[Review] Logitech MX Master 3 Mouse
After the year-long stint with my MX Master 2S mouse, Logitech kindly sent over its latest MX Master 3 mouse and MX Keys keyboard for me to try out. I have been using this combo for the past two weeks, so continue reading to find out if the MX Master 3 mouse is worth spending your hard-earned dollars on!
This review post will only focus on the Logitech MX Master 3 mouse for now, but click here to read my review on the Logitech MX Keys keyboard.
Upon first glance, Logitech have redesigned the MX Master 3. It looks and feels narrower and lighter than its predecessor, but according to the specs, it weighs only 4 grams less than the MX Master 2S. In terms of handling the mouse, I prefer the slightly wider shape of the MX Master 2S as I have big hands. The MX Master 3 sort of leaves the pinky hanging, or fights with the fourth finger for its space, so this might be something for you to think about if you have big hands.
The MX Master 3 still has 7 buttons, just like its predecessor. Left/Right-click, Back/Forward, App-Switch, Wheel mode-shift, and Middle click. The Back/Forward buttons are now in a better place and separated out rather than being really tight next to each other on the MX Master 2S. I find that I would accidentally click the Forward button instead of the Back button (or vice versa) on the predecessor due to how close they were placed together. The thumb wheel has been enlarged as it now doesn’t have to share the space with the Back/Forward buttons. The new thumb wheel now shares its space with a single LED light battery indicator.
One of the biggest changes on the MX Master 3 to its predecessor is its MagSpeed Electromagnetic scroll wheel. It is supposed to be 90% faster than mice without an electromagnetic scroll wheel, 87% more precise than the MX Master 2S, and is super quiet. While I can personally attest to how nice and quiet the new scroll wheel is on the MX Master 3, I find that both the MX Master 3 and 2S seem to be just as fast and just as precise as each other when scrolling through the same page on the web. Nevertheless, I think the noise-sensitive folks will be super pleased with how quiet the new scroll wheel is compared to the MX Master 2S.
Just like its predecessor, the scroll wheel can automatically shift from line-by-line scrolling to free-spinning when you scroll faster. This feature is called SmartShift and can be enabled or disabled in the Logitech Options application. Just below the scroll wheel is the Mode Shift button where you can click to manually toggle between Ratchet and Free-Spin mode.
However, I am currently finding a small issue with the scroll wheel. At times I find that when I scroll up or down the first time, it will not register that first scroll. It seems to happen occasionally, and I am not yet sure if this is a software or a hardware issue. Subsequent scrolls will then work.
The MX Master 3 mouse continues the good work of its family, by being able to track on virtually any surface, even on glass (requires the glass to be a minimum of 4mm thick) thanks to its high-precision laser tracking technology.
It has a minimal DPI value of 200 and can go all the way up to 4000dpi, set in increments of 50 dpi. Its nominal dpi value is 1000.
To help with productivity and efficiency, the MX Master series lets you customise each button on the mouse to suit whatever application you are currently using. For example, I have the thumb wheel set to navigate between tabs in my Chrome browser, but have the thumb wheel set to enlarge or shrink my brush size while in Photoshop. It is really handy stuff and certainly improves on my efficiency at the work desk.
As I have only been using the MX Master 3 for two weeks, I have not been able to track how long a full charge will last. Nevertheless, Logitech claim that a full charge will have your mouse tracking for 70 days, and one minute of charge will give you 3 hours of battery life if you’re completely out of juice. And unlike its predecessor, the MX Master 3 now incorporates a USB Type-C port. Now I can finally get rid of that microUSB cable from my backpack! And unlike the Apple mouse, one can continue to charge and use this mouse at the same time as the charging port is at the front and not underneath the mouse!
The MX Master 3 can be paired up to three devices (Windows, Mac or Linux operating systems) either through Bluetooth or via the included USB unifying receiver. You can switch between your three devices by clicking the Easy-Switch button underneath the mouse.
To conclude, is the Logitech MX Master 3 mouse worth spending your hard-earned cash on? If you already have an MX Master 2S, there is probably no real reason to need to upgrade, unless you really want USB Type-C charging, refined placement of the Back/Forward buttons, want a super-quiet MagSpeed Electromagnetic scroll wheel, or like its slimmer and redesigned shape. But if you are wanting to upgrade to the MX Master 3 from another mouse, by all means, do it. The positives certainly outweigh the negatives in this review, and in my opinion, still one of the best mice money can buy today.
The Logitech MX Master 3 is available for an RRP of 179.90NZD at major retailers across the country and can usually be found at a much cheaper price if you shop around, or go on PriceSpy.
For more information, please visit: https://www.logitech.com/en-nz/product/mx-master-3
