Why You Can Trust CNET Feature-packed Logitech MX Master may be the last mouse you'll ever buy (hands-on)
Due out in April for $100, Logitech's flagship wireless mouse is finely crafted, offers precise, smooth operation and is packed with extra features.
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Precision. Speed. Perfectly sculpted.
Those are terms you might associate with a high-performance sports car, not a computer mouse. But that's just how Logitech is describing its new flagship MX Master Wireless Mouse, which is descended from an impressive lineage of mice that includes the MX Revolution and Performance Mouse MX.
Shop for Logitech MX Master
See all pricesSelling for $100, £80 or AU$150, Logitech says it's the company's "best mouse ever."
I've been playing around with it for the last few days and I have to say it's pretty darn nice. I've tried out some high-end gaming mice over the years and this has some of their precision attributes, but it's designed for day-to-day use and dare I say it, actual productivity.
Thanks to Logitech Darkfield Laser technology, it works on just about any surface -- everything from a glass table to the Formica-style finish of my work desk.
I didn't do anything too fancy with it, but it does seem very responsive, precise and smooth. From an ergonomic standpoint, it also feels quite comfortable.
Lots of customizable buttons
As you might expect from a high-end mouse, it does have plenty of extra bells and whistles. The first of these is an integrated rechargeable battery that's supposed to last up to 40 days on a single charge (you can continue using the mouse while charging with a micro-USB cable).
You can connect the MX Master to your Windows or Mac computer with the included Unifying Receiver (a small USB dongle that will also work with Logitech keyboards) or via Bluetooth Smart technology. If you go with Bluetooth, you can pair the mouse with up to three devices and switch between a laptop, desktop or tablet using the appropriately named Logitech EasySwitch button.
Mac users, meanwhile, enjoy the extra perquisite of gesture support -- most of the multi-finger trackpad gestures can be duplicated on the MX Master when holding down an extra key.
It also has a speed-adaptive scroll wheel that lets you auto-shift from click-to-click to hyper-fast scrolling, along with a thumbwheel for side-to-side scrolling and page switching. You can customize all the buttons on the mouse using the Logitech Options software.
It's worth noting, however, that this mouse is for right-handed operators only -- there's no left-handed option. (Logitech says it tried a left-handed mouse a few years ago but it was a major flop; apparently, lefties use their right hand for mice, or opt for the trackpad.)
With so many options it does take some time to figure out what buttons do what, and how you want to best program them for your needs.
I currently use a trackball with the Windows PC I use at work and an Apple Magic Trackpad with an iMac I have at home. While both cost less than the MX Master, my initial few days with it have left me pondering a switch. I don't know if that makes this the best mouse ever, but it's certainly worth considering if you're in the market for a premium mouse.
The MX Master is available in the US and the UK in April and has a May release time frame for Australia.
