its 1ms response time. In this mode you get up to 240 hours of non-stop use, but Logitech also incorporates Bluetooth connectivity in the G604 for reduced power consumption, and in this mode you can expect up to 5.5 months of standard use.
5. Anker AK-UBA 2.4G Wireless Vertical Ergonomic Optical Mouse
The best vertical mouse for photo and video editing
Buttons: 5 | Sensor precision: 1600dpi | Connection: Wireless (2.4GHz) | Ergonomic: Right-handed | Features: Vertical design
Good for long sessions
Affordable
Wireless
Vertical mice take time to get used to
Few people realize that resting your hand palm-down on a conventional mouse isn't all that ergonomic. It's actually preferable to have you hand rotated round to a handshake position, as it would be if you let it rest by your side. It's exactly this position that the strange looking Anker AK-UBA Vertical Ergonomic Optical Mouse encourages.
Apart from this ultra-ergonomic stance, the mouse is pretty straight-forward, with a typical complement of thumb-operated shortcut buttons and a decent (though not spectacular) 1600dpi max tracking resolution. A 2.4GHz wireless link keeps things cable-free, and the mouse is powered by two AAA batteries. But best of all, you can have all this for a fraction of the cost of what a similar vertical mouse like Logitech's MX Vertical would set you back.
6. Logitech M185 Wireless Mouse
The best cheap mouse for photo and video editing.
Buttons: 3 | Sensor precision: 1000dpi | Connection: Wireless (2.4GHz) | Ergonomic: Neutral | Features: Compact, ambidextrous design
Affordable
Good choice for left-handed people
Long battery life
Only 3 buttons
Not particularly ergonomic
Image editing using a basic laptop trackpad isn't much fun, but if you're on a tight budget and just want a simple mouse to give you greater control, the M185 is unbeatable. It's also very travel-friendly at just 99 x 60 x 39mm, and is neutrally sculpted to fit in either hand.
The M185 uses a 2.4GHz wireless link with a 10m range. The system is so power-efficient that a single AA battery is enough to run the mouse for around 12 months, and the USB wireless receiver is so small you barely notice it. The main downside to this mouse is its lack of thumb-operated buttons, limiting your options for defining custom mouse shortcuts in photo editing software.
7. Contour Unimouse Left Hand Wireless
The best left-handed mouse for photo and video editing
Buttons: 7 | Sensor precision: 2400dpi | Connection: Wireless (2.4GHz) | Ergonomic: Right or left-handed | Features: Ergonomic left-handed shape, highly adjustable
Ergonomic left-handed design
Wireless
Highly adjustable
Vertical orientation not for everyone
Often a 'left-handed' mouse just means a basic symmetrical shape that fits equally well in the left or right hand, with no asymmetrical protrusions. Fine, but that just means left-handed people lose out on the more sculpted, ergonomic shaping offered by more exotic right-handed mice.
This certainly isn't the case with Contour Design's Unimouse. While it's available in regular right-handed form, the Unimouse is also offered in a proper left-handed guise, retaining all the same ergonomic features as the right-hander, just mirrored. And this really is one seriously ergonomic offering.
The mouse can tilt sideways between 35 and 70 degrees to pivot your wrist for optimal comfort, and then there's ATS: articulating thumb support. This enables the thumb rest to be tilted up, down, forwards, backwards, and even in and out relative to the rest of the mouse body. The idea is to minimise the amount of effort required to grip the mouse, and thereby reduce possible muscle strain. 6 programmable buttons ensure a decent level of settings control.
The Unimouse also nails the tech basics, with 2400dpi max pointer precision, 2.4GHz wireless connectivity, and a built-in rechargeable battery.
8. Logitech MX Ergo
The best trackball mouse for photo editing
Buttons: 8 | Sensor precision: 2048dpi | Connection: Wireless (Bluetooth & 2.4GHz) | Ergonomic: Right-handed | Features: Adjustable mouse angle, easy switch to connect to different devices
Trackball design
Adjustable tilt angle
Rechargeable battery
Right-handers only
Less advanced than MX Master 3
Trackball mice aren't for everyone, but they offer a level of pointer precision that some find unbeatable. Add the reduced muscular strain from not needing to move your wrist and lower arm, and trackballs can also be a blessing if you suffer from conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome. In fact, Logitech claims the MX Ergo can reduce muscle strain by as much as 20% when compared to using a regular mouse.
Adding to the ergonomic feel is a hinged base plate that can tip the whole mouse over by any angle from 0 to 20 degrees so you can position your wrist at the perfect angle for maximum long-term comfort. The thumb-operated trackball uses a 380-dpi optical tracking sensor and is supplemented by 8 additional buttons that can be configured to operate numerous shortcuts.
The built-in 500mAh Li-Po rechargeable battery is good for up to four months on a single charge, while the 2.4GHz wireless connection can be used as far as 10m away.
9. Logitech M330 Silent Plus
The best mouse for photo and video editing on the go
Buttons: 3 | Sensor precision: 1000dpi | Connection: Wireless (2.4GHz) | Ergonomic: Right-handed | Features: Silent scroll wheel, quiet feet, 2-year battery life
Silent click-feel scroll wheel
Compact
Wireless with long battery life
Not particularly ergonomic
Only 3 buttons
The main feature with this mouse is its silent scroll wheel, or rather, the fact that it's silent while still maintaining a click feel to its motion. Useful if you want to maintain a low profile on public transport. Maintaining the silent theme are special pads on the underside of the mouse for quieter mouse movement.
The overall design is subtly sculpted for right-handers, and at 105.4 mm x 67.9 mm x 38.4 mm, this mouse is small enough for convenient travel while still being comfortable to hold. There's also no cable clutter, as the wireless connection is good for up to 10 metres range and you only need to change the single AA battery every two years. Factor the very reasonable price tag and the M330 Silent Plus is a good value option, especially if you need to work on the go.
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