Windows Central Verdict
A fantastic mouse that holds its own against the competition. Coming in hot at a price point that beats the likes of Corsair, Steel Series, and Logitech with both lighter weight and better polling rates!
Pros
- +
Affordable high-end like mouse
- +
Ultralightweight that competes with the lightest.
- +
4,000Hz polling rate that beats similarly priced competitors.
Cons
- -
Some frictional noise that changes depending on direction.
- -
Over-sized side buttons that lead to accidental clicks, at least initially.
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My background in PC gaming comes from a celebrated story of being cheap in 2012 when I built my first PC.
It took about 6 months before I realized my HP mouse and keyboard were not going to cut it when it came to the original DayZ mod on Arma 2. Damn those free PC peripherals from my college computer facilities.
From there, I stole from the pros. I used Logitech, Zowie, Razer, and whatever else became popular at the time. My lust for new gaming mice came to a screeching halt when I came across the first Logitech G Pro X Superlight.
I had found my style of mouse. No longer would I be bound by the weight of 70 grams or more.
I've been gaming and playing on PCs for 25 years. Since the turn of the millennium, I've seen and played with just about every type of mouse. I was a former pro competitor during the 360 era, and I test everything using my own setup and favorite games.
Disclaimer
This review was made possible thanks to a review sample provided by NZXT. The company had no input nor saw the contents of this review prior to publication.
NZXT Lift Elite: Pricing and specifications
- A price point that won't hurt the pocket.
- 8,000Hz polling rate wired and 4,000Hz wireless makes it the cheapest mouse with a polling rate over 1k.
- Stunningly lighter than even the Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2.
• Price: $79.99 at Best Buy
• Sensor: PixArtPAW339 optical sensor, 26,000 PDPI, 650 IPS, 50 g max acceleration
• Switches: TTC Optical 60 gF switches, 0.2ms response time, 100 million click lifetime
• Connectivity: Wireless up to 4,000Hz (dongle included), wired via USB Type-C up to 8,000Hz
• Features: Five onboard DPI profiles, mouse grip tape in the box, up to 70 hours battery life (@ 1,000Hz)
• Dimensions: 118.8 x 60.8 x 38.3mm (4.68 x 2.39 x 1.51in)
• Weight: 57g (Black) / 57g (White)
The NZXT Lift Elite marked a new milestone in my journey toward mouse perfection. Before, I thought the weight of 63g was fine; now, I'm not so sure. Coming in at $79.99, this 57g mouse altered my expectations of what a lightweight mouse could feel like.
While I had heard of other mice dropping below the 60g mark, I never thought it would make much of a difference.
Compared to the likes of the Razer Viper V3 Pro, which boasts a negligible weight of 54g, the price mark seems even better. At twice the price, the $159.99 mouse is only 3g less than that of the NZXT.
For $79.99, you get an affordable mouse that matches some of those $100+ competitors in key areas, like 4k wireless polling rate alongside 8k wired.
Maybe you'll be interested in the 26,000 DPI or the sub-1ms response time. Whatever your fancy, this NZXT mouse is looking to swim with the big brands.
NZXT Lift Elite: Design and build quality
- Lightweight and comfortable to use. Beating out some more expensive options.
- Side buttons can get in the way, a small learning curve if you're used to something smaller.
- It will need to be charged every couple of days if used wirelessly at a 4,000 polling rate.
At first glance, the NZXT Lift Elite seemed like it must be poorly built. How could a mouse of this size and weight not have some sort of build flaw? Surely something has to be wrong, right? Wrong. I'm pleased to report that the design is very sturdy and rigid despite the lack of a floor!
When you turn the mouse over, you'll find the flooring mostly removed, replaced by a crossbar that reinforces the device from outward pressure. According to NZXT, the mouse is rigorously tested using approximately 11 lbs, or 50 Newtons of force, to ensure no deformation or cracking occurs under pressure. You have to make sure the removal of a subfloor doesn't let the house fall apart!
Designed with a medium size in mind, the mouse comes in a small form factor that boasts sleek rubberized side grips with laser-etched texture. Provided in the box are two optional pieces of grip tape that can be applied to the right and left mouse buttons. I didn't find the need to use these, and the applied plastic coating is slightly coarse, so I'm already applying more grip than my current Logitech Superlight.
The side buttons are overly sized to provide an easier-to-press experience. However, the side buttons are not swappable even with a symmetrical mouse shape. Instead, they are solely placed on the left side, with no left-handed version yet announced.
I wasn't too thrilled about these buttons, as I accidentally hit them more often than not. This reminded me of the clumsiness I experienced when learning how to use my Azeron Cyborg, a device notorious for accidental clicking. In my 40 or so hours of use, I didn't quite reach the point where I had entirely negated that mistake.
I measured the issue by putting mouse one inputs on mouse four (That's the left click on the front thumb button). This meant that every time I clicked it, I did a main action by mistake, and in most instances, it gave away my position in either Counter-Strike 2 or Arma Reforger. Needless to say, I got myself killed a few times.
The battery was also another slight sore spot for me. I mentioned before that I spent around 40 hours with the device, and I managed to run out of battery in the first 15 hours of use. NZXT claims that the mouse will last upwards of 70 hours on a single charge at a 1k polling rate. The price of speed, I guess.
A quirk of their "no floor" design led me to notice some extra frictional noise emanating from the device while in use. Compared to my Superlight, which uses ESPTIGER mouse skates, I could hear the NZXT mouse moving across my NZXT Zone mousepad. I did a quick test using my phone to check the difference in noise level between the two.
This sound was produced when going up and down only, which means there's a small amount of extra fiction, noticeable enough that a decibel meter could pick it up, coming into play. During use, I didn't notice anything at all in terms of performance. Only when I took a step back and carefully looked it over did this become an issue.
This review was also performed on the NZXT Zone, not to be confused with the new Elite version. I chose the regular Zone initially as I wanted white to match the keyboard and mouse, and their Zone Elite only comes in black. The Zone serves as a slower mat, but one I wasn't incredibly impressed with compared to their Zone Elite. I would soundly recommend the Zone Elite as a mousepad to use alongside this mouse!
NZXT Lift Elite: Gaming experience
- Near high-end performance at half the price.
- Awesome 4k polling rate while wireless, with a blistering 8k while wired.
- Slight frictional difference when moved up and down versus side-to-side.
The NZXT Lift Elite works flawlessly once you've downloaded their CAM software. From there, it's as easy as installing and updating to the latest firmware, where you'll gain access to five onboard memory profiles, up to five different DPI settings, and multiple poll rate settings. It's a breeze to set up, which I was thankful for since there were no instructions included in the box!
The Lift Elite felt like a true extension of my arm, the lightness causing it to disappear under my hand. Perhaps I've grown accustomed to the Superlight series, but this truly felt next level when it came to weight.
When I tested the difference between 1k and 4k polling rate on my 240hz monitor, I could sense a disparity. It wasn't a placebo effect either, as I had my wife mindlessly adjust settings for me to see if I could tell the difference. I was surprised to find out I could, so I tested 4k to 8k rates. There, I found the limitations of my gaming powers, as I couldn't tell the difference between the two. I was thankful for this because the Lift Elite doesn't offer 8k polling when wireless, and I refuse to use a wired mouse with today's tech.
It's still a bummer, though, as the Razer Viper V3 Pro offers 8k polling while wireless for just $10 more, and that mouse has been on the market for over two years. Even at the cost of battery life, I'd rather see the ability to push my mouse wirelessly to a higher rate. Even if it's a placebo, I want my mouse to drive the latest speeds.
However, when I looked at other mice in the same price range, the NZXT Elite is the only other mouse that offers 4k polling support. So, while Razer might have an edge (pun intended), NZXT is currently polling ahead of everyone else (pun intended). Getting in on at least 4K should be the bare minimum today for all competitive gamers, and the Lift Elite is currently the cheapest wireless variety on the market—a sound plus for NZXT.
The Lift Elite also features great macro support that's easy and super intuitive. I'd say it's even better than GHUB. On top of it, you can remap any button, and I mean any button. I could remap the on/off switch underneath the mouse. I have no clue what I'd do with it, but hey, it's there!
NZXT Lift Elite: Competition
I touched on this area briefly, but our main competitors in the market are Razer, Corsair, Logitech, and Steel Series. Name brands that I've been aware of for over a decade now are being tackled by a brand I first became aware of when I bought a 360mm cooler for my CPU. Now, they're taking on the giants of the market, and for the most part, they're winning.
For example, let's look at the Logitech G X Pro Superlight, not to be confused with its brother, the Superlight 2. The original still retails for around $100 today, placing it ahead of the Lift Elite by $20. For that extra $20, you lose out on 4k polling, add five extra grams of weight, and have a slightly lower peak DPI. So why would you even consider the Superlight? NZXT is taking them to the cleaners here.
This also holds true for other competitors, like the Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro and SteelSeries Aerox 5. The one mouse that still seems to be able to withstand this new-fangled device is the Razer Viper V3 Pro. With double the polling rate, it still weighs less than the Lift Elite. However, it has a slightly higher price point; pick your poison.
NZXT Lift Elite: Final thoughts
You should buy this if ...
✅ You don't want to break the bank on a premium gaming mouse.
For not too much, you get access to quality features that other mice in the price range simply don't have, like 8k polling rates, macros, and more.
✅ Looking for a cheap, lightweight gaming mouse.
Another great feature is it's lightweight. They've even managed a lighter mouse than Logitech's Superlight lineup.
You should not buy this if ...
❌ You want a something that lasts a long time without a charge.
The battery doesn't last long. Its 1,000Hz polling rate charge data is the same as my five-year-old original Superlight.
❌ You're looking for a perfect high-end experience.
The side buttons aren't my favorite, and I wasn't entirely pleased to feel any increase in friction if I paid more attention.
I wasn't sure what to expect when it came to a premium, competitive gaming mouse scene. This Lift Elite seems to be their first step into the lands of more premium quality peripherals, and they've done quite well for themselves. For the price point, this mouse is pretty spectacular.
It comes down to what you're looking for in your device. There's no RGB getting in the way here; it's a lightweight gaming mouse built to give the user the best chance of victory. What it will come down to is your personal preference. Do you want to spend a little more and go with the team that's been around for over a decade, or give the new guy a shot? I'm going to team NZXT on this one. Great job guys.
A fantastic mouse that holds its own against the competition. Coming in hot at a price point that beats the likes of Corsair, Steel Series, and Logitech with both lighter weight and better polling rates!
A fantastic mouse that holds its own against the competition. Coming in hot at a price point that beats the likes of Corsair, Steel Series, and Logitech with both lighter weight and better polling rates!
