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The Logitech MX Master 3S is one of the most popular productivity mice Logitech ever made. So the real question with the MX Master 4 is not just whether it is good. It is whether it is different enough to justify replacing a mouse that already worked great.
I have used both for a long time. Here is everything that carried over, everything that changed, and whether the extra $30 is worth it, whether you are buying your first one or thinking about an upgrade.
Buying new? Get the MX Master 4. Already have a 3S that works? Only upgrade if it is worn, the scroll wheel is failing, or you want the extra button and haptics.
- MX Master 4 adds a third side button and refined placement
- Most of the rubber grip is gone, so it ages better
- Haptic feedback is a genuinely useful, underrated addition
- Logi Bolt receiver is now USB-C, and the charging light moved on top
- The top scroll wheel, the 3S's weak point, was not fixed
- You cannot use the thumb button and click-drag at the same time
- Actions Ring replaces the default Mac gestures and needs reconfiguring
- The 4 costs about $30 more than a discounted 3S
What is identical on both
Pick both up with your eyes closed and you might not know which one you are holding. Same shape and profile, the same MagSpeed scroll wheel on top, about 70 days of battery life, and a similar custom-button layout. Both elevate your wrist nicely and stay comfortable all day. Honestly, going from the 3S to the 4 feels basically like using the same mouse, with a handful of meaningful refinements.
The extra button, and Actions Ring vs Mac gestures
The 3S has two side custom buttons plus a thumb button. The 4 adds a third side button and moves the first two back a little, which I found more comfortable. That extra button is genuinely handy in apps like Final Cut Pro where you are making a lot of precise movements.
Logitech also changed the thumb button into what it calls the Actions Ring. On the 3S the thumb button defaulted to Mac gestures. On the 4 you have to reconfigure a button to get gestures back, because by default it opens a ring of app-specific actions. I did not love the ring, so I swapped it back to macOS gestures for switching full-screen windows and Mission Control, which just works better for me.
No more rubber grip
The biggest change is that Logitech removed most of the rubber grip. That was a real complaint on the 3S, because the rubber discolors over time. My pale gray 3S does not look as nice as it did new, while my MX Master 4 still looks good nine months in. The rubber could also feel tacky under a sweaty palm on a long day. The 4 keeps just a little rubber on the thumb area and where your right index finger sits. This change alone is honestly reason enough to prefer the 4.
The side scroll improved, the top wheel did not
The side scroll wheel on the 4 feels a bit more solid to me, and after nine months it still has as much resistance as day one. The problem is the top wheel. My single biggest issue with the 3S was that its top scroll wheel got loose and rattly. It still worked, but plenty of people had to replace theirs, and Logitech did not warranty it. Unfortunately the 4 uses the same top scroll wheel. The side scroll is different, but the top is the one area that genuinely still needs to be fixed.
Haptic feedback is better than it sounds
I assumed the haptic feedback would be a gimmick. It is not. In an app like Photoshop, when you snap to a grid, the mouse gives a small confirmation buzz that you locked in where you wanted. It is subtle, and the more you use it the more you appreciate it. This is one of those quiet upgrades that adds up.
The thumb-button annoyance
One real irritation on the 4: you cannot use the thumb button and click-and-drag at the same time. If you rely on the thumb button for Mac gestures, that limitation gets in the way more than you would expect.
Pairing, software, and the versions to avoid
You customize buttons, scroll sensitivity, and mouse speed through Logi Options+, which works the same on both and has been solid for me, though you do have to install it on each computer you use. Both are Windows and Mac compatible, pair over Bluetooth with three device slots, and switch between devices quickly by flipping the mouse over.
Both charge over USB-C on the front, but only while connected by Bluetooth or the Bolt receiver, not as a plain wired mouse. The 4’s Logi Bolt is now USB-C instead of USB-A, which saves you an adapter, and the charging light moved to the top where it is easier to see. One tip: I do not recommend the “for Mac” version of either, because it does not include the USB dongle, so you are stuck pairing over Bluetooth. Being able to pull out the dongle and just have it work is worth it.
Price and which one to buy
The 3S launched at $99 and crept up later; the 4 launched at $120. You can still find the 3S on sale, usually around $80 to $90.
| MX Master 3S | MX Master 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Side custom buttons | 2 | 3 |
| Rubber grip | Full top grip (discolors) | Mostly removed |
| Haptic feedback | No | Yes |
| Top scroll wheel | Can loosen over time | Same (unchanged) |
| Logi Bolt receiver | USB-A | USB-C |
| Charging light | Left side | Top (easier to see) |
| Battery | ~70 days | ~70 days |
| Typical price | $80 to $90 on sale | $120 |
Final recommendation
If you are buying a mouse today and do not already own one, get the MX Master 4. The extra button, the haptics, and losing the rubber coating make it the obvious pick, and the roughly $30 difference is worth it. If you already have a 3S that works fine, you probably do not need to replace it. But if your 3S is showing wear, the scroll wheel is going, the rubber is rough, or you would really use one more customizable button, the upgrade is worth it and I do not think you will regret it.
