However, is this third-party mouse from Logitech worth using over MacBook’s built-in Force Touch trackpad or the first-party Magic Trackpad? Here, we’ll compare their features, including scrolling, gestures, customizability, and ergonomics, to help you decide which is right for you.
Scrolling Navigation
Whether you use the Logitech MX Master, built-in trackpad, or the Magic Trackpad, scrolling is effortless, both vertically and horizontally. Both options offer unique ways to navigate through websites and documents.
The Logitech MX Master features two scroll wheels: one that has your typically vertical navigation and an extra wheel for your thumb to scroll horizontally. The vertical wheel additionally features flick scrolling, which allows you to flick the wheel once and let it keep scrolling, saving your fingers from the exhaustion of repetitively scrolling through long documents.
Furthermore, the horizontal wheel is highly customizable; you can program it using Logitech’s Logi Options+ software with context-dependent features, such as switching tabs while in a web browser or simply scrolling through an excel sheet.
While the MX Master offers numerous valuable features, Apple’s Force Touch trackpad and Magic Trackpad surprisingly keep up. On a trackpad, horizontal and flick scrolling already exists—simply use your two-finger gestures vertically for continuous scrolling.
The MX Master’s horizontal scroll wheel is handy, especially with its programmability, but scrolling horizontally on a trackpad feels much more natural than scrolling with your thumb.
Moreover, almost any feature you can program into the MX Master is easily usable with a trackpad or keyboard shortcuts. For example, you can easily switch tabs with Option + Command + Left/Right on the arrow keys. Though this isn’t on the trackpad itself, MacBook users may notice that all these keys are right next to each other.
Plus, there are many more examples of keyboard shortcuts on the Mac for navigation to boost your productivity.
Surprisingly, Logitech’s MX Master and Apple’s trackpads come out equal. The MX Master mouse may have two scroll wheels, superior vertical scrolling, and programmability. However, the trackpads can keep up with almost all these features, only supplemented by a few keyboard shortcuts. The trackpad’s more natural horizontal scrolling compared to the slightly unnatural thumb scroll wheel evens the odds.
Gesture Controls
Many Mac users understand that three-finger gestures are among the best reasons to use a trackpad, such as for switching apps or opening Mission Control. The MX Master mouse has programmable gestures usable with a thumb button and moving the mouse in one of four directions (plus a tap without gesturing).
While gestures on the trackpad are significantly snappier and more natural than those of the MX Master, Logitech’s mouse overcomes this difference with customizability for multitudes of additional functions, which we’ll discuss in the next segment.
While the trackpad has snappier gestures, the MX Master’s nearly infinite customizability makes it superior in gesture controls.
Customizability and Programmability
Did you know you can customize the features on your Mac’s trackpad?
This is a little-known setting, but the functionality is quite limited compared to the MX Master with its programmable gestures, horizontal scroll wheel, and three additional buttons. Personalize your mouse with features such as app-specific commands for Adobe, Microsoft Office, and more, all of which can be context-dependent to change profiles for different applications automatically.
For example, you can program a gesture to Undo and Redo commands in Adobe Premiere Pro, open a new browser tab in Safari, or even boot up your Mac’s Calculator app. In this case, Logitech’s MX Master is the clear winner.
Advanced users may note that the Force Touch trackpad and Magic Trackpad may have more potential gestures usable at one time and argue that the MX Mouse only has eight programmable commands across its gestures and buttons. If you need more programmable buttons at once, you should consider using a Stream Deck to boost your productivity.
Ergonomics for Usage
Ergonomically, the trackpad feels natural to use, especially for its gestures. However, it can quickly become exhausting for precise pointing and clicking.
Conversely, Logitech’s MX Master mouse is bulky, giving it excellent ergonomics, especially for pointing and clicking, which makes it superbly comfortable for extended use.
The only drawback of the mouse is that it feels less natural for some gestures and the simple fact that it’s bulky, making it less convenient to carry around in a travel bag.
Which Device Is Right for You?
We’ve compared many objective details between the Logitech MX Master and Apple’s trackpads—whether you use the one on your MacBook or the Magic Trackpad available for purchase separately. So, should you opt for Logitech’s mouse offering or stick with your trackpad? Well, here are a few questions you should ask yourself first:
Do you prefer one over the other? For instance, if you enjoy the ergonomics of a mouse and begrudgingly use a trackpad when needed, your answer is clear. What are your customization needs? Many users won’t make the most of the customization features on the MX Master mouse, while others may need the convenient programmability. For example, do you benefit from programming frequently used hotkeys on the MX Master in particular software, or are you well-versed with keyboard shortcuts and need no additional aid? Do you plan on traveling with your Mac or taking it to the office or cafés to work? If you prefer a mouse, it’s worth bringing, but a bulky mouse might be an inconvenient fit for a bag.
The MX Master will likely be the preferred option for many of you with its numerous features to warrant the $99 price tag, but it’s equally important to know what you can do with a trackpad alone and all the handy gestures it offers!
Why Not Use Both?
Logitech’s MX Master certainly has more features and customizability than the Force Touch trackpad or even the Magic Trackpad, but your Mac’s default navigation tool is no slouch either.
We believe they’re both worth using and learning because depending on where you are and what you’re doing on your Mac, you may prefer one over the other.
You can use the mouse at your desk setup and the trackpad while working from a café or the office. Your needs and preferences will determine which option is best for you, but it’s essential to understand and use all the valuable features in your mouse or trackpad.
