It seems like choosing the right mouse for gaming should be simple, but it’s anything but. While it’s not the most affordable, the NZXT Lift 2 Symm offers solid gaming performance with a minimalist look and feel.

Pricing and Availability

While you can certainly spend much more on a mouse, the Lift 2 Symm isn’t a budget mouse, selling for $49.99. The mouse is available in Matte Black and Matte White color options. You also have the option of a special Starfield Edition of the Lift 2 Symm for $10 more. For this review, I’m looking at the Matte Black version.

The Lift 2 Symm isn’t the only version of this mouse. If you’d prefer a more ergonomic shape, NZXT also makes the Lift 2 Ergo for the same $49.99 price as the Lift 2 Symm.

Ultra-Light Weight Thanks to a Unique Design

One of the most important observations you can make about the Lift 2 Symm happens as soon as you pick it up. This is a seriously light mouse, weighing in at just 2.05oz. That’s significantly lighter than the much pricier Razer Basilisk V3 Pro.

Turn the mouse over, and you’ll see the trick NZXT used to make the mouse so light: most of it is missing. Below the mouse is a large hollowed out area, not visible from the top, but this, combined with the plastic build, is where you get that low weight from.

The Lift 2 Symm, as the name implies, has a symmetrical look. While this isn’t an ambidextrous mouse, it has the look of a “standard” mouse much more than it does a gaming mouse, regardless of which color option you choose.

This is evident by the total lack of RGB lighting on the mouse, which you’ll find on most gaming mice. That said, there is one more premium touch: a braided cable to glides effortlessly along your desktop. This cable is also on the longer side, meaning you shouldn’t need to worry about reach.

Simple Controls and Easy to Use Software

If you’ve used a mouse before, chances are pretty good the layout here will feel familiar. The left and right buttons are right where you’d expect them, with the scroll wheel and DPI/profile select switch right in between. There are two more macro buttons on the left side.

The scroll wheel is textured for easy grip, and it uses a stepped scrolling rather than free scrolling. This is a matter of preference for some, but others might like a wheel that switches between free and stepped scrolling, as you’ll find on some Logitech mice.

The Lift 2 Symm is simple enough that you can and most likely will use it without ever needing to install its accompanying software. That said, if you’re looking for some extra customization, you can download the NZXT Cam software for Windows.

This software lets you control which levels of DPI you switch between with the button, or whether you load profiles with it instead. You can also customize the lift-off height from 1mm to 2mm, which can be a major boon for some people.

You can also assign macros in the NZXT Cam software, but most gamers would be better off handling this in various in-game settings for per-game customization. That said, it’s better to have the option and not need it than to not have the software available at all.

Using the NZXT Lift 2 Symm

Between the light weight of the Lift 2 Symm and the low drag of the cable, I often forgot I was using a wired mouse during testing. I never encountered the cable snagging, even on the edge of my keyboard, something that can be a problem with other mice on my desk.

The movement of the mouse felt smooth on various surfaces as well. Going from a matte desk to a glass desktop, I never noticed issues with the sensor, as you sometimes will on differing surfaces.

The general feel of clicking the buttons felt good to me, though some people may prefer more of a pronounced click. Similarly, the scroll wheel felt good to use, though it remains to be seen how this well feel after a few hundred hours’ use.

The button placement was good for me, but I’m right-handed. You can likely make this work if you’re left-handed, but it’s less than ideal. The two side buttons aren’t easy to press if you’re using the mouse with your left hand, and you’d be better off with a left-handed or truly ambidextrous mouse.

Gaming With the NZXT Lift 2 Symm

With a native resolution of 26,000DPI and an insane 8,000Hz polling rate, the NZXT Lift 2 Symm is definitely ready for gaming. That said, these numbers are such relative overkill—a 1,000Hz polling rate is still plenty—that they don’t give you much real-world understanding of performance.

When it comes to twitch reflexes in games like Borderlands 3, the Lift 2 Symm works perfectly. Here, the mouse’s low weight and seemingly frictionless cable make the quick response times games like this need easy to achieve.

On the other hand, when you require a more careful hand, that light weight can be a downside. In Baldur’s Gate 3, for example, I had to lower the DPI to make selecting the right spell easier and more predictable. This does lower accuracy somewhat, however, and it could lead to missed clicks during key moments.

Personally, I didn’t mind the light weight of the Lift 2 Symm one bit, but I’m rarely bothered by light mice. That said, some sort of system to add weight if desired would have been nice, albeit somewhat impractical.

Should You Buy the NZXT Lift 2 Symm?

One of the most consistently enjoyable aspects of the NZXT Lift 2 Symm is the light weight and how easy it is to move. Combine this with the long cable, and the mouse offers the low latency of a wired mouse combined with the effortless feel of a wireless mouse.

Despite the symmetrical design, this is a mouse meant almost exclusively for right-handed gamers, which limits the overall market. It’s also understated in terms of appearance, with no fancy RGB lighting or other effects, and while some may value this, the lack of flash may be a downside for others.

There is no doubting that the Lift 2 Symm is a good mouse, but it is on the expensive side compared to some of its competition. That said, it does what it does quite well, so if the design and layout appeal to you, you’ll likely be thrilled with this mouse.

NZXT Lift 2 Symm

The NZXT Lift 2 Symm is a lightweight mouse aimed at gamers, but with a more subtle, understated look. If you prefer performance to flashy lights, this may just be the perfect gaming mouse for you.