Logitech MX Master: a Worthy Successor to One of Our Favorite Mice
The Logitech MX Revolution and Performance MX mice are two of the most popular and beloved mice of the past decade, including by most of us at Lifehacker . The Logitech MX Master Wireless Mouse is ergonomic, packed with features to help you get the job done, and is the latest successor to the stunning MX Series. In fact, he is the best so far.
The MX Master, released just a few months ago, is user-friendly, has just the right amount of buttons and functions, and works great on Windows and OS X. And while you can still easily buy the original Performance and Revolution , they have technically been retired – and that’s okay. because the MX Master is the best MX mouse so far.
Why MX Master is special
The MX Master builds on everything we know and love about the Performance MX. You still get an ergonomic design, easy to use, just the right number of buttons and a long-lasting battery. The MX Master adds a bit of modern styling to it to bring it in line with Logitech’s new mice, while bringing back some features that were taken from the original MX Revolution and more. Here are some of our favorite big features:
- Bluetooth and RF Support : The MX Master is the first Logitech mouse in a long time to support pairing via Logitech’s own USB receiver or Bluetooth, whichever you prefer. In our tests, the mouse worked without problems using both methods.
- Pair it with multiple computers at the same time : this is a unique feature of the MX Master and more than welcome. The mouse can be paired with three computers at the same time, and switching between them is as easy as clicking the button at the bottom of the mouse. Best of all, this feature works with Bluetooth or a Unifying receiver. It’s nice to be able to connect your mouse to your laptop at home and PC in the office and switch between them easily.
- Return of the dial switch . MX Revolution owners may remember the useful wheel on the side of the mouse – it disappeared when it was replaced by the Performance MX. The wheel is in the MX Master again, only smaller and easier to use. The scroll wheel itself is up and down, but can be used to scroll a large spreadsheet window from side to side, or even go back and forth in documents and web pages.
- The thumb button and all it can do : The thumb button on the mouse wing under the thumb rest is still there, but with some new features. Clicking it opens Mission Control in OS X or the app drawer in Windows, but when combined with gestures (like moving the mouse forward, backward, left, or right) you can do a lot more. Click on it and move left or right in Windows to snap a window to any side of the screen, or switch between virtual desktops in OS X. Here you can see all of its actions and, best of all, program your own.
- Auto Scroll Wheel : On other mice, Logitech has a handy scroll wheel feature that by default it scrolls click by click like most other wheels. But with the click of a button, you can scroll smoothly and quickly, perfect for returning to the top of a web page or scrolling through a really long document. MX Master has this feature with a neat addition: it automatically detects what type of scrolling you want. Slow scrolling will give you the usual click by click, but if you actually spin it, it will automatically engage the free-spinning wheel.
- Raised, more ergonomic design for better grip : The MX Master has a taller, more rounded design than the Performance MX. It may seem strange to look at, but on hand it feels more natural. The nearly angled design of the edges and buttons doesn’t make it awkward to use, and the hump at the top more closely follows the natural curve of the palm. The same angular style is found in the thumb button and thumb rest, where texture is more than welcome. This is a huge improvement over the Performance MX rubber sidewalls. This matte black on bronze color scheme looks pretty harsh too.
- Still an amazing darkfield sensor : Logitech’s Darkfield tracking technology means you can use the MX Master (and most of their other mice) on just about any surface. This means that whether your desk is made of molded cardboard, solid wood, glass, glossy plastic, or flat metal, you won’t have a problem.
This, combined with the long battery life, the ability to recharge while in use (and the ability to charge in minutes), make using this mouse an absolute pleasure.
Where is it best
MX Master really helps when you get the job done. Thumb gestures take a bit of getting used to, but once you get to know them, you’ll use them all the time. In fact, I was never a big user of Exposé on OS X until MX Master made it easy. It’s the same with Windows: the window snapping functions are so easy to use that I use them a lot more often.
The ability to connect the mouse to multiple devices is also very useful. It runs smoothly and hassle-free, and the click of a button will take you from Windows PCs to Macs and Home Theater PCs, whether they’re in the same room or bringing that mouse home from the office with you (which you might be want, given its price).
Finally, the MX Master’s battery life is impressive. I’ve been using mine for a few months now and only had to recharge it two or three times. This is in part because Logitech mice tend to be smart enough to shut off in standby mode, but the MX Master’s battery regularly shortens the life of the Performance MX it replaced and the G602 cordless mouse I usually use in mine. games. PC. Plus it charges surprisingly quickly. I can get a full day’s charge in just a few minutes connected via USB. I don’t think there is fast charging here, but it’s nice nonetheless.
Where it fails
The MX Master doesn’t crash in many places, but it’s pretty clear where it crashes. First, it’s expensive – $ 100 on Amazon . Not everyone can (or should) put a c-note on a mouse, no matter how cool and functional it is. Of course, it is only a matter of time before we see this product selling, so if you can wait it will be worth it. Alternatively, you can still get the Performance MX for under $ 60 , which is still just that fantastic mouse. That said, the delta is pretty big here, and while there’s a lot to love about, we can’t blame you if you want to spend that hundred dollars elsewhere.
The only other issue we have with the MX Master is that the battery is not user replaceable, unlike just about any other Logitech rechargeable mouse. The Performance MX had a rechargeable but still replaceable battery, and even Logitech rechargeable gaming mice let you take out the built-in Eneloop or other lithium-ion battery and pop in your own. However, the battery is rated for last year, so that’s good news. The bad news is that you will make this investment again when one day the battery stops holding a charge. (You know if you haven’t found a new mouse by then.)
Bottom line: The MX Master is more than worthy to inherit the MX Crown
Although the MX Master is expensive, it’s a great mouse, especially for work. The thumb scroll wheel works natively in office applications and web browsers. The back and forward buttons work pretty much everywhere, and in most cases you don’t need to customize the buttons for the mouse to work exactly as you think. It’s accurate enough for casual games, although the adaptive scroll wheel might put you off, depending on the games you’re playing. The fact that you can connect a mouse to multiple computers via Bluetooth or RF means that one device can replace the others, which helps justify the price.
At the end of the day, this is a multi-purpose mouse that just works, struggles to live up to its premium, and more than up to the challenge of inheriting the crown of the MX line. It’s not perfect, but the MX Master is an evolutionary enhancement and exactly what we need. When the price starts to drop and you see this mouse on sale in the coming months, we bet some of you – and we at Lifehacker – will have one mouse on our desktops.