The MX Master 4 solves my biggest issue with Logitech’s iconic mouse

A few years ago, I began experiencing odd pain in my palm after spending long periods on my computer. I’d been using Logitech’s MK850 keyboard and accompanying M720 mouse for several years at this point, even going so far as to purchase another set when the initial pairing wore out (what can I say, I’m a creature of habit). While the MK850 is pretty ergonomic compared to other keyboards, the M720 mouse lacks a substantial palm rest. I assumed that the cause of my discomfort was probably the mouse, so I picked up Logitech’s pricey MX Master 3S, and the pain I was experiencing mysteriously disappeared.

Beyond being ergonomically very comfortable, as far as productivity goes, the MX Master 3S is pretty much the ultimate mouse — except for one key issue. It features the same soft rubber as Logitech’s other mice, and if you have constantly sweaty hands like me, this rubber starts to wear down in an unusual way after a few months (the M720 also exhibits this issue). For example, after just 3-4 months of use, my trusty Logitech MX Master 3 started to show notable signs of wear in the location where I rest my thumb and pinky finger. Of course, it still works fine, but the indents started to mess with its overall feel, and beyond that, given how much the mouse cost, I expected it to last longer.

This is where the MX Master 4 comes in. When Logitech reached out to me about the mouse’s release, my hope was that they’d moved away from the MX Master 3’s soft rubber design. Thankfully, among several other upgrades, nearly every aspect of the MX Master 4’s construction has been improved for the better, making it more comfortable to use for extended periods, easier to clean, and hopefully, in the long run, more durable.

The only rubberized plastic on the mouse is on its haptic feedback button and on the left side, and a thin strip on the right, but even then, this material feels far more durable than the MX Master 3. That said, I’ve only been using the mouse for two weeks, so it’s unclear how well it will hold up over the next several months and years. Still, my early impressions surrounding how long the MX Master 4 will last are very positive.

The new haptic feedback button is cool, but I haven’t found a way to integrate it into my workflow yet

You can customize what you want the button to do

It’s not just the MX Master 4’s build quality that’s changed, though. The key draw with the refreshed mouse is its new customizable haptic feedback button. By default, it opens a quick action wheel on Windows 11 and macOS, providing quick access to contextual tools within apps. You launch the panel by tapping the button and then can slide through its options by moving your finger around it, with each new option vibrating slightly — the first time you use it, the feature is undeniably cool.

I attempted to make the haptic feedback button work for me in several different ways over the past few weeks, first by integrating it into my workflow at an operating system level with macOS tools like screen capture and opening Finder, but it never really felt seamless. I can see myself eventually using it in Lightroom CC when editing photos, since its Photoshop quick-access tools are genuinely useful; however, there isn’t currently a plugin for the app yet. Assembling a custom tool set for a specific in Logi+ requires a time commitment I’m not willing to make, but since there’s already a Lightroom Classic plugin, I can see Logitech releasing one for Lightroom CC relatively quickly.

Instead of the tools wheel, I’ve been using the haptic feedback button as a quick way to jump between open apps, allowing me to get Lightroom out of the way quickly and back to my Firefox. You can set it to perform a wide variety of tasks, including launching Mission Control, capturing screenshots, and utilizing various keyboard shortcuts. While I haven’t found the new button particularly useful yet, a lot of people will likely find a great purpose for it.

Other notable new features include quieter clicks, 70 days of power on a full-charge, two times stronger connectivity through its dedicated USB dongle, an 8,000 DPI sensor, and a faster MagSpeed Scroll Wheel. However, my biggest issue with the MX Master 4 is that the white and silver Mac version doesn’t come with Logitech’s Bolt USB-C adapter, despite the black and charcoal Windows version including it in the box (the Mac version of the MX Master 4 is also available in black, but Logitech calls the colour space black, of course).

You’re probably wondering why, right? The accessory maker claims that Mac users don’t use the adapter and prefer Bluetooth instead, despite the only difference between the Mac and Windows MX Master 4 being that the Apple option comes in a white color. While this is probably true, pulling it out of the box and still charging the same for it, feels like a shady move by Logitech. For what it’s worth, I used the Mac version of the MX Master 4 with my Windows 11 gaming PC over Bluetooth and encountered no issues.

Regarding other new inputs, there’s an additional button that sits just above the haptic feedback panel (I have this set to launch macOS’ quick app switching panel). Notable MX Master 3 features like the middle scroll wheel and its shift button, the horizontal scroll wheel, and the two side buttons are back. You can also still set the mouse up to be paired with three different devices, a feature I find very useful since I often jump between my MacBook Pro, my PC, and occasionally my iPad Pro.

Overall, I’m impressed with the MX Master 4. It’s a worthwhile subtle update for the build-quality changes alone if your older MX Master mouse is in need of an update.