Looking for the Best Vertical Mouse beyond Logitech

Product(s) reviewed

The video is a round-up/“quest” to find alternatives to Logitech’s best vertical mice—especially comparing newer models from brands like Razer, Keychron, and various “copycat/OEM” makers—against the long-standing benchmarks:

• Logitech MX Vertical (aimed at large hands)
• Logitech Lift (aimed at smaller hands)

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Key vertical-mouse buying criteria (used throughout)

1. Hand size There’s no true “medium” in vertical mouse terms; they define sizes approximately by height.

   • Medium ~19 cm span
   • Typical person: 180 cm / ~6 ft
   • Guidance for “safe” picks:
     • Logitech Lift for ~170 cm and down
     • MX Vertical for larger hands

2. Grip type

   • Palm vs claw/fingertip
   • Many shapes work well for one grip but create thumb/pinky issues for the other.

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Logitech MX Vertical (large-hand benchmark)

Price: ~$120

Pros / strengths

• Sensor: “fine” for office use
• Build quality: solid
• Wheel: praised as “one of the better wheels”
• Shape safety: tends to fit most hands (for its size category)
• Materials/design language: mass-market quality; “not designed to wow”

Cons / drawbacks

• Clicks are too clicky/loud for an office environment
  • main clicks too loud
  • thumb buttons quieter but need more force
• Thumb buttons: require too much force
• Ergonomic pinch issue: a gap can trap/pinch the pinky when sliding left/right
• Thumb rest area is too low (can make the thumb “fall”; more noticeable for palm grips)
• Worst issues summarized as:
  • too large for some users
  • too clicky
• Forces a pinch hand posture; newer mice copied the shape philosophy, but it’s “not very comfortable.”

User experience takeaway

• Best for large hands, and grip matters (a claw can reduce some thumb-rest discomfort).

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Logitech Lift (smaller-hand benchmark)

Price: ~$70

Pros / strengths

• Clicks: very quiet
• Thumb buttons: need less force
• Wheel: nice
• Pinky-trap issue reduced: thumb/pinky area is more vertical and less inward
• Same general curved shape philosophy; comfort is “solid for most people”
• Multiple color options (unlike MX Vertical, which had only one color mentioned)

Cons / drawbacks

• Thumb rest area still thought to be a bit too low (some pinch risk)

User experience takeaway

• Called their favorite in the set for:
  • Medium hand size + claw grip
• Framed as the safer choice vs MX Vertical because it’s smaller.

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“Cheap copycats” (~$40) — compared against MX Vertical

Deluxe “copycat” (~$40)

Pros

• Clicks: better/softer than MX Vertical
• For smaller hands: slightly better due to size/shape changes

Cons

• Wheel: soft but flimsy
• Still pinches the pinky
• Convex/concave transition happens faster, reducing “hand filling” comfort for palm
  • may help claw and smaller hands
• Sticky coating/plastic texture (bad if you have oily hands)
• Thumb buttons: very hard to press; located on underside; described as borderline useless
• Overall: they would not recommend despite the low price.

Verdict (in-video)

• Do not buy (too uncomfortable; bad buttons; coating issues)

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Trust mouse (~$40)

Pros

• Sensor: fine
• Clicks: quiet; low force
• Thumb buttons: nice, quiet, low-force
• Texture/build quality: acceptable for $40
• They prefer its click feel over Logitech, while conceding Logitech grip quality likely lasts longer.

Cons

• Weird thumb-area design:
  • thumb rest ends up lower than expected
  • fingers and thumb move at different angles, potentially causing discomfort long-term (not fully tested)
• Similar transition comfort issue (but “middle ground”)

Verdict (in-video)

• Good option
• Compared to the other $40 copycat, they discard the Deluxe and keep this one.

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Other non-exact “philosophy” alternatives

Deluxe (different model; $40–42, includes RGB + DPI screen) — likely “funky” but functional

Pros

• Clicks/scroll: fine; wheel fine
• Better implemented bottom clicks (slightly clicky but force is fine)
• Distinct feature: recess area allows comfortable pinky rest/tucking
• Has a DPI control screen and RGB
• Design tries something different (extra points)

Cons

• Rear “butt” area pushes hand outward—big comfort complaint
• Thumb wheel/button behavior: thumb wheel exists but is gimmicky/hard to use without changing grip
• Rear shape makes it “not so comfortable” for some (even if claw works for others)

User experience takeaway

• Better for claw than palm (rear shape encourages claw comfort)
• One speaker says it’s viable, but they still recommend Trust over it
• If you have large hands + claw grip, it might work well

Verdict (in-video)

• “Viable,” but not the safest—consider it a secondary option.

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Keychron M5 ($70)

Pros

• Coating/texture: praised as non-sticky and premium-feeling
• Weight: light for a vertical mouse
• Sensor: strong up to 30,000 DPI
• Thumb buttons: loud but conveniently positioned
• Pinky wedge/rest area: helps avoid trapping and is an improvement

Cons

• Clicks: very loud (even louder than MX Vertical)
• Wheel: extremely hard/heavy; difficult to scroll
• Wheel position described as too high (worse because wheel is hard)
• Thumb rest area is very low; thumb “slides downward” during palm
• Concave shape recreates the “thumb sliding” problem
• Overall:
  • not recommended for palm
  • acceptable for claw

Verdict (in-video)

• Do not buy (wheel + click loudness + thumb-rest ergonomics).

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Options for smaller hands (~$30–40)

Deluxe M618 variant (~$30)

Pros

• Very quiet clicks
• Side buttons quiet as well
• Small-hand claw fit: works well for small hands clawing
• Wheel/sensor fine
• Has a larger pinky rest than some

Cons

• Coating gets sticky through the years
• Third top side button is hard to reach
• Thumb rest area “not great”
• Not great for palm unless you’re very small

Verdict (in-video)

• Good small-hand, claw option, but expect reduced longevity due to stickiness.

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CSL OEM (~$30–40, older design, different shape)

Pros

• Very different shape (thicker; fills hand more like a normal curved fit)
• Palming comfort: praised as very comfortable for palm
• Concave transition + bump/support: hand is supported despite concavity
• Buttons accessible for both palm/claw
• Click force/sensor/wheel acceptable
• Extra utility:
  • extra bottom button
  • two “crazy” buttons

Cons

• Clicks are too loud (repeated multiple times)
• Too small to palm for large hands (claw is possible)

Verdict (in-video)

• One of the reviewers’ favorite shapes for medium hands and both palm/claw
• Best when you want a different feel than typical verticals.

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“Oddball” for large/thick-forearm users

Razer Pro Click Vertical Edition ($120)

Key difference: nearly 90° vertical style and a tall shape.

Pros

• Texture/finish: very nice (non-generic feel)
• Sensor: called the best sensor
• Pinky rest is “really nice”
• Thumb location is easy to press
• Potential: shape could be very comfortable for the right body type

Cons

• Clicks: loud (Razer-like)
• Wheel: not a major praised feature
• Main issue: very tall and forces hand upward, causing painful wrist positioning
  • works mainly for large/thick forearms, very large people, or if you elevate the wrist
• Not really a replacement philosophy for MX Vertical/Lift; it serves a different ergonomic approach

Verdict (in-video)

• Don’t generally recommend; could be great only for very large users who don’t get wrist pain.

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Main comparisons and “which to buy” logic (consolidated)

• Safe overall for small hands: Logitech Lift (often safest; cheaper than MX Vertical)
• Safe overall for large hands: Logitech MX Vertical (but clickiness/pinky pinch are recurring complaints)
• Best budget-like alternative to avoid annoyances:
  • Suggestion: Trust as the best ~$40 contender (discard Deluxe copycat)
• Most strongly avoid category:
  • Keychron M5 (wheel too hard + very loud clicks + thumb issues)
  • Deluxe copycat (sticky plastic + hard/near-useless thumb buttons + pinky pinch)

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Unique points mentioned (complete list of distinct ideas)

1. Old benchmark conclusion: MX Vertical and Lift were previously “most well-rounded” (large vs smaller hands).
2. Two vertical-size categories: small vs large; medium treated as grip-dependent.
3. Hand-size guidance by height approximation (e.g., 180 cm medium; 170 cm and down safer with Lift).
4. Grip types: palm vs claw; comfort depends on which shape supports thumb/pinky.
5. MX Vertical strengths: solid sensor, build, wheel, safe shape, mass-market quality.
6. MX Vertical weaknesses: loud/clicky main clicks; thumb buttons require too much force.
7. MX Vertical weakness: pinky can be pinched by a gap when sliding.
8. MX Vertical weakness: thumb rest too low causes thumb to drop (especially for palm).
9. MX Vertical ergonomic critique: pinch posture; copied but uncomfortable.
10. MX Vertical worst: too large for many + too clicky.
11. MX Vertical expensive: $120.
12. Lift strengths: quiet clicks, less thumb-button force; wheel nice; pinky trapping reduced; comfortable for most.
13. Lift weakness: thumb rest area slightly low (pinch risk).
14. Lift pricing: $70; praised as safest due to smaller size and size-match.
15. Color availability difference: MX Vertical only one color mentioned; Lift multiple.
16. Budget copycats share similar office sensors (2400–4000 DPI mentioned).
17. “Deluxe” $40 copycat: better/softer clicks than MX Vertical; wheel flimsy; pinky pinch persists.
18. Copycat coating issue: sticky finish/plastic.
19. Copycat thumb buttons: very hard to press + underside placement → borderline useless.
20. Copycat shape transition: faster convex/concave transition improves smaller-hand claw comfort but worsens palm comfort.
21. Trust $40: quiet, easy thumb buttons; good texture/build for price.
22. Trust weakness: thumb rest lowers thumb; finger/thumb angle mismatch may cause long-term discomfort.
23. Trust advantage: clicks better than Logitech, but Logitech grip quality likely lasts longer.
24. Trust vs Deluxe copycat: Trust kept; Deluxe discarded.
25. Deluxe $40–42 features: bottom clicks better implemented; wheel fine; thumb wheel gimmicky; recess supports pinky.
26. Deluxe $40–42 weakness: “rear butt” pushes hand outward; rear/back and front don’t mesh for some grips.
27. Deluxe $40–42 includes DPI screen + RGB; evaluated as okay for claw.
28. Deluxe $40–42 recommended ranking: better/funkier secondary option; Trust still preferred.
29. Keychron M5 positives: non-sticky premium coating; light weight; sensor up to 30k DPI; nice wedge/pinky rest; convenient thumb button position.
30. Keychron M5 negatives: extremely loud clicks; super heavy/hard wheel; wheel position too high; thumb rest too low causing thumb sliding; concave shape worsens palm comfort.
31. Keychron recommendation: do not buy; maybe only claw users might tolerate (still problematic).
32. Small-hand Deluxe M618 variant ($30): quiet side clicks; small-hand claw works; pinky rest larger; third side button hard to reach; thumb rest not great; coating becomes sticky over years.
33. CSL OEM ($30–40): different thick, hand-filling shape; good palm comfort; supported concave transition with bump; good for medium hands for both palm/claw.
34. CSL OEM negative: clicks too loud.
35. CSL OEM sizing: too small to palm for large hands, but claw possible.
36. Razer Pro Click ($120) oddball: nearly 90° vertical; similar to Evoluent shape; very tall; forces upward wrist movement; painful for most.
37. Razer Pro Click positives: nice texture/finish; best sensor; comfortable thumb placement; good pinky rest.
38. Razer Pro Click negatives: loud clicks; comfortable only for large/thick-forearm users or with wrist elevation.
39. Final recap categories: large vs small recommendations plus budget kings.
40. “King of the hill” conclusion: no single absolute king; suggests a budget king exists; overall safe top picks still Logitech/Lift/MX based on comfort + build.
41. Final preference leaning: choose Trust around $40 as safest budget option.
42. Best-by-hand-size guidance in recap:
    • Large → smaller: consider Trust as main budget recommendation.
    • Small hands claw: consider Deluxe M618.
    • Medium hands palm or both: recommend CSL OEM.
    • If unsure: buy Lift.

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Pros / Cons summary by speaker focus

Speaker(s): “Benchmarks + safe choices” (Miquel + Luis)

• Focus: shape safety, hand-size categories, pricing tiers, recommendation logic
• Strongest “safe” picks:
  • Logitech Lift for smaller hands
  • Trust as best budget contender

Speaker(s): “Hands-on ergonomic complaints”

• Focus: thumb rest height, pinky trapping, convex/concave feel, click loudness, wheel resistance
• Strongest negatives:
  • MX Vertical: pinky pinch + clicky loudness
  • Keychron M5: unusably hard wheel + loud clicks + thumb sliding
  • Deluxe copycat: sticky coating + hard/near-useless thumb buttons

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Overall verdict / recommendation

• Safest overall experience: Logitech MX Vertical (large hands) or Logitech Lift (smaller hands)

• Best budget alternative (~$40): Trust (preferred over the “Deluxe” copycats)

• Avoid:

  • Keychron M5 (wheel hardness, loud clicks, thumb ergonomics)
  • Deluxe $40 copycat (sticky coating + difficult/near-useless thumb buttons)