The moment you pick up a Logitech Lift mouse, you'll probably know whether you like it or not. Like Logitech's MX Vertical, the Lift completely subverts standard mouse design. When using this peripheral, you hold it with your hand rotated at a 90-degree angle, more like a coffee cup than a traditional mouse. Depending on your preference, this can be both thrilling and inconvenient.

Once you get past the unconventional design of the lift, there is still much to like. Like all Logitech mice, the Lift is feature-rich, with useful extra buttons and easily switchable profiles. It boasts a surprisingly long battery life and comes in several interesting color combinations, and at $70, it's a bit cheaper than Logitech's other high-end productivity mice.

On the other hand, the Lift runs on imperfect software and may simply relieve wrist pain rather than eradicate it. For a review of the Logitech Lift, see.

The first thing you will notice about the Logitech Lift is that it is not shaped like a traditional mouse. It is what is called a "vertical mouse," meaning that it looks like a regular mouse turned on its side. This means that the majority of Lift's buttons are on the right side, and the way it is held is completely different.

In general, vertical mice are beneficial for users with carpal tunnel or similar wrist problems because they place less stress on the carpal ligaments. However, Logitech makes no medical claims about Lift and does not guarantee that ergonomic mice will alleviate symptoms.

Once you get past the Lift's odd appearance, it has all the features you would expect from a high-end Logitech mouse. On the surface, there is a right-click button, a left-click button, a clickable scroll wheel, and a small circular button that reduces cursor speed by default. (On the left side of the mouse are two programmable thumb buttons. Below that is a profile switching button, a power button, and a battery compartment, which holds one AA battery and a wireless USB dongle.

Notably, the lift comes in three color schemes: pale gray (white and off-white), graphite (black and gray), and rose (pink and well, pink). Productivity gear is often always all black.

Most importantly, the Logitech Lift's unusual design sets it apart from other productivity mice. We have seen this profile on the MX Vertical, but the MX Vertical was a much larger mouse. Vertical mice are simply not that common, and even more so if it is a "vertical mouse that is also a high-end productivity peripheral." If you want a small to medium-sized vertical mouse from a major manufacturer with many software features, the Lift may be your only option.

However, the Lift has some other interesting features if you are willing to put in some effort. First of all, there is the "easy-switch" feature found on most of Logitech's high-end productivity mice. For example, the lift can be connected to up to three different devices at the same time, including desktops, laptops, and tablets. Since the device has both Bluetooth and USB wireless capabilities, connection is relatively simple. When you want to switch between devices, simply press the button on the bottom of the mouse. This is a smart and effortless feature, and has tangible benefits for users with multiple machines.

Also worth mentioning here is the Logi Options+ software. This software is still in beta, but it can do everything that was possible with the old program, Logi Options. DPI (dots per inch) sensitivity can be adjusted, but Options+ calls this "pointer speed" and uses percentages rather than actual numbers. This is a pain for power users, but may be easier to understand for beginners.

Options+ also allows reprogramming of buttons, but this feature is hit or miss. When creating a profile from scratch, a large number of options are available for each button, from launching an application to panning left and right through a document. However, Options+ also allows for automatic profiling, which does not always download correctly. Since it is beta software, users will have to wait for patches or program the profiles themselves.

Finally, Options+ can launch Flow, which allows users to seamlessly scroll through multiple computer screens and drag and drop files. This is useful if you are using a desktop and a laptop side by side, otherwise it is not a particularly important feature.

I used the Lift as my everyday mouse for about a week, and my impressions were mixed. Despite its unusual design, the Lift is surprisingly intuitive and easy to use. Once I got used to holding it horizontally in my hand, I was able to operate Windows in the same way I normally do, whether browsing the web, typing Word documents, listening to music, or communicating in Slack. The Lift is a capable productivity mouse with useful additional features.

On the other hand, I encountered the same problem with the Lift as I did with the MX Vertical: the Lift did not put pressure on the bottom of my wrist, but there was a single point of contact between the side of my wrist and the mouse pad. This made using the Lift uncomfortable over time in different places than I was used to. There was no "learning curve" in changing the way I held the mouse, and this was the position I was always drawn to.

When I asked a Logitech representative about this, he explained that just as a regular mouse is not comfortable for everyone, neither is a vertical mouse. the Lift's purpose is not to be a panacea for everyone who has experienced wrist pain, but simply another option worth exploring It is simply another option worth exploring. For this reason, we strongly recommend that you try your hand at the Lift, or an equivalent vertical mouse, before investing the $70.

The Lift's battery is a double-edged sword. Logitech advertises that the Lift can be used for up to 24 months on a single charge, but does not specify exactly under what conditions. In my own testing, the charge never dropped below 100% after several days of use in the office. Assuming that the mouse loses about 1% of its charge per week, this would be consistent with Logitech's expectation.

On the other hand, having to replace batteries in a high-end mouse seems a bit outdated and wasteful. Many mice in this price range, including Logitech's own MX Anywhere 3, offer rechargeable batteries.

The Logitech Lift has a singular design and may not be for everyone. Also, a rechargeable battery would have been better. Still, there is a great deal to like about the Lift. From its impressive design to its excellent performance to its useful extra features, the Lift is a valuable accessory for both hardcore productivity and general computing.

Users with larger hands may prefer the MX Vertical, while more traditional mouse fans may prefer the Logitech MX Master 3. Otherwise, if you have smaller hands or wrist problems, try the Lift.