Verdict
The Logitech MX Master 3S is surely among the best options in the class of productivity mice. The device has an ergonomic design, multi-tasking scroll wheels, and a whole set of customization options—just a dream come true for pros, especially programmers and creatives. But, as one would say, there’s no rose without a thorn. For gamers, left-handed users, and budget-conscious users, there may be better options out there.
The quieter clicks are, to a great degree, subjective, and the software, while generally powerful, at times can be a little finicky. The MX Master 3S is one of those mice that really needs consideration. To those who need comfort, precision, and customization at work and would not mind paying for a premium experience, this mouse could be one’s best buddy.
Pros
- Proper durable and sturdy building materials used
- Luxurious soft touch material, premium scroll wheels and tactile mechanism
- Massively customizable
- Great sensor
- Quiet clicks
Cons
- Rounded shape makes it challenging to fit in backpacks
- Not that different from the MX Master 3
- Make-or-break form factor
- No place to store Wireless adaptor
Logitech MX Master 3S Review
The Logitech MX Master 3S comes to the plate with a rather large legacy. Its predecessor, the MX Master 3 is massively revered as the king of productivity, setting a high bar for ergonomic, feature-rich, productivity-focused mice. But does the 3S truly live up to the legacy, or is it simply riding on the coattails of its ancestor? Let’s dissect this mouse with the precision of a surgeon and the insight of a seasoned tech aficionado.
Ergonomics and Design
Logitech has truly put a good amount of priority on comfort and ergonomics with the MX Master 3S. That’s evident from its sculpted design: carefully molded and shaped to cradle your right hand naturally and in support, which is definitely a boon to those who spend hours clicking and scrolling, possibly minimizing strain and fatigue. However, this design decision comes with its own caveat: the mouse is firmly for right-handed users. Also, while this fit will generally be comfortable for most, the extra size might be hard to handle for small and medium-sized hands. As one of our team members aptly mentioned, it’s the “Goldilocks” element—the fit really needs to be just right. If you have smaller hands, the mouse could overwhelm or feel too bulky.
Therefore, I wholeheartedly echo the opinion that trying it out in a physical store before committing to a purchase is a must.
Performance and Functionality
Where this really shines is in productivity, and the MX Master 3S does not disappoint. For programmers, this is quite literally digital nirvana: the customizable buttons being a godsend, assigning macros and shortcuts galore to streamline your workflow and boost efficiency; the tracking is spot on, reliable, gliding effortlessly across everything from glass.
And then there’s the MagSpeed scroll wheel. This piece of engineering is almost uniformly loved by users for being able to flick between hyper-fast scrolling, for gorging on endless documents, and then down to ratchet-style scrolling for meandering through line-by-line in code. In other words, this is one of those features that’s going to drive you nuts should you ever have to revert back to older mouse designs. It works precisely as it did on the MX Master 3S’ predecessor, the MX Master 3.
As one of our team members aptly mentioned, it’s the “Goldilocks” element—the fit really needs to be just right. If you have smaller hands, the mouse could overwhelm or feel too bulky.
But let gamers be warned: this is not the weapon of choice. While it can handle casual gaming sessions, it’s not designed for the demanding precision and responsiveness required in competitive gaming. The lower polling rate, compared to dedicated gaming mice, might lead to noticeable lag in fast-paced action. Lacking even more common gaming-centric features like on-the-fly DPI switching and in-depth macro customization, its standing as strictly a productivity tool rather than a gaming peripheral is further cemented. Add to that, the shape of the MX Master 3S is non-conducive to gaming.
Having said that, I have still played a bunch sessions of Dota 2 using the Master 3S. In a MOBA game like Dota 2, one performs an average of 100–200 clicks per minute. That’s a LOT of clicking, and enough to drive someone sitting close completely nuts. And that’s where the silent buttons of the Master 3S come in. In that sense, silent operation is a legit use case I never thought this mouse had, but it does, and that’s great! This is a rather unique non-marketing feature of the Master 3S.
Connectivity and Battery Life: Wireless Freedom with Staying Power
Connectivity-wise, the MX Master 3S strikes the best balance between the two. You get either the very reliable and secure Logi Bolt USB receiver or Bluetooth, whichever you prefer, for seamless pairing with up to three devices. The latter is a godsend for those working on multiple machines, saving them from the headache of constant re-pairing.
My desk setup has both a beefy desktop, a Lenovo Legion Tab and a MacBook Pro coupled with a singular display. This is where the multicoupling steps in. By not having to go through the exercise of changing their dongles, I hop between my desktop and MacBook anytime. The MX Master S also switches to use the device just by tapping the profile button—as does the MX Keys S keyboard.
There are some reports of lag with the Bolt receiver, but those appear to be isolated incidents that might have to do with interference from the Thunderbolt dock. Logitech says that cables and metal objects near the receiver can affect connectivity, but it insists the vast majority of users don’t have issues with the connection.
With the MX Master 3S, Logitech has deliberately tried to reduce click noise.
The battery life is also something at which the MX Master 3S really excels: an estimated 70 days of use on a single charge, and you can pretty much forget it’s there. Then again, when you do find yourself running low, the quick-charging feature is a godsend. Just one minute of charging gives you a staggering three hours of use, so you’re never really stuck in a difficult position in the middle of a workflow.
Quiet Clicks
With the MX Master 3S, Logitech has deliberately tried to reduce click noise. That is a bit of a double-edged sword, in a sense that this is one of those godsend mouse features for any who have to deal with quiet spaces or are too sensitive to the clicking sound of any mouse. For another, operation almost in total silence creates the conditions for having the most peaceful workspace ever.
But again, the more silent clicks would be less pleasing to the ears of some. Part of a click is in that tactile and auditory feedback of a traditional click, which might be missed by certain users. That is left up to personal judgment and how you regard having quiet or a well-pronounced feeling and click sound.
On another note, the button on the thumb-rest could have been made better from the previous version. Unfortunately, it is still the same, clunky and tight, and not really intuitive to use.
The Thumb Horizontal Scroll Wheel
And then there’s the thumb scroll wheel, a signature of the MX Master series and still, one of its best features as per a sizeable audience. Horizontal scrolling is a godsend for those who regularly navigate wide content, such as spreadsheets, images, and video timelines. Many video editors today don’t head out without the MX Master 3 simply due to its horizontal scroll wheel. A few people even refer to it as “life-changing” when it comes to flipping through open browser tabs with ease.
Many video editors today don’t head out without the MX Master 3 simply due to its horizontal scroll wheel.
This small addition has quite a significant effect on workflow efficiency, especially for those working with large datasets, video/audio timelines or multitasking between numerous applications. The amount of time saved using a horizontal scroll wheel for video editors versus not using one, adds up and is sizeable.
Customization Software
The Logitech Options+ software unlocks the full capabilities of the MX Master 3S.
It allows for huge personalization—again, by changing button mappings and adjusting the sensitivity of tracking to make the mouse perfectly optimize for applications like that. In turn, such customization will provide ground for the mouse to get adapted to your workflow rather than vice versa. The real brilliance of MX Master 3S comes out if you assign the buttons to perform particular app-specific functions; like a combination different for Word, Excel, DaVinci Resolve, Photoshop, Chrome, VLC Player, etc.
In Excel, I assign my Back and Forward buttons for Select and Deselect Row/Column. They do the Undo/Redo job in Word. This software can be very finicky at times. While it usually works okay, one may occasionally experience blips or have to just get used to the kinks in using it.
After a recent update, Logitech has added the “AI Prompt Button” feature to the Logi Options+ suite. You can assign a button on the mouse that fires up a window where you can rephrase or summarize text, or you can reply to emails or create a document. It offers a choice of Length and Tone prompts. It’s a pretty nifty feature, one that I’m experiencing the first in a software of this nature. It works pretty well, and it uses ChatGPT’s API.
Difference between MX Master 3S and MX Master 3
The Logitech MX Master 3S and the Logitech MX Master 3 are productivity mice that look identical since they’re in the same line, but the MX Master 3S is new and improved. It features quieter left- and right-click buttons and a new-and-improved sensor that offers a wider range of CPIs. It also uses Logitech’s new USB BOLT Receiver instead of the older Unifying USB Receiver utilized by the previous generation MX Master 3. If you’re using an MX Master 3 mouse, you can do away without upgrading as the differences aren’t radical.
Price and Value
Let’s get the elephant out of the room: the MX Master 3S is a premium mouse and is correspondingly priced that way. For most, this may be a deal-breaker at first glance due to some serious limitations in the gaming realm. But for creatives and those into productivity, having the best of the best can extend to the price being acceptable. The combination of great comfort, adjustable features, and high performance could increase workflow efficiency and reduce strain significantly, probably resulting in higher productivity and a better overall user experience. It’s an investment in your comfort and effectiveness, but it’s crucial to weigh the cost against your needs and budget.
Disclaimer: The product featured in this review was provided to us by the respective brand for testing and evaluation purposes. We did not pay for the product, nor were we compensated in any way for this review. All opinions expressed are solely our own and reflect our genuine assessment of the product’s features and performance.
