ProtoArc
ProtoArc EM01 NL Wireless Trackball Mouse
Bottom line: The ProtoArc EM01 NL Wireless Trackball Mouse: Thumb-driven ball keeps the mouse stationary, cutting wrist and arm travel; main trade-off: all six buttons are non-programmable, so no custom macros or remapping.
As an Amazon Associate, SpecPicks earns from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure →
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ Thumb-driven ball keeps the mouse stationary, cutting wrist and arm travel
- ✓ 0-20 degree adjustable tilt lets you set your own wrist angle
- ✓ Pairs three devices at once; one-button switching across Windows, Mac, and Android
- ✓ 450mAh rechargeable cell holds about a month standby, so no AA batteries
- ✓ Five DPI steps from 200 to 1600 for precision or fast multi-monitor sweeps
Cons
- ✗ All six buttons are non-programmable, so no custom macros or remapping
- ✗ Back and forward buttons do not work under macOS
- ✗ Auto-sleep after a few idle minutes needs a click to wake the sensor
- ✗ 2.4G dongle is USB-A only, so USB-C laptops need an adapter
Manufacturer description
The ProtoArc EM01 NL is a thumb-operated wireless trackball built for people who want their cursor to move without their wrist doing the work. You roll the ball with your thumb, so the mouse stays put -- which means it works on a cramped desk, a sofa arm, or your leg just as well as a mat. The housing tilts between 0 and 20 degrees, letting you set a wrist angle that cuts down on strain during long sessions. Connection is triple-mode: pair up to three devices over Bluetooth or drop in the 2.4G USB-A receiver, then switch between your Windows PC, Mac, Android phone, or tablet with a single…
SpecPicks Verdict
SpecPicks scored ProtoArc EM01 NL Wireless Trackball Mouse using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the gaming peripherals category. ProtoArc's gaming peripherals lineup sits within the broader category mid-tier; price and specs are the deciding factors over brand loyalty here. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.
Common buyer scenarios for gaming peripherals of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the ProtoArc EM01 NL work with a Mac?
Yes, it is compatible with Mac OS alongside Windows and Android. One caveat: the back and forward buttons are not supported under Mac OS, though the trackball, clicks, and scrolling work normally.
How long does the battery last between charges?
The built-in 450mAh rechargeable battery holds roughly one month of standby per full charge. There are no AA batteries to replace. ProtoArc recommends powering it off during long periods of non-use.
Can I connect it to more than one computer?
Yes. It supports three simultaneous connections across Bluetooth and the 2.4G USB-A receiver, and a single button cycles between the paired devices, so you can move from a desktop to a tablet to a phone without re-pairing.
Can I remap the buttons for custom shortcuts?
No. ProtoArc states all six buttons are non-programmable, so there is no software for assigning macros or custom commands. You get left, right, middle, back, forward, and the DPI button as shipped.
How sensitive is the cursor, and can I change it?
Five DPI levels are selectable on the device: 200, 400, 800, 1200, and 1600. Lower steps suit detailed editing work, while 1200 and 1600 cover fast movement across large or multiple displays.
Key Features
- ERGONOMIC THUMB TRACKBALL: Equipped with a smooth and precise trackball, move your cursor with your thumb movement instead of moving your wrist and arm. It will effectively reduce fatigue and strain for your wrist and arm. Not only work on flat surfaces, but also on your leg, sofa and other surfaces as well, especially in the narrow space, such as the messy desktop
- BLUETOOTH & 2.4G WIRELESS CONNECTION：PLUG and PLAY. This trackball mouse has triple connection modes. You can control three devices at the same time, switch freely between Android, tablet and Mac with just one button. Compatible with Windows, Android, Mac OS PC Laptop Desktop etc
- RECHARGEABLE & ADJUSTABLE DPI: The Bluetooth Trackball Mouse built-in 450mAh battery. No need to change batteries. Each full charge can stand by for 1 month. Please remember to turn it off if you do not use it for a long time. 5 DPI levels (200/400/800/1200/1600 DPI) allows you to change the cursor sensitivity easily for more precise tracking
- QUIET CLICKING: Smooth frosted surface and quiet clicks can bring a better user experience and free your worry about bothering others and keep you stay focused while working. Note: it will enter auto sleep mode if you don't use it for a few minutes to save battery and click it, the mouse will enter working mode again
- 6 BUTTON HIGH PERFORMANCE: ProtoArc bluetooth trackball mouse is designed with ergonomic and elegant curved shape. With the back and forward button, you can browse your website easily, make your work more efficient. Note: all the buttons are non-programmable and the back forward buttons are not compatible with Mac OS system
Full Specifications
| Brand | ProtoArc |
|---|---|
| Color | Gray Ball |
| Theme | Home, Office |
| Finish | Matte |
| Weight | 2.4g |
| Model Name | EM01 NL |
| Style Name | Modern |
| Unit Count | 1 Count |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, USB, 2.4GHz |
| Model Number | EM01 NL |
| Power Source | Battery Powered |
| Compatibility | PC, Switch, Android, Mac |
| Button Quantity | 6 |
| Connection Type | Wireless |
| Mfr Part Number | Protoarc B0CWTY6Z99 |
| Special Feature | Adjustable Angle, Ergonomic Design, Quiet, Rechargeable, Wireless |
| Antenna Location | Business, Home, Office, Personal |
| Hand Orientation | Right |
| Hardware Platform | Linux, Mac, PC |
| Compatible Devices | Desktop Computer, Laptop, Personal Computer, Smartphone, Tablet |
| Full listing title | ProtoArc EM01 NL Wireless Trackball Mouse, Rechargeable Thumb Control Mice | 0/20° Adjustable Angle to Reduce Fatigue, Triple-Device Bluetooth & 2.4G USB-A for Office Use, Silent Click, Easy to Clean |
Ready to buy?
ProtoArc EM01 NL Wireless Trackball Mouse, Rechargeable Thumb Control Mice | 0/20° Adjustable Angle to Reduce Fatigue, Triple-Device Bluetooth & 2.4G USB-A for Office Use, Silent Click, Easy to Clean is listed on Amazon. Price, availability, shipping and returns are set by Amazon and its sellers — check the listing for current terms. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.
Related Gaming Peripherals
More guides & deep dives from the SpecPicks archive
Browse all articles & guides →- Emulation Hardware in 2026: FPGA, Software, and Cart-Reader Ecosystems
- Best 1440p Gaming GPUs in 2026
- Best Budget Gaming PC Build 2026 — ~$1,000 ($800 on Sale)
- The Complete Voodoo5 5500 AGP Driver Guide (2026 Edition)
- Best Retro Handhelds in 2026 — From $35 to $500
- How to Build a Windows 98 Retro PC in 2026
- RTX 4070 Super vs RX 7800 XT — Which to Buy in 2026
More reviews from the SpecPicks archive
Browse all reviews →- How to run Llama 3.1 70B on Apple M3 Ultra
- RTX 5090 vs RTX A6000 for Local LLMs: Speed (5090) or Capacity (A6000)?
- NotebookLM Now Runs Code: Self-Hosting the Same Idea on a 12GB GPU
- 8BitDo Pro 2 vs GameSir G7 SE vs DualSense: Best Controller for Emulation
- Does a Gaming Mouse Pad Actually Improve Your Aim? QcK vs Generic
- Best 4K Gaming Monitor Under $700 in 2026
- How to run Llama 3.1 8B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- All-AMD Gaming PC Build for 2026: Our Top 5 Ryzen + Radeon Configurations
- Build a Couch Emulation Station: Raspberry Pi 4 + 8BitDo SN30 Pro
- Build a Low-Power Pi Home Server with NVMe in 2026
- Best Budget GPU for CNN & Vision Inference 2026: RTX 3060 12GB
- Intel Arc Pro B60 24GB: The Cheapest 24GB Inference Card Yet?
- Forza Horizon 6 Advanced Shader Delivery: 4-Second Loads vs 90 Seconds Explained
- How to run DeepSeek-R1 32B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090
- Building a 2001 LAN Party Rig in 2026: GeForce 3, Pentium III, and Period-Correct Peripherals
- Best AM4 CPU for Budget Gaming and Local AI in 2026
- AI-Driven Sound Blaster Driver Recovery on Win98 in 2026
- Build a Motion-Triggered Trail Camera With the Raspberry Pi HQ Camera (2026)
- Strix Halo vs RTX 3060 12GB: Unified Memory or Discrete VRAM?
- Best Storage Upgrades for Older Gaming PCs in 2026
- Qwen3.6-35B-A3B VRAM Optimization: Why Bigger Quants Win
- Add NVMe Boot and Active Cooling to a Raspberry Pi 5 in 2026
- DiffusionGemma Runs Locally: Google's Diffusion Text Model on a 12GB RTX 3060
- Sound Blaster X G6 on a Win98 + Voodoo3 Build: Period-Correct Audio That Beats On-Board
Earliest SpecPicks reviews
Browse full archive →- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 8B (2026)
- Best GPU for Qwen 3 14B (2026)
- Best GPU for Qwen 3 32B (2026)
- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 70B (2026)
- Best GPU for DeepSeek-R1 32B (2026)
- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 405B (2026)
- How to run Llama 3.1 8B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Qwen 3 14B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Qwen 3 32B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Llama 3.1 70B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run DeepSeek-R1 32B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Llama 3.1 8B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090