A vertical mouse is something I’ve long been interested in trying out, though for reasons beyond my reckoning I remain bound to the idea of using a “gaming” mouse with my PC at home, despite doing the bulk of my gaming on consoles. My last few have all been Razer, and I’ve largely been very happy with them, so when the gaming tech manufacturer announced it was doing a Vertical Edition of its new Pro Click V2 mouse, well, how could I say no?
Design-wise, this is another Razer mouse that could absolutely hide its “gamer” pedigree if you were to take it to the office, especially once you switch off the Chroma RGB strip around the bottom edge. The company has taken a cue or two from Logitech’s rival mouse, like the metallic strip across the top that houses the brand’s logo, though it’s a touch subtler here. I can’t say I’m a fan of the way the centre seam comes down into a kind of tear-drop shape at the bottom of the mouse, it looks a little like the two sides didn’t line up as smoothly as the designers were expecting and they chose to ship it anyway.
Of course, the obvious design differentiator here versus literally any other mouse Razer has produced is the Pro Click V2 Vertical Edition’s, well, verticality. Long the realm of productivity-focused mice like the Logitech MX or Lift, this is an interesting foray into the world of gaming mice that has ergonomics, long-term comfort, and injury prevention in mind. There are a couple of different angles to come at this from a review perspective, the first being whether or not a “vertical” mouse is actually right for you in the first place.
There’s certainly some science behind the advantages of using a tilted mouse over a more traditional one, though for every bit of actual study there are also a thousand pieces of marketing or advertorial spruiking of the benefits with little basis. Researched conclusions that I’ve been able to find have said very similar things, suggesting1 that ergonomic vertical mice do go some way to improving comfort but don’t necessarily hit the larger points of concern like carpal tunnel syndrome. Nor do they offer a strong enough use case to pick them2 over a more traditional setup. I think common sense would suggest that healthy use, not a specific design, is important to prevent strain and complications from mouse work – that said, having an extra mouse of a different orientation on hand could be a good way to introduce some much-needed positional variety.
So while the decision to go vertical in the first place is not one for myself or any manufacturer to make on your behalf, I can at least speak to the design of this specific vertical mouse. The good news is that this is a generally very well-sculpted bit of kit. Unlike a regular mouse which typically accommodates some variety of grips, this one locks your grabber into a “handshake” position with just the right curves to support your thumb and pinky on either side (provided you’re a righty). My hands are of average size and despite the quite large footprint on all axes, I found it a perfect fit. It’s definitely more vertical than I was expecting, silly as that sounds, but there’s no actual effort involved in keeping your tenders tilted.
The Pro Click V2 Vertical Edition is gently-appointed in its button configuration with your traditional left and right mouse keys where you’d always expect them, plus two long and slightly curved additional programmable buttons positioned either side of the little concave where your thumb sits. I found these quite handy as I can sort of just rock my thumb in either direction to hit them, but they aren’t so close that I’ve ever done it by mistake, either. The scroll wheel is surprisingly basic with no free-spin or tilt functions, which is a little disappointing and might cause some potential punters to think twice.
What gave me the most pause here, though, is the multifunction button up top beside the RAZER logo. Its most essential function is quick-switching between different sensitivity levels, but it’s also now a shortcut to Razer’s “AI Prompt Master,” which basically just brings up a bespoke window where users can quickly input prompts to AI engines like ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot. I get that genAI is just the latest junk to be hamfisted into our tech products, and will hopefully go the way of things like 3D TV and augmented reality, but it’s also easily one of the more harmful and wasteful examples to date. I simply don’t need another device in my house begging to think and create on my behalf.
Okay.
Performance-wise, at least from a hardware perspective, the Pro Click V2 Vertical Edition certainly holds its own in the gaming sphere with a Razer Focus Pro sensor with sensitivity up to 30K DPI, mechanical switches and smooth PTFE feet. What’ll inevitably hold it back in terms of gaming performance is simply the adjustment to the vertical position. For regular use and productivity there’s mercifully not too much of a learning curve but gaming is a different story – it took me a good couple of weeks to feel like I was playing naturally and not extra conscious of what my hand was doing. To that end I don’t see this replacing any “hardcore” players’ go-to gaming pointer. It’s absolutely more of a productivity device that also games.
Further cementing this as a mouse that has a genuine claim to both gaming and productivity royalty is its five-way connectivity. On top of the included 2.4GhZ HyperSpeed wireless USB adapter and obvious wired option, the Pro Click V2 Vertical Edition can pair with up to three devices via Bluetooth, making quickly jumping over to a laptop, tablet or whatever else when it’s time to work a seamless endeavour. I can’t say I see myself throwing this hefty number in a bag or purse in lieu of something cheap and light when I’m on the go, but for those working across multiple devices in one place it’s a handy wealth of options.
As with most Razer products, the Synapse software is a crucial gateway to customising and setting things up exactly how you’d like, and while the Pro Click V2 Vertical Edition isn’t flush with options, it’s at least bound to one of the better branded hardware apps out there. I’ve largely stuck by Razer because of how user friendly and free of bloat Synapse is in comparison to some other options (looking at you, ASUS), and the latest iteration continues that trend.
One thing I do appreciate above my previous Razer mouse, the Viper V3 Pro, is the battery life. Razer rates this at up to six months, though that’s predictably without any of the RGB nonsense switched on, and while I haven’t been using it anywhere near long enough to confirm that I can say that I’m yet to reach for a USB-C cable – something I do weekly with the Viper. The sheer size of this clicker is clearly a boon for the depth of its tank.
Final Thoughts
Straddling an intriguing middle ground between traditional gaming and ergo-centric productivity, the Razer Pro Click V2 Vertical Edition is an interesting product that nails the fundamentals but simply won’t be for everyone. If a vertical mouse is the goal, there are cheaper and less intense options, and conversely if you’re mainly concerned with gaming then you might be better served with something more traditional. If you’re smack dab in the middle of that venn diagram – this is a great choice.
Review unit supplied by manufacturer
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- Radwan, A., Kallasy, T., Monroe, A., Chrisman, E., & Carpenter, O. (2018). Benefits of alternative computer mouse designs: A systematic review of controlled trials. Cogent Engineering, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311916.2018.1521503
- Schmid, A. B., Kubler, P. A., Johnston, V., & Coppieters, M. W. (2015). A vertical mouse and ergonomic mouse pads alter wrist position but do not reduce carpal tunnel pressure in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. Applied Ergonomics, 47, 151–156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2014.08.020
