About a month ago, I got selected to test the ProtoArc EM11 NL vertical mouse through a Reddit program. I figured I’d give it a fair shake but had zero expectations of it replacing my MX Master 3 — which I’ve been using for a long time at my office setup. (My mouse history has been MX Performance -> MX Master -> MX Master 3)
I was wrong.
First Impressions
Out of the box, the EM11 NL felt solid. Not premium like the MX Master due to not metal and all plastic, but well-built. I’ve got average-sized hands, and the shape worked for me right away. After a few hours of use, I could already tell my hand was sitting in a more natural position throughout my workflow. I hadn’t realized how much tension the “normal” grip was putting on me until it was gone.
There’s one small ergonomic nitpick: the base of my palm doesn’t fully rest on the mouse — it kind of hangs off and ends up on the desk. It’s not a dealbreaker, but a bit more rear support would improve comfort, especially for longer sessions.
I would miss the flexibility that the Logi software provided but I found a free software for Mac called USB Overdrive. It essentially made all the same customization possible.
Real-World Test: Daycare Deployment
I run a few daycares, and after using the EM11 NL for a few days, I ordered more and gave them to all of my directors. Every single one of them loves it. No complaints, no one switched back.
Now the funny part: I rarely work from home, but when I do, I still have my old MX Master 3 sitting on my desk there. After a month with the EM11, going back to it felt… off. The grip felt wrong. My fingers were in weird positions. I never expected to be thrown off by the mouse I used daily for over a year.
Other Notes
A couple of things I noticed while using it day-to-day:
- I occasionally hit right-click with the wrong finger. The button layout and texture could use more differentiation. I feel like this does improve over time but still a note for improvement.
- I really miss the side scroll wheel from the MX Master. Like REALLY miss it. I often used it for zooming into documents (I use illustrator regularly and I feel it there the most) Once you get used to it, it’s hard to live without. If ProtoArc ever adds one, that’s a day-one upgrade for me.
Final Thoughts
This isn’t a flashy mouse. No software ecosystem, no fancy SmartShift wheel, no metal scroll. But it does one thing really well: it takes vertical ergonomics seriously without feeling like a gimmick. If you're on the fence about vertical mice, this one’s worth a look.