If I am to earn a dollar every time someone asked me which is the best productivity mouse, I would earn quite a fortune from Logitech as my answer is always its MX Master 3.
In fact, I own three MX Master 3 series mice – the normal one and the “for Mac” version – and the silent MX Master 3S. Now, there is MX Master 3S for Mac.
Like the normal MX Master 3S, two biggest upgrades of the MX Master 3S for Mac are the new silent click buttons that are said to be 90% quieter and a new 8,000 dots per inch (dpi) optical sensor that is twice faster.
So what’s the difference with the MX Master 3S for Mac? Officially, it does not support Windows but you can still pair and use it with one. It also does not come with the Logi Bolt USB Receiver (still works with one), since Apple Mac rarely comes with a USB-A port anyway. In addition, the MX Master 3S for Mac is only available in pale-grey. But it looks more like white colour, which is again catering to Apple’s design ethos.
| PROS | CONS |
| Superb ergonomic design | Not cheap |
| Intuitive electromagnetic scroll wheel | Only for right-handers |
| Quiet clicks | |
| Stable wireless connectivity with Mac |
Otherwise, in terms of design, this Mac version looks identical to the normal version, which looks the same as its predecessors.
In other words, it retains the superb ergonomic design. You still get a heavily sculpted shape with large thumb rest that allows your right hand to rest comfortably on it.
There are eight buttons on this mouse. On its top are two click buttons, a scroll wheel and a Mode shift button. On its left are the back and forward buttons, a thumb rest that is also a gesture button and a thumb-scroll wheel for horizontal scrolling.
All the buttons are customisable using the Logi+ software (available on Windows and Mac). There are also app-specific profiles you can download and use with popular apps including Final Cut Pro and Adobe Photoshop. For example, in Photoshop, the thumb-scroll wheel can be used to adjust the Brush size, while holding the scroll wheel and moving the mouse will allow you to pan a picture.
I still love the fantastic MagSpeed scroll wheel. It uses electromagnetic pulses to enable the mouse to scroll 1,000 lines per second. And it will automatically shift from line-by-line scrolling to free-spinning when you scroll faster.
When I start using other mouse, this is one thing I immediately miss. It is just such a great productivity aid. Especially when you need to scroll back to the top of a page or down to the bottom of a page with a single turn of the scroll wheel.
While I am not a fan of quiet click buttons, I appreciate that it works. I totally believe Logitech’s claim of 90% less click noise than its predecessor. Since I am now working in office, it is great that my clicks will not distract or disturb my colleagues.
And there has been zero lag or disconnection on the Bluetooth connection with either my iMac or work MacBook Pro. The connection is always stable.
Not to mention, the MX Master 3S is able to work on any surface including glass. It worked perfectly on my dining table that has a black glass top. Also, it uses a new 8,000-dpi optical sensor over its predecessor’s 4,000-dpi one. The higher sensitivity is supposed to work great for those with multiple monitors setup, allowing you to move quickly from screen to screen.
My only complaint is you can only adjust the dpi sensitivity using the Logi+ software. You cannot customise any of its buttons to do that. In addition, the MX Master 3 is designed for right-handers. So if you are a left-hander, you will not get to enjoy its ergonomic design.
At $169, this mouse is not cheap. That said, it offers great value for money if you are looking for a solid productivity mouse for Mac.
Furthermore, this mouse has great battery life. After two months of daily use on Bluetooth connectivity and never switching it off, the battery level dropped only to 50%.
VERDICT: If you want a mouse with silent clicking, stable connectivity, intuitive scrolling and superb speed to use for your Mac, the Logitech MX Master 3S for Mac is a definitely for you.