Logitech MX Master 4 is a mouse that can purr like a cat (review)

Logitech has released its latest mouse, the MX Master 4. Logitech updates its flagship mouse approximately every three years, with the last model, the MX Master 3S, being more of a minor evolution. How does the MX Master 4 compare to the 3S version?

While the 3S version is not immediately distinguishable from its predecessor, the MX Master 4 brings visually apparent changes, and you don’t even need to have the old and new mice side-by-side to tell which is which.

Packaging

You will receive the mouse in a smaller box. It’s easy to open, and inside you’ll find another, this time sturdier, cardboard box. The MX Master 4 mouse nests within it, protected on the underside by an adhesive cover.

If you didn’t purchase the Mac version, you’ll find a hidden Logi Bolt receiver in the corner. This time, you’ll search for a power cable in vain.

Appearance and Material of the MX Master 4 Mouse

The new model is larger and heavier and has an overall more robust shape. The material is again plastic. However, Logitech has changed the type of plastic, which is softer and more pleasant to the touch on the MX Master 4. We hope that Logitech has also resolved the main drawback of MX Master mice, where the plastic tends to peel and become somewhat slimy over time.

Logitech offers the mouse in dark graphite and light colors. The Mac versions are color-matched with MacBooks.

Buttons

The main differences are found in the main buttons, between which there is now no island for the scroll wheel, but they touch along their entire length. Additionally, they have a kind of French manicure, with the tips of the buttons being slightly lighter to transparent. However, this has no practical effect on functionality.

Another major change is the lower thumb button. While on the MX Master 3S model it was pressed so awkwardly that I didn’t use it at all, Logitech completely redesigned it for the MX Master 4. Instead of pressing directly into the pad, the press direction is now slightly forward and much easier.

The side buttons for moving back and forward, for example in a browser, are also different. They are larger and, for me personally, harder to press. The buttons also received a boost in the form of a third button, which can be used to switch sensitivity or link it to gestures. However, this didn’t work for me.

The buttons are quiet, similar to the MX Master 3S model. However, they have a slightly different sound when pressed, which you might need to get used to. Similarly, the scroll wheel might be a little louder, but both differences could just be a result of comparing a 3-year-old, heavily used mouse with a brand new unit.

Scroll Wheel

The mouse wheel looks the same, but you’ll feel a change when you spin it. If you have clicking enabled, you’ll immediately notice something is different. The wheel’s rotation is softer. Whether this is better or worse depends on personal preference. It certainly won’t be a problem to get used to the change.

A more significant change can be found on the left side of the mouse. The side scroll wheel is now embedded in the mouse body a little differently. Previously, it was located in a recess; now, it is flush with the mouse body. Whether this is a change for the better remains to be seen. I’ve been using the MX Master 4 mouse for a short time, and I’ve never used this wheel much.

Overall, the MX Master 4 mouse seems designed for people with longer fingers. Even though I have a relatively large hand, my fingers are short, and I have trouble reaching some of the buttons on the new model.

Underside

Spodní strana myši MX Master 4 je také významně přepracovaná. Má trochu jiný půdorys, změnil se také tvar kluzáků. Ty jsou nyní větší, ale je jich méně. Kluzák u malíkové hrany zmizel. Dopad této změny na používání jsem nezaznamenal.

The power switch has moved next to the sensor, and the device switch also has a different appearance. The option to store the receiver within the mouse body is still missing.

Software

Logitech offers the Logi Options+ software for the mouse, where you can configure practically everything. The biggest new feature is the action ring function, which is invoked by default with the thumb button. It displays a circle of icons, and the mouse vibrates when you hover over each one.

What’s great is that Logi Options+ automatically finds supported applications on your computer and offers to install custom modules for them. In my case, these were Photoshop and DaVinci Resolve. In Photoshop, a different quick selection menu appears. Instead of launching Notepad, it provides quick access directly to Photoshop functions such as AI content generation, etc. There are other applications in the Logitech store, but I don’t have them installed on my computer, so I cannot test them.

You can also customize the action ring yourself. I was pleased that it’s possible to assign switching to another device to it. This eliminates the need to lift the mouse and press buttons on the underside every time I switch from a desktop computer to a laptop.

The mouse also vibrates in Photoshop, for example, when dragging a selection over an image. Whenever you move over a significant area, in addition to the display of guide lines, you receive a notification in the form of a vibration. It seems like a minor detail, but after a few hours of work, I couldn’t understand how I had managed without it, and why no one had come up with this feature long ago? Interestingly, the mouse also vibrated when I performed an operation using a graphics tablet.

Connectivity

As we are used to, the mouse can be connected to a computer either via a special Logi Bolt receiver or via Bluetooth. Here, two surprises might await you. The receiver is now in a USB-C version. If you have a desktop computer, you will probably need a USB-A adapter. Fortunately, even the cheapest one from Alza works without problems.

Logitech also offers a Mac version, and it seems the only difference is the absence of a receiver. Thus, the mouse can only be connected to a computer via Bluetooth. Given the same price for both models, I found no reason why, even if you own a Mac, you should buy the version without a receiver.

Charging

The MX Master 4 mouse is fully wireless, and you will only need a cable for charging the built-in battery. This is done via a USB-C connector located on the front of the mouse. The mouse can also be used with the cable connected, but only power is transmitted via the cable, not data. Thus, it is not possible to connect the mouse to a computer solely with a cable. However, this time you will search for a cable in the package in vain.

The manufacturer states a battery capacity of 650 mAh and a battery life of 70 days on a single charge. However, due to the new haptic feedback feature, the battery life will be affected by the intensity of its use.

Usage

Unlike the transition from MX Master 3 to 3S, where I only perceived a positive in the form of quiet buttons, now the hand has to get used to a new shape. You probably won’t notice that the MX Master 4 mouse is a few grams heavier. What you will notice is the change in shape. Not only do you have to look for the side buttons and scroll wheel in a slightly different place, but the main difference and probably the first negative will manifest itself in a rather unexpected situation.

Sometimes you need to lift the mouse, not just when moving a laptop to another room, but also during use when the cursor moves too far outside the main monitor area. And this will happen sooner or later due to the dynamic change in cursor movement speed.

As I already mentioned, the thumb button now has a softer press, and I’ll remind you that the rocker switch for the side button is missing. The consequence of this is that when lifting the mouse, the thumb has nothing to grip, and you have to press the mouse a little harder, otherwise it starts to tilt sideways and tends to fall out of your hand. However, this results in pressing the button and invoking the action ring. I sometimes pressed the button even with a sharper movement across the mouse pad. I hope I’ll figure out how to handle the mouse over time. The force required to press this button can be adjusted in the application, but I didn’t perceive a significant difference between the individual levels in Windows. On a colleague’s Mac, however, the difference is noticeable, so it might be a bug in the Windows drivers.

However, that is the only criticism I have of the mouse. Movement across the pad is smooth and pleasant, and the buttons respond excellently. You will need to get used to a slightly different response from the cursor, buttons, and scroll wheels. But since, from my perspective at least, this is not a change for the worse, it shouldn’t be a problem.

Price and Availability

Alza offers the MX Master 4 mouse for 3 299 Kč, on the manufacturer’s website it can be found 100 crowns cheaper, i.e., for 3 199 Kč. The mouse is generally available, for example, Datart has it in stock at over 140 stores.

Verdict

Does it make sense to open your favorite e-shop and order the Logitech MX Master 4? If you own the previous model, are satisfied with it, and your unit shows no signs of wear yet, there’s probably no reason to. The exception is if you intensely use one of the supported applications, such as Photoshop, and would benefit from the haptic feedback.

However, if you are in a situation where you are considering buying a mouse, for any reason, I definitely recommend including this mouse among the models to consider. Yes, it’s expensive, but every crown you spend on it will pay off.

Do you own a Logitech MX Master mouse and will you upgrade?