All Macs come with a mouse in the box, but you may find an alternative that better suits your needs. Generally, any mouse that connects via USB, Bluetooth, or a dongle will work with a Mac, and some have additional controls or features that add greater functionality or speed to your workflow. In some cases, like the Logitech MX Master 3, some Mac gestures are emulated. But so many look so similar; which ones are actually built well and have the features that will match your needs? In this article, we break down the top three mice for Macs on the market this year based on performance and the situations they’ll be used in. Whether you’re looking for a budget option with core functionality or a more premium option with all the bells and whistles, we’ll have an option for you. So if you’re interested in finding out which mouse for Mac will be best for you, stay tuned.
First up, we have the Logitech M720 wireless triathlon mouse, our pick for the best budget mouse for Mac. The Logitech M720 Triathlon helps you thrive in a multi-device world. You’ll power through tasks by switching seamlessly between three computers, fly through documents and webpages with hyper-fast scrolling, and get up to 24 months of power on a single AA battery. It’s well built, and its primary left and right click buttons are constructed from a solid-feeling plastic, with the rest of its body covered in grippy rubber. It has an ergonomic shape as well as a thumb rest for extra comfort during long periods of use. While it may feel a bit small for those with larger hands when using a hand or claw grip, it works very well for all hand dimensions with a fingertip grip. You can pair it with three gadgets simultaneously using Bluetooth and easily switch between them with its convenient side switch positioned right under your thumb. The three illuminated numbers always let you know which device you’re connected to, and it’s completely compatible with both Windows and Mac OS, as well as Chrome OS and Android devices. And you’ll be able to transfer text, images, and files between each of your devices effortlessly. Plus, the battery life of 24 months is also pretty incredible and one less thing you need to worry about. The M720 utilizes an optical LED sensor that’s set at 1,000 CPI. Unlike a lot of Logitech’s MX lines, the native CPI on this computer mouse can’t be readjusted, but with the Logitech option software, you can modify the cursor rate. Despite the lack of adjustability, the mouse performs with accuracy and precision. Also, with the Logitech option software, you can reprogram the left-right turns, scroll wheel clicks, both side buttons, as well as the switch on the thumb rest. The Logitech M720 Triathlon has an ergonomic design that’s tuned to boost your productivity. It lets you pair up to three devices simultaneously and switch between them effortlessly for streamlined file sharing, and it is completely compatible with Mac computers.
Next up is the Apple Magic Mouse 2, our choice for the best gesture mouse for Mac. The Apple Magic Mouse 2 isn’t much different from the original, but it does address one of the biggest gripes that Mac users had with the original version: extremely short battery life. The Magic Mouse 2 introduces a rechargeable battery and automatic pairing with your Mac. When compared with the original Magic Mouse, the Magic Mouse 2 looks pretty much identical and tracks just as smoothly as the original. But if you flip the mouse over, you’ll notice two things that are new. There’s no battery compartment door, and there’s a lightning port in the base for charging and pairing. With just two minutes of charging, you’ll get about nine hours of use. But if you leave it plugged in overnight, you’ll get up to a full month of use before you have to top it up. Unfortunately, since the lightning port is on the bottom of the Magic Mouse 2, you have to turn the mouse over when you recharge it, which renders it temporarily unusable. In the end, it’s not a deal-breaker because, with the new battery, the charging frequency is greatly reduced. The optical sensor reacts quickly to movements, and multi-touch commands are simple to execute, including swiping left and right between browser pages, up and down between full-screen apps, and bringing up mission control with a two-finger double-tap. Regular scrolling and right-click are available on the Magic Mouse 2’s touch-sensitive surface, and you can turn all of these commands on or off. You can also tweak the performance by going into the mouse system preferences on your Mac and adjusting the sensitivity and tracking settings to suit your taste. The Apple Magic Mouse 2 keeps everything that’s good about it and effectively addresses the issue of burning through disposable batteries, and using the Lightning to USB cable to the mouse instead of fussing with Bluetooth settings is also a nice convenience. As far as compatibility goes, you won’t find another mouse more suited to work with Apple devices.
Finally, we have the Logitech MX Master 3, our choice for the best overall mouse for Mac. Logitech hits a winning formula for Mac users with its MX Master 3 mouse, which provides everything that power users look for. Thumb buttons, a horizontal scroll wheel, improved battery life, and an additional button that enables some macOS trackpad gestures. This wireless eight-button mouse is built for right-hand use and features a large thumb wing. Up top, there are two click panels and a clickable scroll wheel, with a button positioned below the wheel that lets you switch between freewheeling and precision scroll speeds. Pre-programmed shortcuts are available for many popular applications, including MS Word and Excel, Google’s Chrome browser, and Adobe Photoshop. And better yet, programming your own shortcuts for any other software you use is simple, too. It’s as easy as picking an application, selecting a button, and choosing an action. These user-programmable buttons are great for creatives that use a Mac for image or video editing or any other software that uses a lot of shortcuts. Set them up, and watch your productivity soar. Pair the MX Master 3 to your MacBook Air, iMac, and iPad and switch between them seamlessly. Not only can you share the MX Master 3 between devices, but you can also move from one to another automatically. Just move your cursor to the edge of the screen on one device, wait a second, and the cursor will go to the other device. Innovation continues with the inner workings. Instead of moving parts, the MX Master 3 uses magnets. That means there’s no noise and no wear and tear. It’s just a matter of reversing polarity. If you want a better mouse for your Mac, the Logitech MX Master 3 would be an excellent choice for you. Its ergonomic design has been tweaked over multiple generations, so you’ll be hard-pressed to find a mouse that’s more versatile and more comfortable to use. Alright, guys, that’s all for now.
