Compiled from 8 sources; we haven't tested this product ourselves yet. How we research
Quick answer
The uni-ball Vision Elite is a capped liquid-ink rollerball from Mitsubishi Pencil of Japan, first sold in Japan in 2003. It comes in a 0.5 mm micro point and a 0.8 mm bold point, in 8 US ink colors. uni says its Super Ink resists water, fading and fraud and won't leak from cabin-pressure changes on planes.
On this page12 sections
The uni-ball Vision Elite 0.5 mm in black, capped, to scale at uni-ball UK's 142 mm.
Product facts
Product
uni-ball Vision Elite Rollerball Pen (0.5 mm micro / 0.8 mm bold)
Plastic barrel and cap, stainless steel point with tungsten carbide ball
Released
2003*
Price range
$under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count)
Ink colors
Black0.5, 0.8 mm
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Notes on these facts
Made by Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd.. Made in Japan: per OnTimeSupplies' spec sheet for item 69021 (0.5 mm blue), which lists Japan as the country of origin, and Unsharpen's spec table (Japan). uni-ball's US and Japanese product pages don't state it in the sources we read. Source. Price: example listing. Released: Mitsubishi Pencil's Japanese company history lists the Vision Elite (ユニボール ビジョンエリート) as launched in 2003. uni-ball's US product page says it is "celebrating 25 years of Vision Elite" in 2026, which would point to about 2001 in the US; we found no dated US launch source.
Colors: names per uni (US store), checked October 24, 2026. The eight ink colors uni's US store lists for the Vision Elite, all in 0.5 and 0.8 mm except blue-black (0.8 mm only); the cap end shows the ink color. Tints were sampled from the colored cap ends in uni's product photos; black and blue-black are adjusted by hand to read as dark inks. Tints are representative, not measured. Shops stock different colors.
Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026. Conversions to US dollars are approximate, at October 2026 rates (US$1 = ¥158 = ₩1,330 = NT$32.5 = CN¥6.7 = SEK 9.9 = DKK 6.7 = ₺49.6 = C$1.41 = A$1.43 = CZK 21.7; €1 = US$1.12; £1 = US$1.32; CHF 1 = US$1.21).
Key takeaways
Two point sizes: 0.5 mm micro and 0.8 mm bold, in up to 8 US ink colors; blue-black comes only in 0.8 mm.
uni-ball UK lists the pen at 142 mm (5.6 in) long capped and 15 g; Unsharpen gives a 10.8 mm barrel.
Mitsubishi Pencil's Japanese company history dates the Vision Elite to 2003; uni-ball's US page celebrates 25 years of the pen.
uni calls the ink airplane safe: a design meant to stop leaks from cabin-pressure changes.
US business-supplier spec sheets list Japan as the country of origin.
What is the uni-ball Vision Elite?
The uni-ball Vision Elite is a capped rollerball pen with liquid ink, made by Mitsubishi Pencil of Japan under its uni-ball brand. Mitsubishi Pencil’s Japanese company history dates it to 2003, and uni-ball’s US page now celebrates “25 years of Vision Elite”.
Its selling point is the ink system. uni-ball says the pen uses uni Super Ink, which resists water, fading and fraud, and an “airplane-safe” design that helps stop leaks when cabin pressure changes. These are maker claims; we haven’t tested them yet.
uni-ball Vision Elite specs
Spec
Value
Maker
Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd. (Japan)
Type
Capped rollerball, liquid ink
Point sizes
0.5 mm micro · 0.8 mm bold
Ink
uni Super Ink (water-, fade- and fraud-resistant, per uni-ball)
US ink colors
Black, blue, red, violet, pink, orange, green; blue-black in 0.8 mm
Length
142 mm (5.6 in) capped, per uni-ball UK; 15.1 cm posted, per Unsharpen
The 0.8 mm bold ball is 1.6 times the diameter of the 0.5 mm micro ball.
Which point size should you choose?
Choose the 0.5 mm micro point for everyday notes and forms, and the 0.8 mm bold point for signatures and bold lines. Liquid ink lays down a wetter, darker line than a ballpoint of the same size, so the 0.8 mm writes heavily.
0.5 mm micro: a crisp line for small handwriting and planners. It is the size in Amazon’s rollerball best-seller list (the black 12-pack ranked #75 on October 21, 2026).
0.8 mm bold: more ink, a darker line, and the only size uni-ball sells in blue-black.
Is the Vision Elite airplane safe?
uni-ball says yes: its US page describes airplane-safe ink technology that helps prevent leakage during changes in cabin pressure. uni-ball UK makes the same claim for the UB-200. Liquid-ink pens are the type most likely to leak on a flight, so this is the main reason travelers pick it over an ordinary rollerball.
Is uni Super Ink waterproof?
uni-ball calls Super Ink water-resistant and fade-resistant, and says it helps protect against document fraud; it doesn’t say waterproof. Staples’ listing for the Vision Elite BLX adds that the ink sets into the paper and resists check washing and bleaching. That makes it a common choice for checks and signed forms.
How does it compare with other uni-ball pens?
The Vision Elite is uni-ball’s capped liquid-ink pen; the ZENTO Signature is its premium water-based rollerball, and the Jetstream RT is its fast-drying hybrid ballpoint.
If you want a refillable metal rollerball instead, the OHTO CR01 takes OHTO’s C-305 ceramic-ball refill, which OHTO says won’t dry out uncapped.
Is the Vision Elite refillable?
In the UK, yes; in the US, uni-ball doesn’t list a refill. uni-ball UK marks the UB-200 as refillable and sells twin packs with two refills. uni-ball’s US store lists the pens only, in single, 4-count and 8-count packs, so US buyers usually treat it as disposable.
Where is the uni-ball Vision Elite made?
US business-supplier spec sheets list Japan as the country of origin. OnTimeSupplies gives Japan for item 69021 (0.5 mm blue), and Unsharpen’s spec table agrees. Mitsubishi Pencil still sells the pen at home: its Japanese catalog lists the 0.5 mm black as UB-200-05 at ¥220 (about US$1.40) including tax.
How much does it cost?
It sits in our lowest band, $ (under $5 per pen). uni-ball’s US store sells single pens and 4- and 8-packs, and office suppliers sell dozens.
Frequently asked questions
Is the uni-ball Vision Elite a gel pen?
No. uni-ball sells it as a capped rollerball with liquid ink, which flows more freely than gel. uni-ball's US site files it under rollerball pens, separate from its gel pens such as the Signo 207.
What sizes does the Vision Elite come in?
Two: a 0.5 mm micro point and a 0.8 mm bold point, per uni-ball's US product page. In Japan, Mitsubishi Pencil lists the 0.5 mm in black as UB-200-05.
Is the Vision Elite safe to take on a plane?
uni-ball says so. Its US page calls the ink technology airplane safe, designed to help prevent leaks during changes in cabin pressure. We haven't flown with one to test it.
Is the uni-ball Vision Elite good for writing checks?
It's a common choice for checks and signed forms, because uni-ball says Super Ink helps protect against document fraud. Staples' listing adds that the ink sets into the paper and resists check washing and bleaching.
What colors does the Vision Elite come in?
uni-ball's US store lists black, blue, red, violet, pink, orange, green and blue-black (0.8 mm only), plus assorted 4- and 8-packs. Japan's catalog shows only 0.5 mm black.
How long is the uni-ball Vision Elite?
uni-ball UK lists it at 142 mm (5.6 in) and 15.046 g; Unsharpen gives 14.2 cm capped, 15.1 cm posted and a 10.8 mm barrel.
How old is the uni-ball Vision Elite?
Mitsubishi Pencil's Japanese company history dates it to 2003, while uni-ball's US page now marks 25 years of Vision Elite, so the two sources don't quite agree.
What is the difference between the uni-ball Vision and the Vision Elite?
Both are capped uni-ball liquid-ink rollerballs sold in the US. uni-ball sells them as separate products; the Vision Elite is the one marketed with the airplane-safe design and the 0.5 mm micro and 0.8 mm bold points.
