ZSA just launched the Navigator, a $169 trackball that magnetically attaches to its Voyager split keyboard, creating a $534 ergonomic powerhouse that's either brilliant or bewildering depending on your patience for customization. The combo targets keyboard enthusiasts willing to completely rebuild their typing habits for potentially massive ergonomic gains.
ZSA just made trackball dreams come true with the Navigator, a bright red magnetic trackball that snaps onto its Voyager split keyboard. But this isn't your typical plug-and-play upgrade - it's an expensive commitment to completely rethinking how you interact with your computer.
The Navigator, announced in August and now shipping for $169, attaches magnetically to either half of ZSA's $365 Voyager keyboard. That brings the total investment to $534 before adding optional accessories like the $89 tripod mount. According to The Verge's hands-on review, the trackball feels "really smooth to roll around" and positions perfectly next to your typing fingers.
The magic happens through ZSA's Oryx configurator software, which lets users program any key to be anything - macros, media controls, mouse clicks, or multi-function keys that behave differently when tapped, held, or double-tapped. "This type of customization is pretty standard for enthusiast keyboards, but I've found Oryx's software to be particularly easy to use," reviewer Jay Peters notes.
But here's where things get complicated. The Voyager's 52-key columnar layout means serious compromises. Peters, an ergonomic keyboard veteran who previously used ZSA's larger Moonlander, found himself constantly short on keys. "The thing I missed the most was a reliable set of arrow keys," he explains. The trackball module doesn't include mouse buttons, forcing users to sacrifice precious keyboard real estate for click functions.
The learning curve is real. Peters admits getting "frustrated with the Voyager after a week" during busy work periods, including iPhone launch coverage and Meta Connect. "I was much slower with them than my usual setup," he says. The columnar key arrangement, where fingers move in straight vertical lines rather than the traditional staggered pattern, requires weeks of adjustment.
Yet ZSA designed the Voyager specifically for mobile professionals. The keyboard comes with a carrying case and magnetic tenting nubs for subtle angle adjustments. Users can mount the halves to desk arms or chair mounts, or even create custom magnetic accessories using the included magnets.
The hardware itself impresses with hot-swappable Kailh Choc v1 switches (Peters tested Pro Red linear switches), RGB lighting, and that signature trackball red color. The magnetic attachment system works seamlessly, letting users choose left or right-side trackball placement at checkout.
