{"id":2750,"date":"2008-12-15T19:35:53","date_gmt":"2008-12-15T14:05:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/?p=2750"},"modified":"2026-10-07T12:56:28","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T07:26:28","slug":"unusual-strange-computer-mouse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/12\/unusual-strange-computer-mouse\/","title":{"rendered":"Unusual and Strange Computer Mouse Designs You Can Buy (2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Bored of the plain grey mouse? In 2008 we rounded up 15 <strong>unusual computer mouse<\/strong> designs, from a Superman mouse and a finger mouse to a baseball cap mouse and a Bluetooth mouse that slid into a laptop&#8217;s PC Card slot. Most of those gadgets are long gone, but strange and clever mice are still being made, and some odd-looking designs are genuinely better for your wrist. Here are the most unusual computer mouse types you can actually buy in 2026.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-63464\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/unusual-computer-mouse.webp\" alt=\"Unusual and strange computer mouse designs\" width=\"1200\" height=\"630\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/unusual-computer-mouse.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/unusual-computer-mouse-300x158.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/unusual-computer-mouse-1024x538.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/unusual-computer-mouse-150x79.webp 150w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/unusual-computer-mouse-768x403.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Quick answer:<\/strong> The most unusual computer mouse designs today are vertical mice that you hold like a handshake, trackballs you roll with your thumb or fingers, ring and finger mice, 3D mice for designers, foldable travel mice and pen-style mice. Several of these strange shapes are popular because they reduce wrist strain.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6aef7f766ade8\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"ez-toc-cssicon\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6aef7f766ade8\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/12\/unusual-strange-computer-mouse\/#1_Vertical_mouse\" >1. Vertical mouse<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/12\/unusual-strange-computer-mouse\/#2_Trackball_mouse\" >2. Trackball mouse<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/12\/unusual-strange-computer-mouse\/#3_3D_mouse\" >3. 3D mouse<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/12\/unusual-strange-computer-mouse\/#4_Finger_and_ring_mouse\" >4. Finger and ring mouse<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/12\/unusual-strange-computer-mouse\/#5_Pen-style_mouse\" >5. Pen-style mouse<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/12\/unusual-strange-computer-mouse\/#6_Foldable_and_flat_travel_mice\" >6. Foldable and flat travel mice<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/12\/unusual-strange-computer-mouse\/#7_Gaming_mice_with_extra_buttons\" >7. Gaming mice with extra buttons<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/12\/unusual-strange-computer-mouse\/#8_Novelty_and_themed_mice\" >8. Novelty and themed mice<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/12\/unusual-strange-computer-mouse\/#9_Wired_gamer_favourites_with_honeycomb_shells\" >9. Wired gamer favourites with honeycomb shells<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/12\/unusual-strange-computer-mouse\/#Which_unusual_mouse_should_you_choose\" >Which unusual mouse should you choose?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/12\/unusual-strange-computer-mouse\/#What_happened_to_the_2008_list\" >What happened to the 2008 list?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/12\/unusual-strange-computer-mouse\/#FAQ\" >FAQ<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/12\/unusual-strange-computer-mouse\/#Is_a_vertical_mouse_better_for_your_wrist\" >Is a vertical mouse better for your wrist?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/12\/unusual-strange-computer-mouse\/#Are_trackballs_good_for_gaming\" >Are trackballs good for gaming?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/12\/unusual-strange-computer-mouse\/#Do_unusual_mice_work_with_Mac_and_Windows\" >Do unusual mice work with Mac and Windows?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Vertical_mouse\"><\/span>1. Vertical mouse<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A vertical mouse stands on its side so your hand rests in a natural &#8220;handshake&#8221; position. It looks odd at first, but many people with wrist pain swear by it. Popular models come from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.logitech.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Logitech<\/a>, including the MX Vertical and the smaller Lift.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Trackball_mouse\"><\/span>2. Trackball mouse<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The mouse stays still while you roll a ball. Thumb trackballs like Logitech&#8217;s MX Ergo and finger-operated ones like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kensington.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kensington<\/a>&#8216;s large-ball SlimBlade (a descendant of the SlimBlade presenter mouse in our 2008 list) save desk space and arm movement.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_3D_mouse\"><\/span>3. 3D mouse<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/3dconnexion.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">3Dconnexion<\/a> SpaceMouse is a puck you push, pull and twist to fly around 3D models, maps and CAD drawings with six degrees of freedom. Our 2008 list featured its ancestor, the SpaceNavigator, which could fly through Google Earth.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Finger_and_ring_mouse\"><\/span>4. Finger and ring mouse<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Finger mice strap onto a fingertip and ring mice sit on your finger like a ring, letting you control the cursor without a desk. They are handy for presentations and couch browsing, though less precise than a normal mouse.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Pen-style_mouse\"><\/span>5. Pen-style mouse<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Mice shaped like a pen, such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.swiftpoint.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Swiftpoint<\/a> range, use a pinch grip that feels more like writing than clutching a mouse.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Foldable_and_flat_travel_mice\"><\/span>6. Foldable and flat travel mice<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Mice that fold flat or bend into shape to turn on are made for laptop bags. Microsoft&#8217;s Arc Mouse, which also appeared in our original list, made the design famous.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_Gaming_mice_with_extra_buttons\"><\/span>7. Gaming mice with extra buttons<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>MMO gaming mice can have 12 or more thumb buttons laid out like a number pad, a modern version of the numeric keypad mouse we featured in 2008. Some also have adjustable weights and swappable side panels.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"8_Novelty_and_themed_mice\"><\/span>8. Novelty and themed mice<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Superhero, car and cartoon-shaped mice are still sold as gifts. They are fun for kids, but standard shapes are more comfortable for long work sessions.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"9_Wired_gamer_favourites_with_honeycomb_shells\"><\/span>9. Wired gamer favourites with honeycomb shells<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Ultra-light gaming mice with holes cut in the shell look strange, but the weight saving helps fast, precise movement.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Which_unusual_mouse_should_you_choose\"><\/span>Which unusual mouse should you choose?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Type<\/th>\n<th>Best for<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Vertical mouse<\/td>\n<td>Wrist pain, long work days<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Trackball<\/td>\n<td>Small desks, less arm movement<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>3D mouse<\/td>\n<td>CAD, 3D design, maps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Ring or finger mouse<\/td>\n<td>Presentations, sofa use<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Foldable mouse<\/td>\n<td>Travel with a laptop<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Give any new shape a week or two; your hand needs time to adjust. Mac users may also like our tips on using an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2009\/05\/apple-mighty-mouse-on-windows-pc\/\">Apple Mighty Mouse on Windows<\/a>, and if you switch keyboards too, see how to use an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2009\/03\/apple-mac-keyboard-on-windows-pc\/\">Apple keyboard on a Windows PC<\/a>. You can also browse <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/38btthw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow sponsored noopener\">unusual mice on Amazon<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_happened_to_the_2008_list\"><\/span>What happened to the 2008 list?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The HP PC Card mouse vanished along with PC Card slots, the baseball cap mouse and water-filled optical mouse were short-lived novelties, and the tiny &#8220;very small mouse&#8221; was replaced by better travel designs. Only a few ideas, like trackballs, 3D mice and vertical mice, grew into lasting product lines.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_a_vertical_mouse_better_for_your_wrist\"><\/span>Is a vertical mouse better for your wrist?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Many users find it more comfortable because it avoids twisting the forearm. It is not a cure, so see a doctor for ongoing pain.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Are_trackballs_good_for_gaming\"><\/span>Are trackballs good for gaming?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>They suit slower games and strategy titles. Most fast shooters are easier with a regular gaming mouse.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_unusual_mice_work_with_Mac_and_Windows\"><\/span>Do unusual mice work with Mac and Windows?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Most use standard USB or Bluetooth and work with both, though extra buttons may need the maker&#8217;s software.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bored of the plain grey mouse? In 2008 we rounded up 15 unusual computer mouse designs, from a Superman mouse&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":63464,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"default","_kad_post_title":"default","_kad_post_layout":"default","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"default","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"default","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[23,15],"tags":[52],"class_list":["post-2750","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-computers","category-gadgets","tag-popular"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2750","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2750"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2750\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":63465,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2750\/revisions\/63465"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/63464"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2750"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2750"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2750"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}