Logitech’s new mouse and keyboard offer quieter clicks and more clicks

Logitech’s latest computer accessories offer a quieter or more tactile way to use your computer, depending on your preferences. The new MX Master 3S is a small update of the existing MX Master 3 mouse with a quieter mouse click and a more sensitive sensor. Meanwhile, the MX Mechanical and MX Mechanical Mini are two keyboards whose mechanical switches aim to make them a more tactile (though slightly noisier) counterpart to the existing MX Keys devices. The MX Mechanical, MX Mechanical Mini, and MX Master 3S ship this month for $169.99, $149.99, and $99, respectively.

The MX Master 3S is a very similar looking device to the MX Master 3 it replaces in the Logitech lineup. It has an aggressively sculpted right-handed design, a pair of scroll wheels (one for up/down, the other for left/right) and three thumb buttons. The big changes are that it now uses an 8,000 DPI sensor, up from 4,000 last time, and the left and right mouse buttons are now significantly quieter – by 90 percent according to Logitech. There’s still a tactile bump when you click the mouse, but it’s more muted, almost like hitting a Cherry MX Brown switch instead of an MX Blue switch.

Despite the higher-resolution sensor, this is a mouse geared more toward office and productivity work than gaming, thanks to its comparatively low 125Hz polling rate. In contrast, gaming mice typically poll at 1,000 Hz, or even 8,000 Hz in some cases.

According to Logitech, the MX Master 3S’ higher DPI sensor should help with the increasingly high-resolution displays like 4K and even 8K that people are using with their computers, while the quieter click should benefit anyone using the mouse in a shared office environment. Personally, I like the tactility of a louder click, but I understand Logitech’s point. However, the MX Master 3S will replace the MX Master 3 in Logitech’s mouse range, so fans of loud mouse clicks may need to act fast to snag one of the old models before they disappear.

While the MX Master 3S is aimed at users who value silence over tactility, the new MX Mechanical keyboards do the opposite. Previously, the keyboards in Logitech’s productivity-focused MX lineup – the MX Keys and MX Keys Mini – had quiet, squishy-to-the-touch laptop-style keys. But with the MX Mechanical, sold alongside the MX Keys in the line, Logitech uses switches that are more mechanical.

Specifically, they use Kailh’s Choc V2 switches, and the styles available include tactile calm brown switches, clicking blues, and linear reds. These switches are low profile, so they don’t have the long travel of full-height Cherry MX switches. If you’re more familiar with the typing feel of a laptop keyboard, you should feel right at home here. Despite having a low profile, they offer some of the benefits of mechanical switches, including better tactile feel and greater reliability.

Both keyboards are wireless, and Logitech’s trademark long battery life really shines here. You get 15 days of battery life with the keyboard backlight on, or up to 10 months with the keyboard off. The keyboard is equipped with sensors so the backlight can turn on when your hands are nearby, and a USB-C port takes over charging when the power runs out. Both the keyboard and mouse can remember three devices they’re paired with (they can connect via Bluetooth or an included USB wireless adapter) and switch between them with the press of a button.

I’ve been using the MX Mechanical Mini and MX Master 3S for the past few days and have been impressed with both as office productivity tools so far. Neither is clearly intended as a high-performance gaming peripheral, but rather as an expansion option over the standard keyboards and mice that many workers use in their offices and at home. Stay tuned for my full thoughts later this week.