The Logitech MX Master mice have been among the best mice on the market for a long time. They have outsold their competitors nearly every time a new one is released. After using the MX Master 4 for the past couple of weeks, I can confidently say it will remain the same with the MX Master 4.
The MX Master 4 brings some minor but significant hardware improvements and functional software enhancements.
The cosmetic changes are subtle, but they are there. The left and right click buttons are larger now, making them easier to find and use. Although the literature from Logitech states that the buttons now click with 90% less noise than the MX Master 3, they click at only a slightly lower volume as that in the MX Master 3S.
To me, Quiet Clicks sounded similar enough from one version to the next, but the version in the MX Master 4 felt ‘softer. The click now has a less-pronounced end position and feels softer – not what you are after in a gaming mouse but in a productivity mouse like this one it is EXACTLY what you want.
So why is this so much better? Most likely, the new customisable haptic feedback. This allows you to select what strength haptic feedback you prefer and it applies it to the mouse to deliver “subtle vibrations for scrolling, navigation and selection.
The buttons themselves are covered in clear plastic, which looks nicer than before and is most likely what makes the mouse stain-resistant and durable.
The standard forward and back buttons on the left of the mouse now have a neighbour that can also be customised using the Logi Options+ app. I have it set to show all the open desktops.
The side thumb button has been changed to be easier to click, while also providing a nice gentle haptic feedback. It is this button which, by default, opens the new Action Ring, which I love.
The Actions Ring opens up a digital overlay for app-specific shortcuts and other customisable controls. This makes it easy to access various controls from any app and anywhere on your screen. I quite like this although for me the number of custom controls I need are a lot less than what is possible through the Logi Options+ app.
Nothing wrong with this as it means everything I could ask for is easily accessible. I’m not sure how many of these controls you could need but there is a significant amount of them possible to be set at a single time/app.
The Actions Ring can also be used to speed up access to your favourite AI, which, of course, is all the rage now. I’m sure a lot of people will find this useful but I tend to use AI on my phone a lot more than I do my PC.
The connectivity of the MX Master 4 is also improved, with an optimised antenna inside the mouse and a new USB-C Bolt dongle for faster access and pairing.
Battery-wise, I have never had an issue with Logitech mice, which offer multi-week and months-long battery life. Logitech states that the battery life of the MX Master 4 is 70 hours and I have no reason to refute that given my use so far.
The MX Master 4 also supports fast charging with a single one-minute of charge offering up to three hours of use. You can also use the mouse while it is plugged in and charging – which I did. This time, though, the charging cable is not included, which I am ok with, as we should all have far too many USB-C cables lying around these days.
Sometimes upgrades are minor and don’t make much of a difference between generations but that is not the case here. Even when comparing the new Logitech MX Master 4 mouse to the ‘in-between’ 3S generation the upgrade is significant, although it may not justify a new outlay.
The left- and right-click buttons are nicer to use and still incredibly quiet; the design is more stylish; and the new extra button is a welcome addition. The redesign of the thumb rest and its button is exceptionally well done, and the new Action Ring, customisable in the Logi Options+ app, offers even more shortcuts from anywhere in your operating system.
Coming from anything as old or older than the MX Master 3 I would say the outlay of the 9.95 is definitely worth it but although the MX Master 4 is better than the 3S, unless you are likely to be using the Action Ring a lot, I am not sure there is enough difference to justify that upgrade price.
The Logitech MX Master series is still the best productivity mouse on the market, and the MX Master 4 is a worthy addition to the line, making it my pick for your productivity mouse. The MX Master 4 is available for 9.95AU in Graphite and Pale Grey, while MX Master 4 for Mac will be available in White Silver.
Each purchase includes a one-month complimentary membership to Adobe Creative Cloud with apps such as: Photoshop, Lightroom and Premiere Pro. For more details, please visit www.logitech.com/en-au.
Scott is our resident open technology expert. If you can mod it, or want to use it your way, Scott has probably done it. From Laptops to phones, headphones and game consoles, he’s played with it and wants to see the next generation.
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