What to Buy > Computer Components > The Best Vertical Mice of 2024 The Logitech Vertical takes our top spot for quality, customization, and ergonomics By Jason Schneider Jason Schneider Writer Northeastern University Jason has been writing for tech and media companies for nearly ten years. He reviews audio products, including speakers and headphones for Lifewire. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on March 6, 2024 We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews How We Tested What to Look For Brands We Considered Frequently Asked Questions Most mice are designed to sit pretty low to your desk so they look sleek and fit nicely under your palm. But a vertical mouse—or one that requires you to lift your hand up and to the side—can help many mouse users to feel more comfortable while working and reduce wrist strain. But which one is best? While there aren’t nearly as many vertical mice out there as there are “regular” mice, there are still a few different options to consider. I spent at least two, full, eight-hour workdays with each of these mice, and these are the winners. Our Top Picks Just Buy This: Logitech Lift Vertical at Amazon $70 Jump to Review Also Great: Lenovo Go Vertical Mouse at Amazon $59 Jump to Review Easiest on the Budget: ProtoArc EM11 NL at Amazon $27 Jump to Review Just Buy This Logitech Lift Vertical PHOTO: Amazon $70 at Amazon $11 at Walmart $70 at Best Buy TL;DR: The Logitech Lift is comfortable, intuitive, and highly customizable, and it's the best vertical mouse I have used. Why We Recommend It In most of the reviews I work on for computer peripherals, Logitech is a logical step in the research journey. The brand is known for well-designed, highly compatible products that fit a variety of needs. There are a couple of vertical mice in Logitech’s lineup, but the Lift is the one I’d recommend for most people for a few reasons. While it’s certainly not a budget offering, it provides excellent value and an attainable price point for most buyers. Pros Comfortable lifted ergonomic shape Excellent build quality Comfortable materials Great value for the price Cons No internal rechargeable battery Clicks aren’t quite as premium as more expensive mice Sensor tracking a little sluggish for faster use cases Then there’s the build quality. Logitech’s MX Vertical mouse does feel a tad higher-end (with a higher MSRP to match), but the Lift still feels well made and comfortable in the hands. The “twisted” chassis and soft-touch plastic are perfect for resting your minimally twisted wrist right inside. The mouse clicks and scroll wheel also feel satisfying and reliable. I prefer the soft clicks on my MX Master 3S, but that mouse is quite a bit more expensive. Lifewire/Harry Rabinowitz I don’t love that the Lift requires a separate, dedicated AA battery; I prefer having the recharging option. But I see the value in being able to swap it out if your mouse is dead. I also find the tracking a little sluggish over Bluetooth but not a huge issue for my general productivity tasks. Unless you’re trying to game with this mouse (which I don’t really recommend), that accuracy won’t be a big deal. Lifewire/Harry Rabinowitz Overall, the quality, design, and overall experience here is really solid—and your wrists will thank you. Who else recommends it? RTINGS.com, PCMag, and more tech publications all consider the Logitech Vertical a great choice for users with ergonomic needs. What do buyers think? With nearly 10,000 reviews and a rating of 4.6/5, it’s safe to say that the average Amazon buyer is satisfied with this ergo mouse. The Vertical Mouse Revolution: Say Goodbye to Wrist (and Finger) Pain Also Great Lenovo Go Vertical Mouse PHOTO: Amazon $59 $55 at Amazon $50 $46 at Walmart TL;DR: With its cork accents and minimal layout, the Lenovo Go Vertical Mouse is a great-looking ergonomic option. Why We Recommend It Lenovo is one of the best-known brands in personal computing, with a tremendous track record of high-quality products. While I wasn’t able to get my hands on a unit to test, the Lenovo Go Vertical Mouse offers something different from the competition. The Lenovo Go Vertical Mouse is a little bit of an odd entry, in part because it looks so significantly different than many of the other mice out there. The obvious feature here is its cork-style base around the bottom edge of the mouse—giving it an organic, minimalist look and feel, particularly when compared to the black-plastic designs of most other mice on the market. Pros Beautiful, organic design Comfortable mouse angle DPI customization and extra buttons Cons A little expensive for what you get The shape may be small for some users Limited software customization The 45-degree angle grip is made from a UV-coated cork material that harkens back to old-school offices and classrooms, but also should feel comfortable to the touch. You’ll also find some other excellent Lenovo-backed features like on-the-fly DPI adjustment up to 2,400, a high-quality Blue optical sensor, and support for the Lenovo Unified Pairing Dongle. There may be some downsides, depending on your priorities. While the angle is in keeping with most other ergonomic mouses out there, the shape does seem pretty small—almost like Lenovo just took a regular mouse and tilted it on its side, rather than design a fully contoured vertical shape. It’s also a little pricey for the offering; though it does feature multiple side buttons and a high-quality design you can get a bit more for your money with the other entries on the list. Finally the software leaves something to be desired, as other brands like Logitech have put a lot more focus on user customization. However, if a unique design and handsome aesthetic is what you’re after, this mouse is worth a look. Who else recommends it? Computing-focused publications like PCMag and Windows Central report mostly positive findings with the Lenovo Go Vertical mouse.What do buyers say? Almost 6,500 happy Amazon customers give the Lenovo Go Vertical mouse an impressive 4.4 out of 5-star aggregate rating, favoring the functionality, comfort, and ease of setup for this mouse. Easiest on the Budget ProtoArc EM11 NL PHOTO: ProtoArc $27 at Amazon $49 at Walmart TL;DR: ProtoArc’s niche as an ergonomic office brand gives this affordable mouse a productive edge. Why We Recommend It If you aren’t fully into the ergonomic accessory space, it's possible you haven’t heard too much about ProtoArc. However, this office-focused brand delivers high-quality, well-priced keyboards and mice with ergonomics in mind. The EM11 NL is the brand’s main choice for a vertical mouse, and though it looks quite unique, it’s also one of the easiest ergonomic products I’ve been able to get used to. The design choices here are both unique and simple—sporting a folded, swirled shape that almost looks like something out of a Salvador Dali painting. But don’t let the “oozy” molded design fool you, because the way the EM11 NL is shaped is actually quite natural for my hands. While it may feel pretty big if you’ve got smaller hands, for me the 58-degree angle is perfect for keeping my wrist comfortably even and lining up my fingers just right for mouse clicks. Pros Affordable price point Unique vertical angle Interesting design Solid software customization Cons Might be too large for smaller hands Clicks and buttons could be better Design might be too funky for some spaces Like many other vertical mice, you can adjust the DPI resolution up to 2,400, which allows for quicker response and ultimately the possibility of less movement for your hands. There are also two programmable buttons for your thumb, and the orange accents that have become a bit of a mainstay for ProtoArc make for a fun touch. I did notice a couple of slight hiccups. The mouse clicks, though totally usable, felt a little thunk-y and cheap compared with more expensive models. The slightly higher 58-degree angle also feels like it might be too high for some users. And those orange accents and amoeba-like design choices might not be for everyone. These are all reasonable trade-offs for the impressively low price point, though, so if you want a low-barrier entry into the ergonomic mouse space, then this could be a great choice. Who else recommends it? Many YouTubers and consumer review roundups include the ProtoArc EM11 in their considerations for its unique design and impressive price point.What do buyers say? Nearly 600 buyers on Amazon rate the ProtoArc EM11 NL well for its build quality and its design. It earns an average 4.4 stars out of 5. Harry Rabinowitz The Best Mice for Macs of 2024 How We Test When considering vertical mice, I recognize that it really is different for lots of users. Hand size, hand shape, and even your preferred hand all play a part. That said, my testing focused on spending good, focused time with each mouse. Since I was more used to “flat” mice, it genuinely took me a couple of days to get the muscle memory right. I also wanted to make sure I understood how the ergonomic benefits of these mice actually improved my daily wrist fatigue. Therefore, each mouse I tested on this list got about a week of use for full work days. I also made sure to test quality of clicks and buttons, customizability of the software, and overall build quality to make sure the mouse really fits my daily needs. Lifewire/Harry Rabinowitz What to Look For Try something for me, right now while you’re reading: Hold your hand up straight out in front of you. Which is more natural to your body’s angles: Your palm down flat or your palm pointing to the side? Chances are, the latter position will help your wrist and arm joints feel more at ease. This is the principle of a vertical mouse. A vertical mouse needs to provide an ergonomic angle, but also the other features you’d want in a mouse, including: Comfort of angle and shapeSizing for your particular handsQuality of buttons, clicks, and scroll wheelsOverall designSoftware and customization 8 Things to Consider Before Buying a Computer Mouse Vertical Mouse Brands We Considered I researched or tried out products from: LogitechLenovoProtoArcAnkerJLabContour DesignKensington The Best Wireless Mice of 2024 FAQ What are the benefits of a vertical mouse? The most significant benefits of using a vertical mouse are keeping pressure off your wrist and avoiding the compression of the nerves in your forearm. Using a vertical mouse can help alleviate the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis. Are vertical mice good for gaming? Yes, you can game with a vertical mouse, just like you can game with a trackball. It could even improve your play if you have wrist pain from using a traditional mouse. Was this page helpful? 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