Apple’s Magic Mouse isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. It’s an unusual shape, is tricky to charge and substantially expensive. Hence, the peripherals market tries to come up with an alternative that scores in all the right places. Alogic’s Echelon Wireless Mouse promises to be a practical, no-frills companion to your Mac, offering a minimalist approach at a budget-friendly price of Rs 2,490. However, is it worth owning as a secondary or travel mouse? We take a closer look at its design, performance, and practicality in our short review
Design
From a design perspective, the Echelon mouse is all about simplicity. It features a clean and sleek body, finished in matte white plastic. Its design is notably symmetrical, catering to both left- and right-handed users. The mouse is equipped with standard left and right-click buttons and a scroll wheel that doubles as a middle button.
The absence of any additional side or thumb buttons is a major miss, but for those wanting a simple setup, it still does the job. While the left and right clicks are pleasantly quiet, a notable contrast is found in the middle scroll wheel button, which produces a notably loud click. The scroll wheel itself offers a tactile, defined scrolling experience but lacks the inertial free-spinning capability found on more premium models, which might be a letdown for those accustomed to rapidly scrolling through long documents or web pages.
Performance
In terms of performance and practicality, the mouse offers a versatile connectivity suite, supporting both Bluetooth 3.0 and 5.0, in addition to a low-latency 2.4GHz connection via a USB-A dongle. The option to pair with up to three devices simultaneously—two via Bluetooth and one via the dongle—is a major practicality bonus, making it an excellent choice for users who switch between multiple computers or devices.
A simple button on the underside of the mouse allows for easy pairing and cycling through these connections. The mouse is also incredibly lightweight, which, while beneficial for portability, can feel less substantial in hand. It glides smoothly, particularly on a desk pad or mat, and its USB-C charging port is conveniently located at the front, enabling continued use even while charging.
Speaking of power, the mouse is estimated to last a solid two to three weeks on a single charge, with a full recharge taking approximately one hour. A minor inconvenience is its automatic sleep mode; it powers down after a few minutes of inactivity, requiring a click to wake up, which can lead to a brief delay before the cursor responds.
Verdict
The Alogic Echelon Wireless Mouse is a commendable budget option for users who prioritise basic, reliable functionality and multi-device support over advanced features. It will be great at serving as a dependable, highly portable alternative to the tricky MacBook trackpads. Its clean design, versatile connectivity, and solid battery life make it a practical accessory for on-the-go use.
