Logitech MX Master 4 vs MX Anywhere 3S: Which One Should You Buy?

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Logitech makes two of the best mice you can buy right now, and a lot of people get stuck choosing between them. The MX Master 4 is the full-size, all-day desk mouse with a pile of buttons, side scroll, and haptics. The MX Anywhere 3S is the smaller version built to throw in a bag. They share a lot of DNA, and the gap between them is narrower than the price difference makes it look.

I have used both, so this is the breakdown of every real difference: size, buttons, the thumb button, side scrolling, charging, the receivers, ergonomics, and price. By the end you will know whether to stick with the Anywhere 3S or spend the extra money on the MX Master 4.

Intro: Who This Is For

Both of these are excellent Bluetooth mice, so this is not a good-versus-bad comparison. It is a fit question. The MX Master 4 is the customization-heavy desk mouse: tons of buttons on the side, side scroll, a great top wheel, and an ergonomic shape that stays comfortable through all-day editing sessions. The MX Anywhere 3S is the smaller version of that idea. It has two customizable side buttons, the same nice top wheel, and a much more compact body, while still giving you more ergonomic comfort than something like the Apple Magic Mouse.

So the real question is whether you need everything the MX Master 4 adds, or whether the Anywhere 3S already does what you want in a package you can travel with.

How Quiet Are the Clicks

The MX Master 4 is technically newer than the 3S, and it has Logitech’s latest quiet clicking. The Anywhere 3S is still really quiet. The MX Master 4 goes further and is basically silent. If a near-silent click matters to you, that is a point for the Master 4.

Size and Portability

The first thing you notice when you put both on a desk is the size. The MX Master 4 is much bigger than the Anywhere 3S. That is the whole reason the Anywhere is called the Anywhere: you can throw it in a tech bag and it does not take up much space. It is about half the overall thickness of the MX Master 4 and shorter in length. If portability is the priority, this is the one.

What You Give Up on the Anywhere 3S

Going compact costs you some controls. The Anywhere 3S has only two customizable buttons on the side, and there is no thumb button. There is also no dedicated side scrolling. You can get side scrolling on it by customizing the top wheel to scroll sideways when you hold one of the side buttons, which is a nice workaround, but it does take some getting used to.

The Thumb Button and Actions Ring

This is where the MX Master 4 pulls ahead. It has a thumb button on the side that by default opens the Logitech Actions Ring, a quick shortcut menu you can pull up fast. I changed mine to Mac gestures so I can move back and forth between full-screen windows, and I use it constantly.

You can reprogram the Anywhere 3S side buttons to do something similar, but then you are eating into its already limited number of customizable buttons. On the MX Master 4 you get that thumb button without sacrificing anything else.

Customizing the Scroll Wheel and Mode Switch

On both mice you can customize what clicking the scroll wheel does, and you can change the mode switch to trigger a different action if you want. So the core flexibility is there on either one. It is nice to have those options available whether or not you end up using them.

Charging and Bluetooth Pairing

A lot here is identical. Both use USB-C to recharge, and you can keep using either one while the USB-C cable is plugged into your computer. Both set up Bluetooth the same way: flip it over, turn it on, and you get three device pairing slots you can cycle between. To pair, go to the slot you want, press and hold the button until the light blinks quickly, then connect from your device’s Bluetooth settings. It is fast, and switching between paired devices is quick.

USB-C vs USB-A Bolt Receiver

Both are also available with a Bolt receiver. The MX Master 4 comes with the new USB-C Bolt receiver, and the Anywhere 3S has the older USB-A receiver. The receiver is handy because you do not have to go into Bluetooth settings at all: plug it in and the mouse is automatically paired. The only real difference is the port, so match it to what your computer has.

Color Options and the Mac Version

Both come in several colors. The Anywhere 3S comes in graphite, pale gray, a rose color, and black. The MX Master 4 comes in black, graphite, and pale gray, plus a for Mac version in space black or white and silver.

One warning: I would not get the for Mac version. You do not get the Bolt receiver with it, and the receiver is one of the nicer conveniences here. Buy the standard version and set it up for your Mac in software instead.

Weight and Ergonomics

The Anywhere 3S weighs about 99g and the MX Master 4 weighs about 150g. Just looking at the Master 4 you can tell it is built for all-day work. It has grip on either side like the Anywhere 3S, but its shape raises your palm to a more comfortable angle.

If you are on the go a lot and want to save weight and space in your backpack, the Anywhere 3S is still comfortable. It beats the Apple Magic Mouse because it has grip on both sides and a more natural shape to hold. The Master 4 is simply the more comfortable of the two for long sessions.

MagSpeed Scroll Wheel on Both

Both use the same top scroll wheel, though the one on the MX Master 4 is a little bigger. Both have MagSpeed tech, so the faster you spin the wheel the faster it scrolls. You adjust all of this in the Logi Options+ app, which works on both mice and is also where you customize the side buttons, pointer sensitivity, and app-specific shortcuts.

Side Scrolling Workaround

The MX Master 4 has a dedicated side scroll, which I find really useful for video editing. The Anywhere 3S is missing it, but you can set up a shortcut: press and hold a side button and scroll the top wheel to activate side scrolling. It works, it just is not as seamless as a dedicated wheel, and it costs you the use of that side button while you do it.

Haptic Feedback on the Master 4

One thing I have really enjoyed on the MX Master 4 is the tactile vibration feedback. You feel a little vibration as you move across a video timeline, or when you snap to the grid in Photoshop, or on other UI triggers. It gives you a bit of feedback and makes it feel like you are really working with the computer. The Anywhere 3S does not have this.

Sensor and Tracking

For raw precision, these are a tie. Both use an 8000 DPI sensor, and both track just fine on wood or glass. I do not use a mouse pad with either one.

Head to Head

Here is the short version of how the two line up on the things that actually differ.

Spec	MX Anywhere 3S	MX Master 4
Price	$80	$120
Weight	99g	150g
Size	Compact, about half the thickness	Full size, built for the desk
Click volume	Quiet	Basically silent
Side buttons	Two customizable	More buttons plus thumb button
Thumb button / Actions Ring	No	Yes
Side scrolling	Workaround (hold button and scroll)	Dedicated side scroll
Haptic feedback	No	Yes
Bolt receiver	USB-A	USB-C
Sensor	8000 DPI	8000 DPI
Charging	USB-C, use while charging	USB-C, use while charging
Bluetooth pairing	3 devices	3 devices

Who Should Get the Anywhere 3S

Get the Anywhere 3S if you travel often or work in tight spaces and need something you can throw in a backpack. It is far more compact and easier to get around with. It is still plenty comfortable, and if you do not care about having every customizable button, it still gives you some reprogrammable buttons and the ability to pair to multiple devices. You get most of the functionality of the MX Master 4 for $80.

Who Should Get the MX Master 4

The MX Master 4 is for you if you are spending six or eight hours a day at a desk, doing repetitive movements, or editing videos and photos. If you want the tactile haptics and the dedicated side scroll, it is really hard to beat. The Anywhere 3S is comfortable, but the Master 4 takes comfort to another level.

A Keyboard to Pair With It

If you are building out a Mac desk setup to go with one of these, a good keyboard finishes the job. Here is the keyboard I use and like, plus an alternate option if you want something different.

The Verdict

Both mice are easy to recommend, so pick based on how you work. The Anywhere 3S comes in at $80 and is the right call for travel, compact desks, and anyone who does not need every extra button. The MX Master 4 comes in at $120. For long days at a desk, for editing, and for the thumb button, dedicated side scroll, near-silent clicks, and haptics, the extra $40 is well worth it for the long-term comfort and the added customization. If you are at a desk all day, spend the extra and get the Master 4. If you are always on the move, the Anywhere 3S does almost everything for less.