We analyze the new Logitech MX Mechanical and Master 3S

We tried the Logitech’s new mechanical keyboard, MX Mechanical Minispecific to Apple devices, and the renewal MX Master 3S, the best mouse on the market Now with even better features.

MX Mechanical Mini for Mac

What could Logitech offer with a mechanical keyboard specially designed for Apple computers? If it had surprised us a few months ago with its Pop Keys keyboard (analysis here), this time it offers us a completely different product. There’s nothing flashy about this MX Mechanical Mini, it doesn’t even look like a Christmas tree with colored lights all over it, it’s a solid keyboard, with additional functions that no other keyboard has, and with incredible battery life although it is backlit.

It’s a very compact keyboard, with a 75% key layout, the same as many laptops have. Logitech has also released a larger keyboard with the same features that many users might be interested in (MX Mechanical), especially because of the numeric keypad it incorporates. It is also available in two colors, the white of the image, and another black, which are otherwise exactly the same. They have a USB-C connection for recharging, a power switch and two feet on the base that are used to place it at another working angle. Its construction is very solid, with plastic and aluminum, giving a good feeling of quality, as usual from Logitech.

It is a backlit keyboard, something almost indispensable for more and more users. Logitech did not want to play with fire here, and offers us a white backlight, nothing more. Yes, there are different lighting effects, which we can configure both by software and by physical button, but nothing more. We can also control the brightness of it. But the best thing about Logitech’s backlight is its automatic control, something I’ve used on the Craft keyboard for years and now enjoy on this mini mechanical. To activate it, you just have to put your hands close to the keyboard, you don’t have to touch a key, and when you separate your hands, it turns off briefly. On other keyboards you have to press a key and wait a few seconds for the keyboard to respond, not here, and that’s delicious. And although we’ll talk about that later, the battery appreciates it.

It is a discreet keyboard, very different from most mechanical keyboards you can find on the market. Its keys are shorter, its design thinner and the travel of the keys when typing is weak. For those of us who are used to using laptop or Apple keyboards, with this keyboard we have a closer feeling to the usual than with other mechanical keyboards. Maybe fans of conventional mechanical keyboards see it as something negative, but for me it’s a very positive point. The feeling while writing is excellent, something that cannot be described in words. If you’ve never used a mechanical keyboard…you don’t know. Thanks to its brown Kailh switches, the noise produced is soft, pleasant to the ears. Non-Mac specific models of this MX Mechanical Mini let you choose between browns, blues, and reds, but this Mac model does not. In any case, I would have chosen this brown switch, it seems to me the most balanced.

This version for Mac includes the keys that all macOS users look for in a keyboard (Control, Option and Command), also useful if you want to connect it to your iPad (fully compatible). It has three memories available to be able to switch from one device to another by pressing a button on the keyboardIt’s as simple and quick as that. The connection is Bluetooth, and it works perfectly. The Logitech Bolt connector can be used, but it is not necessary and it is also not included in the box in this “Mac” version. In all the time I’ve been using it, I haven’t had any connection issues, nor noticed any write lags, I insist, always with Bluetooth.

One of the things I liked the most about the Logitech MX Mechanical Mini was its battery life. Logitech warrants that lasts 15 days with normal use as long as the backlight is on, and I have to say that I have been using it for two weeks, and it does indeed achieve that. If you turn off the backlight, the battery will last up to 10 months. In this this keyboard has no competition. And if I talk about what I like the most, I have to say what I like the least: it is not available with the Spanish keyboard layout. This is something Logitech can fix very easily as the keys are easily replaceable so they can release a set of keys to fit the ESP ISO but at the moment there is no news on this topic.

MX Master 3S for Mac

Logitech has improved the best mouse on the market, the MX Master 3, with the new MX Master 3S which incorporates small new features that make it even more unbeatable: 8,000 DPI resolution and super quiet buttons. They may seem like little improvement over its predecessor, but the brand’s intention is not to convince those who already own an MX Master 3 to upgrade to 3S, but to offer an even better mouse.

The design of the MX Master 3S is the same that characterized this Logitech model, just a few small changes in tone in some elements will help you differentiate it. Available in this black color and also in white in the specific case of the Mac model, which on the other hand is identical in function to the conventional model. The shape, height and weight of the mouse are perfectly calculated to be as ergonomic as possible. I’ve been using the MX Master for many years now, so I’m more than used to it and it influences how I feel, but I have to say It’s the most comfortable mouse I’ve ever used.. Over the past year I’ve added a Delta Hub (Carpio 2.0) wrist rest to my desk which you can see in the video, and I highly recommend it if you spend many hours at the office (link to site official).

The best thing about the mouse, however, is all it can do, saving you a lot of time and making your daily work easier. Its six buttons are fully configurable, being able to assign the function that you like the most to each of them. They are strategically placed so you can access them with your index, middle and thumb. You also have two scroll wheels, the classic one with the classic scroll function and another for the thumb that you can use for horizontal scrolling on websites or Final Cut Pro, for example. They are also configurable and you can assign functions like zoom to them. Its main scroll wheel has that fantastic double speed that only Logitech can do and which allows you to change the speed of movement depending on the force you print on it.

One of the novelties of the mouse is that its main buttons are 90% quieter, which can be very interesting for those who work in groups and do not want to disturb others, in my case it is not like that. I must admit that at first it seemed very strange to me and sometimes I repeated the click because it gave me the impression that I had not clicked correctly. But it’s not like that, the button response is exceptional as always, and it’s only the strange sensation of not receiving this sound confirmation that makes you doubt. Once you get used to it, you won’t miss the click.

The other novelty is the higher resolution of its sensor, reach 8000 DPI. This is perfect for those who work with high resolution and large monitors, as is my case with two 27″ 4K monitors. Right out of the box, it’s configured at 1,000 DPI, so if you want to take advantage of this new sensor, you’ll need to configure it to your liking, being able to adjust the resolution from 1,000 to 8,000 to suit your preference. The older it is, the faster you will scroll across the screen, a matter of taste. I left it at 4000 DPI, in case it’s for reference.

The connection is made via Bluetooth, with three memories that you can swap with the button which is at the base of the mouse, and you can also use the Bolt connector which is not included in this model for Mac. As with the keyboard, it is fully compatible with your iPad, regardless of the model, and the connection is stable and no lag. Charging is done via USB-C, located on the front, and its autonomy is 70 days in normal use. I haven’t been able to verify it, no matter how much I’ve used it and despite the fact that it doesn’t come with a fully charged battery, it still holds up

Logitech+ Options

Two hardware products like these come with fantastic software with lots of customization options that make them unique. The Logi Options+ application (link) is completely free and allows you to configure both devices, set basic functions such as Bluetooth connection, scrolling speed, etc., but also other advanced functions such as button configuration. The list of functions that can be applied to each mouse button is very long, and not only that, but We can also assign different functions depending on the application in which we areso a button allows you to go back in Safari, to cut in Final Cut Pro, and to take a screenshot when you are in the system.

The application even offers us the possibility of “joining” a Windows computer and a Mac, thanks to the Flow function, to be able to pass files from one to another in a simple way. The customization options of the MX Mechanical Mini keyboard aren’t as great, but it has them too. Of course, we will also receive firmware updates.

Editor’s review

Logitech offers us the perfect combination for those looking for a keyboard and an accessory to work comfortably and efficiently. The build quality of this MX Mechanical Mini Keyboard and MX Master 3S Mouse is of a very high standard, as are the benefits they provide us.. And all this without forgetting an excellent autonomy. You can buy them on Amazon at the following links:

• buy a keyboard MX Mechanical Mini for $159.99 (link)
• buy a mouse MX Master 3S for $121.32 (link)

Versus

• Keyboard not available with Spanish ISO key layout