Review of the Logitech MX Master wireless mouse. Darkfield precision tracking technology

Every time my next mouse breaks down, I start frantically trying products from different manufacturers. The fact is that for the last fifteen years I have been using Logitech mice. This is not attachment to a specific brand, and not the need for any special features. It’s just that the scenario repeats itself year after year: the mouse breaks, you try everything, and then you buy a top-end Logitech again and forget about the problem for several years. Mice live a long time. Performance MX worked for about five years until it started double-clicking. I don't think I've had a better mouse in my entire life, except for the Microsoft IntelliMouse 2.0. And, of course, the first thing I checked was whether I could just buy a new copy?

It turned out that it is possible! The model has long been discontinued, but a number of copies are still circulating in distributors' warehouses. But here’s the problem: the mouse, released in 2011, today stands at the same level as modern flagships of the same brand. 5500-6000 rubles, no joke.

I was given the Logitech MX Master, the 2015 flagship, to try. The mouse is simply incredibly beautiful, and the built-in 500 mAh lithium-ion battery lasts twice as long as the 2100 mAh GP in the Performance MX. But I couldn’t get used to it, even if I cracked it. I’m used to the fact that the mouse is an extension of my hand, and I simply place the cursor where I need it. No additional aiming. You may say that this is a common thing, but my computer monitor is 34 inches diagonal, and it has an elongated shape (aspect ratio 21x9). With Performance MX it was unnoticeable - the path from one end of the screen to the other was comfortable, and I hit any point the first time. But this was not the case with MX Master. I had to think about how the cursor was moving, and false hits became an annoying routine.

From left to right Logitech Performance MX, MX Master and MX Master 2S

I guess with time I would get used to it. After all, the mouse’s characteristics are very cool, it’s just that the sensor in it has changed, and with it the kinematics. Considering that Logitech clearly tested the product on hundreds of users before releasing it, the opinion of a retrograde like me is not critical at all.

I was just about to buy a new-old Performance MX, when a few months ago I bought the same ancient, but PERFECT Logitech K800 Wireless Illuminated keyboard. Just as a reserve, in case something happens to the current copy. But then a recipe turned up to revive the Performance MX by re-soldering the switch (), which was ordered on eBay for a ridiculous 20 cents apiece. Together with reader Alexander, we made a replacement, after which the old Performance MX started working like new. Considering that nothing else breaks in it, I was determined not to change the mouse for another three years.

But my posts about the demise of the mouse and doubts about choice were read in the Russian office of Logitech. And they suggested trying the current flagship, Master MX 2S. I was skeptical about the proposal, because outwardly this flagship is no different from the old one. Well, except for the difference of the changed logo (Logi instead of Logitech) on the left button. And taking into account... the imperfections of “just” Master MX, I didn’t want to change the mouse again. But they still convinced me that there is a difference, and it’s worth trying a new beast.

Considering that the new generation of Logitech mice requires a new driver, and not wanting to work with the proven and reliable SetPoint, I first connected the mouse to the Acer Predator Triton 700 laptop I was testing (its review will come later). And I was immediately pleased with the perfectly precise positioning, just like on the Performance MX. The first impression was encouraging, but successes on the 15.6-inch diagonal did not guarantee their repetition on 34 inches. And then two days ago I finally got ready, removed the old mouse from the operating system on the large computer and connected a new one. The MX Master family has a nice feature: you can choose between Bluetooth and the proprietary Unifying adapter. I usually prefer the latter, but then I remembered that the motherboard has Bluetooth. I decided to try it in action, not only in everyday work, but also in games.

Here it is worth immediately mentioning another useful feature of MX Master - the mice store the settings of three different computers, so there is no need to reconnect to another system each time. Switching from a work laptop to a home computer is just one click away. This is really convenient because we weren't done with the Predator Triton at that point.

The first impression was something like “Chewy, we're home!” The 2S appendage in the MX Master name turned out to be quite important, and the new mouse simply worked E-DE-AL-BUT. Again, that magical feeling of the mouse, like an extension of your hand, when you always get to the right place the first time. And just a wonderful wheel, where the function I loved from MX Revolution has returned. Remember when, when scrolling quickly, the wheel itself removed the click provided by the electromagnetic lock, and began to rotate with acceleration, and then returned to normal mode? So, it’s with us again. How many years have we lived apart, how much time was lost... It’s worth mentioning here that “just” MX Master also had this function, but it didn’t work clearly enough for my taste. And I preferred to turn it off. Here everything is simply flawless - the latch turns on and off exactly when needed.

To be honest, I’m just itching to put an end to it. Logitech MX Master 2S is simply an amazing mouse, and by no means the best in the world. It is undoubtedly worth the 5500-5700 rubles they are asking for it. If you have such an amount and it doesn’t seem excessive, feel free to buy the beast, you will get great pleasure.

But, being a responsible person, I will still tell you what makes this model so suitable in every sense.

Firstly, there is a new sensor with a hardware resolution of 4000 DPI, which can be adjusted. Resolution itself is not critical, because mice with 1000 DPI coped (and cope) perfectly with any work tasks and even games. However, the old Pixart PMW3806DM-BMQF with its peak 1600 DPI definitely performed worse, and it was its replacement that radically improved the user experience. The description says that the mouse can even be rolled on glass. I haven’t checked, but like any decent person, I have a high-quality rug.

Secondly, battery life has increased. In the previous version they promised 40 days with an 8-hour working day, now they promise 70. I won’t lie, I haven’t had time to drive the 2S for that long yet. But the old MX Master lasted me for 2 weeks, after which 20 percent was left, and for the sake of order I put the rodent on charge. Fortunately, the cable is plugged directly into it, and the process takes about forty minutes. It looks like you can forget about this procedure for three weeks. An important clarification: during the New Year holidays, I played all sorts of things more often than usual, and in games the mouse moves much more actively than usual, and the discharge is appropriate.

Thirdly, the mouse can work with three different computers simultaneously (Logitech Flow technology). In this case, we are talking not only about the smooth transition of the cursor from computer to computer, but also about the transfer of data. Both text and graphic. Copied on one computer, dragged to another. This is easy to set up, especially if all systems have Bluetooth. Let's be honest, a very small proportion of users will need this feature. But I can well imagine a situation where it might really be needed. For example, when I worked as a software tester, I had several dozen computers under my “subordination” with different configurations and versions of operating systems. They had to be controlled using a hardware hub, which was not very convenient. And the data was not dragged from one system to another. Now everything would have turned out differently, and perhaps it will work out differently for someone else. By the way, the platform does not matter - you can copy information on a Mac and paste it into Windows without any problems.

Well, and also an impressive appearance, optimal ergonomics (sorry, only for right-handers), an impeccably adjusted click, an additional wheel for horizontal scrolling... This is another classic mouse from Logitech, which, I am sure, years later will be remembered with the same reverence as the MX Revolution and Performance MX. And yes, there is no point in shopping for leftover Performance MX now, because there is a more interesting option for the same price.

True, to the traditional weak point, the switches, now another one has been added, a built-in battery. But I would like to believe that by the time they really start producing, in about two years, the Chinese brothers will have mastered their mass production, just as they have already mastered the production of switches for buttons.

In the meantime - complete delight!

P.S. The turquoise version is the most beautiful.

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Hello, I’ll start with a quote from Wikipedia - “A master is a person who has achieved high art in his craft, puts ingenuity and creativity into his work, makes unusual and original objects, and also has excellent knowledge of his craft; the same as master and maestro.”

The name of the flagship mouse speaks for itself, “Master” is a tool for professionals in their field. A tool that has everything you might need and allows you to discover new opportunities for yourself.



Specifications from the manufacturer's website:
Sensor: High precision tracking with Darkfield technology.
Nominal value: 1000 dpi.
Sensitivity (minimum and maximum values): 200 to 4000 dpi (can be set in 50 dpi increments).
The declared battery life is up to 70 days of operation on a single full charge.
Battery: Rechargeable lithium polymer battery (500 mAh).
Number of buttons: 7.
Scroll wheel with support for automatic transition between modes.
Wireless range: 10 m.
Wireless Technology: Bluetooth, advanced 2.4 GHz wireless technology via included Unifying receiver.
Additional software: Logitech Options and Logitech Flow.

Scope of delivery:
Mouse, micro-usb cable for charging, Unifying receiver, documentation.


The colors offered by the company look very interesting. The model in the review is graphite, most of the body is covered with a black soft touch coating, with gray plastic around the edging, turquoise colors are also offered, a very, very interesting and unusual color, and light gray, that is, essentially white.


Appearance.
The mouse looks quite futuristic and three-dimensional, but that’s how it is; in the hand the mouse feels solid and comfortable.
There are 7 buttons on the case, on the front there is a micro-USB connector for charging, a battery charge indicator, on the bottom there is a power switch and a channel switch button, one for the Unifying receiver and two for bluetooth connection.


The design is thought out from an ergonomic point of view, the indentation for the thumb allows you to comfortably position your hand, but it is worth noting only the right hand, the design is designed only for the right hand.
Just under the thumb at the base of the recess there is a “Gesture Button” that allows you to perform five actions. A regular press and press + movement in any of the four directions calls a function, the action of each function is configured as you like through the Logitech Options application.


Logitech Options Software.
It is worth noting that at the time of review, the software for macOS has not been translated into Russian. There are not many menu items and without translation, for me personally, everything is clear. For Windows, the application has been translated and no differences in functionality were found. The application is convenient and logically constructed. Each button on the body is clearly shown with a name and the function assigned to the button. There are five buttons you can configure: two buttons on the top edge, a middle button, and a button above the scroll wheel, which by default is called “Scroll Wheel Mode Change Button.” Two thumb buttons “back and forth” and a horizontal scroll wheel, which can also be reassigned as you please, for example, bind volume or brightness control.
The software contains Flow technology, this is the ability to connect several computers using one mouse, copying text, files, a common clipboard between two computers on different OSes, just a common wi-fi network and the presence of bluetooth.
Windows screenshots
macOS screenshots


Scroll wheel mode change button.
I made this point separately due to the fact that the company worked with the mechanism. By default, as the name suggests, the button is assigned to switch the scroll mode, how is that? It's very convenient! For example, you need to scroll through a huge article, document or website, change the mode and the stopper on the wheel turns off, scrolling becomes very easy and fast, smooth and without a single sound. The very implementation of this device is amazing, it is not mechanical as before, but electric, and seeing it for the first time in a mouse you are amazed at how cool it is, especially the first time you are tempted to press it, it sounds like the central locking of a car!


Sound.
Yes, exactly, the sound in the mouse, or rather the clicks of the microbuttons installed in the device. All additional keys sound very quiet, and the main right-left click sounds quite loud, ringing, it will be uncomfortable to work with such a mouse at night. But this is of course a matter of taste. The middle click is very pleasant and springy, both in feel and sound.


Autonomy.
The device has a non-removable battery, 500 mAh, it’s hard to say whether it’s a lot or a little, everyone has a different style of working at the computer. Even if you look at the reviews on the Internet, everything varies, for some it’s 3 weeks, for others it’s 3 months. I can say for myself, having been using a trackball from Logitech for the last 3 years, the version with a battery lasts much less, but it does not require changing batteries. I connected the cable and you can continue to use it. But here everyone has their own pros and cons, for me personally the battery is a plus, the device is lighter and the battery will not “leak”.


While using this creation from Logitech, I fell in love with it, with this pleasant shape, my hand rests like a glove on this body, resting. All the buttons are in the right places, and it’s important to note that all are useful. How can I then use a regular wheel to scroll through Excel tables... Personally, I found the horizontal scroll wheel very convenient, assigned volume control and a gesture button to it, and assigned window controls to it.
Thanks to Logitech for making such great tools for our jobs, and I hope Omron doesn't let us down.

The Logitech company name has always been associated primarily with expensive premium mice. But the trend in recent years towards the company’s deepening into the segment of budget peripheral solutions has brought sadness to many admirers of its products. This was partly compensated by the appearance of the new gaming G series, but not everyone wanted to buy a gaming mouse just to get advanced functionality and not use its full capabilities. But now the company’s product line has begun to gradually refresh itself and we simply could not help but pay attention to the appearance of a new manipulator in it - MX Master, a successor to the traditions of the famous MX Revolution and Performance Mouse MX, which embodies all the latest achievements and technological developments of Logitech.

Specifications

Delivery and configuration

The Logitech MX Master comes in a beautiful black box with a photorealistic image of the mouse on the front. On the sidewalls information about the scope of delivery is provided in 24 languages. The front cover of the box tilts to the left and right on its back you can see schematic instructions for connecting the mouse. Through the transparent window you can admire the MX Master itself in person, but you won’t be able to try it on with your hand.

Appearance and Design

The appearance of the Logitech MX Master cannot be called flashy, but it looks rich. This is facilitated by the combination of matte black and brown-golden surface shade. The supporting part of the top panel, where the palm rests, is made of rough soft-touch plastic, which to the touch can even be confused with real leather. The left and right buttons are made of smooth plastic. They operate very responsively, with a clearly audible click.

Proprietary software

Logitech MX Master uses proprietary Logitech Options software to fine-tune and remap Logitech MX Master keys. Unfortunately, it is not available for legacy Windows Vista and Windows XP operating systems and can only be used starting from Windows 7 or Mac OS X 10.8. The driver interface looks beautiful and clear, thanks to the simple visual style used here. The first thing that greets the user is the mouse button settings screen. Available for remapping are the horizontal scroll wheel, forward and back keys, the middle mouse button, the wheel mode switch, and the bottom button in the thumb rest. The left and right buttons are not reassigned, but their functions can be swapped. A strange decision, considering that you won’t be able to fully use this manipulator with your left hand.

Ergonomics and testing

Using any wireless mouse always starts with connecting it. And here everything is fine with the Logitech MX Master, both when communicating through the native receiver and via the Bluetooth protocol. Just turn on the mouse, and the connection is established instantly. The same can be said about changing the channel. To adjust the mouse to the new receiver, of course, you will have to install software, but the further connection process occurs without interference. The ergonomics of the case can be considered close to ideal, although the high back is unusual at first. According to the type of grip used, the “palm” is best suited. The only thing that can cause discomfort is the side keys located far away. The thumb has to be pulled back significantly to hit them. The best part is the scroll wheels. They are very convenient to use, and I hope that in the future all of the company's models will be equipped with this version of inertial adaptive scrolling. The new Logitech Options software also deserves special praise. This is a huge improvement over SetPoint's legacy interface. The capabilities of the laser sensor installed here cannot be called outstanding, but for the average user they will be more than enough. The most important advantage of the sensor, work on any type of surface, is balanced by average maximum speed, the presence of a low level of trajectory and acceleration linearity, and a low polling frequency. In other words, the Logitech MX Master is poorly suited for active computer games; its purpose is for office use. Battery energy saving is realized by reducing the power supply to the sensor when idle and turns on after three to four minutes without use. The mouse doesn't go to sleep completely, but after moving it takes about a second to become fully active. At this moment, the cursor may shake and freeze. Charging is organized conveniently; a full battery charge lasted me about a week and a half of active use for 14 hours a day, which is a little more than half of the officially declared maximum operating time.

Results

MX Master - a new mouse from Logitech, was a great success. It combines all the best technological developments of the company in recent years, which make the manipulator unique in its versatility and set of characteristics. This is a very convenient and ergonomic shape of the case made of decent materials. And a lot of buttons and commands, remapped through excellent software. And adaptive inertial scrolling, rechargeable battery and the ability to work on any surface. And support for two wireless protocols at once, combined with the ability to connect to three PCs at once. This is truly a machine of possibilities that anyone who uses a computer a lot in their work will want to have at their disposal. However, it is worth considering that due to the specifics of its sensor and the technical features of wireless communication, the MX Master is poorly suited for use in dynamic games. The only serious drawback of the mouse is its recommended cost, which is likely to be quite high.

Today I will tell you about outbred mice for work. This is worth putting a lot of emphasis on, since for some reason many people think that we write reviews and articles exclusively about gaming devices. No, today we will talk about products for work - for video editing, for working with documents, for active communication in the browser, mail and other programs, for programming and other tasks. Lately, users have been actively abandoning wired solutions, since it is not particularly convenient on the desktop - the cable constantly gets in the way, and if you need to suddenly drag the mouse to the other side of the table, then it’s a total rush. So if you work a lot on the computer and want to make this process more interesting and enjoyable, even comfortable, then it’s better to take a closer look at a mouse of this kind. I personally work on a laptop and for a long time avoided mice as such, so as not to lose mobility, but then I bought myself such a rodent and realized that working this way is faster and in some places more convenient. Of course, no one is forcing you to do the same; the article is intended so that you can get acquainted with interesting models and their features, and then decide whether you need it or not.

Logitech M590 Multi-Device Silent Gray

The Logitech M590 mouse is in great demand among users of all-in-one computers and laptops - small, made of high-quality materials and with a set of necessary functions, the mouse simply cannot but please the user. It is made in different body colors, that is, you can choose not gray, but red, for example, in order to please yourself every time you get to work. The mouse is small in size, it is really a very compact option that you can put in the pocket of a bag or backpack and travel with your laptop to the ends of the earth. The mouse works at a distance of ten meters from the source, which means you can easily sit on the couch and switch videos on the Internet. The keys are pressed almost silently, this is ideal if you work in an office or just like silence and not the clicking of the mouse. On the side, under the thumb, there is a Back-Forward key, a great thing in the browser, on the case there is an indicator that indicates which computer the device is connected to (you can remember two devices and easily switch between them). For work and or home tasks, it’s an ideal thing, as for me. It costs only 2695 rubles.

Microsoft Touch Mouse Black

Microsoft has always made good peripherals for desktop computers, and if you have a laptop or nettop, or just an ordinary computer, but you want to get a wireless mouse for work, then this is one of the most interesting options. No, I won’t say that this is directly the best thing on the market, but it is one of the most interesting options - a fact. The fact is that there are no mechanical buttons, but only a touch panel on the mouse. Apple makes its branded mice in a similar way. That is, there is a touch field and it is divided into right and left parts, it perceives multitasking gestures and other things, scrolling is very smooth and in general it’s pleasant to use the mouse. True, it will take some getting used to, since it will be very unusual after using a regular “push-button” mouse. But the gadget holds a charge for a long time, looks very stylish and it’s difficult to convey the sensations in words, this is a completely different type of controller and you just need to use it in order to then abandon ordinary mice altogether. True, you can’t play games well on such a mouse, that’s a fact. Such happiness costs 3800 rubles, which is very reasonable money for such technologies.

Logitech G403 Prodigy Wireless Black

Logitech makes very good gaming devices, but their wireless solutions for work and office are also very, very good. I personally liked the Logitech G403 Prodigy Wireless Black mouse for its design - it fits very comfortably in the hand and even when you use it for quite a long time, you don’t want to somehow intercept it or take it otherwise, the body is very well thought out and that’s good. In terms of characteristics, everything is also good - the maximum sensor resolution is 12000 DPI, why I personally don’t understand that much, but thanks for that. Thanks to such a high resolution, we can simply instantly move the mouse even on a 65-inch TV in 4K resolution, if suddenly there is a need. On the left side of the mouse there are two keys - Back and Forward, they are suitable for working in the browser and some programs, and in the operating system itself too. The case is made of expensive materials, the plastic is very good, there is no feeling that you are just taking a toy. The cost of the mouse is 4,000 rubles and this is already a quite reasonable price for a wireless device, which was also created by such a well-known company.

Logitech MX Master Black-Brown

This mouse is considered the best in its class, or more precisely among wireless solutions for work or professional work in general. If you look at photographs of the desktops of designers from the West, you will notice that they exclusively use such mice, and there is a reason for this - the product really fits well in your hand, you will not have the desire to pick up and grab the mouse due to discomfort. This is quite an important point, in fact, since working for ten hours with a mouse in your hand is quite difficult and you need it to feel as pleasant as possible. There is a scroll wheel on the side, which allows you to conveniently scroll through content or pages on the Internet; you can also configure it for some other tasks in video editing applications, for example. There are also two keys for switching Forward-Back or for increasing and decreasing. There is an indicator on the side, the keys are pressed very softly and as quietly as possible, the sensations from the case cannot be expressed in words, you have to feel it. The cost of the product is 4590 rubles and if you want to get the best of the best, then this is your choice, without a doubt.

Logitech MX Master 2S Midnight Teal

The Logitech MX Master 2S Midnight Teal mouse was released relatively recently and directly conquered the market, which wanted something new, cool, and the result was a little disappointing. Firstly, the differences from the Logitech MX Master Black-Brown mouse are minimal - the hardware has been slightly redesigned, for example, the sensor here is new and it supports 4000 DPI instead of 1600 DPI on the original model, but this is not a change for which I would be willing to pay 3000 more rubles. The new sensor has become better, but the original one was enough for the eyes and no one asked for more than 1600 DPI. In terms of design, there were also no special changes - the company simply repainted the mouse in a different color, now there are 7 keys, instead of 5 for the original model. Of course, if you missed the sharpness of the previous model and wanted a higher-end sensor, then here's an improvement. If the original model is satisfied with the characteristics and color of the case, then feel free to take it. After all, the new Logitech MX Master 2S costs 7,240 rubles, which is noticeably more expensive than the original, and even if I wanted to, I cannot say that it is that good. On the other hand, it also has no competitors.

Logitech has announced the MX Master 2S and MX Anywhere 2S wireless computer mice with support for proprietary Logitech Flow technology.

Logitech Flow, which requires the installation of accompanying software, allows you to simultaneously interact with two or even three computers using one mouse. The technology makes it possible to move the cursor between screens, copy the necessary pieces of text, images and files from one device to another.

The MX Master 2S features a carefully designed ergonomic design that provides a natural hand and wrist position when working. Conveniently located buttons and a wheel provide precise control and smooth scrolling. Dimensions - 85.7 × 126.0 × 48.4 mm, weight - 145 g.

The MX Anywhere 2S manipulator, in turn, is characterized by compact dimensions equal to 61.6 × 100.3 × 34.4 mm. The device weighs 106 g. The mouse fits comfortably in your hand and provides accurate tracking when working in any environment - at home, in the office or on the road.

The mice received a sensor with a resolution of up to 4000 dpi. Connection to a computer can be done via the included Logitech Unifying receiver or via energy-saving Bluetooth technology. Both mice have seven buttons.

A quick charge of just three minutes, during which you can continue to use the device, will last you a whole day of battery life. A full battery charge will be enough for 70 days.

The Logitech MX Master 2S and MX Anywhere 2S mice will go on sale this month for $100 and $80, respectively.