Logitech knows when to fold 'em

PERSONAL TECH

Meet Mobi Fold - creased popster or clever portable mouse

Logitech has unveiled the Mobi Fold mouse – a portable, foldable pointing device that could easily double as a replacement for a chunkier desktop version.

It's the first foldable for Logitech, although alternatives have long been available. When you unfold it, it resembles something like Microsoft's Surface Arc mouse.

Clad in pleasing materials, the Mobi Fold is available in a variety of colors: Graphite, Lilac, and Off White. The Graphite version feels like it will be more hard-wearing, and that is the aim of this device: lug it around with a laptop and whip it out to replace the inevitable inaccuracy of a trackpad.

The mouse weighs in at 79 g, and its party trick – a fold like a '90s flip phone, or the considerably more expensive 2020s alternative – makes it very portable. Open it, and the device is ready for action. Close it, and the mouse is effectively dead. Logitech claims this is due to an "on-device AI model," although we imagine that simple microswitches would have performed more than adequately. But no vendor shall be left standing at the platform when the AI hype train leaves! 

The hinge is rated for 15 years, according to Logitech (although the warranty is considerably less – two years for EMEA customers), and the mouse is comfortable to use when expanded.

Logitech states the battery will last for a month of use. Popping it on charge for a minute (there's a USB-C charge point on the base) will add 22 hours of use. The battery lurks beneath a cover held on by magnets and looks simple to replace. The Register asked Logitech about the cost and ease of replacement and will update when the company responds.

The company also claims the device has "a drop-tested, dust-resistant exterior."

In use, it's … fine. By virtue of its shape, the mouse is suitable for right- and left-handers – there are no molded shenanigans here. A "proper" mouse will certainly be better, but the Mobi Fold is more than sufficient for most use cases. No, it isn't festooned with buttons like some of Logitech's other devices, but the Mobi Fold ably demonstrates that most people don't really need those anyway. There's touch scrolling to replace the scroll wheel and two buttons on the touch panel that can be customized via the Logi Options+ app.

We used Bluetooth in our testing – as with many of the company's devices, three different Bluetooth profiles can be selected – but Logitech will happily sell you a USB-C dongle if you fear the wireless protocol named after a 10th-century Viking.

Should you get one? The answer is a reserved yes. As with many Logitech products, this device is aggressively competent. Some users might prefer the solidity of something heavier. Others might need lots of buttons. However, for users who simply want something to move a pointer around the screen, especially if you're happy using a Surface Arc-style device, the Mobi Fold works as advertised. Snapping it shut to pop it in a laptop bag is a bonus.

It ain't cheap. The device retails at £69.99 ($79.99), which might be a bit spicy for some buyers – especially as we're already suffering higher prices from the ongoing RAMpocalypse. ®