I’ve had the Scroller Titanium version for a week now and took the time to see if this fidget suits me. A fidget is very personal—what feels comfortable and pleasant for one person to hold and play with might not be the same for another. The Scroller is definitely one of those fidgets that you either don’t care for at all or think, “Yes, this is it.”
I don’t really see the comparison with scrolling on your phone, which is probably where the name comes from. Yes, you make a sweeping motion with your thumb from bottom to top or vice versa, and that’s supposed to simulate scrolling on your phone. To me, the Scroller is more like a worry stone with a small tracking ball.
I was looking for a fidget that feels good to me, one that I can use without bothering others—a quiet fidget. A quiet fidget that I can use in specific settings, like at the office, school, or on the couch in company, without others being disturbed by the clicking sounds that other fidgets often make. This fidget is not completely silent; the friction between the Scroller and your hand produces a very soft sound, but it’s not distracting.
In addition, I care about how a fidget looks and its shape. Many people will compare the Scroller to a UFO, which is understandable. Personally, I felt more nostalgia when I first saw photos and videos of the Scroller. It reminded me of the old analog computer mouse, with a ball underneath that registered movements. As a child, I loved spinning my thumb gently over that ball. The two cutouts on the Scroller that allow you to open it are also similar to those old analog mice. The feeling of spinning the tip of my thumb over the ball is very calming for me, and it helps me concentrate better.
The Scroller’s design has one side that’s convex and another flat, making the visible part of the ball smaller on the convex side than on the flat side, which creates a different tactile experience.
Initially, I was considering ordering the stainless steel version. Mainly because of the price, but also because the heavier weight appealed to me. However, I changed my mind due to the finish on the metal. The stainless steel version is polished, making it smoother and more prone to showing fingerprints due to the mirror-like surface. The titanium version is sandblasted, which gives it a matte finish and a slightly rougher texture, providing more grip. Maybe it’s an idea to release a sandblasted version of the stainless steel model as well, so those who prefer a heavier fidget can also enjoy the matte finish and better grip.
The stainless steel ball moves smoothly but doesn’t really provide feedback when it rotates. The ball won’t spin freely even if you give it a flick. I think the lack of feedback is one reason why this fidget won’t be for everyone.
The Scroller excels for me in gently spinning the ball, moving the Scroller between my hands like a bar of soap, or rotating and moving it in my hand and between my fingers in a (closed) palm. You don’t need to think about operating it, which makes it ideal to use while doing other tasks that require mental focus.
I also think there’s a lot of potential in customization. Besides varying the metal finishes, as I mentioned earlier, experimenting with different balls could be interesting. I believe it uses a 16mm ball. What if the ball were made of a heavier metal like tungsten? Adding more texture to the ball with metal alloys like Timascus, Zircuti, or Mokuti could provide a different feel and perhaps more feedback. Or using completely different materials like wood, crystal glass, stone, or rubber, similar to the ball in the analog mouse? This would make the fidget more personalized and definitely an improvement.
The Scroller may not be my #1 fidget, but its quiet nature and pleasant feel ensure that it has earned a permanent spot in my EDC.