by You’d be forgiven for thinking that you need to splash a ton of cash for a high-end lightweight mouse in the competitive gaming scene, but that’s clearly not the case with the NZXT Lift 2 Symm. This pointer provides a no-frills but very focused user experience, meaning that while it’s unlikely to fail you anytime soon, it does exactly what it sets out to do.
NZXT was smart to keep the pricing of the NZXT Lift 2 Symm aggressive along with its predecessor, while shifting some of its weight in the process. While the original Elevated mouse clocked in at a still relatively small 67g, this new iteration cuts its height to 58g, but that wasn’t without its sacrifices. In other words, the RGB lighting is completely gone for both the Symm and Ergo versions, and the bottom has been stripped down to the bare basics.
Without digging a few holes in its back, NZXT has made the lightest mouse and managed to feed it with a massive 8,000 Hz polling rate along with a lightning fast 26,000 pso sensor. Those specs alone are fast enough to put the frighteners on even the best gaming mouse, before factoring in the price point. You can expect to spend $50 on the Symm (etrical) and Ergo (right) versions in white or black. There is also a Starfield version for $60 that adds the constellation badge and color scheme for an additional $10.
Now, the NZXT Lift 2 Symm is far from the first gaming mouse to offer an 8,000 Hz polling rate, while the Razer Viper 8K Hz has been the world’s favorite for years. As a long-time user of that mouse and someone who has become accustomed to the improved polling rate offered over several other pointers on the market, I didn’t find the lifter 2 to be an upgrade but more of a side step, with most of the same problems.
Lift 2 Specifications Symm
Sensor: PixArt PMW3395
Sensor type: Optical
PSO: 26,000
Maximum acceleration: 50g
Maximum speed: 650 IPS
Poll Rate: 8,000 Hz
Connectivity: USB 2.0
Buttons: 5
ergonomics: Ambidextrous
Dimensions: 126.8 x 67.1 x 38.3mm
Weight: 58g
Price: $50 | £53
The simple truth is, when you build a gaming mouse around its lightweight nature and lose as many features as possible, you’re going to end up with a pointer that feels cheap afterwards. The NZXT Lift 2 Symm has a light frame but feels more like a toy in my hand than other similarly weighted mice I’ve used in the past. This doesn’t help with a weirdly textured scroll wheel that doesn’t feel too fluid when you’re actively scrolling. Things are precise, but not as smooth as what I’m used to.
Then we get into the design of the NZXT Lift 2 Symm, and there’s a lot to admire, from the optical switches (rated with a 100-million click lifespan) to the “100% virgin” PTFE mouse feet. Simply put, this gaming mouse glides well along my mousepad without any resistance, which is great especially since it’s a wired pointer. I’ve mainly used wireless mice for the past few years, but the 2m braided cable here hasn’t given any drag or drag in all my hours of use – you shouldn’t need an anchor here.
The Lift 2 Symm version has a specific symmetrical shape that makes it suitable for both claw and finger grip. I’m firmly in the latter camp and had no issues guiding the mouse whether I was working or engaging in some FPS action. Within minutes of plugging in, I was reliably scoring headshots on both beast and man in Far Cry Primal and had little issue holding my own after a few close matches of The Finals and Overwatch 2 sometimes.
Buy if…
✅ You want good value for money: This gaming mouse features a high-DPI sensor and a key polling rate rarely found in gaming mice around the $50 mark.
✅ You play competitive titles: The Lift 2s Symm’s 8,000 Hz polling rate offers fast speeds and low latency making it ideal for those looking to score some clean headshots in today’s Esports scene.
Do not buy if…
❌ You need a wireless gaming mouse: While the cable isn’t likely to get in your way, it won’t be for everyone, and NZXT doesn’t make a version that cuts the cord yet.
As mentioned above, things are as basic as you can get with this particular gaming mouse, and software plays a very small role as well. With the Lift 2 Symm you have on board memory able to save your customized profiles on the device through the NXZT Cam software. There are a total of five profiles that you can copy over, each with five piece settings with DPIs from 100 all the way to 26,000. I usually play with the highest DPI settings available, barely moving my hand, and I was serving well here.
Overall, the NZXT Lift 2 Symm is a great gaming mouse with a competitive price point, an excellent polling rate, a good sensor, and a pretty solid design. It’s clear that the brand has gone for more function than flash and while this pointer is unlikely to turn many heads, it could still win you a few online games. I haven’t used many mice that are this good for under $50, so if you have the cash but don’t want to skimp, the Lift 2 Symm could be the right choice for you.
