Logitech's Mobi Fold mouse packs functionality into a compact foldable design

Logitech has finally announced its new ultraportable travel mouse, the Mobi Fold, following leaked marketing images that spoiled the surprise last month. The Mobi Fold is a compact mouse that can fold in half using a hinge that can pivot about 130 degrees. Priced at $79.99 in graphite, off-white, lilac, and sand color options, the Mobi Fold isn't Logitech's lightest or cheapest mouse, but it's definitely one of its smallest and a well-featured alternative to your laptop's trackpad if you can get used to some unconventional ergonomics.

The arch-shaped Mobi Fold looks similar to other folding devices, like the Surface Arc mouse. However, while Microsoft's design folds flat, making it thinner and easier to slip into a pocket or bag, the Mobi Fold is more like a clamshell cellphone. Although it doesn't snap shut with a satisfying clunk, it feels durable.

Logitech says the hinge was 'tested to withstand 15 years of daily use.' The hinge, along with more than half the mouse, is wrapped in a silicone skin that improves grip while semi-protecting it from drops. Where it covers the hinge, you'll find a pleated design that expands and stretches when the mouse is folded in half, so there's no risk of pinching. At 79 grams, the Mobi Fold is a few grams heavier than Logitech's Pebble Mouse 2 and the bare-bones M196.

When folded, the mouse is a little over three-quarters of an inch tall and about 2.6x2.5 inches in size, making it feel seriously compact. Logitech claims the Mobi Fold's rechargeable battery will power the mouse for up to one month on a full charge, while a 1-minute quick charge will keep it going for up to 22 hours. The mouse is set for a global release, which likely means it meets recent EU regulations for a removable cover on the underside allowing the rechargeable battery to be replaced in the future.

The Mobi Fold isn't designed to entirely replace a full-featured desktop mouse, but it offers enough functionality and customizability to be a solid trackpad alternative. There's a 4K DPI optical sensor on the bottom and a pair of left and right mouse buttons on top with a multifunction touch panel between them. The panel's behavior can be changed using the optional Logi Options Plus software, so swiping your finger up and down either causes websites and documents to zip by or a more leisurely line by line scroll.

The top and bottom of the touch panel also function as two additional clicky buttons. You can customize their functionality using Logitech's app, but by default, they function as forward and back buttons while browsing. A single button on the underside of the Mobi Fold is used to connect and cycle the mouse between up to three different devices.

Connecting it to a couple of laptops and an iPad presented no difficulties. Instead of a dedicated power button, you turn the mouse off by folding it in half. While scrolling with the touch panel remains active when you've picked up the mouse to fold it, all of the buttons are disabled.