Apple's Magic Mouse hasn't changed much in almost a decade. The primary updates over the years have been switching away from AA batteries to a rechargeable design, dropping the "2" in the name, and adding an extra color option. It remains a good enough daily driver, and unlike the Apple Magic Keyboard, it’s not exorbitantly expensive. The latest version of the Magic Mouse ($79 for white, $99 for black as tested) merely switches from Apple’s Lightning ports to USB-C. The mouse remains a good enough everyday driver, and unlike the Apple Magic Keyboard, it's not too pricey. It's too small for large hands; it's too glossy to remain clean for long; and—in a long-standing complaint—you need to flip it over to charge it, making the Editors' Choice-winning Logitech MX Master 3S a far superior mouse for Macs.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|
Attractive, lightweight design |
Port location on underside means you can't use the mouse while it's charging |
|
Ambidextrous shell |
Shallow design doesn't fit well in larger hands |
|
Multi-touch surface |
Requires latest version of macOS to access full range of features |
|
|
Glossy exterior is prone to smudging |
Design
Almost identical to the Magic Trackpad and Magic Keyboard, two new Apple peripherals for 2024, the Magic Mouse looks almost exactly like its predecessor. With dimensions of 0.8 by 2.2 by 4.4 inches (HWD), it's a fairly compact mouse. For big hands, it's a little too small, and the slight bump at the center barely provides any support. In terms of ergonomics, this mouse cannot compete with the excellent (and Mac-compatible!) MX Master 3S.
The Magic Mouse features the same simple design as before—a clean, borderless mouse with long virtual left- and right-click buttons that are almost as long as my fingers. In spite of its distinctive design, the hyper-glossy exterior is prone to smudging for left-handed and right-handed users alike. The white version doesn't show abound fingerprints, but the black version does. If you clean it frequently, fingerprints won't be a problem since it can be easily cleaned with a microfiber cloth.
Specs & Configurations
- Name: Value
- Number of Buttons: 2
- Interface: Bluetooth
- Hand Orientation: Ambidextrous
- Power Source: Internal Battery
- Weight: 3.52 ounces
- Warranty (Parts and Labor): 1 year
Performance
We see that the bottom of the mouse remains mostly unchanged when we flip it over. There are two parallel low-friction strips lining the mouse's belly, while the power switch and sensor are located at the top. A USB-C port replaces the Lightning port here as the only real change. There is a woven USB-C charging cord included.
This Magic Mouse update missed an opportunity to improve the mouse's infamous charging procedure, which MightyPC dislikes. You can only charge the mouse by flipping it onto its back like a dead bird or a helpless crocodile and plugging in the cable. It would seem logical to move the cable connector to the mouse end. As for the Magic Mouse, it doesn't have a battery indicator; you'll have to navigate to the System Preferences app with your keyboard to know when it's fully recharged.
The battery should last throughout the working day with no problem since it lasts about a month between charges. I used to flip the mouse over and charge it while away from my computer. We found that the Magic Mouse requires about two hours to fully charge. Even a few minutes plugged in can give you several hours' use.
Software: Advanced Gestures for Productivity
The fact that the Magic Mouse remains the same, except for the USB-C port, isn't bad. This version retains some Mac-friendly features that were introduced in earlier versions, including multi-touch gestures. Aside from right and left clicks, you can also drag your fingers across the mouse to perform other gestures. Simply drag your finger across the mouse's center to scroll or swipe two fingers across it to switch between apps. You'll still find plenty of additional features even though it doesn't offer as many gesture commands as the Magic Trackpad.
In your Mac's System Preferences app, you can customize your mouse's tracking speed, scroll speed, and gestures. Apple doesn't confirm the mouse's maximum resolution (measured in dots per inch), but it tracked nicely on the mouse pads and table surfaces I tested it on, which suggests it should work fine for casual cursor movements. The mouse, however, cannot reach the extraordinary DPI levels of some gaming mice for Macs—30,000 DPI and higher.
A system requirement for the USB-C Magic Mouse is a Mac running macOS 15.1 or later or an iPad with iPadOS 18.1 or later. You can use it with Bluetooth-enabled Macs running earlier versions, but functionality may be limited. A MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021) running macOS Monterey 12.3.1 had a functional mouse, but we could not update advanced settings or use gestures. This issue was indeed resolved by an update to macOS Sequoia 15.1.
Where to buy: Check price at Amazon.
Final Verdict
Other than switching from a Lightning port to a USB-C port, the latest Apple Magic Mouse doesn't do much new. This doesn't mean, however, that the mouse isn't a competent daily driver for MacBooks, Mac minis, iMacs, and other Apple devices. The MightyPC's favorite features are the gesture-based movements, the handsome ambidextrous design, and the wireless connectivity. Although Apple's one big problem wasn't resolved here, we wish it had innovated instead of resurrecting the same peripheral. If you want to keep your desk in Apple style, the 2024 Magic Mouse is fine, but functionally, it pales in comparison to the better Mac mice on the market today, such as the Logitech MX Master 3S.
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