Logitech MX Vertical Mouse REVIEW

Having just reviewed Logitech’s Ergo K860 keyboard, I turned my attention to rodents. No, not the furry ones, but the sleek vertical ergonomic variety designed to push a pointer around a PC’s screen: vertical mice.

Vertical mice are an increasingly common accessory owing to the growth in the number of people afflicted with conditions like carpal tunnel and OOS. That said, most vertical ergonomic mice are the computer peripheral equivalent of a Lada, often lacking any balance between comfort, features and looks. I unboxed the Logitech MX Vertical expecting the worst, hoping beyond all hope that they’d managed to crack this ergonomic chestnut.

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From a design perspective, the MX Vertical is an odd-looking beast. It was designed with its sole goal being to make it strain-free to use, which should, in turn, reduce the symptoms of OOS and carpal tunnel syndrome. As odd as it looks, its design is also eye-catching.

While it looks ungainly, excellent ergonomics means it is supremely comfy. My hand almost seemed to merge with it, so it felt like an extension of my arm. Logitech’s ergonomic expertise meant that instead of gripping it, my hand comfortably rested on the MX vertical. Its surface is covered with a soft rubberised material that is ribbed (for your pleasure!). It might be on the larger side when it comes to desk rodents, but in use, it felt feather-light.

From a pure design perspective, it looks good. Its rubberised materials are stylish-looking and comfy to touch. Accents in the form of metallic trim on the top and the mouse wheel add a hint of sophistication. While many ergonomic mice look like they’ve hit every branch of the ugly tree on the way to the ground, the MX Vertical is something I’d happily use.

Under its hood, there’s an optical sensor with a DPI range of 400 to 4000. This is high for a vertical mouse and a real boon for those with limited arm movement. Another bonus is the DPI button, with which users can change pointer speeds on the go. The mouse buttons provide lots of tactile feedback. Forward/back buttons let you quickly move back and forth between browser pages with minimal effort.

The MX Vertical also works with Logitech’s well-regarded Options software. With it, you can remap the functions of the mouse’s controls, including the wheel buttons, both forward and back buttons, plus the DPI switch button. Last (but by no means least), battery life is good too. After a week of testing, the rechargeable battery levels are at 60 percent, which should translate to 2-3 weeks of use.

All told, the MX Vertical is hard to fault. It is a bit of a fingerprint magnet, and its price tag is a hefty $199. Still, you get real value for your money, and its classy looks more than compensate for the odd fingerprint. Logitech seems to have pulled off what no other ergonomic mouse maker has managed to date. They’ve crafted a vertical mouse whose superb ergonomics make it a pleasure to use. It’s also a chic looking piece of gear. If you’re afflicted with OOS or worry that you could be at risk from poor computer ergonomics, the MX vertical is definitely worth checking out.

www.logitechworkspace.com