Logitech MX Master 4 Review: Is This the Ultimate Work Mouse, Reborn?

For years, the Logitech MX Master line has effectively been the undisputed king of work and productivity mice. Its combination of a sensor that works on just about any surface, a super-fast scroll wheel, and a super-useful second horizontal scroll wheel, all wrapped up in a comfortable design, is, for many, unsurpassed for getting work done. Now it’s back, and the Logitech MX Master 4 includes some fairly significant changes, including a new haptic thumb pad section and a gestures button.

While a productivity mouse such as this one isn’t typically highlighted for gaming, if you use your PC for both gaming and work, a mouse like this can still be a fantastic addition to your setup. This is especially true if you prefer ultra-light mice with minimal features, rather than a more capable multi-function gaming mouse. We’ve rigorously tested the new MX Master 4 over the last few weeks to determine if its latest iteration continues to be the premier choice for those seeking the perfect work mouse.

Specs

Features

Many of the macro features on the MX Master 4 are familiar from the MX Master 3 and 3S. You still get the standard left and right main buttons flanking a central scroll wheel. Positioned behind this, the wheel shift button effortlessly toggles the scroll wheel between a precise, notched feel and a smooth, free-spinning mode. The latter is perfect for rapidly navigating long documents or making quick adjustments in creative software.

To the left, a second scroll wheel provides horizontal movement. While it doesn’t offer the rapid spin of the main wheel, it significantly enhances navigation in applications where horizontal scrolling is typically cumbersome or unavailable without keyboard modifiers.

Further left, on the side of the mouse, you’ll find two standard back and forward buttons. However, this is also where the MX Master 4 introduces its most exciting new additions.

A new gesture button is located just in front of the back/forward buttons. By holding this button and moving the mouse in different directions (forward, back, left, or right), you can trigger assigned functions. By default, these gestures manage Windows desktop functions, such as opening the Windows menu, minimizing windows to show the desktop, and switching between virtual desktops. All these gestures are fully customizable via the accompanying software.

The other significant new feature is the haptic pad beneath your thumb, replacing the traditional thumb button found on the 3 and 3S models. This slightly pliable rubber pad registers pressure from your thumb. When pressed, the mouse’s haptic system simulates the tactile feedback of a button click. The haptic nature is evident when the mouse is off, as the pad simply squishes without a click response.

Activating this pad brings up the Actions Ring, a software overlay offering quick access to up to eight functions. These rings are context-aware, displaying different sets of functions depending on the application you’re using (e.g., Photoshop, Premiere, Chrome, or the desktop) if you’ve downloaded the relevant plugins. While a Logitech account is required to access these free app plugins, you also have the option to manually configure your own custom functions for each application.

Beyond these new features, the MX Master 4 largely maintains its heritage. It utilizes the same Darkfield sensor as previous MX Master mice, ensuring it works flawlessly on virtually any flat surface, including polished metal, mirrors, and glass. The sensor’s maximum DPI has also been boosted to 8,000. However, it’s worth noting that the Master range is still not designed for gaming due to its sensor optimization for precision over rapid movement. The wireless connection, provided by a tiny USB-C dongle, prioritizes connection strength, with Logitech claiming a twofold increase in connectivity thanks to a new chip and antenna.

Design and comfort

The core shape that has made the MX Master series so popular is preserved in the MX Master 4. However, a significant design change has been introduced that, in my opinion, represents a step backward.

Let’s start with the positives: the fundamental ergonomic shape remains. It features a fairly steep slope of approximately 15° towards the right side, theoretically reducing forearm twisting. While I personally don’t find this tilt transformative enough to rival a truly vertical mouse or a flatter, symmetrical design, many users find this ergonomic style highly beneficial.

Similarly, this mouse is theoretically ideal for a palm grip, where the entire hand rests over the device. However, with my longer fingers (20cm from wrist to middle fingertip), I struggle to comfortably reach the scroll wheel and other buttons while maintaining a full palm grip. The raised section housing the horizontal scroll wheel also tends to poke into my hand rather than providing gentle support. For a comfortable full palm rest, I prefer a flatter mouse with a longer back section.

Of greater concern, though, is the removal of the all-over rubber coating from the MX Master 3 and 3S. That previous surface provided excellent passive grip, regardless of hand temperature or moisture. Now, my palm tends to slide off the mouse’s slope, necessitating a slightly firmer grip. I consider this a significant downgrade.

Fortunately, the left side, which includes the haptic thumb pad, remains rubberized, offering a better grip for your thumb. A small patch of rubber on the right side also ensures the mouse can still be easily gripped with just fingertips.

However, the mouse’s considerable weight works against optimal grip. At 151g, it’s nearly three times heavier than many ultralight gaming mice. While not designed for high-speed flicking, it’s still a device that needs to be maneuvered with your fingertips. This increased weight, combined with the less-grippy top surface, marks a clear step down in handling compared to its predecessors.

Aesthetically, the MX Master 4 is a sleek-looking mouse, enhanced by the new translucent plastic on the main buttons. It’s available in the graphite color reviewed, a darker graphite/charcoal, and a pale gray, with the Mac version offered in Space Black and White Silver.

Software and setup

To truly maximize the MX Master 4’s potential, installing Logitech’s Options+ software is essential. This software unlocks the powerful gestures and Action Rings, and also provides access to Logitech Flow, the company’s multi-computer feature that allows seamless switching between connected computers and even enables cross-device copy-pasting.

The Options+ interface begins with the “Buttons” section, where you can customize the functions of all controls except the main left and right buttons. For example, you can set the second scroll wheel to control volume instead of horizontal scrolling, configure gestures for media playback instead of Windows Desktop controls, or assign the thumb pad button to bring up the task view rather than the Action Rings.

The subsequent section allows for fine-tuning the mouse’s tactile feedback. Here, you can adjust the sensitivity of both scroll wheels, including how pronounced the vertical scroll wheel notches feel in its non-free-spinning mode. The haptic pad’s sensitivity and the pointer speed are also adjustable.

The “Haptics” section provides control over the intensity of the haptic feedback. I found the default medium setting a bit distracting and preferred the low setting. I also opted to disable the haptic buzz when selecting actions from the Action Rings, as the default setting triggers haptics each time you hover over an option. Haptics can also be automatically disabled when the mouse’s battery is low.

The final main screen is ostensibly for setting up Easy-Switch connections, displaying the devices to which the MX Master 4 is connected and allowing you to cycle through them via a button on the mouse’s bottom (or other customizable controls). However, this screen primarily serves as an informational display, showing connected devices without offering direct setup functions within this particular view.

Additional software features include a battery life indicator, the ability to swap left and right button assignments (within the settings), and a firmware update checker.

Delving deeper into Action Rings, these overlays appear upon activation of the haptic thumb pad and remain visible until you either click the central close button, select an action, or click elsewhere on the screen. You have full control to customize the commands displayed for any application and can download plugins for hundreds of different apps, providing quick and intuitive access to common functions with matching icons.

The setup for Action Rings is handled in a dedicated section of Options+ separate from the general mouse settings. Here, you can meticulously configure them to your liking. Just like with Flow and gestures, the initial setup can be time-consuming. It involves identifying the apps you use, their most valuable functions, and determining the most comfortable and quick access points within the ring, followed by the task of remembering all these configurations. However, once completed, it provides an unparalleled level of functionality at your fingertips.

Performance

Logitech’s Darkfield sensor, a laser-based technology exclusive to Logitech, sets this mouse apart. Unlike typical optical or even conventional laser sensors, it allows the MX Master 4 to track on virtually any surface, including polished metal, mirrors, and glass. While it still requires a reasonably flat surface, its versatility is truly remarkable.

The increase in maximum DPI to 8,000 won’t benefit most users, as it feels excessively fast and jittery for a standard setup. However, for those with extensive multi-monitor configurations, it might be useful for rapid cursor traversal across vast desktop spaces.

Regarding other core features, the main scroll wheel is arguably the mouse’s standout attribute. While other mice offer similar free-wheeling options, the MX Master 4’s implementation is incredibly fluid and effortless. I particularly appreciate its intelligent design: it provides a notched feel for precise, slower movements, but a harder flick of the wheel automatically disengages the detents, allowing it to spin freely and zip through documents at speeds Logitech claims can reach up to 1,000 lines per second.

In terms of button performance, the main left and right clicks don’t feel optimized for gaming. They lack the crisp, tactile feedback often found in gaming switches. While not mushy, they possess a slight softness, a deliberate design choice by Logitech to prioritize quiet operation. For users sensitive to mouse clicks, this is a welcome feature, though the clicks on previous models never bothered me personally.

Logitech has wisely loosened the feel of the horizontal scroll wheel, significantly boosting its usability. It now feels much quicker and smoother to navigate sideways through documents, a noticeable improvement over the stiffer feel of the previous version.

Battery life

The Logitech MX Master 4 boasts exceptional battery life, with the company claiming approximately two months of use on a single charge. Our tests corroborated this, observing only single-digit percentage drops in the Options+ battery indicator after each day of use. This impressive longevity is a distinct advantage of not requiring a super-fast sensor with a high polling rate.

Charging occurs via the USB-C port on the mouse’s front, and impressively, just one minute of charging provides a remarkable three hours of additional use.

Price

The Logitech MX Master 4 is priced at £119.99 (or $119.99), which, while not a budget option, is a fair price considering the extensive feature set packed into this mouse. Many high-end gaming mice often cost considerably more while offering fewer functionalities tailored for productivity.

Verdict

The Logitech MX Master 4 solidly retains its title as the king of productivity mice. Its new gesture and Action Ring features are excellent additions to an already superior design. However, the increased weight and the removal of the full rubberized exterior slightly compromise its grip compared to previous MX Master models. While not a deal-breaker for everyone, some users may find this a noticeable drawback.

Nonetheless, in every other aspect, there’s no doubt that this remains the ultimate choice for anyone looking to get serious work done with a mouse.