Have you ever just found a mouse that you fell in love with? Nearly a decade ago, I discovered the Logitech MX Master. Even though I've tried to replace it throughout the years, I keep coming back to it.
Here's why I can't take the MX Master off my desk (and no, this is not a sponsored post).
The MX Master Is the OG Modern Productivity Mouse
While the Logitech MX Revolution was perhaps the first true productivity mouse, Logitech redefined the category when it launched the MX Master in 2015. The MX Master brought with it all sorts of updates, including dual mode pairing (2.4GHz dongle or Bluetooth), multi-device connectivity, the gesture button, the adaptive scroll wheel, and so much more.
Since 2015, Logitech has spent a considerable amount of time refining the MX Master. We got the MX Master 2, MX Master 2S, MX Master 3, and MX Master 3S . The MX Master 4 is on the horizon, too. At this point, the MX Master is so well known that it's synonymous with a productive workstation.
I Was Instantly Hooked When I Got My First MX Master
In May 2015, I got my first MX Master, just a month after its release. Before the MX Master, I used a lot of different mice, but never found one that I "loved." The MX Master changed all that.
Patrick Campanale / How-To Geek
The ergonomics of the MX Master alone sold me on the mouse. It fit my hand like a glove, and it was unlike any other mouse that I had ever used. I also loved all the other features it had, like the side-scroll wheel and the gesture pad. With the gesture pad, I could easily access Mission Control on my Mac as well as switch virtual desktops, all without lifting my hand off the mouse.
The fact that I could pair the MX Master with multiple devices was also a huge benefit to the mouse. I could pair one profile to my MacBook, one to my Windows PC, and one to my Chromebook. This was relatively unheard of back in 2015, even though it's a popular feature today.
The entire package of the MX Master is what hooked me. Ever since 2015, I've almost always had an MX Master on my desk.
I've Tried to Replace the MX Master, but Never Could
Over the years, I've tried to replace my MX Master from time to time. Most mice that I tried were immediately swapped back out with whatever MX Master I had at the time, whether it was the original MX Master, MX Master 2S, or MX Master 3.
I spent a few years on the MX Vertical, but that eventually died, and I went back to my MX Master. The Kensington Pro Fit Ergo Vertical was another mouse I tried out, but it quickly got given to a family member because I just couldn't stand it.
I've had probably a dozen or more gaming mice over the years, and I typically keep one around for when I'm doing intense gaming. The MX Master is fantastic for productivity, but I'm not a fan of anything more than light gaming with it. So, in that sense, I do use other mice, but only in one-off circumstances.
I also have the MX Anywhere 3 that I keep in my laptop bag. While I do have a spare MX Master 3, it's a bit bulky to travel with, so my MX Anywhere takes its place on the road. I could never use the MX Anywhere for longer than a few hours though, it's just not ergonomic enough, and it lacks the gestures or side-scroll wheel of the full-size MX Master.
Overall, even though I've tried to replace the MX Master on my desk, it always ends up right back where it belongs: in between my split keyboard halves.
The Productivity Features and Ergonomics Keep Me Happy
There are two reasons that I haven't been able to replace the MX Master: features and ergonomics. The features of the MX Master are what truly have a hold on me. I've used more ergonomic mice before, but none that stack up to the features it has. The gesture pad alone is game changing in my setup. I use the press of the gesture pad to access Mission Control on my MacBook.
Justin Duino / How-To Geek
Swiping down opens up the view to show me all tabs and windows of a program on my Mac. Left and right change which virtual desktop I'm on. Then there's the side-scroll wheel. When I'm doing video editing, the side-scroll wheel is invaluable for traversing my timeline.
The mouse also just feels great in my hand. Like I said, I've used more ergonomic mice in the past, but the MX Master strikes the perfect balance between traditional mouse and ergonomic mouse.
I'm still on the hunt for a MX Master replacement at some point. Not really because I want to replace the MX Master, but just because I like the challenge of seeing if there's something else out there that stacks up to the iconic king of productivity mice.
