Released alongside its companion NZXT Function Mini TKL mechanical keyboard, the $59.99 NZXT Lift Mouse is the latest computer accessory to arrive from NZXT, the American manufacturer best known for its computer cases and PC-building services. The Lift is an able-enough gaming mouse, complete with a clean, bold aesthetic and high-speed, high-resolution sensor. But unlike the Function Mini TKL, which occupies a space all its own, the Lift is held back by its flimsy build, dim RGB lighting, and a price just high enough to make its value proposition unappealing, especially compared with other bargain mice like the HyperX Pulsefire Haste.
Simple, Lightweight, and Smooth-Moving
The Lift is a simple peripheral. Free of the loud gaming trappings found on many mice, the NZXT sports a simple design not unlike other devices in the company’s lineup. The Lift features two buttons on its left side in addition to the two main clickers up top (supported by Omron mechanical switches). It’s an ambidextrous-shape mouse, though it’s made with right-handers in mind given the side-button location.
A rubberized scroll wheel sits where you’d expect it, and a DPI switch is tucked right below, letting you hop between presets on the fly. It’s standard stuff all around, from the two PTFE feet flanking the sensor underneath to the comfortable palm grip design.
The NZXT Lift doesn’t weigh much, at just 2.3 ounces. This puts it on the lighter side of the gaming mouse spectrum—not as light as our Editors’ Choice pick the HyperX Pulsefire Haste, but lighter than the Corsair Sabre RGB Pro Champion Series and neck-and neck with the Logitech G Pro X Superlight Wireless Gaming Mouse.
For high-level play—especially in the realm of first-person shooters—the lighter the mouse, the better. And ideally, you’ll want a high-resolution sensor as well. The Lift’s PixArt sensor supports up to 16,000dpi, which is about the minimum one should expect from any mouse designed for twitch-type 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 was high-level raiding in Final Fantasy XVI or casually scrolling on the internet, the Lift never missed a beat during testing.
Unfortunately, the build quality feels a little flimsy, and because the mouse is so light it felt as if it was one drop away from exploding into pieces. I didn’t try to break or abuse our review unit, but I did feel as if I was handling something delicate that would snap if gripped too hard.
Add a Splash of RGB Color
As with many other NZXT products, you can customize the way your Lift mouse looks. 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 equipment, you can choose from two base colors (white and black) and five accent colors (yellow, cyan, violet, red, and blue).
While I’d have liked more options for the base colors, your Lift will look good 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 B.A.T. 6+ or the R.A.T. 8+ Gaming Mouse.
Turning our attention under the hood, the Lift’s RGB lighting, as well as programmable macros, button remapping, polling rate, resolution settings, and more can be adjusted in NZXT CAM, the software app used by all NZXT products. The software itself is first-rate, easy to navigate with a ton of functionality, especially for owners of multiple NZXT products.
The RGB lighting tucked beneath the mouse doesn’t really impress me, and there aren’t many effects to choose from. In my time with the mouse, I almost didn’t notice the lighting at all—which might be a plus for some users. The Lift’s 1,000Hz polling rate is a nice feature, and the ability to adjust the lift-off height will appeal to low-dpi gamers.
But when it comes down to it, the Lift doesn’t really offer much that other gaming mice don’t, including some priced at $49 rather than $59. The latter’s still certainly affordable, sure, but the pill becomes harder to swallow when there are so many wired and wireless options that perform as well or better for less money.
Do You Need a Lift?
The NZXT Lift is a comfortable, lightweight, and stylish mouse that’ll look good on just about any desk, especially one decked out with other NZXT gear. But in use, it just feels too frail to fully enjoy, and its RGB lighting options are limited. Combine that with its just-above-budget asking price, and the Lift is outclassed by its competitors.
If you’re a fan of mice with minimalist designs or are keen on 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 wireless SteelSeries Rival 3.
