Logitech MX Master 4 review: the best work mouse you can buy | Gadgets

Logitech’s MX Master 4: The Best Work Mouse You Can Buy

Logitech has once again redefined productivity peripherals with the MX Master 4, a mouse that takes everything we loved about its predecessors and adds an innovative haptic feedback system that brings your desktop to life. This isn’t just another mouse upgrade—it’s a statement piece for serious professionals who demand excellence in every click.

The MX Master lineage stretches back over two decades, consistently setting the benchmark for ergonomic excellence and feature-rich design. The fourth-generation model maintains that winning formula while introducing something genuinely novel: haptic vibrations that make your mouse feel more like a smartphone than a traditional peripheral.

Design Excellence That Feels Premium

From the moment you unbox the MX Master 4, you’ll notice the premium materials and thoughtful engineering. The ergonomic shape has been refined based on user feedback, featuring harder-wearing surfaces that resist the inevitable grime that accumulates on heavily-used office equipment. The mouse feels substantial in hand without being heavy, weighing in at 150g—perfect for those marathon work sessions.

The button layout is pure genius. Eight buttons are strategically placed within easy reach, eliminating the need to stretch or reposition your hand. The primary clicks are virtually silent, a blessing for shared workspaces, while the signature MagSpeed scroll wheel delivers that satisfying magnetic ratchet for precise line-by-line scrolling. Give it a firm flick, and the magnets disengage, allowing the wheel to spin freely like a miniature flywheel for rapid document navigation.

Haptic Feedback: The Game-Changer

The standout feature is undoubtedly the haptic button located beneath the thumb rest. This isn’t just vibration for the sake of novelty—it’s a sophisticated feedback system that provides tactile responses similar to what you’d experience on a modern smartphone or laptop trackpad.

Press the haptic button to activate Logitech’s “actions ring,” a customizable circular menu of app-aware shortcuts that appear around your cursor. The haptic feedback provides subtle taps when you hover over actionable items and distinct clicks when you make selections. It’s like having a contextual right-click menu that anticipates your needs.

The system shows immense promise, particularly for Adobe Creative Cloud users. In Photoshop, Lightroom, or Premiere Pro, the haptic feedback provides context-specific vibrations when you adjust sliders, snap to grids, or complete actions like exporting clips. However, the ecosystem is currently limited, with only seven plugins available in the Logi Marketplace. If you’re using alternatives like Affinity Photo or Designer, you’ll miss out on these advanced features.

Technical Specifications That Impress

• Dimensions: 128.2 x 88.4 x 50.8mm
• Weight: 150g
• Connection: Bluetooth 5.1 or Logi Bolt USB-C dongle
• Battery life: Up to 70 days of typical use
• Buttons: Eight programmable controls
• Sensor: 200-8,000 DPI for precise tracking
• Surface compatibility: Works on virtually any surface, including glass

Logi Options+ Software: Power and Pitfalls

The mouse’s advanced features require the Logi Options+ application, which offers extensive customization options. You can remap buttons, create complex macros, and configure the actions ring for different applications. The software also enables smart actions and AI-powered features that can significantly streamline your workflow.

However, Logi Options+ has a checkered history. Recent certificate expiration issues completely broke the macOS version, rendering customized settings inaccessible. While the MX Master 4 has been stable in testing, the software occasionally struggles with detecting other Logitech Bluetooth devices and has a reputation for consuming unnecessary system resources.

Sustainability That Matters

In a welcome move for environmentally conscious consumers, the MX Master 4 is designed with repairability in mind. Exposed screws and detailed disassembly instructions make battery replacement straightforward—a first for the MX Master line. The battery costs £22.99 to replace, extending the mouse’s lifespan significantly. The device is also constructed from recycled plastics and cobalt, reducing its environmental impact.

The Price of Excellence

At £119.99 (€129.99/$119.99/A$199.95), the MX Master 4 sits firmly in premium territory. For context:

• MX Master 3S: £89.99
• Keychron M6: £54.99
• Razer Basilisk Mobile: £89.99

You’re paying for the haptic technology, premium materials, and Logitech’s reputation for reliability. Whether that premium is justified depends on how much you value these features and how heavily you rely on productivity tools.

The Verdict: Best in Class with Caveats

The MX Master 4 is unquestionably the best productivity mouse available today. Its ergonomic design, premium materials, and innovative features create an unparalleled user experience. The haptic feedback system, while currently limited by plugin availability, represents genuine innovation that could transform how we interact with desktop applications.

The mouse excels in comfort during extended use, offers best-in-class scroll wheel functionality, and provides extensive customization options through Logi Options+. The repairable design and replaceable battery add practical value that extends beyond the initial purchase.

However, the high price point, right-handed exclusivity, and dependence on a sometimes-flawed software ecosystem are notable drawbacks. The haptic features’ usefulness is directly proportional to the availability of supporting plugins, which currently favor Adobe users.

Final Thoughts

If you’re a creative professional, power user, or anyone who spends significant time at a computer, the MX Master 4 represents a worthwhile investment. It’s not just a tool—it’s an experience that makes daily computing more intuitive and enjoyable. The haptic feedback might be the future of human-computer interaction, and Logitech is leading that charge.

For everyone else, the MX Master 3S offers most of the same benefits at a lower price point, while more budget-conscious users might find excellent alternatives from brands like Keychron or Razer.

The MX Master 4 isn’t just the best mouse you can buy—it’s a glimpse into the future of how we’ll interact with our digital workspaces.

Tags & Viral Phrases:

• Game-changing haptic feedback
• Productivity powerhouse
• Ergonomic excellence redefined
• Premium materials, premium experience
• Best-in-class scroll wheel
• Repairable design for longevity
• Haptic vibrations bring desktop to life
• Actions ring revolutionizes workflow
• 70-day battery life
• Works on glass surfaces
• Made from recycled materials
• Right-handed luxury mouse
• Logi Options+ customization heaven
• Adobe Creative Cloud integration
• Silent clicks for shared spaces
• Magnetic free-spinning scroll wheel
• Future of human-computer interaction
• Worth every penny for professionals
• Last mouse you’ll ever need
• Innovation meets practicality

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