This Hong Kong Startup Made The World’s Smallest Mouse

The term “digital nomad,” which describes working professionals whose job allows them the freedom to work anywhere instead of a set office location, has been around for close to a decade now. But with the current pandemic making working from home/working remotely the new normal for many, the group is likely set to grow.

As a freelance writer, I have technically been a digital nomad for five years, during which I have worked at probably over 1,000 coffee shops around the world. So for someone like me, portability of our work machine is paramount.

A large laptop with an external monitor is, of course, the ideal setup for me when I have the space and time to prepare. But often I have last minute work—a document to proofread; breaking news that needs reporting—that require me to just get to work on my phone. I even have a foldable keyboard that I carry with me at all times to pair with a phone if need be.

A startup in Hong Kong named KIKR has come up with a new accessory that fits that setup perfectly: it’s a coin-sized mouse that’s the smallest such device in the market right now.

Named the ProLab, the device is a circular-shaped plastic gadget with a mini trackball nub, like the ones old computer mice used in the late 80s and early 90s. The ProLab measures just half an inch thick and about 1.1-inch in length and width. It barely registers on a scale, weighing just 8g/0.3oz. It’s absolutely tiny.

Using the ProLab mouse is straightforward. It pairs via Bluetooth, and once connected, the trackball works just as you’d expect—scrolling it moves the mouse cursor. There are four clicky buttons that double as arrow keys and left and right mouse keys.

Most Android phones have mouse support, so pairing it with a phone allows me to navigate the phone’s UI without needing to touch the screen—this comes in handy if I’m using the phone as a tiny computer paired with a keyboard.

Some phone brands, including Samsung and Huawei, even developed a desktop UI that turns a phone into a full-fledged desktop computer when connected to a larger monitor.

I find the ProLab to work reasonably well, although the trackball is so small it will take some adjusting to the finicky scrolling. But for someone who prioritizes carrying as few things as possible yet still have real productivity tools, this is a practical little gadget.

A spokesperson at KIKR tells me it plans to sell the ProLab mouse at a retail price around $59. It will be in stores in Hong Kong first, and surely mainland China as well.