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Logitech sells the MX Master 4 in two different variations. You can get it in the for Mac variety, or you can get it in the standard MX Master 4 variety. If you have stared at the product page trying to figure out what the difference is between these two, the short answer is really not much. I have both of them sitting on my desk, and this is the breakdown so you know exactly which one to buy.
Same mouse, same price, two small differences. Pick the standard for the Logi Bolt dongle, or the Mac edition if you like its colors better.
- Identical hardware, feel, and features on both versions
- Same $120 price either way
- Works with Windows, Mac, and iPad regardless of which you buy
- About 70 days of battery life
- Pairs to up to three devices over Bluetooth
- The for Mac version does not include the Logi Bolt dongle at the same price
- Only two real differences, so the naming makes it more confusing than it needs to be
Intro: Who This Is For
This is for anyone who has already decided they want an MX Master 4 and is now stuck on the checkout page wondering which listing to click. Both versions are the exact same mouse. The choice comes down to two things, and neither of them changes how the mouse works day to day. If you want the fastest answer, jump to the buying section at the bottom. If you want to understand why the two versions exist, read straight through.
Same Hardware, Same Everything
Let me get this out of the way first. Hardware-wise, these are the exact same mouse. Same shape, same weight, same grip. They have the same scroll wheel on top with the ratchet and free spinning modes, and the same grooved thumb wheel for horizontal scrolling. Both have three customizable buttons on the side. Both give you haptic feedback, and both have the action ring button on the side for quick launch actions.
Battery life is the same too. You can expect about 70 days out of either one. Both pair to up to three devices over Bluetooth. You flip the mouse over, turn it on, then press and hold the button on the bottom to put it in pairing mode. To switch between saved devices, you just press the button on the side to cycle through them. Nothing about the way you use these two mice is different.
Price and Cross-Platform Compatibility
These both cost $120. You are getting the same exact mouse experience with them whether you use them with Windows or Mac. That is the part that trips people up. The name says for Mac, so people assume it is locked to macOS. It is not.
Both are compatible with Windows, Mac, and iPad. They work with anything. The for Mac version works just fine with a Windows computer. You are not buying a version that will only work with one specific operating system. If you saw the for Mac label and worried it would not play nice with your PC, do not. It will.
Difference 1: The Bolt USB Dongle
Here is the first real difference. The standard MX Master 4 includes the Logi Bolt USB-C dongle. The Mac version does not include this dongle, even though it costs the same $120 as the standard model.
So the MX Master 4 for Mac is Bluetooth only out of the box. It will still work with the Bolt receiver if you go and buy it separately later on. The Bolt receiver is actually really handy. You can pair it to a computer without having a mouse already plugged in and without going into your Bluetooth settings. That makes setup much easier. You just drop in the receiver and go. Losing it on the Mac version at the same price is the one thing I would call a downside.
Difference 2: The Colorways
The second difference is the colors. The standard MX Master 4 comes in pale gray, black, and graphite. The Mac edition swaps in space gray and a silver white option instead.
Those Mac colors are actually very close to the pale gray and the graphite from the standard lineup. The only real difference I saw was the accents on the left click and the right click. The color tone is super similar otherwise. So the colorways are a preference call, not a big visual gap between the two.
| Standard MX Master 4 | MX Master 4 for Mac | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $120 | $120 |
| Logi Bolt dongle | Included | Not included, sold separately |
| Colors | Pale gray, black, graphite | Space gray, silver white |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth + Bolt | Bluetooth (Bolt optional) |
| Works with Win/Mac/iPad | Yes | Yes |
Which One Should You Buy
Deciding is easy. If you want the Bolt receiver, just get the standard MX Master 4. If there is something you like better about the for Mac colorways, meaning you think the white and silver or the space gray looks better than the pale gray or graphite, then get the for Mac version.
Either way you are buying the same amazing mouse. Same scroll feel, same customization, same haptic feedback. You are not getting a worse mouse with the Mac edition. You are just not getting the Bolt receiver, and you are getting the slightly different colors. That is the whole story.
The Bottom Line
The MX Master 4 and the MX Master 4 for Mac are the same mouse at the same $120 price. The standard version ships with the Logi Bolt dongle and comes in pale gray, black, or graphite. The Mac version leaves out the dongle and comes in space gray or silver white. Pick based on whether you want the receiver in the box or you prefer the Mac colors. That is the only decision to make. If you want the deeper breakdown of the mouse itself, my full MX Master 4 review covers the scroll wheel, the buttons, and the software in detail.
