Logitech MX Master 3 Mouse Review

The Brief

The Logitech MX Master 3 is a wireless, seven-button computer mouse – the premier mouse from the wider Logitech Master range, which specialises in peripheral items for professional looking to maximise their productivity.

According to Logitech, the Master 3 offers “instant precision and infinite potential” through a combination of superfluous button customisation, hardware innovations, and software advances. The highlights of their attempts come in the form of an electromagnetic scroll wheel, a gesture key, and Logitech Flow, which provides users with multi-system cross-OS control, and seamless file sharing.

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The optional (but highly recommended) Logitech Options software is the window into the soul of the Master 3 and operates as the device's control centre, allowing the user to custom assign button functions, refine pointer and scrolling speeds, and set up the Flow system. Here, settings aren't only adjustable on a general level, but on an application specific basis, allowing the user to optimise their mouse key bindings, which’ll switch depending on the active app. So, a user may manipulate the thumb wheel to slide between tabs while browsing in Chrome or Safari, and then switch to Photoshop where the same movement will now adjust brush size. A quick glimpse at a selection of available bindings and functions should give any potential user an idea of the power lurking in the Master 3’s arsenal.

The Experience

It’s clear when using this peripheral that Logitech wants the user to know one thing – the MX Master 3 works for you. They’ve done a stellar job in making the Master 3 a pleasure to use – clicking and scrolling are somehow… enjoyable. The Master 3’s ergonomically curved shell gives the mouse a very large look, but once in-hand the experience is pleasing and secure – the lightly rubberised texture keeps the palm in place, the weight is perfectly balanced, and it skates smoothly across tabletops and desk-mats. The machined-steel scroll wheel is light, and offers a rapid, tactile feedback, while the scooped left side panel offers the thumb a comfortable resting position, with the gesture control, thumb-wheel, and forward/back buttons all set within easy and natural reach.

The Logitech Options software is a success. One of the first things a user should play around with is the pointer speed, as it’ll quickly highlight the triumph that is the Logitech Darkfield™ tracking system – the Master 3 is only 4,000 DPI, but it certainly doesn’t feel that way, as its speed and precision challenges that of some high-DPI gaming options. Application specific bindings are a little daunting at first, but if the user is so inclined, the function’s correct utilisation will soon have them feeling as though their workflow is streamlined. Similarly, the volume of bindings available for the Master 3’s seven-buttons is initially overwhelming but holds true promise to the intrepid explorer – the more traditional user will happily be able to rely on the default profiles for guidance.

Despite the abundance of custom possibilities available in the Logitech Options software, it would’ve been nice to have more thumbwheel keystroke bindings, control over the standby activation duration, and a battery percentage indicator.

What about gaming?

The MX Master 3 isn’t a gaming mouse, but it’s a very versatile mouse - to say ‘it can’t game’ outright does it a disservice.

The Master 3’s huge battery, reliable and stable wireless connection, excellent sensor, and endurance-promoting fatigue-fighting ergonomic shape all work in its favour for gaming, especially with RPG and strategy titles like The Witcher 3 or Civilization 6. Some users have reported online that the mouse’s 30-second standby feature interferes with gameplay, but we haven’t had this interfere with our gaming. For FPS players, the Master 3 would be the wrong choice because while the Darkfield™ sensor response is remarkably good, the DPI can’t be changed on the fly (the button above the scroll wheel switches between free and ratcheted scrolling), and there are many dedicated gaming solutions out there offering all that games like CSGO and Apex Legends need.

Ultimately, if a digital or creative professional was on the hunt for a mouse that increased their productivity and workflow, but that could also double as a gaming mouse on occasion, then they could do much worse than the MX Master 3.

Reviewer use: The Master 3 was tested for for work (writing and image editing on an Apple Mac) and play (CSGO, Diablo III, and The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt on PC) by a user who typically opts for a high-sensitivity mouse.

Five Features

Scroll Wheels

The MagSpeed™ Electromagnetic machined-steel scroll wheel is near-silent, tactile, responsive, and can scroll 1,000 lines in one second. The wheel can be switched between a controlled rachet spin or free spin either manually or automatically, depending on the in-app optimisation, while the thumbwheel is rachet-only. The extreme scrolling capability can be refined in the Logitech Options app.

Darkfield™ Tracking

Proving the higher DPI doesn’t automatically translate to greater accuracy, the Master 3 utilises its 4,000 DPI and Darkfield™ tracking system to flawlessly follow every single user movement. No matter whether used subtly or speedily, the mouse’s accuracy and precision allow it to be used with little arm and wrist movement, which is ideal for every user, from graphic designer to RPG-grinders.

Battery

Fully charged, the Master 3 will hold enough charge for up to 70 days of use. If after 10 weeks that user has forgotten to charge it, and who wouldn’t after so long, a USB-C connection will provide enough juice for three hours of use after only one minute of charging.

Gesture Button

Logitech’s intuitive gesture button sits under the thumb, and when clicked and held in combination with a movement, triggers various commands or functions. The triggered event can be customised in the Options app, and include volume mute, app expose, screen capture, and copy/paste. Spending a little time getting to know the options and controls is well spent, as the increase to productivity and navigation ease isn’t to be missed.

Logitech Flow

Logitech Flow is a wonderous feature that proves technology is today’s witchcraft, and will entice any user of multiple workstations and operating systems. Setting up Flow on two computers, either macOS or Windows, allows for seamless cross-computer control with one Master 3, and can also facilitate the seamless drag-and-drop sharing of text, images, and files between systems. Like we said - pure witchcraft (well, technically IP wizardry).

The Technical Bit

Size - H124.9mm x W84.3mm x D51mm

Weight - 141g

Connection – USB Receiver or Bluetooth

DPI – 200 to 4000 (set to increments of 50)

For system requirements and technical specification, visit Logitech.com

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