Creative work requires a reliable mouse that won't come between you and your workflow. Here's why the MX Master 3 is perfect for creatives.
A mouse is one of the most used tools for creative work on a computer and the MX Master 3 is often picked as one of the best you can buy. It has an ergonomic form, seven buttons, and two scroll wheels. But what else makes this mouse so brilliant for creative work?
To help you decide if it's worth the investment, we're going to explore the top reasons why people choose this mouse for creative work.
The Logitech MX Master 3, and its more recent 3S update, is a high-end mouse that feels like it was built with creatives in mind. From its ergonomic form to its huge scope for customizations, it's clear that Logitech wanted you to master your productivity and workflow.
The cost for all of this is a hefty sum of $99.99, but since your mouse is a tool you are going to use for hours on end, every single day, it's not something you want to skimp on. Just like buying a good pair of shoes, you want something that will last longer than a year and continues to support good health.
While there are many reasons why the MX Master 3 is worth the money, it solves some key problems for creatives in particular. The points we will cover are especially useful if you use software for design work, illustration, video production, photo editing, music production, or other similar apps.
Most computer mice don't feature a vertical thumb scroll wheel like the MX Master 3, but for anyone using applications like Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, or Logic Pro X, it's absolutely essential.
Multi-directional navigation is built into so many creative applications nowadays, that simply scrolling up and down isn't enough. Think of horizontal scrolling across video editing timelines, or moving between artboards that are side-by-side. The vertical thumb scroll wheels make these actions convenient and quick to execute.
It's a no-brainer, two scroll wheels equal double the speed.
The MX Master 3 makes it easy to switch between up to three computers. All you need to do is press a button on the underside of the mouse to change between the computers that you have connected to previously.
You no longer have the problem of disconnecting and reconnecting your mouse each time you want to work on a different laptop, computer, or iPad. Different operating systems aren't an issue either with support for Windows, macOS, Linux, Chrome OS, iPadOS, and Android.
Flying under the radar is another ingenious feature of the MX Master 3: the ability to copy and paste items from one computer to another simply by moving your cursor across the two screens.
Logitech has named this feature Flow, and it cuts down the amount of time you might spend emailing yourself documents or using a good ol' fashioned USB. Removing this barrier is a particular win for creatives who use two computers, whether that's your iPad set up next to your main machine, or two different operating systems.
What most people want from a pro mouse is the ability to assign different functions to each button. The MX Master 3 has a total of seven buttons that you can click and five that you can assign multiple actions to (the right and left-click buttons aren't customizable).
The companion software called Logi Options+ gives you plenty of options to make changes, so you can personalize your workflow as much as you want. This includes assigning cool productivity keyboard shortcuts to a simple click of the button. For example, instead of pressing Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V to copy and paste, you can simply use the two side buttons to do that.
Adding on to that is the Gestures feature which expands the number of functions on your mouse to 20 unique actions. It works by combining a button press with moving the mouse up, down, left, or right. So if you think seven buttons isn't enough for you, Gestures will open up plenty more customizations.
Another fantastic productivity feature is app-specific profiles that you can use to create unique customizations for each software you use.
Out of the box, Logitech gives you the option of using pre-built profiles for popular Adobe Cloud applications where the button functions change based on the app; for example, the scroll wheel changes to pan in Photoshop.
By no means are you limited to a set number of apps either, you can in fact create a profile for any software of your choice.
Whether you are creating a 3D model or sifting through video footage, creatives are doing some of the most physically taxing work using a mouse. Logitech has taken this into account and designed the MX Master 3 to have an ergonomic shape that supports good wrist health.
The body of the mouse is tall, so you can comfortably wrap your palm over the top, while the side is cut away to create a nook for your thumb to rest. The buttons sit conveniently under your fingers and thumb, so you always feel confident that you are pressing the right thing.
Alas, all this dedication to form factor is only for right-handed users, and as yet, left-handed users are sadly left out. While you may come across a petition for a left-handed MX Master 3 mouse, so far Logitech hasn't revealed any plans to build one.
Precision is key to completing tasks quickly, especially when dealing with tiny pixels or detailed audio or video editing. The MX Master 3 increases the level of precision by manufacturing the mouse to have crisp, tactile feedback.
It's similar to how using a mechanical keyboard helps with accurately typing because the sound and touch confirm that you have pressed a key. And when you press any of the buttons on the MX Master 3, you will find that they feel snappy and responsive.
Even the scroll wheel sends you amazing tactile feedback. This is thanks to magnets inside the mouse that uses electricity to change the level of physical resistance that you feel. Using this technology, you can automatically switch between a "ratchet" scroll that moves line-by-line and the silky smooth free-spin mode.
The cherry on top is that the MX Master 3 will track on just about any surface. We tested the mouse on wood, glass, and paper, and it worked with no issues at all. Then we tested it on a piece of cotton material, a cardboard box, the back of a book, and a plastic folder. The result? Barely any noticeable drop in tracking.
When it comes to highly detailed creative work, you don't want to worry about your mouse jumping around. Contrary to the image above, you won't need a mouse pad at all for this mouse to work flawlessly.
The MX Master 3 allows you to fully customize your mouse buttons, seamlessly use your mouse across different computers, and dial in the precision with faultless tracking and strong tactile feedback.
On top of that, the ergonomic form will save your wrist from pain and the high-end manufacturing makes the MX Master 3 feel a tad luxurious. At the very least, the uncommon vertical scroll bar is enough to speed up your workflow.
Any of these features alone will enhance your creative workflow, but when combined, what you get is a truly masterful mouse.
Garling has a Master's degree in Music and over a decade of experience using creative technologies. In particular, she loves writing about music production, film, and DIY electronics. Outside of writing, you will find her taking photos or editing audio.
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