Logitech Lift in Hands-On: Tried vertical mouse for left- and right-handers

Logitech's latest office mouse offers comfortable and gentle verticality for both left and right-handed users. Technically, the mouse has more in common with the M650 presented at the beginning of the year than with Logitech's only vertical office mouse to date, the MX Vertical. ComputerBase was able to try the Lift and the Lift Left.

Vertical Mice for Healthy Hands

Apart from fast games, most users use their mouse by comfortably resting their entire hand on the input device. Mice optimized for this so-called palm grip have an ergonomic shape, the lines of which should flatter the – mostly right – hand. Vertical mice take the concept to the extreme: not only the hand should be relaxed, but also the associated wrist and forearm. In accordance with the natural position of a relaxed arm, it is not the palms of the hands that point downwards, but the little finger. And with an inclination of around 57 degrees, the lift is intended to support this natural posture.

However, this concept is not new. Logitech itself already has a vertical mouse on offer with the MX Vertical, and the number of corresponding models from other manufacturers has generally been increasing for years. In addition to the comfort that is often described, the potential advantages also include reduced stress on joints and muscles, which can ultimately prevent symptoms of fatigue or even illness.

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The lift shares a technical substructure with the Signature M650 (test) presented at the beginning of the year. Accordingly, it fits into the picture that Logitech also offers the new input device as Lift Left in a mirrored version for left-handers. Compared to the MX Vertical, the new model should score with a lower price, but in return it has to do without a few functions.

Logitech launches the M650 the page

On the one hand, there is the ability, which is always advertised for MX mice, to work perfectly on glass surfaces thanks to the darkfield laser sensor. Like the M650, the Lift relies on an optical mouse sensor that has problems on shiny or even transparent surfaces. Presumably it is an adapted variant of the gaming sensor Logitech Hero.

Logitech Lift Left & Lift

Logitech Lift Left & Lift

Logitech Lift Left & Lift

Logitech Lift Left &

Logitech Lift Left in Medium Hand

Logitech Lift in Medium Hand

Logitech Lift Left in Medium Hand

Logitech Lift in Large Hand

Logitech Lift in a big hand

Logitech Lift in a big hand

Logitech MX Master 3, Lift & G Pro X Superlight

However, this does not mean that the Lift can be interpreted as a vertical gaming mouse: On the one hand, it can be assumed that not only the resolution range, but also all other parameters of the sensor have been reduced for the purpose of energy efficiency. According to Logitech, the mouse should last up to two years with just one AA battery. The MX Vertical, on the other hand, has a built-in battery that can be charged via USB-C cable and lasts up to four months.

And on the other hand, the lift only works via Bluetooth Low Energy – i.e. with a latency of at least 8 milliseconds. All of Logitech's office mice share this limitation. In the case of the new addition, it is worth mentioning that – as previously with the M650 – not only is the direct Bluetooth connection to up to three devices simultaneously offered, but alternatively Logi Bolt is also available via a Bluetooth USB adapter.

The difference between the two modes can be found in the encryption: when connected to the Logi-Bolt USB receiver, the lift works with Bluetooth LE in Security Mode 1 at Level 4 or in Secure Connections Only or FIPS mode. This means that the signal is encrypted via CCM and the pairing involves a Diffie-Hellman key exchange. Every Bolt product comes pre-paired with the included adapter. So that it doesn't get lost, it can be stowed in the compartment on the bottom next to the AA battery.

Quiet buttons and a non-freewheeling one Freewheel mouse wheel

As far as the buttons are concerned, there is the usual: in addition to the left and right mouse button, the Lift has two thumb buttons and an additional button behind the mouse wheel. Logitech advertises the latter as a “noiseless magnetic SmartWheel”, alluding to the popular detachability of the mouse wheel on some Logitech mice. Its magnetic storage made its debut on the MX Master 3 (test), but it actually offered two modes. In the case of the lift, however, the ability to be released was only achieved by the fact that the magnetically implemented grid of the wheel – as previously with the M650 – is extremely small.

Logitech Lift

Logitech Lift

Logitech Lift

Logitech Lift

Logitech Lift

Logitech Lift

Logitech Lift

This does indeed offer the advantage of being able to scroll a little faster if the wheel is pushed hard enough. But since it is never actually allowed to rotate freely and, moreover, has hardly any mass, this phase of free rotation does not last long. In the hands-on, it was noticed that due to the resistance that is never completely absent, it is possible to quickly turn downwards or towards the user, but when turning upwards, it is often difficult to apply enough force to actually turn the wheel to get going. And if free turning is not desired at all, the high ease of movement or low tactility of the grid sometimes seems spongy. The mouse wheel on the lift is actually very quiet – as are all the other buttons on the mouse.

Fits comfortably in small hands

Even at first glance, the Lift presents itself as the vertical sister of the M650 and the choice of materials is also identical. In the front area of ​​the mouse, the fingers come into contact with almost smooth, but still matte hard plastic, while the entire rear area – i.e. the area on which the palm and thumb joint rest – is rubberized. With a weight of around 125 grams, the mouse is relatively heavy and hardly weighs less than the larger MX Vertical, but with a vertical office mouse this hardly or not at all bothers.

But speaking of size: the lift does not have this. It sits very well in small hands and there is potentially enough space for medium-sized limbs, but larger hands can ultimately only operate the mouse in the fingertip grip, because the fingertips otherwise protrude over the mouse buttons – and of course that completely ignores the concept. The MX Vertical, which is a good one centimeter longer and almost one centimeter higher, is much better suited here.

Availability, price and conclusion

< p class="p text-width">According to the recommended retail price, the Lift or Lift Left, which is available now in the four available colors of dark grey, white and pink, costs around 80 euros. On paper, it is almost 30 euros cheaper than the MX Vertical, but in the price comparison, the latter has been listed for just under 80 euros for years. According to the RRP, the Signature M650 costs around 45 euros and is already ten euros cheaper just a few months after the market launch.

The comparatively high price initially makes the lift, which is technically quite pleasing, appear unattractive. It remains to be seen how quickly and how low the market price will fall. Even for left-handed people there are now plenty of vertical mice and they are cheaper – especially if the input device can come with a cable. However, the new mouse remains interesting if users need simultaneous connection to several devices, the wireless bolt connection or the usual software functions. But even then, only interested parties with smaller hands can safely be advised to go to the lift.

Logitech MX Vertical Logitech Lift ✔Logitech Lift LeftLogitech MX Vertical ✔Logitech Signature M650 (L) ✔Logitech Signature M650 (L Left)Logitech Signature M650 (M)Logitech Signature M650 (M Left) Logitech Lift Logitech Lift ✔Logitech Lift LeftLogitech MX Vertical ✔ Logitech Signature M650 (L) ✔Logitech Signature M650 (L Left)Logitech Signature M650 (M)Logitech Signature M650 (M Left) Logitech Signature M650 (L) Logitech Lift ✔Logitech Lift LeftLogitech MX Vertical ✔Logitech Signature M650 (L) ✔Logitech Signature M650 (L Left)Logitech Signature M650 (M)Logitech Signature M650 (M Left) Ergonomics: Right-handed Sensor: ? ?
Optical Resolution: 400-4,000 CPI Speed: ? Acceleration: ? USB polling rate: ? 125 Hz primary button: ? Number of Keys: 6
Top: 1
Left Side: 2 Right Side: 3 6
Top: 4
Left Side: 2 5
Top: 3
Left Side: 2 Special Keys: Mouse Wheel
cpi switcher free mouse wheel Software: – 1 Profile
Fully programmable
Macro shot Illumination: – Housing: 120 × 79 × 79 mm
Hard plastic, coating 108 × 70 × 71 mm
Hard plastic, coating
Rubber elements
Sliding feet: PTFE base (painted) 118 × 66 × 42 mm
Hard plastic, coating
Rubber elements
Sliding feet: PTFE base (painted) Weight: 135 grams (without cable) 125 grams (without cable) 119 grams (without cable) Connection: USB-A to USB-C cable
Radio: 2.4 GHz, 10.0 meter range
Bluetooth
proprietary battery
Charging: cable radio, 10.0 meter range
Bluetooth
AA batteries, 17,520 hr runtime Price: from €78 €80 from €34

ComputerBase has information on this item and two samples of the lift on loan from Logitech at received NDA. The only requirement was the earliest possible publication date, which the editors let pass. The manufacturer did not influence the test report, there was no obligation to publish it.