The Anker 2.4G Wireless Vertical Ergonomic Optical Mouse lets you use a “handshake” grip that keeps the wrist in a neutral position, unlike the flat grip of a traditional mouse. It uses a 2.4G wireless connection through a small USB receiver that stores in the bottom of the mouse when not in use. This mouse is an excellent purchase for those who continue to find their wrists aching at the end of the day.
A wireless mouse perfect for work, gaming, and beyond
The vertical orientation rotates the mouse body about 90 degrees from a standard horizontal mouse. A traditional flat mouse keeps the forearm pronated, with the palm facing down on the desk. Over hours of use, that can cause wrist strain or carpal tunnel symptoms. The handshake position used by this mouse rotates the wrist into a more neutral angle, with the buttons and scroll wheel oriented toward the thumb side. You can also switch between the 800, 1200, and 1,600 DPI settings with the dedicated button on top of the mouse.
The two thumb buttons map to next and previous page commands by default, which work for web browsing and file explorer navigation in Windows and Linux. On macOS, the thumb buttons are not recognized natively, so they won’t work for browser navigation without third-party mapping software. Eight minutes of idle time triggers a power-saving mode that cuts power to the mouse entirely, and pressing either the left or right button wakes it back up.
The mouse runs on 2 AAA batteries, which must be supplied separately, since the package includes only the mouse, the USB receiver, and the instruction manual. The 3.4-ounce weight is on the lighter side for a wireless mouse, thanks to the plastic build. Anker backs the mouse with an 18-month warranty.
At $20, the Anker 2.4G Wireless Vertical Ergonomic Optical Mouse is $10 below its $30 list price, a 33% discount. The price puts the mouse in throwaway-accessory territory, low enough to keep one at a home-office desk and another at a work desk without much thought about the cost. For anyone who has not used a vertical mouse before, the discount makes trying the handshake grip style a low-risk purchase.