Dell Bluetooth Travel Mouse (MS700) review: Twistable design, lackluster performance

Oftentimes, one of the most frustrating parts of traveling for work is being resigned to your laptop's touchpad for the entire trip. Most modern laptops have great touchpads, but no touchpad is quite a replacement for a good, reliable mouse. That's why having a compact mouse that you can easily slip into your laptop bag or backpack can be invaluable, and that's where the Dell Bluetooth Travel Mouse (MS700) comes in.

This isn't just any Bluetooth mouse — it boasts a unique design that allows it to twist into a flatter shape that helps it fit in basically any pocket. Yes, it's very similar to the premium Surface Arc Mouse from Microsoft, but Dell clearly aimed for making a more affordable and accessible alternative. For the most part, the company succeeds; if you care about portability above all else for your accessories, the Dell MS700 is functional and practical. However, it's only okay as an actual mouse, which is unfortunate.

Dell MS700 mouse review: Pricing and specifications

Pricing highlights

• The Dell Bluetooth Travel Mouse retails for $49.99 at Dell and is available in two colors, black and blue.
• The mouse is powered with two AAA batteries, which are included in the box and are rated for up to two years of use.

The Dell Bluetooth Travel Mouse (MS700) avoids the premium segment occupied by the Microsoft Surface Arc Mouse, retailing for a reasonable $49.99 at Dell. This slimmer price tag helps alleviate some of the grievances I have with actually using this mouse, and will certainly help potential buyers if they're choosing between the (very few) foldable or twistable travel mice on the market. Color options are limited, but you do get to choose between classic black and the lovely "Misty Blue" color I got to review.

The Dell MS700 mouse isn't rechargeable, instead requiring two AAA batteries to function. This may lead to added cost in the long run, but Dell includes your first two batteries in the box and estimates up to two years of usage. I certainly haven't been able to make a dent in the battery life, so you hopefully shouldn't have to worry about batteries for a long time. In the compact packaging, all you'll find is the Dell Bluetooth Travel Mouse (MS700) and the included AAA batteries.

Dell Bluetooth Travel Mouse (MS700) — $49.99 at Dell

The Dell MS700 compact wireless mouse is a little awkward and even frustrating to use at times, but it's indeed very easy to carry around and does function as a solid, highly portable Bluetooth mouse for when you're traveling light.

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Dell MS700 mouse review: The good

The pros highlights

• The Dell MS700 mouse connects to up to three devices at once via Bluetooth, and connects almost instantly when it's turned on.
• The design is overall practical and attractive, too, with a satisfying button action.
• Through Dell Peripheral Manager, you can customize the touch scroll speed, which mouse button is primary, and even the DPI level (from 1,000 to 4,000).

In its default state, the Dell MS700 mouse is a simple wave that lies flat on any surface or slips into any pocket. Give the rear half a 180-degrees twist, the mouse will turn on, instantly connecting to its paired device. It's a simple and effective design, and the Dell Bluetooth Travel Mouse turns on and connects instantly when you need it.

Tap the "Bluetooth" button on the bottom, and you can cycle between up to three connected devices seamlessly, which is a required feature for many. Once the mouse is connected, wireless performance is stable and responsive with no noticeable latency. At least on this front, Dell nails it in every category. The design itself is attractive and practical; the battery door is attached via magnets for easy access but remains snug and secure when closed, and the center touch scroll bar on top is flanked by two quality physical mouse buttons.

It's a different approach to the "folding" Surface Arc Mouse and its large haptic touch area that basically acts as a mobile touchpad, and many will likely prefer the physical buttons here (even if you lose the gesture support the Arc Mouse boasts). Download Dell Peripheral Manager, and you'll have additional options to customize your mouse, like the touch bar scroll speed. I was also shocked to find that the Dell MS700 mouse has an adjustable dots-per-inch (DPI) of 1,000 to 4,000 DPI, which is awesome to see.

The arch of the turned on Dell MS700 mouse definitely isn't as ergonomic as something like the Logitech MX Master 3S, but it's absolutely better than some of the other flatter travel mice you might find out there, and this mouse is a good, comfortable size with little weight.

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Dell MS700 mouse review: The bad

The cons highlights

• The mouse hardware is perfectly functional, but the actual mouse tracking can be inconsistent, the touch scroll bar can be downright annoying, and the mouse feet are obnoxiously loud on a hard surface.
• Also, the overall build quality isn't as polished as I'd like it to be, with some obvious seams and misaligned panels.

The design of the Dell Bluetooth Travel Mouse (MS700) is attractive, but the build quality doesn't quite match. Seams and gaps tell you exactly how the mouse is pieced together, and the two halves don't perfectly align on my review unit. I'm also concerned by the long-term durability of the twisting mechanism, especially since it's all too easy to try and twist the wrong direction when switching the mouse on or off.

As an actual mouse, too, the Dell MS700 leaves some to be desired. Its hardware is practical, and its wireless performance is admirable, but the optical LED sensor struggles to keep the mouse cursor accuracy and speed consistent at times. It simply feels less smooth than other wireless mice, and resulted in some missed inputs when using it.

The touch scroll bar is also an obvious downgrade over a physical scroll wheel, as it's easy to either miss it when you need it or hit it when you don't. On top of that, the scroll bar tries to retain momentum like a touchpad would, but it feels awkward and is unpredictable, often resulting in me switching tabs and suddenly scrolling to the opposite end of the article at high speeds.

Finally, the two soft plastic feet at the bottom of the Dell MS700 are unnecessarily loud, especially on any hard surface. They aren't the smoothest feet in the first place, and you're guaranteed to hear it scraping along no matter what you're doing. The feet also collect dust and tenaciously cling to it.

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Dell MS700 mouse review: Final thoughts

You should buy this if ...

✅You want a solid mouse with a very compact design

If you're constantly traveling, having a solid mouse with multidevice connectivity and a design that allows it to fit in any pocket or bag (without losing ergonomics when you need it) could save your day. The Dell MS700 could be that mouse, given you can overlook its flaws.

✅You want a more affordable alternative to the Surface Arc Mouse

Been eyeing the Surface Arc Mouse but don't want to pay those prices? The Dell MS700 is $20-30 cheaper with a less futuristic and premium design, and you gain multidevice connectivity in the process. It's just as portable as the Arc Mouse, too.

You should not buy this if ...

❌You're willing to sacrifice portability for a better mouse experience

The Dell MS700 is far from the best or most consistent wireless mouse I've used, but I can forgive some of those faults because of its compact design and low cost. That being said, other options from companies like Logitech can provide a superior user experience at the cost of thicker, heavier, and less portable designs.

An attractive and portable design, a reasonable price tag, rock solid multidevice connectivity, excellent battery life, surprisingly decent ergonomics — the Dell Bluetooth Travel Mouse (MS700) has a lot going for it. That's especially true for those that need to carefully ration every bit of space in their bag and want a good wireless mouse to accompany them on their travels.

However, I can't overlook the Dell MS700's flaws. When it comes to simply being a wireless mouse, it's average — with some inconsistent tracking and scrolling in addition to the obnoxiously loud feet. The Dell MS700 is completely functional and more than usable, but there's simply no denying that a lot of wireless mice from companies like Logitech and Razer will give you a better user experience in exchange for some of that portability.

Of course, that might just be the price you have to pay to obtain a mouse this slim and compact. The Dell Bluetooth Travel Mouse (MS700) isn't likely to steal a spot on our list of the best mice, but that doesn't mean it can't be the perfect travel companion for you for $49.99 at Dell.

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