Logitech MX Master 3S review: The best wireless mouse gets slightly better

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Kazper

Ars Praefectus
Subscriptor
I have an MX Master 2S and I'm never buying another Logitech-mouse with the god-awful magnetic wheel ever again. That thing is atrocious!

It happens all the time that the mouse just doesn't register me using the wheel at first, so I have to spin it uselessly a couple of times before anything useful happens, which is infuriating. Also, the ratcheting mechanism is unreliable, occasionally causing the wheel to just suddenly go up or down a notch or a couple, when it decides to seek a new position.
Sounds like you have a defective unit. I've used every iteration of the MX Masters (except this newest one yes) and never had an issue with the wheel.
Upvote
87 ( 88 / -1 )
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D

Deleted member 823177

Guest
I have an MX Master 2S and I'm never buying another Logitech-mouse with the god-awful magnetic wheel ever again. That thing is atrocious!

It happens all the time that the mouse just doesn't register me using the wheel at first, so I have to spin it uselessly a couple of times before anything useful happens, which is infuriating. Also, the ratcheting mechanism is unreliable, occasionally causing the wheel to just suddenly go up or down a notch or a couple, when it decides to seek a new position.

this sounds like exactly the same problem i had with my G604, although as far as i can tell that doesn't have a magnetic wheel (or at least the product page doesn't say it does).

also: no replaceable battery? :-(
Upvote
5 ( 6 / -1 )
Note that unlike with the MX Master 3, you don't need a particular Mac-only version of the 3S for it to work with your iPad.
I’ve got the PC version of the MX Master 3 and it seems to work fine with my Mac and iPad. Currently typing this on the iPad, used the mouse to select the above quote. 😁

The only issue I have is I can never get flow to work, however I suspect that’s my network more than anything else. (Never really looked too hard as I use a trackpad with the Mac).
Upvote
13 ( 15 / -2 )
Have they fixed the scroll wheel? I used all previous MX Masters up to 3, and with the 3 the scroll wheel was extremely bizarre, half the time it wouldn't register the scroll, other times it would "lag" or not respond at all. It was so frustrating to use.

I thought it may have been a faulty unit, so I contacted support and got a new replacement, still the exact same issue. So I returned it, and bought a new one again just to be extra sure, and sure enough, the same problem. Back to using my 2S.

But I really want to ditch the only remaining micro USB cable on my table. I'd also appreciate the longer battery life. Guess I'll be trying the 3S soon.
Upvote
-1 ( 12 / -13 )
I have an MX Master 2S and I'm never buying another Logitech-mouse with the god-awful magnetic wheel ever again. That thing is atrocious!

It happens all the time that the mouse just doesn't register me using the wheel at first, so I have to spin it uselessly a couple of times before anything useful happens, which is infuriating. Also, the ratcheting mechanism is unreliable, occasionally causing the wheel to just suddenly go up or down a notch or a couple, when it decides to seek a new position.
Sounds like you have a defective unit. I've used every iteration of the MX Masters (except this newest one yes) and never had an issue with the wheel.

You'd think, but there are a lot of people e.g. on Reddit that have similar issues.
Upvote
20 ( 21 / -1 )

Fernwaerme

Smack-Fu Master, in training
77
I have an MX Master 2S and I'm never buying another Logitech-mouse with the god-awful magnetic wheel ever again. That thing is atrocious!

It happens all the time that the mouse just doesn't register me using the wheel at first, so I have to spin it uselessly a couple of times before anything useful happens, which is infuriating. Also, the ratcheting mechanism is unreliable, occasionally causing the wheel to just suddenly go up or down a notch or a couple, when it decides to seek a new position.
Sounds like you have a defective unit. I've used every iteration of the MX Masters (except this newest one yes) and never had an issue with the wheel.

You'd think, but there are a lot of people e.g. on Reddit that have similar issues.
Yes, so these could also be defective units. No one is saying that the issue doesn't exist, but the original comment seemed to me to imply that the magnetic wheel on these mice is in principle faulty, which I really don't believe. (Satisfied owner of an M2S, never had an issue with the wheel.)

It would be bad enough if they really had so many faulty wheels, even if it is not a design issue...
Upvote
14 ( 15 / -1 )

sunnysocal

Ars Praetorian
Subscriptor
I've been using an MX Master (I think it is a 2) for maybe three years now. I love it.

Sorry to hear others have had issues with the scroll wheel. Mine has been great; I almost always use it in freewheel mode, so it is absolutely silent. This is nice in a recording studio, which is where I spend my work hours. And natural inertia beats Apple's simulation hands-down.

The new, quieter buttons will be welcome in audio production environments, too.

Huge Feature: The Side Scroll Wheel; it's perfect for scrolling left-right in a DAW.

On my MX 2, the hidden lower side button failed about 6 months ago, causing the mouse to go non-responsive. A little Googling showed me the fix: peel off the bottom pads and remove a couple of screws for access. I just disconnected the lower side switch, as I never used it anyway.

OK, it is not perfect. But, for my use case, it is pretty dang close.
Upvote
14 ( 14 / 0 )
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I've been using an MX Master (I think it is a 2) for maybe three years now. I love it.

Sorry to hear others have had issues with the scroll wheel. Mine has been great; I almost always use it in freewheel mode, so it is absolutely silent. This is nice in a recording studio, which is where I spend my work hours. And natural inertia beats Apple's simulation hands-down.

The new, quieter buttons will be welcome in audio production environments, too.

Huge Feature: The Side Scroll Wheel; it's perfect for scrolling left-right in a DAW.

On my MX 2, the hidden lower side button failed about 6 months ago, causing the mouse to go non-responsive. A little Googling showed me the fix: peel off the bottom pads and remove a couple of screws for access. I just disconnected the lower side switch, as I never used it anyway.

OK, it is not perfect. But, for my use case, it is pretty dang close.

Thank you for the post as I was going to ask if anyone is using this (or similar) mouse with a DAW. Having said that I need to ask: can you program buttons for common tasks like splitting tracks, etc.?
Upvote
2 ( 2 / 0 )

Crito

Ars Scholae Palatinae
Subscriptor++
Owner of the 2 and multiple 3s. I love it, best mouse I’ve owned, and will buy another in the series when it died due to the non-replaceable battery … but why on Earth did they put the device-changing button on the bottom of the mouse?

I’m guessing to lower risk of accidentally hitting it, but the fact there’s no software way to remap that is annoying. I’d certainly upgrade to the 4 if they make that a feature.
Upvote
5 ( 5 / 0 )

sunnysocal

Ars Praetorian
Subscriptor
I've been using an MX Master (I think it is a 2) for maybe three years now. I love it.

Sorry to hear others have had issues with the scroll wheel. Mine has been great; I almost always use it in freewheel mode, so it is absolutely silent. This is nice in a recording studio, which is where I spend my work hours. And natural inertia beats Apple's simulation hands-down.

The new, quieter buttons will be welcome in audio production environments, too.

Huge Feature: The Side Scroll Wheel; it's perfect for scrolling left-right in a DAW.

On my MX 2, the hidden lower side button failed about 6 months ago, causing the mouse to go non-responsive. A little Googling showed me the fix: peel off the bottom pads and remove a couple of screws for access. I just disconnected the lower side switch, as I never used it anyway.

OK, it is not perfect. But, for my use case, it is pretty dang close.

Thank you for the post as I was going to ask if anyone is using this (or similar) mouse with a DAW. Having said that I need to ask: can you program buttons for common tasks like splitting tracks, etc.?
It depends on your DAW to a large extent. Or if use something like steermouse to get keyboard/click combos.

Personally, I use the keyboard and mouse together for shortcuts. Wheels on the mouse, along with a Shuttle Xpress, are used to navigate around the screen. I have the Shuttle Jog Wheel set to zoom in and out horizontally, then I can roll around side to side with the MX side wheel. Makes editing pretty fluid.
Upvote
3 ( 3 / 0 )

fzwo

Smack-Fu Master, in training
93
Quieter clicks is the only realistic change I wished for in this mouse.

Unrealistic changes I'd like:

- A smaller version of the mouse, for my presidential hands
- Replace the scroll wheels with an Apple-like touchpad (not with one that simply poorly emulates a scroll wheel)
- Precise single-ratchet scroll in games. I have no issue scrolling documents with both precision and speed (in freewheelin' mode), but in games, it is very hard for me to switch weapons or zoom steps reliably.
Upvote
7 ( 7 / 0 )
Thank you for the post as I was going to ask if anyone is using this (or similar) mouse with a DAW. Having said that I need to ask: can you program buttons for common tasks like splitting tracks, etc.?
It depends on your DAW to a large extent. Or if use something like steermouse to get keyboard/click combos.

Personally, I use the keyboard and mouse together for shortcuts. Wheels on the mouse, along with a Shuttle Xpress, are used to navigate around the screen. I have the Shuttle Jog Wheel set to zoom in and out horizontally, then I can roll around side to side with the MX side wheel. Makes editing pretty fluid.

Thanks! I use Adobe Audition (Mac) and for now just a plain old Dell mouse.
Upvote
2 ( 2 / 0 )

Plutt

Smack-Fu Master, in training
13
For me a downside of the mouse is the non-user-replaceable Li-ion cell which means that the mouse will have to be discarded even though the mouse works fine otherwise. Had one many years ago and swore never to buy another one if I could avoid it.

I've used Logitech mouse for many years but they do use a rechargeable Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) that can be easily replaced with a quality Panasonic Eneloop AA that will last for years of recharging.
Upvote
11 ( 14 / -3 )
For me a downside of the mouse is the non-user-replaceable Li-ion cell which means that the mouse will have to be discarded even though the mouse works fine otherwise. Had one many years ago and swore never to buy another one if I could avoid it.

I haven't taken apart my mouse, but I would hazard a guess that it's just a couple of screws holding it together, so buy a new battery on eBay/Amazon/Aliexpress/whatever, open the mouse up, take the old battery out, connect the new battery and screw the mouse back together?

Mice and such devices aren't like mobile-phones; they're usually pretty easy to take apart and there are almost never any particular shenanigans going on preventing you from fixing them up or swapping the batteries.
Upvote
17 ( 17 / 0 )
The Magspeed wheel is a fantastic innovation over the earlier mechanical free-spinning implementation, but I still don't think it's enough of an improvement to compensate for the loss of the tilt wheel (which I use constantly to switch between tabs in my browser or VS Code). I really miss that tilt wheel.
Upvote
8 ( 8 / 0 )
I could never come to terms with mice-with-thumb-and-or-pinky platform(s) attached.
So this one's not for me.
(Unless perhaps if they make the "platform" a bit larger so I can put my PC on it as well <joke.)

Forever a difficult-ish issue, computer mice.
Some very expensive ones can turn out to be worthless for me.
The other end of the spectrum's entirely possible too.
Even individual same brand/type mice may not perform equally good: I recall buying two more Logitechs I really liked...one was okay, the other one broke almost immediately.

I recently got myself a €5 mouse in an emergency and it's surprisingly good and I decided to hold onto it until it breaks. Dunno what I'll try next.
Upvote
1 ( 1 / 0 )
For me a downside of the mouse is the non-user-replaceable Li-ion cell which means that the mouse will have to be discarded even though the mouse works fine otherwise. Had one many years ago and swore never to buy another one if I could avoid it.

I've used Logitech mouse for many years but they do use a rechargeable Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) that can be easily replaced with a quality Panasonic Eneloop AA that will last for years of recharging.

I have an MX Vertical and it comes with instructions on how to remove the battery when discarding the mouse. It's literally a matter of screwing the case open and removing the battery pack. Can't be that hard to replace it.
Upvote
5 ( 5 / 0 )

Plutt

Smack-Fu Master, in training
13
For me a downside of the mouse is the non-user-replaceable Li-ion cell which means that the mouse will have to be discarded even though the mouse works fine otherwise. Had one many years ago and swore never to buy another one if I could avoid it.

I haven't taken apart my mouse, but I would hazard a guess that it's just a couple of screws holding it together, so buy a new battery on eBay/Amazon/Aliexpress/whatever, open the mouse up, take the old battery out, connect the new battery and screw the mouse back together?

Mice and such devices aren't like mobile-phones; they're usually pretty easy to take apart and there are almost never any particular shenanigans going on preventing you from fixing them up or swapping the batteries.

I'm quite vary of buying non-OEM Li-ion cells as they can be dangerous (during chargning, example) and there are many fakes and badly made Li-Ion cells to buy. Quite likely Logitech are using a non-common form factor for the cells, which means it will be even harder to find a replacement.

I recharge my Logitech mouse using an Panasonic Eneloop NiMH cell every two-three weeks or so, and that works for me as well as my wife. A downside is that the mouse is heavier than using Li-Ion.
Upvote
4 ( 4 / 0 )

Plutt

Smack-Fu Master, in training
13
For me a downside of the mouse is the non-user-replaceable Li-ion cell which means that the mouse will have to be discarded even though the mouse works fine otherwise. Had one many years ago and swore never to buy another one if I could avoid it.

I've used Logitech mouse for many years but they do use a rechargeable Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) that can be easily replaced with a quality Panasonic Eneloop AA that will last for years of recharging.

I have an MX Vertical and it comes with instructions on how to remove the battery when discarding the mouse. It's literally a matter of screwing the case open and removing the battery pack. Can't be that hard to replace it.

If you can find a good quality Li-ion cell of the right form factor and chemistry.
Upvote
4 ( 4 / 0 )
> If it ain’t broke...

Personal opinion but this mouse is seriously broken and has been for ages. The thumb wheel is useless for almost anything. The Performance MX with tthe 3 thumb buttons was a better mouse. Sadly, Logitech just doesn't want to build a newer version of this mouse.

As for the mouse wheel: How does it compare to the G502's?
Upvote
-11 ( 1 / -12 )
For me a downside of the mouse is the non-user-replaceable Li-ion cell which means that the mouse will have to be discarded even though the mouse works fine otherwise. Had one many years ago and swore never to buy another one if I could avoid it.

I haven't taken apart my mouse, but I would hazard a guess that it's just a couple of screws holding it together, so buy a new battery on eBay/Amazon/Aliexpress/whatever, open the mouse up, take the old battery out, connect the new battery and screw the mouse back together?

Mice and such devices aren't like mobile-phones; they're usually pretty easy to take apart and there are almost never any particular shenanigans going on preventing you from fixing them up or swapping the batteries.

I'm quite vary of buying non-OEM Li-ion cells as they can be dangerous (during chargning, example) and there are many fakes and badly made Li-Ion cells to buy. Quite likely Logitech are using a non-common form factor for the cells, which means it will be even harder to find a replacement.

I recharge my Logitech mouse using an Panasonic Eneloop NiMH cell every two-three weeks or so, and that works for me as well as my wife. A downside is that the mouse is heavier than using Li-Ion.

Looks to be a perfectly standard 450mAh li-pouch with a 3-pin JST-connector for connecting to the PCB. Obviously, you should do as you feel comfortable and all that, but I personally see zero reason, whatsoever, to get all worried.
Upvote
9 ( 9 / 0 )