Google around for “the best PC mouse” and you’ll find one answer: Logitech’s MX Master 3. Enter, the story I thought I’d never write: An 11-way PC mouse shoot out. I also wanted to see what a modern mouse can offer beyond those requirements as, who knows, maybe there’s something I never knew I wanted or I have the sudden urge to get into Dota 2.

It’s not a big ask but I soon learned there was always some mental bargaining going on trying to find the best balance. I am trying to lose as many cables as I can, so the longer I can go between charging/without a cable around, the better. I don’t need to pull off several complex gaming moves I just want to have things like volume control or the ability to switch between desktops at my fingertips. Second: I want something that is reasonably configurable. It turns out that mice are still a largely off-the-shelf affair, but I was determined to get through some of the more promising options and find something I could live with, possibly for another decade. Also, as a recent convert to the world of mechanical keyboards, I was hoping there was a similar world of boutique, bespoke options. Not to mention, since the advent of devices such as the Stream Deck and the Loupedeck Live I have developed a taste for physical, assignable controls. Not least of all, I wanted something that I could charge and use at the same time - the temerity, I know. My old Magic Mouse could have made the move from MacOS to Windows, but I was already negotiating some pretty bad RSI and the internal battery was starting to waiver. But if, like me, you spend at least eight hours a day with your hand on one, they’re more important than we give them credit for.

The rig I ended up with is solid, I had a nice keyboard already, but oh boy do I really need a new mouse. I say that with the confidence of someone that just migrated over from a decade-old iMac to a part-picked PC. It’s the little things that are simple to overlook. When you buy a new PC, it’s easy to focus on the big three: Processor, graphics and RAM (sorry storage fans, that’s a close fourth).

Best wireless mouse for work 2021