MX Master 3 by Logitech – a.k.a. Mighty Mouse

MX Master 3

The MX Master 3 does so many things that I think I shall call it Mighty Mouse – all it needs is a cape.

For those who remember, Mighty Mouse first appeared in 1942 and was a mouse that could do it all. I named this MX Master 3 Mighty Mouse because it does so many things a mere mortal mouse cannot.

I am a devoted user of Logitech mice and keyboards, so when the Mighty Mouse (MX Master 3) landed on my desk, I was thrilled. I couldn’t wait to give it a test drive. Oh, and this review is from GadgetGirl – GadgetGuy is an inveterate leftie so he cannot use Mighty Mouse.

MX Master 3 by Logitech

Australian website here

Price $149.95

First impressions

The MX Master 3 is kind of space-age, death glider looking with a wing on the left (is that a left-wing for ABC Journos??) to rest your thumb and to use the extra controls (mode shift button, gesture button, forward and back buttons). No its not for lefties!

MX Master 3

The unusual mouse shape is very comfortable (it gives me somewhere to rest my thumb). It is not as bulky as I imagined. I use a computer all day, and it is easier to use for hours at a time – ergonomics!

It is 142g which is heavier than my usual mouse (MX Anywhere 2S at 106g). I find the weightiness welcome as it keeps the mouse on track on the desk.

Connectivity/battery

There are two options for connection, via a 2.4Ghz USB-A receiver (supplied) or Bluetooth (BT) LE. Both are just as fast.

You can pair the MX Master 3 with up to three devices at a time using the ‘Easy Switch’ button. And if you install Logitech Options software, you can move the mouse cursor to the edge of the screen on device one, and it magically appears on device two and then to device three. Mighty Mouse!

But wait, you can even copy and paste text, images and files between computers. This would be most useful for those that use multiple or multiple OS devices – Windows, Mac and Linux.

It charges via USB-C (USB-A to USB-C cable supplied and runs off a 5V/1A standard USB-A port). Logitech claims 70 days typical use on a charge – I am not waiting that long to find out!

And if Mighty Mouse runs out of juice, three minutes charging gives you a full day of use, and a full charge takes about three hours.

MagSpeed Wheel and Options software

The MagSpeed Wheel (scroll wheel) takes a little getting used to. At one point I was scrolling fast down a screen, and suddenly the mouse shifted into top gear (what Logitech calls ‘free-spinning’ mode). This hyper-fast mode is great for getting to the end of that lengthy EULA (user agreement) in record time!

If all that free-spinning is too much for you, use the Options software to switch to manual mode and only shift gears when you want to.

In fact, if you install the Options software, there are many extra functionalities to enjoy and excellent instructions on the website on how to do this:

  • Adjust thumbwheel scrolling speed, and direction
  • Enable app-specific settings for the thumbwheel:
  • Zoom in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint
  • Adjust brush size in Adobe Photoshop
  • Navigate your timeline in Adobe Premiere Pro
  • Switch between tabs in the browser
  • Adjust volume
  • Assign custom keystrokes to the wheel rotation (up and down)

There are lots of customisations for Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, Google Chrome, Safari, and Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Edge.

MX Master 3

The software also allows you to use the mouse’s ‘gesture button’ to enhance desktop navigation, app management, pan, zoom, etc. You can assign up to five gestures/actions to the button. Even more impressive, you can adjust the gesture button to assign different functions within different apps. For example, the same gesture can be used to do horizontal scrolling in Excel and zoom in PowerPoint.

For those using Mac, you’ll need to install the software to use some of the basic functions as well, such as back/forward buttons.

GadgetGirl’s take – MX Master 3 is Mighty Mouse

I didn’t want to get too techy like GadgetGuy – he would have mentioned things like Darkfield 400 DPI technology, 500mAh battery and more.

Take it from me – this $149.95, seven-button, mouse does it all. My rating reflects three things. First, $149.95 is a lot to spend on a mouse (although my MX Anywhere 2S cost $99.95 and will also last for years). Second, unless you need the extreme level of customisation it offers then buy the MX Anywhere. Third, it will take you a while to master MX Master 3 and then you will be spoiled for any other mouse.

It is an excellent addition to my desktop (yes I get to keep it), and if I was an international spy I would be programming Mighty Mouse to do everything its capable of; for the moment though I’ll stick with hyper-fast scrolling.

If you want to get techy, there is an excellent interactive setup guide and FAQ here.

Features
Value for money
Performance
Ease of Use
Design
Reader Rating0 Votes
Seven Buttons offers extreme levels of customisation
That thumbrest really works
Expensive but you onlky get what you pay for
4.4