Logitech MX Master 4
The productivity mouse that refuses to die gets a quieter click, faster scroll, and USB-C. Worth the upgrade tax?
Logitech’s MX Master line is the Honda Civic of productivity mice: unglamorous, ubiquitously recommended, and now on its fourth generation with USB-C. The MX Master 4 doesn’t reinvent anything — it refines, and charges $99 for the privilege.
What changed from the 3S
The big upgrades: USB-C charging (the 3S was still micro-USB in 2023, a crime), a “quiet-click” mechanism that’s ~90% as muted as the 3S but with more tactile feedback, and a refined MagSpeed electromagnetic scroll wheel that’s both faster and less rattly. The 8K DPI sensor carries over. Battery life is rated 70 days per charge (down from 70 on 3S with fast-charge: 1 minute = 3 hours).
Ergonomics
The sculpted right-handed shape is unchanged, which is correct — it’s the best-selling ergonomic mouse shape for a reason. Weight is 141g, which is heavy by gaming standards but appropriate for productivity. The thumb rest and gesture button on the thumb rest are unchanged. Two side buttons, a horizontal thumb scroll (handy for timelines), and a third button under the wheel.
Sensor and tracking
Darkfield laser tracking works on glass. 8K DPI max, 400 IPS, and 90g acceleration tracking. This is not a gaming mouse — polling is 125Hz wired and wireless — but for pixel-precise Photoshop work across three monitors at 4K, it tracks flawlessly. The “Logi Options+” flow feature lets you move the cursor across two computers seamlessly with copy-paste — genuinely useful for two-machine setups.
Connectivity
Logitech’s Bolt USB receiver plus Bluetooth. Multipoint across three devices with a button on the bottom. The Bolt receiver is more secure than the old Unifying receiver, addressing the long-running Mousejack vulnerability class.
What annoys
- Logi Options+ software is bloated, requires a login for basic features, and runs a background agent. You can configure essentials without an account but it pushes hard.
- The “SmartWheel” auto-shifts between ratcheted and free-scroll based on flick speed — it’s occasionally wrong. Hold the button to force modes.
- No Bluetooth pairing memory reset button — you cycle via a recessed button.
- Still 141g. Some users will find it fatiguing after long sessions.
The verdict
If you’re on the MX Master 3 or 3S, the Master 4 is a marginal upgrade — USB-C alone is worth it if your cable management matters, but don’t rush. If you’re buying your first productivity mouse, this is the one. It’s not exciting, it’s not cheap, and it’s the mouse on more desks than any other for good reason. Logitech will sell a million of these and never have to try.