Logitech’s foldable mouse is for people who refuse to carry a mouse with them


A datasheet (PDF) for the device claims the Mobi Fold “is made to withstand 50,000 folds and unfolds.” Logitech said that it tested this “under controlled conditions until wear or functional issues appeared.”

Comfort concerns

Logitech Mobi Fold

The mouse also comes in off-white and sand colors.

Credit:
Logitech

The mouse also comes in off-white and sand colors.


Credit:

Logitech

The Mobi Fold seems to have a good grip on portability, including around ease-of-use and battery life. But the tented shape of the mouse doesn’t look particularly comfortable, especially for long-term use.

When folded, the mouse makes a nearly 90-degree angle that your palm will have to rest on. I find the most comfortable mice to be the ones that fill out the spherical opening of my palm, and the Mobi Fold doesn’t fit. Similarly shaped mice, like the Dell MS700 and Microsoft Surface Arc Mouse, are a bit more forgiving here, offering more of a rounded, arched shape when in use.

Side view of the Surface Arc mouse

The Surface Arc mouse doesn’t fold in half but can flatten.

Microsoft

Dell MS700 Bluetooth Travel Mouse

Dell’s MS700 twists instead of folding or flattening.

Scharon Harding

The Mobi Fold’s buttons aren’t as tactile as other mice. The left- and right-click buttons are flat, and Logitech replaced the scroll wheel with a touch panel. Under the touch panel are two buttons with discernible travel that can be programmed with Logi Options+ software. But because the mouse doesn’t have onboard memory, the device won’t remember programmed inputs unless you program the mouse with Options+ on the paired computer. Logitech devices have become more software-dependent in this way, which is a shame considering how easy it is to use many of the company’s wireless devices with multiple systems.

My preferred travel mouse

When it comes to travel mice, my yearslong go-to has been Logitech’s MX Anywhere 3 (or the newer, quieter Anywhere 3S). It weighs more than the Mobi Fold (3.49 ounces versus 2.79 ounces) and takes up more space (13.69-cubic-inches compared to the Mobi Fold’s 4.83-cubic-inches when folded). But the rounded hump and more advanced and tactile scroll wheel are worth the extra girth.

Logitech’s announcement today claimed that the Mobi Fold reduces “muscle strain by 22 percent compared to a laptop trackpad,” but I suspect the MX Anywhere 3 could reduce strain further. And its button layout brings familiarity and tactility.

The MX Anywhere 3 is 3.96 x 2.56 x 1.35 inches. Like the Mobi Fold, it lacks onboard memory.

Credit:
Scharon Harding

The MX Anywhere 3 is 3.96 x 2.56 x 1.35 inches. Like the Mobi Fold, it lacks onboard memory.


Credit:

Scharon Harding

The MX Anywhere 3’s battery should last longer too. Logitech claims the Bluetooth mouse can last for up to 70 days without a charge compared to 30 days for the Mobi Fold. Although, the Mobi Fold has an exemplary advantage in its replaceable, rechargeable battery.

The Mobi Fold is the more portable, but the MX Anywhere 3 is still plenty tiny. When it comes to mouse comfort and usability, sometimes more really is more.



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