Logitech MX Master 2S: Absolute Steal for $50
The Logitech MX Master 2S was released in 2017 as a part of Logitech’s high-end “MX Master” series- the second in line succeeding 2015’s MX Master and preceding 2019’s MX Master 3. The MX Master line of mice consists of the most expensive and top-of-the-line of mice that have been released by Logitech. All three have a distinct ergonomic shape that is curved slightly to the right on the surface and a protruding slab that serves as a thumb rest. These also have a side scroll wheel on the left side of the mouse, allowing horizontal transverse across web pages. All of the mice are wireless via Bluetooth or the Unifying receiver and can switch between three different devices as long as they support Bluetooth. Last but not least, these mice have the famous free-spinning scroll wheel, a toggleable mechanism that allows the scroll wheel to frictionlessly “glide”, making scrolling very long webpages or Word documents much faster.
I picked up my 2S from the online Lenovo store, which had it in stock for $50 new with free shipping (The MSRP at release time was $100). The newer MX Master 3 can be had for $80-$100 depending on what store it is purchased at.
Why I think the MX Master 2S is of better value than the 3
The 2S and 3 are one generation apart, with the latter being released 2 years later than the former. There was a significant change in design between the two models, with the three adopting a more rectangular shape, losing the matte finish edge and polygonal texture on the thumb rest, moving the placement of the back and forward buttons, and changing the color of the scroll wheels. However, feature-wise, it doesn’t look like there is too much different between them; they both have 7 buttons in roughly the same positions, similar ergonomic shapes, the free-spinning scroll wheel, a side-scroll wheel, and the “gesture button” which you lay your thumb on. Both mice also use the same 4000 DPI “Darkfield” sensor, allowing the mouse to track well on transparent surfaces such as glass.
Other subtle differences include preset mouse bindings in the Logitech Options software and the grooved finish that extends to the back palm area of the mouse (whereas the 2S has a smooth back). The current pricing leads me to believe that the MX Master 2S has better value over the three, given that most of the changes are insignificant, if at all impactful. Personally, the difference between textures and shape of the front of the mouse are too trivial for me to care in my everyday use, as the more important features like the gliding scroll wheel, the side scroll wheel, and the comfort that the design provides are much more to be recognized while using this daily.
The Logitech Options Software
Overview
Logitech Options is a fiddly piece of software that seems to have problems loading for many people online, one of them being me on my Windows desktop. Fortunately, I have gotten it to work on my MacBook.
Being a previous user of a Logitech G402, I have experience with the older LogiCool software and the newer G-Hub, since the G402 has support for both. Both fit my needs, being able to remap buttons to a wide variety of keys, mouse operations, and system functions and change the sensitivity on my mouse. However, I ended up sticking with LogiCool, as it was more reliable than G-Hub in detecting my mouse. The 2S, unfortunately, was released too late to be supported by the older SetPoint software, so the only possible software to be used with it is Options.
Features
Options does not disappoint on features, however. It is possible in the “Mouse” tab to bind six of the buttons (gesture, middle scroll wheel, side scroll wheel, SideShift button, forward, and backward) to a large assortment of different system commands, including but not limited to: a standard right click, changing the brightness, switching desktops (Windows, macOS & Linux (?)), changing the mouse’s pointer speed, opening files or folders, bringing up the search menu, changing the volume, media controls, and lots more.
The “Point & Scroll” tab is pretty self-explanatory. All of the settings have to do with the mouse cursor and the scroll wheels. The ability to toggle SmartShift, which allows the mouse to switch between a notched scroll wheel and a smooth one, changing the scroll direction on both scroll wheels, and changing the speed of the pointer and scroll wheel are just some of them.
It’s also possible to create different profiles for different applications; however, there don’t seem to be any application-specific settings to choose from. This is a good feature that allows for expansive customization. If you want your forward/back buttons to move the volume slider when in Spotify and the brightness slider when in Chrome, Logitech Options has you covered.
Logitech Flow: Move files easily between devices
I haven’t personally tried Logitech Flow due to my lack of being able to install the software on two devices, but the premise is simple. Flow allows two devices to connect and be able to be used by one mouse and keyboard, allowing a communal clipboard and the ability to easily move files from one device to another by just dragging and dropping. This can make productivity much faster for people who have multiple machines that serve different purposes; an example being a Windows gaming rig to record gameplay and an iMac for editing those videos in Final Cut. Flow is only supported in some mice, though, those being the MX Master 3, MX Master 2S, MX Ergo, MX Anywhere 2S, M585, M590, and M720.
You will also need a compatible keyboard even if you have a compatible mouse. These are the MX Keys, Logitech Craft, K780, K380, K375s, and MK850. The latter few can be had for less than $40 or $50, so buying a compatible combination won’t break the bank and should come in at under $100.
Final Verdict: Should you buy the MX Master 2S?
The MX Master 2S will be my mouse of choice for a few more years, or until it breaks. This is the first top-of-the-line mouse I’ve owned, and the first non-gaming mouse that I’ve used since 2017. It’s a fresh breath of air for me, with a plethora of new features that were a step up from my previous G402 that have helped immensely in productivity. The free-scrolling wheel in Visual Studio Code and the side scrolling wheel in web browsers or Excel have been super helpful for me to the point where I feel like I wouldn’t be able to live without them.
I would not recommend it if you are a gamer, as the mouse is relatively heavy and not exactly built for gaming in mind. However, I think that if you are big on productivity and want an ergonomic feature-packed mouse and are looking for value, the MX Master 2S is an excellent pick.
Featured image courtesy Yasin Hasan on Unsplash.