Alza started selling two new ergonomic mice. They have a display and many buttons, and cost less than a thousand crowns.

Když člověk stráví u monitoru osm a více hodin denně, není tvar myši kosmetický detail, ale ergonomický faktor, který se po pár dnech podepíše na zápěstí. Z toho zřejmě vychází i nejnovější tah privátní značky Eternico, kterou si nechává vyrábět Alza. Místo jediného tvaru, do kterého by si měl každý zvyknout, přichází rovnou ve dvou variantách. Eternico M503 Wireless a Eternico M504 Wireless mají uvnitř totožnou elektroniku i shodnou cenu 899 Kč, jejich těla jsou ale odlišná. Volba se tak prakticky smrskla na to, co komu padne do dlaně.

Stejná výbava, jiný tvar do ruky

The main and essentially only difference between the new products lies in ergonomics. The Eternico M504 Wireless maintains a classic shape, familiar from office mice, complemented by a prominent thumb rest. This will be appreciated by users who prefer a firm rest and a longer mouse that fills the entire palm. The second model, the Eternico M503 Wireless, opts for a generally rounder and more compact profile without prominent edges. It will appeal more to those who hold the mouse with their fingertips and prefer wrist movement.

Both variants are available in black and, according to Alza’s description, are designed for right-handed users. Therefore, the new series will not help left-handed users in either version, which is still a shame in the office mouse segment.

Connectivity to up to four devices

A specification that makes both the Eternico M503 and M504 interesting is their connectivity range. Both mice offer three connection methods simultaneously: a 2.4GHz USB receiver, two parallel connections via Bluetooth 5.1, and a wired connection via USB-C. This allows pairing with up to four devices and switching between them using a dedicated button on the top. This is significantly more practical than the common solution where the switch is hidden underneath the mouse.

The small 2.4GHz receiver has a storage compartment within the mouse body, so it won’t get lost during travel. Additionally, Alza included a USB-C adapter in the package, allowing the receiver to be plugged into modern laptops without a full-sized USB-A port. The manufacturer states the wireless connection range is 10 meters.

Nine buttons and proprietary software

A total of 9 buttons are available, including side buttons, the scroll wheel, and a dedicated DPI switching button. The main buttons are silent, which will be appreciated in open-plan offices or anywhere you don’t want to irritate colleagues with clicking. The manufacturer states the switch lifespan is up to 3 million clicks.

The optical sensor sensitivity can be switched between four levels: 800, 1,200, 1,600, and 2,400 DPI. This value is suitable for office use, but gamers or professionals working on a 4K monitor will hit a ceiling. Additional software allows remapping buttons, creating macros, fine-tuning the polling rate (125 to 1,000 Hz for 2.4GHz and wired, only 125 Hz for Bluetooth), and setting the sleep mode.

Side display and battery for weeks of operation

A nice little touch is the small display on the side of the mouse, which shows the selected connection mode, current DPI, and battery status. Instead of deciphering blinking LEDs, one can see specific information at a glance. Power is supplied by an integrated 700 mAh Li-ion battery, which is charged with the included USB-C cable. So, there’s no need to look for AA/AAA batteries.

To save energy, the mouse enters a basic sleep mode after three minutes of inactivity and a deeper sleep mode after twenty minutes. Eternico does not specify the exact battery life in hours for the M50x series, but based on the parameters of comparable models, several weeks of normal use can be expected between charges.

Price, availability, and compatibility

Both mice are currently in stock at Alza for 899 CZK in the Czech Republic. The package includes a travel case, a USB-C cable, a USB-C adapter, and a 2.4GHz receiver. No driver is needed for operation; both models work in Plug & Play mode. Compatibility covers Windows 7 to 11, macOS, and Linux. Alza also provides a 36-month warranty on the new products, which is one year longer than the statutory two years.

Who the pair makes sense for and who it doesn’t

The Eternico M503 and M504 clearly target office users who switch between multiple devices (typically a work laptop and a home desktop or tablet) and do not want to invest thousands of crowns in premium mice from Logitech or Microsoft. In this category, the combination of three connection modes, a rechargeable battery, proprietary software, and a side display for 899 CZK is a decent offer. Alza’s 36-month warranty also helps.

Naopak hráči, grafici a uživatelé vysokorozlišovacích monitorů by měli sáhnout jinam. Maximum 2 400 DPI je na dnešní poměry skromné a 125Hz polling rate u Bluetoothu znamená výrazně pomalejší odezvu než u kabelových herních myší. Smůlu mají také leváci, kterým ergonomický tvar pro praváky neposlouží ani v jedné variantě. Pokud člověk hledá ucelenější ekosystém s víceletou softwarovou podporou a aplikacemi pro mobil, prémiové konkurenční značky toho nabízejí víc, ovšem za podstatně vyšší cenu.

What is your experience with ergonomic mice?