Buying Guide
The Best Wireless Vertical Mice
Three mice compared, from the EM11 NL to the MX Vertical, with the trade-offs of each named.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read3 products evaluated
A wireless vertical mouse keeps the cable from tugging at the raised shape. Every mouse here is wireless and has a vertical grip, ordered from the lowest price.
This is a research roundup, not a lab test: sensor, grip and connection come from each maker's published specs; a missing sensor is flagged, not filled in, and no figure here comes from our own testing.
Quick Picks
Our 3 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
ProtoArc EM11 NL Wireless Ergonomic Vertical Mouse
The lowest price among these mice at the time of writing.
Best for: Keeping the cost under $50.
Our take Check price for ProtoArc EM11 NL Wireless Ergonomic Vertical Mouse (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
Logitech Lift Vertical
Whisper-quiet clicks.
Best for: Buyers who want whisper-quiet clicks.
Our take Check price for Logitech Lift Vertical (opens in a new tab)
Highest-Resolution Sensor
Logitech MX Vertical Wireless Ergonomic Mouse
The highest sensor resolution here (4,000 DPI).
Best for: Users who move the cursor across very wide desktops.
Our take Check price for Logitech MX Vertical Wireless Ergonomic Mouse (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The lowest price among these mice at the time of writing. | Keeping the cost under $50. | Check price for ProtoArc EM11 NL Wireless Ergonomic Vertical Mouse (opens in a new tab) |
| Whisper-quiet clicks. | Buyers who want whisper-quiet clicks. | Check price for Logitech Lift Vertical (opens in a new tab) |
| The highest sensor resolution here (4,000 DPI). | Users who move the cursor across very wide desktops. | Check price for Logitech MX Vertical Wireless Ergonomic Mouse (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 3
ProtoArc EM11 NL Wireless Ergonomic Vertical Mouse on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
ProtoArc's EM11 NL is a 58-degree vertical mouse for hands under 7.5 inches, with silent left and right buttons.
Best for
- Keeping the cost under $50.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: sensor resolution of 2,400 DPI, behind the MX Vertical (4,000 DPI).
Why we like it
It recharges over USB-C and pairs with three devices across two Bluetooth channels and a 2.4GHz receiver. It charges in about 2 hours over the included Type-C cable and lists up to 200 days of standby. The scroll wheel and the back and forward buttons are not silent.
It also offers a USB-C rechargeable 500mAh battery rated for up to 100 hours and a stated hand-length limit of 7.5 inches. Vertical mice put your hand in a handshake position; allow a week to adjust, and check the hand size. It undercut the Lift and every other pick on price at the time of writing. The main gap: sensor resolution of 2,400 DPI, behind the MX Vertical (4,000 DPI). If that matters, the MX Vertical offers 4,000 DPI.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sensor: 2,400 DPI
- Grip: Vertical, right-handed, hands under 7.5 in (58°)
- Connection: Bluetooth (2 channels) and 2.4GHz, 3 devices
Pros
- Silent left and right buttons (the wheel and side buttons are not silent)
- USB-C rechargeable 500mAh battery rated for up to 100 hours
- Stated hand-length limit of 7.5 inches
- The lowest price among these mice at the time of writing
Cons
- Sensor resolution of 2,400 DPI, behind the MX Vertical (4,000 DPI)
Also Consider2 of 3
Logitech Lift Vertical on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Lift is Logitech's vertical mouse for small to medium right hands, holding the wrist at 57 degrees to reduce forearm twist.
Best for
- Buyers who want whisper-quiet clicks.
Skip if
- Skip it if you need to know its sensor resolution before buying; the maker doesn't publish one.
Why we like it
It adds whisper-quiet clicks and a SmartWheel, and connects over Bluetooth or Logi Bolt. Logitech sizes it for small to medium right hands, with a 57-degree angle and a padded thumb rest. The soft-textured grip suits all-day office use.
The plastic parts include certified post-consumer recycled plastic, and it works with Windows, macOS, iPadOS, Chrome OS and Linux. It also comes with certification by leading ergonomists. Vertical mice put your hand in a handshake position; allow a week to adjust, and check the hand size.
It connects over Bluetooth or a Logi Bolt receiver; Bolt does not pair with older Unifying receivers. When we checked, only the EM11 NL cost less, and the MX Vertical cost more. If you want a confirmed sensor resolution, look to the MX Vertical instead: it offers 4,000 DPI, while this one gives no figure.
Key dimensions & specs
- Grip: 57-degree vertical, right-handed, small to medium hands
- Connection: Bluetooth or Logi Bolt
Pros
- Whisper-quiet clicks
- Certification by leading ergonomists
- Bluetooth or Logi Bolt connection, the only one here
Cons
- No published sensor resolution
- Costs more than the EM11 NL at the time of writing
Highest-Resolution Sensor3 of 3
Logitech MX Vertical Wireless Ergonomic Mouse on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Logitech's MX Vertical sets the hand at 57 degrees with a thumb rest and a textured rubber surface.
Best for
- Users who move the cursor across very wide desktops.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the EM11 NL, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
A cursor speed switch changes sensitivity with one press, and Logitech says the shape fits a variety of hand sizes. Its 57-degree angle puts your hand in a handshake position, which Logitech says reduces muscle activity by 10%. The design was tested against criteria from ergonomists.
Vertical mice put your hand in a handshake position; allow a week to adjust, and check the hand size. It is shaped for right hands only. Worth noting: highest sensor resolution of the picks (4,000 DPI). Only the Lift came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 3 picks.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sensor: 4,000 DPI
- Grip: Vertical, right-handed (57°)
- Connection: Wireless, USB receiver
Pros
- 57-degree vertical angle with a thumb rest
- Cursor speed switch that changes DPI with one button
- Textured rubber surface
- Highest sensor resolution of the picks (4,000 DPI)
Cons
- Costs more than the EM11 NL at the time of writing
How We Chose These Wireless Vertical Mice
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- The figures behind the order
- We lined up three mice on sensor resolution, grip and connection, using each maker's published specs. These are research figures, not bench results: 1 of 3 picks leave out sensor resolution.
- The shared baseline
- All 3, from the EM11 NL to the MX Vertical, state grip and connection.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Lift gives no sensor resolution.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the EM11 NL (under $50) to the MX Vertical ($50 to $100).
What to Look for in a Wireless Vertical Mouse
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Sensor resolution
Here sensor resolution runs from 2,400 DPI on the EM11 NL to 4,000 DPI on the MX Vertical, a 67% spread. Start with the MX Vertical if sensor resolution decides it. The Lift gives no sensor resolution figure, so 2 of 3 picks are compared here.
Features beyond the spec table
The EM11 NL: a USB-C rechargeable 500mAh battery rated for up to 100 hours. The Lift: certification by leading ergonomists. The MX Vertical: a cursor speed switch that changes DPI with one button.
Budget
Under $50 buys the EM11 NL; $50 to $100 buys the Lift and the MX Vertical at our last check.
Match the pick to your priority
Keeping the cost under $50: the EM11 NL. Users who move the cursor across very wide desktops: the MX Vertical.
Multi-computer control
Some mice switch between computers with a button, and a few can move the cursor and clipboard across machines.
This helps if you work on a laptop and a desktop at once.
How to Choose a Wireless Vertical Mouse
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping the cost under $50 | EM11 NL | The lowest price among these mice at the time of writing |
| Buyers who want whisper-quiet clicks | Lift | Whisper-quiet clicks |
| Users who move the cursor across very wide desktops | MX Vertical | The highest sensor resolution here (4,000 DPI) |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The MX Vertical leads on sensor resolution at 4,000 DPI, ahead of the EM11 NL at 2,400 DPI. "Not listed" marks sensor resolution where the Lift leaves the figure out.
| Mice | Sensor | Grip | Connection |
|---|---|---|---|
| EM11 NL | 2,400 DPI | Vertical, right-handed, hands under 7.5 in (58°) | Bluetooth (2 channels) and 2.4GHz, 3 devices |
| Lift | Not listed | 57-degree vertical, right-handed, small to medium hands | Bluetooth or Logi Bolt |
| MX Vertical | 4,000 DPI | Vertical, right-handed (57°) | Wireless, USB receiver |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
At our last check the cheapest pick, the EM11 NL, sat in the under $50 tier, 2 tiers in all up to the MX Vertical at $50 to $100; Amazon prices move, so recheck before buying.
| Price tier | Mice |
|---|---|
| Under $50 | EM11 NL |
| About $50 to $100 | Lift, MX Vertical |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has the highest sensor resolution: the MX Vertical or the EM11 NL?
Between the top two, it is 4,000 DPI on the MX Vertical against 2,400 DPI on the EM11 NL, a 67% difference. The Lift is left out of this ranking because its sensor resolution isn't stated; 2 of 3 picks are ranked.
Is the MX Vertical worth paying more than the EM11 NL?
What it brings is sensor resolution (4,000 DPI against 2,400 DPI). The EM11 NL sat in the under $50 tier and the MX Vertical in the $50 to $100 tier when we checked, with 1 other pick between them; pay the difference only if sensor resolution decides your purchase.
What makes the MX Vertical the Highest-Resolution Sensor?
It carries the badge for the highest sensor resolution here (4,000 DPI). The EM11 NL is next on sensor resolution at 2,400 DPI, so this pick's 4,000 DPI is 67% further out. The EM11 NL, the cheapest pick, sat in the under $50 tier against $50 to $100 here, without out-ranking it on any listed spec. It makes sense for anyone who moves the cursor across very wide desktops.
Beyond the specs, what sets the EM11 NL and the Lift apart?
The EM11 NL: silent left and right buttons (the wheel and side buttons are not silent). The Lift: whisper-quiet clicks. The MX Vertical: a 57-degree vertical angle with a thumb rest.
Should I pick the EM11 NL or the MX Vertical?
The EM11 NL suits keeping the cost under $50; the MX Vertical suits users who move the cursor across very wide desktops.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the EM11 NL, chosen for the lowest price among these mice at the time of writing. Look at the Lift for whisper-quiet clicks if those matter more to you.
Give a vertical mouse a week before judging it; the grip takes time to get used to.