The best Mac mouse will have a smooth flow, be nice and responsive, lightweight, and last a long time on a single charge. And, while this might surprise you, it probably won't be made by Apple.
In most cases, the best accessory for an Apple computer is the official one. But that's not actually the case here. There are a number of third-party mice on the market, and they improve on the official offering in a number of ways. In this article, we'll explain which is likely to be the best Mac mouse for you.
Meanwhile, if you haven't bought a Mac yet, then our guides to the best iMac and best MacBooks will help you make the right choice. And to complete your Apple kit, see our roundups of the best Mac keyboards, the best Mac webcam, and the best iPads too.
The best Mac mouse in 2023
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We'll make it easy for you. Whatever type of Mac you have – Mac Mini, Mac Studio, Macbook, or any other modern Mac – the Logitech MX Anywhere 3 is the best Mac mouse for most people.
If you're traveling with a MacBook, you don't need to worry, because of the excellent battery life. This mouse stays powered for up to 70 days, and you can even get three hours of use from a one-minute quick charge using your usual Macbook USB-C charger. If you're short on ports, you don't need to worry, because it can connect wirelessly via Bluetooth, as well as USB. And if you want to use more than one device, you don't need to worry, because you can connect up to three devices and switch between them at the tap of a button.
The scrolling wheel works in two modes: one high-speed, one slower, and one more precise, and comes with four buttons. It's easy to map these to specific functions in different apps, speeding up your workflow nicely. There are also pre-defined shortcuts in Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, Google Chrome, Safari, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Edge. It's quiet and comfortable in use. And you can use it on virtually any surface, even glass, thanks to its 4000DPI sensor.
The Logitech MX Master 3 is similar to the Logitech MX Anywhere 3 (number one on our list) but is set at a steeper angle, has a wider thumb rest, and is heavier. More significantly, it also includes a thumbwheel and eight buttons overall. And all that makes it the best Mac mouse for anyone who uses a lot of creative software, such as Photoshop or Premiere Pro.
As with Anywhere 3, you can assign specific functions to each of the buttons, and that can really help to speed up repetitive tasks in complex software. And again, there are app-specific profiles in Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, Google Chrome, Safari, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Edge. You can connect to up to three devices at once, and the mouse stays powered for up to 70 days on a full charge.
Short on funds? The Satechi M1 Bluetooth Wireless Mouse offers excellent value at a very reasonable price. It doesn't offer any clever features, but it has a nice ergonomic design and feels good in the hand. As a basic mouse, it does an excellent job, and it looks pretty stylish too.
Unlike the other cheap mice on this list, its battery is rechargeable via the included USB-C to USB cable. You can connect wirelessly to your Mac from a distance of 32 feet. And all this, at such a low cost, is impressive indeed.
If you use a mouse every minute of every working day, the pain and discomfort of RSI poses a very real risk over the long term. An ergonomically designed mouse can help prevent this, and our favorite is the Logitech MX Ergo.
It features a trackball, which sits on the left and you control using your thumb. That means you don't need to move the mouse itself, and this saves the strain on your hand and wrist. Logitech claims this causes 20% less muscular fatigue than a regular mouse.
You can adjust the angle from 0 to 20 degrees for a more comfortable hand position. The mouse also has a conventional scroll wheel and can be connected to up to two devices at once. It's not really suitable for gaming, but for everyday work, it's an excellent choice.
Here's another ergonomic take on the mouse that takes a bit of getting used to at first, but may well help you stave off RSI in the long run. You use it vertically rather than horizontally, which is meant to put your hand in a more natural position as if you were shaking someone's hand.
The mouse, which features four buttons, is set at a 57 vertical angle that reduces the pressure on your wrist and positions your thumb more comfortably on the thumb rest. And the 4,000 DPI high-precision optical mouse sensor reduces hand movement by a factor of four, compared to the standard cordless mouse offering 1,000 DPI. You can connect with up to three devices at once, and the rechargeable battery stays powered for up to four months on a full charge.
If you have a computer made by Apple, there are good arguments for using the official mouse. You won't have any clashing aesthetics. Compatibility issues should be non-existent. And if have any problems, you can just head to the Apple Store and ask the nice people there to sort them.
Yes, you'll pay a premium for all of this, but the cost of the Apple Magic Mouse isn't much greater than third-party rivals. And as you'd expect, this is a pretty good Mac mouse overall. It looks sleek and elegant, with a low profile. It has a simple design that doesn't come with buttons but allows you to use multi-touch gestures instead. That's thanks to special sensors on the top of the mouse, which provide a similar experience to the trackpad on a MacBook.
All that said, this is not the best Mac mouse on our list, for a number of reasons. It doesn't come with a scroll wheel. The month-long battery life is less than half the 70 days promised by the Logitech MX Anywhere 3. And most annoyingly, the Lightning port is on the bottom of the mouse, which means you can't use it when it's charging.
The Logitech M720 Triathalon is another worthy choice if you're on a budget. The main downside compared with the Satechi M1, number three on our list, is that it doesn't have a rechargeable battery. Instead, you need to insert one AA battery to power it. One is included though, and that's claimed to last up to 24 months, depending on use (the auto-sleep power-saving mode and the on/off switch button both help in that respect). This mouse also lets you connect to up to three devices simultaneously, which is pretty impressive at this price.
Here's another cheap mouse that offers a good option if you're short of cash. It's small and light, so it's the best budget choice on our list for travelling. And while it's pretty simple, it's nicely designed, comfortable to use, and does the basic job well. Again this mouse takes an AA battery, which is pre-installed, and Logitech says this will last up to 18 months.
Lightweight and designed for gaming, the SteelSeries Esports Mini FPS Gaming Mouse slides smoothly and easily across the mousepad, whether you're battling orcs or navigating Photoshop. It has a slim, unfussy design and comes in both wired and wireless models. It's not particularly customizable or sophisticated, but that helps keep battery life high, and everything running smoothly and quickly. So if you're not bothered about gimmicks and just want a fast and responsive mouse for your Mac, this is a good choice.
How do I choose the best Mac mouse?
Choosing the best Mac mouse for you will depend on a number of factors Firstly, you'll need one that's compatible with your device's ports, whether that be USB-A or USB-C. Alternatively if you have a modern MacBook that's short on ports, you may prefer a wireless mouse.
Also think about the size and shape of mouse you want, and whether you need any special features, such as a scroll wheel or extra buttons that can be programmed for specific tasks. Finally, consider how much you wish to spend, as the price of mice can vary wildly depending on how sophisticated you want your mouse to be.
Read more:
Best MacBooks
Best iMacs
Best Mac keyboard
Best Macbook Air docking stations
Best monitor for Mac mini
The best Mac webcams
The best Mac printers
