Elecom Huge: A Trackball Done Right? (w/ Kensington Expert) 

I absolutely love my HUGE Balls. I have both the wireless and wired versions and I use them on a Linux laptop. I would definitely recommend either. For the wireless one, a form fitting case ( Hermit Shell Brand ) is a must to both protect the device and make sure the USB BT receiver does not fall out during transport.

The Patent that took the trackman marble FX off the market has expired. They need to remake that trackball, it was simply THE best ergonomic design out there. These trackballs with the ball on the top just don't allow for easy tactile movement. The old marble FX had a large ball, and it was positioned towards the side so could manipulate the ball with 3 to four fingers in a rested position. It was perfect.

Thank you for such a comprehensive review.

My only experience with trackballs is with the Elecom Huge, which I purchased approximately seven years ago. Recently, the left pointer got a double-click issue. I failed to repair it myself, and I have now sent it to the local tech assistance for repair. Initially, I chose the Huge because using a regular mouse caused wrist pain. However, during the first week of using the trackball, I experienced some discomfort in either my fingers or hand, though this disappeared by the second week. As a Linux user, I find it great for button mapping, but I have struggled with the software on Windows and couldn't find a way to configure to hold a button to use the ball as a scrollwheel. I agree that the Huge's precision isn't the best and it may not be the best option for someone working with image editing. However, it has worked well for me even when playing non-competitive games. Even with my positive experience, I'm surprised at the limited variety of trackballs available on the market. I'm wondering why no other trackball with a similar design has been released, or if any improvements have been made since my purchase. I wish there were as many options for trackballs as there are for mechanical keyboards.

Use this trackball almost five years. Previously used Logitech M570 (use two, both died), huge ball is really amazing for everyday use, but have a little troubles - short battery life (maybe month-two with duracell) and don't have battery status in app, not all applications work with fn buttons correctly, sometimes lost connections, coursor freezing (need clik to wake up) and last time double clik on main button. Yeah, sounds like crap, but I use this trakball further:)

I own the deft pro which is a more compact version of this one, I like the scroll wheel better than I expected because I've been using the MX Master 3 and that scroll wheel is very good.

I was very tempted when I first saw this trackball, as my >20 year old Kensington Expert Mouse is close to going to the great IT recycling centre in the sky after the scroll wheel function has completely packed in (after a number of "wobbles" over the years with the scroll wheel, I'd "adjusted" the IR transmitter / sensor once too often and fatigue saw the transmitter physically fall off the board). But your very thorough review has alerted me to the problem of lack of hand support which is SO good on the KEMs. So close but no cigar for the Elecom. What trackball are you "driving" day to day? I love the KEM but I'm always open to new ideas. Thanks for the vid.

Bought this mouse a couple years ago, left click is failing, double clicks all the time. But overall, as a trackmouse user with large hands, I have been loving it. I just bought two more, so I have a new one and a spare. Now I hear you say the switches can be replaced (so they're plugged, not soldered? good to know!) and am kicking myself. XD Ah well. Going to disagree with you on the issue of hand support, though. I fully rest my hand on the palm and arc my fingers over the ball and buttons, allowing my thumb to rest on its pad (just rock the thumb to click) and the pinkie on the right side pad, other three fingers draped over the ball and right-click. I feel no fatigue and use it literally all day. More support under the arch would just hinder my movements, really. So it comes down to a question of method of usage, on that one. Great video, glad it popped up in my suggestions while I was investigating another mouse I saw mentioned (GamerTrackball - looks cool but features not worth the price, for me). Keep it up, think I might peek in again later.

I've been using this for about 1 1/2 years. The scroll wheel is no longer working correctly. Looks like I'll attempt to open and clean the cheap mechanical encoder. Why don't they use optical encoded scroll wheels now?

Thanks for mentioning the issue with large hand size fit. Do you think that Kensington Expert is better for large hands?

The bearings on mine have not issue out of the box, it's smooth. The only complaint is the shape, I have large hands, I add a small cushion under the palm to be comfortable

I have exactly the same problem with this thing because I have large hands. Going to see if there is a stick on cushion I could use to make it less awkward.

I have one of the old MS trackballs, and have just worked out that, that's whats giving my RSI. I don't see this one being much different.

Thanks for the video. I'd like to change the bearings. Can you point me how? Also, what's your favorite trackball? Thanks!

My scroll wheel is sticking at certain points when i rotate through it. Any suggestions on how to repair that?

I own two Kensington Expert trackballs (both are over ten years old) and I love them, but just like the Huge, the polling rate of the Kensington is only 125 Hz, and that does not work in high FPS games. I have a 144 Hz monitor, and even at 100 FPS, mouse movement on my Kensington is not smooth in games. I wound up buying a GameBall with a 1,000 Hz polling rate. If there is another fingertip trackball out there with a high polling rate, and more than three buttons, I haven't found it. P. S. That low/high switch on the bottom controls BlueTooth power, not polling rate. The polling rate is stuck at 125 Hz and cannot be changed.

Can't fix the slope?!? Say what?!? You were able to swap out the finicky bearing but you couldn't figure out a simple bag of rice to shift the support back a little?!? Yes, it may not be as usable in "stock" configuration, but that is an incredibly simple fix compared to swapping out the bearings! Overall nice review, but very lacking in imagination.

Good review. Had the Huge but the issue I had was being at a standing desk the slope caused my hand the have to be manipulated upward causing shoulder rotation and defeating the purpose of using it for my shoulder injury.

any love for the cst l-trac ? it's been my daily for about 6 months now

Great review, r u planning to review the Kensington Expert? Regarding usability (hand support, button layout), which one of them do you prefer?

2 things... it has dual batteries, however they are placed in parallel, meaning that it is possible they drain each other out. I Places a piece of paper on one battery, so it one dies, i have a spate to use. The huge hands at 7.00, why would i want to use the finger tip. I control the ball with 3 fingers at the first finger bents. What i find hard to operate are the 2 small upper buttons and the back button.

I preferred trackman back in the day, though my version was quite old. Middle-click had to be emulated with software, which didn't work under Ubuntu.

allot of us Trackball mouse people, have TRIED to talk to these folk, Ligi, Kenn, Elecom, and others, TRIED to talk to them...no response.

I got the elecom huge to use with 3d modelling professionally and I can't really reccomend it as the MMB being absolute ass to use and hold down and lack of on board memory for the binds makes it near unusable. Now pair this with the pretty bad bearings and the ball that badly needs you to polish it yourself, you are better off spending over 100 bucks for something else. Cause by the time the trackball is functional, smooth you have already wasted enough to have gotten something better

You should do a video on replacing trackball bearings.

a very nice vid for a small channel

great review, what trackball do you recommend for big hands?

Thanks for including info pertaining to Linux

I would prefer to operate a scroll wheel with my fingers rather than my thumb. They should put it (or a 2cnd one) on the upper right where it's out of the way. I have tried a few Kensington trackballs and I'm always hitting the scroll ring by mistake.

3 fingers? How tall are you (asking for relative comparison context... as I'm 6'4")?

I think at 7:00 the criticism of the "palm rest" is making the assumption that it's supposed to support your whole hand, and that's not really correct for any finger-ball IMO. the arch in your hand keeps tension out of the back of your hand, and allows you to move your whole hand (very slightly) as you roll the ball. If you jam your palm down flat on any finger-ball trackball, you're probably putting a lot of strain on the tendons in the back of your hand when you roll it downward, etc. IMO, the main design flaw, is making it look like it's intended to be a full palm rest, instead of just making it a pad covering the bottom half of its current size where you'll actually be resting on it.

5:17 Wow, battery last for a year? I had to change mine every month. The other nagging feature about this mouse is the high flat palm rest gave me finger fatigue. After 3 months of use I got rid of it and went back to my old Logitech Cordless Optical Trackman.

So a couple questions... First, just for clarity/confirmation... if I intend to use this on a work computer, and I'm unable to install any of my own software not pre-approved by my company, there's no hope to remap any buttons? Not a deal breaker, but that sounds fast less than ideal. But to be fair I have exactly the same issue with my MX Master 3S currently. Second, can you provide links to the type of bearings you used for the swap? Did you by chance make a bearing swap video, or do you know of a decent video or online tutorial? I'm not necessarily opposed to doing a swap. The Huge seems to hit a lot of points I like. I wish I could find a trackball more analogous to the MX Master 3S though.

Do any trackball mice have onboard memory? I haven't been able to find a single one.

Dammit, I was considering the Huge specifically because of the hand-size thing. Will probably go for the Kensington Pro after all. Also, I was wondering why the Deft I got was sticking like that. Never would've guessed it was the bearings.

the only thing that I don't like about elecom mice is that they put the scroll on the thumb. I much prefer the scroll being a ring around the ball so I can use my ring finger on it.

Completely disagree with you on that shape. Proud owner of a large palm (8 in/20 cm), having TERRIFIC time with that pad. It may not be the perfect cast for my five at times, but if doesn't need to: I still do feel quite comfortable

It is designed for the Jpanaese market, so stands to reason.

Anyone using this for flight simulator?

7:26 claw grip 🤔

Haz una prueba de uso y muéstranos como se acopla tu mano. Porque solo teoría pero nada de como se usa.

HUGE trackboll for SMALL hands)

I've had the worst experience with the elecom software. It either didn't work several times or bluescreened my computer trying to install. It looks like some sketchy malware installer from 2009. Never had any issues with mouse software until elecom mouse assistant.

Why isnt anyone talking about the ridiculous 'stiction' of this ball? It's like having a fancy pen that only works if you make long strokes

"My hand is 7 inches" and my foot is three hands and 5 fingernails. The efforts of the American Metric Association are useless against the average hillBilly Joe. BTW, thanks for the very good review

A Junk box full of crappy old mice and trackball mice.. I found the difference Between Kensington and Elecom Huge when gaming.. the Elecom Huge is capable of multi button commands pressed simultaneously is possible.. on the other hand Kensington is singular (one button command) is only possible.. so Elecom is better at most while gaming.. is superior in games and other apps/programs for multi commands.. like flying in 3d or paint shop.. Don't be caught in Elite Dangerous with a Kensington mouse in hand. unless you want to grind another 300 million credit ship for days.. Kensington is a lousy mouse. Elecom can do better.. but will they?

if you need 8 buttons on a trackball you got major problems. where a trackball really shines is where you don't have a proper surface for a mouse.. Like on a couch or in a cop car where flat hard surfaces are limited. Trackballs are only good for a few cases.