Buying an M4 Mac Mini? This is the mouse you should pair it with instead of Apple's

ZDNET's key takeaways

The Logitech MX Master 3S for Mac is a wireless peripheral built for comfort and productivity. With up to 8K DPI, the mouse is ideal for creative workflows like photo editing. All that functionality comes at the cost of a bulkier mouse, though most people won't mind that.

Apple today launched what is possibly the most powerful mini PC on the market: the M4 Mac Mini. It's smaller, faster, and significantly more powerful than its M1 predecessor -- all while offering greater port selection. Naturally, both regular consumers and creative professionals will be itching for the latest Mac release.

Also: Apple's new M4 Mac Mini is smaller, more powerful, and its first carbon-neutral Mac

If you're in that camp, you'll want to pair the M4 Mac Mini with peripherals that not only complete the desk PC setup but enhance its comfort and utility. If my experience is like many others, the Magic Mouse probably won't cut it. Beyond the mouse's unnatural ergonomics, which promotes what's called a claw grip over a more comfortable palm grip, its lack of extra buttons and the burden of the down-facing charging port make Apple's $99 accessory difficult to justify.

Instead, allow me to recommend a mouse that offers more functionality, is more comfortable to use, and costs the same: the Logitech MX Master 3S for Mac. I've been using the mouse for more than two years now, and it's been my weapon of choice for photo and video editing, managing spreadsheets, light gaming, and more.

If you showed me the MX Master 3S and hid the name, I'd assume that it was an MX Master 3. That's because Logitech is following the "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" principle with the latest model. Dimensionally, the MX Master 3S is the same as its predecessor, both in weight (141 grams) and size. It's much heavier than a traditional mouse, but mostly for good reason. I also don't mind that it's less susceptible to being knocked around the desk due to the heftiness.

Also: Apple Magic Mouse gets USB-C, but still plugs in the bottom. Buy this instead

Laying my palm over the mouse gives me a sense of fullness -- like I have complete control over how the 3S glides, clicks, and interacts with what's on screen. Unfortunately, there is still no left-handed version of the MX mouse, and the design is far from ambidextrous. 

The same rubber-textured coating found on previous MX Master mice adds to the 3S' grip. Whether you favor the darker Graphite colorway or brighter Pale Gray, all variants of the 3S are treated with a blend of post-consumer recycled material and plastics that feels better than it sounds.

Arguably, the most significant switch-up (pun intended) with the MX Master 3S from the 3 is what Logitech calls "Quiet Click" switches. As the name implies, the left- and right-click buttons on the mouse produce 90% less noise than the MX predecessor. This change aligns with many of Logitech's other recent peripherals, including the Lift Vertical and M650 -- which also featured silent switches. For office workers and others in shared spaces, the silence is greatly appreciated.

Also: The best silent mouse of 2024: Expert tested and reviewed

A total of seven programmable buttons (via Logi Options+) are scattered throughout the MX Master 3S, all easily accessible with your thumb, index, and middle finger. They include the left- and right-click, middle-click, back and forward, a gesture button, and a toggle for the MagSpeed Electromagnetic scrolling mode. 

The latter allows you to alternate between Ratchet and Free-Spin for when you want line-by-line scrolling or the ability to skim through a whopping 1,000 lines per second. I found the Free-Spin mode to work the best when sifting through product pages, PDFs, and spreadsheets.

Besides the forward and back buttons on the side, there are two staple features that set the MX Master series apart from other productivity-based mice: the gesture button and the horizontal scroll wheel. Doubling as a thumb pad, the gesture button triggers a series of shortcuts when you press down and glide the mouse in any direction. 

Also: I switched to a split ergonomic keyboard for a week, and it's spoiled every other peripheral for me

I mapped the "Hold + Move down" gesture to display all active windows, while a "Hold + Move left" switches applications, allowing me to navigate between multiple full-screen tasks quickly. My only criticism of the gesture button is how awkwardly the contact point is positioned. It's along the outer line of the base, so my thumb has to shift to the edge of the mouse -- instead of just pressing down from where it's normally situated -- to trigger any gesture. 

Another big upgrade with the MX Master 3S model is its new 8,000 DPI optical sensor (up from 4,000). DPI, or dots per inch, is a metric for mouse accuracy. The higher the value, the more granular a cursor parses through pixels. Hi-res and/or ultra-wide monitors benefit the most from an 8K sensor, requiring only the slightest mouse movement to navigate from edge to edge. While I'm more akin to the 1,200 to 1,600 DPI range, the added sensitivity should aid professionals who need to be pixel-perfect, like in graphics design or photo editing.   

Also: Apple's new M4 iMacs are built for the era of AI computing (with a long-awaited USB-C upgrade)

Lastly, allow me to highlight the Logi Options+ companion software, which is where you can set up and manage Flow, Logitech's multi-device control feature. It's similar to Apple's Universal Control and allows you to seamlessly move your mouse cursor from desktop to laptop or any combination of the two. 

This feature is only compatible with Windows and macOS devices and requires all computers involved to have Logi Options+ installed. The most impressive thing about Flow is that you can copy and paste text, images, or files from one device, move the mouse to the other, and paste it as usual. It's quite magical and elevates the MX Master experience.  

ZDNET's buying advice

The Logitech MX Master 3S for Mac is exactly that: an iterative upgrade to the already remarkable MX Master 3. By retaining the same form factor and price as its predecessor, Logitech is banking on upgrades like "Quiet Click" switches, Logi Bolt connection, and a heightened 8K DPI sensor to attract new users and loyalists alike. At $99, the MX Master 3S is not the cheapest mouse on the market. But for its unique productivity features and extensive software support, there's no better option for the money if you're looking for a new