It was very affordable (sub $20), came in lots of colours (including this lilac colour that I love!), and is super comfortable too. The vertical mouse I used previously, a Ugreen one, had a narrower grip that was less than ideal.
The mouse is by "Sanwa Supply", model number "GMAERGWBT22V" (V for violet I presume, it shows up at just "BT22" when pairing with Bluetooth), though I'm sure there are plenty of identical models from other brands.
The plastic finish is nice and will last a long time, as there isn't rubber everywhere like on the ridiculously priced MX Masters. The buttons are silent and have a nice click, the side buttons for forwards/backwards are nicely placed, you can switch between 3 devices (two Bluetooth, one with the dongle), and the scroll wheel is nice (though not a metal one)
The mouse came with a magnetically attached wrist rest too, which is nice, and even without it, it does not suffer from the trailing pinky finger issue of other vertical mice. The magnets are strong enough where it isn't super loose but not too strong where it's hard to detach. It's a nice bonus when I'm at my desk for long hours, and it can be removed if I need to pack it.
BUT one of the main reasons I bought it, aside from the fantastic colours, is that you can use it with a AA battery! No glued in nonsense, it's super easy to swap it out, and the dongle is also stored in the battery compartment too (always a nice bonus). I use it with rechargeable IKEA Ladda batteries, and it's been awesome.
No, the design is not the same. The shape is different and, more importantly, the angle is also different!
Yes, I did mention alternative software for Logitech mice! Solaar looks awesome if you have a Logitech mouse. The mouse I mentioned can also switch between 3 devices, I think that's a pretty common feature on most mice nowadays.
Definitely more of a hassle to replace the battery, but good to see it's somewhat replaceable at least. AA batteries are a lot easier to replace though, you don't need to pry out the mouse feet and it's much quicker to swap it out when it runs out!
Rubber will wear out faster than a normal plastic finish, but if it has lasted for your hands that's good too! I've just heard lots of people, particularly in humid climates, where the rubber disintegrates quickly. I'm from HK so humidity is a big issue, so this mouse isn't a good option for me (if you live somewhere drier, it could be neat!)
And again, the one I have is really neat too with the fun colours (!!!) and magnetic grip thingy. The shape is more comfortable for me too, but hey our hands are all different