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The Best Wireless Mouse

By Kimber Streams
Updated
Five computer mice positioned next to a keyboard on a green background
Photo: Michael Hession

Wireless mice are convenient to use: They help you navigate more quickly and easily than a finicky trackpad, and there are no wires to clutter up your desk space. Wireless mice have become so inexpensive and reliable that, for most people, they’re a better option than a cheap wired mouse.

After researching and testing mice for nearly a decade with multiple panels of testers, we’ve found that the Logitech M720 Triathlon Multi-Device is the most comfortable option for a variety of hand sizes and grip styles.

Everything we recommend

Our pick

The M720 Triathlon is comfortable for people with a wide range of hand sizes, and it has six programmable buttons and a long battery life.

Runner-up

The M585 is another comfortable wireless mouse with customizable buttons and a long battery life. But it’s smaller and has fewer buttons.

The M590 is identical to the M585, but it offers silent left- and right-click buttons.

Buying Options

Upgrade pick

The MX Master 3S has a bigger, ergonomic design and a useful thumb-scroll wheel. But it’s expensive, and it’s too large for those with small hands.

The MX Master 3S for Mac is identical to the Master 3S, but it doesn’t come with a USB receiver.

Also great

The MX Anywhere 3S is a comfortable option if you need a smaller mouse. But it’s expensive and too small for some hands, and it doesn’t come with a USB dongle.

Our pick

The M720 Triathlon is comfortable for people with a wide range of hand sizes, and it has six programmable buttons and a long battery life.

The Logitech M720 Triathlon Multi-Device has been our top pick since 2016, due to its comfortable size and shape. It has six buttons that you can customize using the Logi Options+ software, and it has a scroll wheel that toggles between ratcheted and smooth scrolling.

The M720 Triathlon can pair with—and swap between—three devices via Bluetooth, or it can connect with its included USB dongle. Logitech claims the Triathlon’s single AA battery will last for two years, and in our testing, it has been in line with that estimate. But the M720 Triathlon is contoured for right-handed mouse users, and it doesn’t work on glass or mirrored surfaces.

Runner-up

The M585 is another comfortable wireless mouse with customizable buttons and a long battery life. But it’s smaller and has fewer buttons.

The M590 is identical to the M585, but it offers silent left- and right-click buttons.

Buying Options

If the M720 Triathlon is unavailable, we recommend the Logitech M585 Multi-Device or the quieter—but otherwise identical—Logitech M590 Multi-Device Silent. Compared with our top pick, the M585 and M590 are a little smaller, and they have one fewer button. But our testers still found that both mice were comfortable to use. They both have five programmable buttons, can connect via Bluetooth or included USB dongle, and have long battery life. Like the M720 Triathlon, the M585 and M590 are contoured for right-handed use, and they don’t track on glass or mirrors.

Upgrade pick

The MX Master 3S has a bigger, ergonomic design and a useful thumb-scroll wheel. But it’s expensive, and it’s too large for those with small hands.

The MX Master 3S for Mac is identical to the Master 3S, but it doesn’t come with a USB receiver.

If you use a mouse all day, we recommend the Logitech MX Master 3S or the MX Master 3S for Mac. This mouse is comfortable to use—especially for those with large hands—and it has a handy thumb-scroll wheel and five other programmable buttons. The MX Master 3S can connect to up to three devices via Bluetooth; the regular version also comes with a USB dongle, but the Mac version does not.

Our upgrade pick’s battery lasts about two months on a charge. And Logitech has partnered with iFixit to provide replacement batteries and step-by-step guides, so you don’t have to buy a whole new mouse when the rechargeable battery inevitably wears out. But the MX Master 3S is expensive, and our testers with the smallest hands found it to be uncomfortably large. Also, the Logi Options+ software is required to customize the mouse’s buttons and sensitivity.

Also great

The MX Anywhere 3S is a comfortable option if you need a smaller mouse. But it’s expensive and too small for some hands, and it doesn’t come with a USB dongle.

If you want a smaller mouse, we recommend the Logitech MX Anywhere 3S. Our testers with smaller hands liked its flatter, more-compact shape, but testers with average-size and larger hands found it uncomfortable to use. The MX Anywhere 3S has six programmable buttons, can pair with three devices via Bluetooth, and has an estimated 70 days of battery life. But it’s expensive, and it doesn’t come with a USB receiver. And you’ll need the Logi Options+ software to customize the mouse’s buttons and sensitivity.

If you use a mouse with your left hand, or you want a cheaper ambidextrous option, a vertical mouse, or a wireless mouse for occasional gaming, we offer more advice in the Other good wireless mice section.

I have been reviewing wireless mice at Wirecutter since 2014. I’ve combed through studies on hand sizes and computer ergonomics, solicited the opinions of left- and right-handed panel testers of all hand sizes and grip types, and lived with our picks for years.

Five computer mouses placed next to each other on top of a cutting mat on a green background
Photo: Michael Hession

These are the features we look for in a great wireless mouse:

  • Comfort: A great wireless mouse should be comfortable to use. Comfort depends on your hand size and grip style—and whether you mouse with your left or right hand—so what works for one person doesn’t always work for another. We aim to find mice that are comfortable for use with a wide range of hand sizes, but no single mouse is universally comfortable.
  • Buttons: Every mouse needs standard left- and right-click buttons, and we look for mice with at least two side buttons, too. All of these buttons should be easy to click on purpose and difficult to activate by mistake. Some mice also come with useful software to track battery life and to customize buttons, sensitivity, acceleration, scroll speed, and more.
  • Connection: A mouse’s wireless connection shouldn’t lag or cut out. Bluetooth is a requirement, since many laptops nowadays have USB-C ports only. But a 2.4 GHz USB wireless receiver (also known as a dongle) can be easier to set up and provide a more-stable connection. If a mouse has a receiver, it also needs a cavity to store it. A stable connection partially depends on your setup—USB 3.0 ports and devices radiate radio-frequency noise (PDF), which can interfere with devices using the 2.4 GHz wireless band. This noise can radiate from the port on your computer or connected device, or from the cable connecting the two. To get a more-reliable connection, use an extender, which can move the dongle away from sources of interference.
  • Battery life: Our picks will last a couple of years on replaceable batteries or at least a couple of months on a charge. Battery life degrades over time, so the more a mouse starts with, the better.
  • Build quality: A mouse should feel sturdy, not hollow, cheap, or flexible.
  • Sensor: The sensor should register motion accurately, and it should work on a variety of surfaces—desks, hard and soft mouse pads, wood, and fabric.
Photos: Sarah Kobos

We begin testing by eliminating mice with obvious comfort issues, poorly placed buttons, inferior build quality, and subpar buttons and scroll wheels. Then I spend hours using the finalists on Windows and Mac to evaluate their connections, software, and performance on a variety of surfaces—including a desk, a hard mouse pad, a soft mouse pad, a wood floor, fabric, glass, and mirrors.

We also solicit opinions from panel testers with different hand sizes and grips. We researched average adult hand sizes using data compiled by the Georgia Tech Research Institute and a 1980 study of hand anthropometry commissioned by the U.S. Army. And in 2015, 2017, and 2019, we asked left- and right-handed panel testers with different grips to use our contenders. Our panelists had a wide range of hand sizes, but the average of their measurements altogether was in line with both studies—4 inches (palm), 3.3 inches (finger), and 7.7 inches (spread). We’ve applied our comfort findings from previous years’ test panels to our latest round of testing.

The Logitech M720 placed against a green background
Photo: Michael Hession

Our pick

The M720 Triathlon is comfortable for people with a wide range of hand sizes, and it has six programmable buttons and a long battery life.

The Logitech M720 Triathlon Multi-Device has been our top pick since 2016 because, unlike most wireless mice we’ve tested, it’s comfortable for people with a variety of hand sizes and grip styles. The M720 Triathlon can pair with—and quickly switch between—three devices via Bluetooth, or it can connect with its included USB dongle. It also has six programmable buttons that you can customize using the Logi Options+ software, and it has a scroll wheel that toggles between ratcheted and smooth scrolling. Logitech claims that the Triathlon’s battery can last for two years.

The M720 Triathlon is a comfortable size for most hand sizes and grip styles. In all of our panel tests over the years, our panelists of all hand sizes have rated the M720 Triathlon among the most comfortable. Our panelists enjoyed the M720 Triathlon’s supportive back arch—which measures about 2 inches and slopes down toward the front of the mouse—and its grippy, non-sweaty surface.

It has a plethora of easy-to-reach buttons. Alongside an application switcher button and a Bluetooth device toggle, the M720 Triathlon has six programmable buttons that can be customized using the Logi Options+ software. (You can also track battery life using Options+.) If you don’t need the extra customization, though, the M720 Triathlon still works without the software.

A side-view of Logitech M720 Triathlon against a green background
You can customize the M720 Triathlon’s buttons using the Logi Options+ software, and its left and right clicks feel crisp. Photo: Michael Hession

With both dongle and Bluetooth support, the M720 Triathlon will work for any setup. Our pick comes with a 2.4 GHz wireless Unifying Receiver, and it can also pair with up to three devices via Bluetooth. You can also store its USB dongle in the bottom of the Triathlon when you’re not using it.

Size comparison of the Logitech M720 Triathlon and the Logitech M585 Multi-Device
With a high back arch that fit comfortably in our testers’ hands, the Logitech M720 Triathlon (right) is a little bigger than the Logitech M585 (left). Photo: Michael Murtaugh

The M720 Triathlon’s battery lasts a very long time. Logitech claims that the M720 Triathlon’s single AA battery will last for two years. Although we can’t precisely test that estimate, long-term testing by several Wirecutter staffers has indicated that this estimate is accurate. We also like that the AA battery is easy to replace when it wears out.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

Our pick is contoured for right-handed use, like most mice. If you need a left-handed mouse, we have recommendations in the Other good wireless mice section.

The M720 Triathlon doesn’t work on glass. If you need a mouse that does, consider the Logitech MX Master 3S or the MX Anywhere 3S.

Comparison of the nearly identical Logitech M585 Multi-Device and Logitech M590 Multi-Device Silent
Photo: Michael Murtaugh

Runner-up

The M585 is another comfortable wireless mouse with customizable buttons and a long battery life. But it’s smaller and has fewer buttons.

The M590 is identical to the M585, but it offers silent left- and right-click buttons.

Buying Options

If the M720 Triathlon is unavailable, we recommend the Logitech M585 Multi-Device or the quieter—but otherwise identical—Logitech M590 Multi-Device Silent. Both mice are a little smaller than the M720 Triathlon, and they have one fewer button, but our testers found them comfortable to use. They can connect via USB dongle or Bluetooth, and they have long battery life.

Size comparison of the Logitech M720 Triathlon and the Logitech M585 Multi-Device
Although the Logitech M585 (left) is smaller than the M720 Triathlon (right), our testers found that it fit comfortably in their hands. Photo: Michael Murtaugh

The M585 is smaller than the M720 Triathlon, but it’s still comfortable to hold. Like the M720 Triathlon, the M585 fit nicely into our panel testers’ hands, and its 1.6-inch arch still offered enough palm support for extended use. The matte plastic covering on the left and right sides is easy to grip, without making hands sweaty or sticky.

Side view of the buttons on the Logitech M585 Multi-Device
The M585’s protruding side buttons are easy to find and press. Photo: Michael Murtaugh

The M585 has five programmable, well-placed buttons. The scroll wheel feels cheaper, and it lacks the M720 Triathlon wheel’s handy toggle between smooth and ratcheted scrolling, but it’s adequate for browsing the web and scrolling large documents. These inputs can be customized using Logi Options+.

Our runner-up mouse can connect via USB dongle or Bluetooth. However, the M585 can pair with only two devices, whereas the M720 Triathlon can pair with up to three. Like our top pick, the M585 has a convenient storage cavity for the USB dongle.

The battery is long-lasting and easy to replace. Logitech claims the M585’s battery life lasts for up to two years. And we’ve used it for about six months without needing to replace its single AA battery. We appreciate that the M585’s battery is simple to remove when it wears out, like the M720 Triathlon’s battery.

We had no issues with the M585’s sensor, but it doesn’t work on glass or mirrored surfaces.

A top-view of the Logitech MX Master 3S against a green background
Photo: Michael Hession

Upgrade pick

The MX Master 3S has a bigger, ergonomic design and a useful thumb-scroll wheel. But it’s expensive, and it’s too large for those with small hands.

The MX Master 3S for Mac is identical to the Master 3S, but it doesn’t come with a USB receiver.

If you use a mouse all day, we recommend the Logitech MX Master 3S or the MX Master 3S for Mac. It’s comfortable—especially for those with bigger hands—and it has a useful second scroll wheel for your thumb, plus five other programmable buttons. Like our top pick, the MX Master 3S can connect to up to three devices via Bluetooth. The regular version also comes with a USB dongle, but the Mac model does not. The battery lasts for about two months on a charge. But our upgrade pick is expensive, and our smallest-handed testers found it to be uncomfortably large. And you’ll need the Logi Options+ software to customize this mouse’s buttons and sensitivity.

The MX Master 3S is comfortable to use for long periods. With its contoured shape, thumb rest, and soft-touch coating, our upgrade pick is particularly well suited for people with larger-than-average hands—it’s not too big for those with average-size hands, either. But our smallest-handed testers found the MX Master 3S to be uncomfortably large.

A top-view of the MX Master 3S and the M720 Triathlon next to each other on a green background
The MX Master 3S (left) is larger than the M720 Triathlon (right). Photo: Michael Hession

We love the MX Master 3S’s thumb-scroll wheel. By default the thumb wheel is set to horizontal scrolling, which is great for graphic design, video editing, and large spreadsheets, but configuring it to scroll between browser tabs is life-changing. In addition to quiet left- and right-click buttons, the MX Master 3S has six easy-to-each inputs that can be customized in the Logi Options+ software. The MagSpeed scroll wheel on top can automatically switch between ratcheted and smooth scrolling, which is useful for reading through a long document one ratchet at a time or quickly scrolling all the way to the bottom.

A side-view of the Logitech MX Master 3S against a green background
The Logitech MX Master 3S has a contoured shape—and a handy thumb-scroll wheel—that makes it a joy to use. Photo: Michael Hession

The Logi Options+ software is required to adjust sensitivity. Mouse sensitivity is measured in dots per inch, or DPI. The lower the sensitivity, the more you have to move the mouse to make the cursor move, and vice versa. The MX Master 3S’s DPI is set to 1,000 by default, which felt way too low for me both on a monitor and a 13-inch laptop screen; my preference is around 1,400. But my settings did not stick when I moved the mouse between computers, and they disappeared when I uninstalled Logi Options+. You can also use the software to remap buttons and set app-specific actions.

It can pair with three devices via Bluetooth, but not all models come with a USB dongle. The regular MX Master 3S can also connect via an included Logi Bolt USB receiver, but the MX Master 3S for Mac does not come with a dongle. (And be careful not to lose the dongle; there’s nowhere to store it inside either version of the MX Master 3S.)

An under-view of the charging port of the MX Master 3S against a green background
The Logitech MX Master 3S recharges via USB-C. Photo: Michael Hession

The MX Master 3S’s built-in battery doesn’t last as long as our top pick’s. Logitech claims the MX Master 3S will last up to 70 days between charges, which is in line with our experience. But battery life also degrades over time, and one day the mouse will no longer hold a charge. We like that Logitech has partnered with iFixit to provide replacement batteries (and feet and screws), as well as step-by-step replacement guides. So when that day comes, you don’t have to buy a brand new mouse.

The MX Master 3S will work on any surface. Unlike the majority of mice we tested, including our top picks, the MX Master 3S worked on glass and mirrors, thanks to its Logitech Darkfield (PDF) sensor.

A top-view of the Logitech MX Anywhere 3S against a green background
Photo: Michael Hession

Also great

The MX Anywhere 3S is a comfortable option if you need a smaller mouse. But it’s expensive and too small for some hands, and it doesn’t come with a USB dongle.

If you want a smaller mouse, we recommend the Logitech MX Anywhere 3S. Our small-handed panel testers found the MX Anywhere 3S’s flatter, more-compact shape to be especially comfortable. Like our top pick, this mouse has six programmable buttons, and it can pair with three devices via Bluetooth. But the MX Anywhere 3S does not come with a USB receiver. Logitech estimates the battery life at 70 days. However, not all of our testers found this mouse comfortable to use, and it’s expensive. Also, to customize the mouse’s buttons and sensitivity, the Logi Options+ software is required.

A top-view of the MX Anywhere 3S and the M720 Triathlon next to each other on a green background
The MX Anywhere 3S (left) is much smaller than the M720 Triathlon (right). Photo: Michael Hession

Our testers with small hands love the MX Anywhere 3S, but not everyone finds it comfy. “I love the size and shape of this mouse,” our smallest-handed tester wrote. She ranked it the most comfortable of our picks, and she added that she was able to use the flat mouse in a palm grip without issue. Some testers with average-size and larger hands found the MX Anywhere 3S too small, however; they noted that it forced an uncomfortable claw grip and that the side buttons were difficult to press.

A side-view of the MX Anywhere 3S and the M720 Triathlon next to each other on a green background
Our small-handed testers preferred the flatter shape of the MX Anywhere 3S (left) over the M720 Triathlon (right). Photo: Michael Hession

The MX Anywhere 3S has six programmable buttons. Our small-handed testers found these buttons well placed and easy to reach. And like those of our other picks, they can be customized in the Logi Options+ software. Like our upgrade pick, this model has a MagSpeed scroll wheel that can automatically switch between ratcheted and smooth scrolling.

To adjust sensitivity, you’ll need Logitech’s software. Like that of our upgrade pick, the MX Anywhere 3S’s sensitivity is set to 1,000 DPI by default, and it feels too low. Logitech’s software is required to adjust this setting, remap buttons, and set app-specific actions.

A side-view of the MX Anywhere 3S against a green background
The MX Anywhere 3S’s buttons are conveniently placed and easy to reach. Photo: Michael Hession

It can pair with three devices via Bluetooth, but it doesn’t come with a USB dongle. If you need a dongle, the MX Anywhere 3S is compatible with the Logi Bolt receiver, but you’ll have to buy one separately, and there’s nowhere inside the mouse to store it.

Logitech claims the MX Anywhere 3S has 70 days of battery life. We haven’t been able to test this yet, but the company’s battery-life claims on its other mice have proved accurate in our testing. This battery life will degrade over time. And though iFixit currently sells replacement batteries for previous models of the MX Anywhere line, replacements for the 3S are not yet available as of this writing. We hope to see them soon.

The MX Anywhere 3S will work on any surface. Like our upgrade pick, the MX Anywhere 3S has a Logitech Darkfield (PDF) sensor, so it will also work on glass and mirrors.

If you want a contoured mouse for lefties: The Logitech Signature M650L Left is the most comfortable left-handed mouse we’ve tested so far, thanks to its contoured shape and well-placed side buttons. In an attempt to accommodate lefties, many companies make ambidextrous mice with buttons on both sides, but our testers found that those buttons only get in the way. The M650L Left has silent clicks and a mediocre scroll wheel, and our testers with average-size hands found the M650L to be a bit long for a comfortable palm grip.

If you’re looking for a small, ambidextrous option: The Microsoft Bluetooth Mobile Mouse 3600 is a simple, small, and comfortable symmetrical mouse. Its shape works for both lefties and righties, and our panel testers liked its grip, shape, button selection, and scroll wheel. But it’s smaller than our other picks, it has fewer buttons, and it can connect to just one device at a time via Bluetooth. Microsoft has also discontinued its peripherals, so once the remaining stock is gone, it’s gone for good.

If you’re interested in a vertical mouse: On days when my wrist pain flares up, I swap to the Logitech Lift. Of the vertical mice I’ve tested over the years, the Lift has the most comfortable size and shape, and it holds my wrist at a neutral angle. Its buttons are all easy to reach and to activate, and it can connect to multiple devices via Bluetooth or its included USB dongle. Logitech also sells a left-handed model, as well as a Mac version.

If you don’t need Bluetooth: We still love the Logitech Marathon Mouse M705 because it’s comfortable to use, its sensor tracks smoothly, and it has years of battery life. But it lacks Bluetooth, and it connects only via USB dongle—if you’re confident that you don’t need Bluetooth, it’s a great option.

If you want a mouse that’s good for occasional gaming: The Razer Basilisk X HyperSpeed is our favorite cheap wireless gaming mouse. It’s extremely comfortable, it has a sensor designed for gaming and a customizable scroll wheel, and it can connect via Bluetooth or USB dongle. The Basilisk X HyperSpeed is more expensive, and it’s overkill for most people’s needs, but it’s the best option if you play games sometimes.

At CES 2024, Lenovo announced the Yoga Pro Mouse which will be available in April for $40. The HP 690 Rechargeable Wireless Mouse is available now for $60.

Incase also announced that it will be resurrecting some of Microsoft’s discontinued keyboards and mice, including the Mobile Mouse 1850, a variant of the Microsoft Bluetooth Mobile Mouse 3600 we recommend if you need a small, ambidextrous option. We plan to test Incase’s new models when they’re available later this year.

In several rounds of testing over the years, we’ve dismissed mice for not having Bluetooth, for having too few buttons, for having tracking issues, for feeling cheap, and for being just plain uncomfortable to use. Our panel testers have found the following mice to be less comfortable to use than our picks, to have poorly placed or unsatisfying buttons, or to have connection issues:

This article was edited by Signe Brewster and Caitlin McGarry.

Meet your guide

Kimber Streams

Kimber Streams is a senior staff writer and has been covering laptops, gaming gear, keyboards, storage, and more for Wirecutter since 2014. In that time they’ve tested hundreds of laptops and thousands of peripherals, and built way too many mechanical keyboards for their personal collection.

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