NZXT Lift Mouse Review | PCMag

Released alongside its companion NZXT Function Mini TKL mechanical keyboard, the $59.99 NZXT Lift Mouse is the latest computing accessory to arrive from NZXT, the US manufacturer best known for its computer cases and building services. of pc. The Lift is a decent enough gaming mouse with a clean, bold aesthetic and a high-speed, high-resolution sensor. But unlike the Function Mini TKL, which takes up space in its own right, the Lift is held back by its flimsy build, poor RGB lighting, and price just high enough to make its value proposition unattractive, especially compared to other models. other inexpensive mice like the HyperX Pulsefire Haste.

Simple, light and fluid

The Elevator is a simple device. Free from the noisy gaming trappings found on many mice, the NZXT sports a simple design that’s not unlike other devices in the company’s lineup. The elevator has two buttons on its left side in addition to the two main clickers at the top (supported by Omron mechanical switches). It’s an ambidextrous shaped mouse, although it’s designed for right-handers given the location of the side button.

(Photo: Zackery Cuevas)

A rubberized scroll wheel sits where you’d expect it, and a DPI switch is hidden just below, letting you jump between presets on the fly. It’s a standard feature all around, from the two PTFE feet flanking the sensor below to the comfortable palm grip design.

(Photo: Zackery Cuevas)

The NZXT Lift doesn’t weigh much, at just 2.3 ounces. That puts it on the lighter side of the gaming mouse spectrum – not as light as our editor’s pick, the HyperX Pulsefire Haste, but lighter than the Corsair Saber RGB Pro Champion series and neck and neck with the Logitech G Pro X Superlight Wireless. Gaming mouse.

(Photo: Zackery Cuevas)

For high-level gaming, especially in first-person shooters, the lighter the mouse, the better. And ideally, you’ll also want a high-resolution sensor. Lift’s PixArt sensor supports up to 16,000 dpi, which is about the minimum you’d expect from a mouse designed for twitch-like gaming. The NZXT’s lightweight design is complemented by its equally lightweight, low-drag “paracord”, a nylon cable that keeps mouse movement smooth.

Whether I’m high-level raiding in Final Fantasy XVI or casually scrolling the Internet, the Elevator never missed a beat during testing.

(Photo: Zackery Cuevas)

Unfortunately, the build quality feels a bit flimsy, and because the mouse is so light, it felt like it was a drop away from exploding into pieces. I didn’t try to break or abuse our review unit, but felt like I was handling something delicate that would snap if tightened too tightly.

Add a splash of RGB color

As with many other NZXT products, you can customize the look of your Lift Mouse. Our review unit is a standard white mouse with black accents on the buttons, but if you want to add a personal touch to your rig, you can choose from two base colors (white and black) and five accent colors ( yellow, cyan, purple, red and blue).

Although I would have liked more options for base colors, your Lift will look great no matter which combination you go with. But if you’re looking for deeper customization options, you’re better off looking at modular mice like the Mad Catz BAT 6+ or RAT 8+ gaming mouse.

(Photo: Zackery Cuevas)

Catching our eye under the hood, the elevator’s RGB lighting, along with programmable macros, button remapping, polling rate, resolution settings, and more. can be adjusted in NZXT CAM, the software application used by all NZXT products. The software itself is top notch, easy to navigate with a ton of features, especially for owners of multiple NZXT products.

The hidden RGB lighting under the mouse doesn’t really impress me, and there aren’t many effects to choose from. In my time with the mouse, I hardly noticed the lighting at all, which might be a plus for some users. The elevator’s 1,000 Hz polling rate is a nice feature, and the ability to adjust lift-off height will appeal to low-res gamers.

But at the end of the day, the Lift doesn’t offer much that other gaming mice don’t, including some priced at $49 instead of $59. The latter is still certainly affordable, of course, but the pill becomes harder to swallow when there are so many wired and wireless options that work just as well or better for less money.

Do you need an elevator?

The NZXT Lift is a comfortable, lightweight and stylish mouse that will fit on almost any desk, especially those fitted with other NZXT equipment. But in use, it feels too fragile to take full advantage of, and its RGB lighting options are limited. Combine that with its just-above-budget asking price, and the Lift is outclassed by its competition.

If you’re a fan of minimalist design mice or love the NZXT brand, you won’t go wrong with the NZXT Lift, but you can do better. If you want a featherweight gaming mouse, you can find better value in the HyperX Pulsefire Haste or the SteelSeries Rival 3 Wireless.