My job was made easy by Logitech. There are other alternatives, but none are as good or useful as the Master series. While I love the features of the MX Anywhere 3, the compact design didn't match my preferences for a palm-grip mouse.
The larger MX Master 3 is more my speed, and the new version of the MX Master 3S adds some welcome enhancements, like quieter clicking. It does so without raising the price.
The MX Master 3S has a higher max DPI and silent clickers.
The MX Master 3S has a higher max DPI and silent clickers.
The silent left and right click buttons are the most significant update to this model. The Master 3S makes a soft sound. The reduction in noise is meant to help you focus on work. A low-toned noise is still audible in a quiet room, but any ambient noise, like the humming of an AC unit, drowns out the 3S. Quiet clickers are godsent for anyone working in larger office environments, as mouse noise has never bothered me in my secluded home.
We have come accustomed to the mouse tone being reduced by Logitech. Some people prefer the familiarity of audible, high-pitched feedback over the pin-drop-silent equivalent. Think of car enthusiasts who like the sound of a naturally aspirated engine over a silent EV. I could either take it or leave it, and I'm relieved that hasn't changed.
The MX Master 3S looks and feels similar to the MX Master 3. The mouse was sculpted to conform to the relaxed hand. The MX Master 3S is the equivalent of a custom-molded IEM, and it's not as uncomfortable as a poor-fitting earbud. The thumb rest and the wavy pattern that starts at the top of the palm and extends to the thumb rest are my favorite elements. The front section of the mouse has a smooth finish.
The MX Master 3S is comfortable in my paws, but not everyone will like it. Those with smaller hands might have trouble with the large mouse. I like to use my middle finger to scroll in order to get my pointer up for the left-click button, which is why the Master 3S is designed to work best with my finger on the scroll wheel. I would like my finger to land on the left clicker. My everyday mouse, the G520 Lightspeed, has a slightly shorter left clicker so my index and middle fingers land at the top of the switch. The Master 3S is saved by clickers that don't require much pressure regardless of where you tap them.
The lack of a receiver garage means I will lose the included one in my backpack and have to spend another$15 on a new one. You could keep forward/back at their defaults if there were two additional buttons.
There are seven buttons on the MX Master 3S, which include left/right-click, back/forward, app-switch, wheel mode-shift, and the scroll wheel click. The MX Master 3 has a secondary left scroll wheel above the two horizontal buttons. On the bottom is a profile switcher. The Logi Options+ software can be used to modify each button.
When I added the mouse to the app, I used it to turn the forward and back buttons into buttons that would allow me to shift between 3000 and 5000 DPI for gaming. The thumbwheel can be used to adjust horizontal scroll, change volume, navigate between tabs, or perform a host of other actions. I decided to use volume control since the keyboard I am testing doesn't have a built-in volume knob.
The S-model of the MX Master 3 is double the ceiling to 8,000 dots-per-inch, allowing you to move it quickly across large screens, like monitors or TVs. I don't think many people will go over 6,000dpi. On a 27 inch monitor, 8000dpi sent my scrutineers flying in every direction with barely a twitch of my wrist. My coordination could not keep up. The previous model had a maximum of 5,000dpi.
I was able to net a positive kill-to-death in the game because the MX Master 3S worked on every surface I tested. Four feet pads on the bottom glided across my furniture. The mouse tracked on my cotton shorts when I was relaxing on the couch. The sensor can be moved across the surface.
The main feature of this mouse is the scroll wheel, which is only the opening act. The MagSpeed Electromagnetic scroll wheel can spin through 1,000 lines per second before stopping, like a racecar with Brembo brakes. There is a button on the scroll wheel that can be used to switch between smooth and smooth scrolling.
I keep the scroll wheel in a mode that gives me added precision and a sense of satisfaction when I scroll up or down. If you are skimming down a lengthy report or endless spreadsheet, the free-spinning mode will give you infinite scrolling, seemingly ignoring the rules of inertia. I kept SmartShift enabled for a mix of the two. When the mouse senses you scrolling faster, it will start free-scroll. As I shifted between modes, the feature worked perfectly. The middle button on the wheel is used when you press down.
One of the best features of the Master series is the three profile options, which allow you to switch between devices with a press of a button. When you click the button on the bottom of the mouse, there is a small light that moves between profiles. The profiles correspond to different devices. In my case, my laptop was profile 1 via the reciever, my desktop was profile 2 via the bluetooth and my phone was profile 3 via the bluetooth.
It's a brilliant feature that you won't find in a lot of the competition. The next device will be controlled by the MX Master if you press the button. This way, you can have a single mouse for all of your gadgets, and you don't need to plug anything in.
I have found it useful when traveling, for example, when I forgot my mouse on a work-while-on-vacation trip and my wife lent me her MX Anywhere 3, I connected my laptop to her mouse on a new profile so she didn't have it. It is reliable if you are using the USB-C Logi Bolt or the Bluetooth Low Energy.
The MX Master 3S can stay powered for up to 70 days on a full charge and can be used for up to three hours with a quick charge. The mouse can be used if you don't want to wait. I don't anticipate running out of juice anytime soon, but I wish the Master 3S and the rest of the Master series were compatible with the Powerplay wireless charging mat.
The MX Master 3S is a device that won't make owners of the previous-gen mouse jealous, yet one that brings enough improvement to make anyone on the fence take the leap.
The original version was easy to recommend, and this new version adds silent clickers while keeping the same price. The MX Master 3S is a great choice for those looking for the best productivity mouse.
G/O Media might get a commission.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
