Logitech MX Anywhere 3 wireless mouse experience: successors

About three years ago, I wanted to buy a small (convenient for business trips) Bluetooth mouse that supports switching between multiple devices, and finally locked the Logitech MX series mouse.

I have experienced the flagship of this series, MX Master, the master of office mice, but it is big and expensive. In the end, I chose its "little brother", MX Anywhere 2S, which is available for both hands.

In the three years I have used MX Anywhere 2S, it has experienced a price jump from 600+ to 300+, and it has also gone from brand-new to "Iraqi fineness". However, it can still be very good when I take a stroll in the office mouse category. He said hardly "No one can fight."

Until the release of MX Anywhere 3.

Hi MX Anywhere 3, old acquaintance

My right hand who is used to MX Anywhere 2S said so. In terms of overall appearance, there is little difference between the two generations of products, and the changes in details can be seen when they are placed side by side.

The most obvious change is the rubber anti-skid strips on both sides. The texture has changed from a diamond diamond pattern to a streamlined stripe, which is more "pleasing to the eye" visually. I have always felt that the round MX Anywhere 2S with a diamond pattern feels abrupt and doesn't match at all.

The streamlined lines used in the new generation of MX, if shadows are visible, are more harmonious with the overall design of the mouse. The end of the anti-skid pattern is upturned and converges to the tail of the mouse. It also has an upturned design that fits the palm of the hand. , Giving the palm enough support strength.

For comparison, the height of the tail of the 3rd generation is about 0.5mm higher than the previous generation. If it is not side-by-side comparison, it is difficult to find this difference visually, but in terms of hand feel, I can feel that the former has a better A sense of support may have a better relief effect on the "mouse hand".

Overlooking the two generations of MX, you can observe that the third generation is more full and rounded, and the narrowing of the tail is relatively small, thereby obtaining a larger hand support area. In addition, the change of the charging interface is more important, and the USB- C interface, and uses a hidden design, low-key restraint.

Only on the front can you see the presence of the charging port. The official said that it can be used for 3 hours after 1 minute of charging, and the battery life is about 70 days.

In such a short experience time, it is difficult for me to verify this statement. However, charging is not a high-frequency behavior for office mice, so as long as it is not charged once a week, I can accept it.

Smoother and quieter

Another obvious change in the 3rd generation is the evolution of the roller, the double-track metal roller, the rubber layer has been removed, and it is not easy to hide dirt.

This generation is called MagSpeed ​​electromagnetic scroll wheel, which realizes the natural switching between segmented mode and fast speed (infinite) mode through electromagnetic characteristics.

From the physical feel formed by the previous generation of machinery, it has evolved to the feedback created by electromagnetic force.

At the beginning of the scrolling of the scroll wheel, the speed is not fast, and there will be obvious paragraph feedback. Each paragraph will have a feel feedback similar to Force Touch. When the scroll wheel speed exceeds the critical value (the critical value can be changed through the software), the paragraph feedback disappears and automatically enters the disease. In the fast scrolling mode, the sound also quieted down.

This seamless switching function between the two modes is called "SmartShift" by Logitech. This is a unique function of the MX 3 generation series. Thanks to the introduction of electromagnetic characteristics, this "SmartShift" function can be used in the software Switching, or automatic or manual switching, is up to you.

However, the scroll wheel sound of the 3rd generation is much quieter than the previous generation. Also in the paragraph mode, the 3rd generation has no obvious clicks. The feedback when scrolling is only felt by the fingers, and there is almost no sound, which does not affect the surrounding colleagues.

In addition, the method of scroll wheel switching mode has also been changed.

On MX Anywhere 2S, the mode can be switched by pressing the scroll wheel, and the function key at the bottom is used as the middle button. At this time, the position of the middle button is slightly awkward. In some games, this key setting is not convenient.

Perhaps in response to this part of the user's request, Logitech reversed the functions of the scroll wheel and the middle button. The third generation presses the scroll wheel to realize the middle button function, and the function button becomes the mode switch button.

Due to the changes in this aspect, the force required to press the scroll wheel on time has become smaller, and it is also tighter, but it still inevitably triggers scrolling when pressed.

Except in some FPS games that occasionally trigger the scroll to change weapons after pressing the middle button, the rest of the time will not cause much trouble to users.

And the third-generation scroll wheel cannot swing left and right for horizontal scrolling. This is probably because the electromagnetic structure does not allow this operation. When you need to scroll the page horizontally, press and hold any side button while scrolling the scroll wheel to complete the same operation. , This operation is slightly anti-human, but it is good to get used to it.

By the way, the DPI value of this generation has not changed, and the highest DPI is still 4000, so the performance is the same as the previous generation.

The old three of the MX series are still

This generation of MX Anywhere still has two connection methods: Union 2.4GHz receiver and Bluetooth, and it still supports pairing up to 3 devices.

I think many people (including me) choose Logitech MX series mice because of its "Easy-Switch" function. The so-called Easy-Switch means that it can be used between multiple paired devices with one click To switch quickly, from iPad to Windows to MacBook, just click the round button at the bottom.

This is much more convenient than disconnecting Bluetooth from one device and connecting to another device.

On this basis, Logitech went further and extended the Logitech "Flow" function. As the name suggests, the Flow function is to allow Logitech MX mouse to "flow around" between Windows and macOS devices. The effect is outstanding. Of course, it must be matched. Use Logitech Options software on Windows/macOS.

Logitech Options is a keyboard and mouse management app that currently supports both Windows and macOS platforms. The supported Options products are not limited to the MX series.

Open Options, you can see all registered devices. For example, in my list, both generations of devices will be displayed. In addition, you can set the mouse pointer speed, scrolling speed, reverse hand settings, and the sensitivity of "SmartShift" (also It is the strength to trigger the function), as well as the custom function settings for the buttons, which can be set in the software.

There is another piece of puzzle that complements the Flow function in the Options software.

The Flow function not only allows the mouse to shuttle freely between the dual systems, but also uses the mouse as a medium to transfer files between two devices of different systems, copy a file from macOS, move the mouse to the Windows window, and paste it to complete transmission.

The whole process is almost nonsensical, but it is the same as the general pasteboard function of AirDrop, occasionally there will be a 1-2 second freeze. For the convenience of such a convenient operation, I can bear it.

In this way, the flow experience is complete. If you are like me, who often switch between Windows and macOS dual systems, you and I are the core user group of Logitech Flow.

Using a set of keyboard and mouse devices that support Logitech Flow, you can switch between Windows and macOS freely (I hope Logitech can follow up on the iPad platform in the future), and work efficiency can be improved.

Unexpectedly, Logitech used a keyboard and mouse to build a bridge between Microsoft and Apple.

Logitech's Easy-Switch, Options, and Flow functions form the three axes of MX.

If you have multiple devices, you may not necessarily be cold about the Windows/macOS cross-platform transfer of text and files, but you will definitely be attracted by Easy-Switch.

There is always a feature that can attract you.

The reason why Logitech MX series can become the benchmark in office mice is because of its software and hardware dual repair, comprehensive and easy to use.

Some small complaints & summary

Those just now are my positive comments on the 3rd generation product as an old user of MX Anywhere, but it is not perfect.

On macOS, the mouse experience is still not as good as the trackpad, and the page is not as silky when scrolling up and down. But this is not a problem unique to MX. Except for the second mouse, other mice will become unaccustomed when they arrive in the macOS system.

Perhaps Logitech's MX Anywhere 3 for Mac specifically for macOS will perform differently.

In addition, I accidentally discovered on this MX Anywhere 3 that the right-click pressure is too small. In actual use, it shows that the finger is slightly heavier on the right-click. Under the influence of gravity, the function may be triggered accidentally.

The feel of the right button is a bit softer than that of the left button. I suspect it is just a case. I asked a friend who is also using the 3rd generation. He said that he did not encounter this situation, which confirmed my suspicion.

So what appeared on my MX Anywhere 3 is just an individual problem of the engineering machine, and it is not universal, so it is for reference only. However, friends who bought can pay attention to whether this is the case.

Excluding the above minor problems, MX Anywhere 3 still defends the benchmark position of the MX series in office mice.

However, I hope in my heart that other manufacturers can follow up with Logitech Flow's similar functions as soon as possible, and knock down the high price of the MX series, just like the graphics card war next door, to benefit consumers.

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Ai Faner | Original link · View comments · Sina Weibo