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Logitech MX Master 3: How a super mouse becomes an excellent mouse

4.9.2019

Translation: machine translated

It's only four years since the first MX Master came out. Now I'm already holding the third version in my hand. Not much has changed compared to its predecessors - except that the MX Master 3 does everything a little better.

A satisfying click is worth its weight in gold - or in the case of the MX Master 3, just under 130 francs, or just under 100 euros. Every time I click the mouse and hear the resulting sound, a smile flits across my lips. It really makes working fun.

Mouse

Logitech MX Master 3

Wireless

The evolution of design

You can't reinvent the mouse. Logitech must have thought the same thing and only slightly revised the look of the third iteration of the MX Master. The biggest change is to the left of the thumb button and wheel when viewed from above. Instead of a curved line as on the MX Master and MX Master 2S, the left side is now a straight line. At the front, the mouse buttons no longer end in a point in the centre, but in a rounded corner on the left. This makes the MX Master 3 appear less clunky than its predecessors. The last major design change concerns the structure of the thumb rest. Instead of the carbon structure, diagonal lines now run across the thumb rest and the back of the mouse. It looks as if the mouse has orange peel skin.

The MX Master 3 is slightly smaller all round than its predecessor, with the biggest change being three millimetres in height. These are only marginal adjustments, which have the effect of reducing the weight by four grams. The new model weighs 141 grams.

How does it feel in the hand and how does it work?

As with its predecessors, there is nothing ergonomically wrong with the MX Master 3. It fits perfectly in the hand. At least for me. My colleague Carolin has smaller hands than me and finds the mouse too big. The mouse is ideal for medium-sized male hands like mine. I like the fact that I can easily position my hand vertically on it. This makes it less tiring.

The click sound of the MX Master 3 is very pleasant. I particularly like the fact that the left and right clicks are not identical. The mouse triggers precisely. Only a little pressure is needed to trigger it, but not so little that I would trigger it accidentally.

So far, nothing significant has changed compared to its predecessor. What is new is the scroll wheel, which Logitech calls Mag Speed. According to the manufacturer, it is 87 per cent more precise than that of the MX Master 2S. How Logitech comes up with this figure is a mystery to me. Perhaps marketing research has shown that anything over 80 per cent is well received by customers. Personally, I can't see any difference to its predecessor in Office applications. Only when pixel-precise scrolling is required, for example in Photoshop, do I notice a slight difference. 87 per cent is relative. If the product that works 87 per cent less accurately is already very good, 87 per cent makes surprisingly little difference.

The scroll wheel is very pleasant to use and is one of the best I have ever turned. Especially because it is now made entirely of aluminium and feels very good. The scroll wheel is held in position by magnets. To scroll quickly, I don't have to unlock the wheel by pressing the button behind it, but simply give it a good push and it feels like it turns forever because the magnets then turn away.

The thumb scroll wheel is also very good. Compared to the upper scroll wheel, it seems a little clunky at first glance. But this impression is deceptive. The workmanship here is also excellent. The aluminium feels great and it reacts precisely. A scroll wheel made of high-quality material is rare for mice. The manufacturer's design decision also pays off here: the thumbwheel is much more accessible than on the predecessor. Thanks to the straight side edge of the mouse, it protrudes slightly behind it. So I can scroll unhindered from the edge on the left and right.

The new arrangement of the two upper thumb buttons is also great. Instead of being behind the thumbwheel, they are now below it. This means I no longer have to twist my thumb to press the buttons. From an ergonomic point of view, this small change in design is a huge step forward. As with its predecessors, there is another button on the thumb rest.

What else does the device have to offer?

Logitech has not changed the sensor compared to its predecessor. Once again, the Darkfield sensor is used, which has a resolution of between 200 and 4000 dpi. This also enables operation on a glass surface. This worked during my test - but not quite as reliably as on an opaque surface.

Logitech relies on a 500 mAh Li-Po battery, as with the MX Master 2S. According to the manufacturer, one minute of charging should be enough for three hours of use. Fully charged, the manufacturer claims a battery life of 70 days. The battery is recharged via USB-C. You can continue to use the mouse while charging: The cable is plugged into the front and Logitech supplies a cable that is approximately 135 centimetres long.

An included dongle for 2.4 GHz wireless and Bluetooth are available as connection types. The mouse can control up to three devices simultaneously. Flow control, which allows text and files to be exchanged seamlessly between multiple devices, is also on board. How this works has already been tested by our colleague Dominik.

Should you switch if you own an MX Master or MX Master 2S?

If you have an MX Master or 2S and are happy with it, you don't need to switch. But if you want even better usability, the MX Master 3 is a step forward.

If you're looking for a new mouse for the office, programming, Photoshop or video editing, you can't go wrong with the MX Master 3. The third iteration turns a super mouse into an excellent mouse. <p

49 people like this article

Kevin Hofer

Senior Editor

kevin.hofer@digitecgalaxus.ch

From big data to big brother, Cyborgs to Sci-Fi. All aspects of technology and society fascinate me.

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