The ultimate mouse guide for architects, designers, and creatives
Why you need a good mouse
A good computer mouse is a highly undervalued essential product for architects and designers. With so much time spent on using computers with CAD and 3d programs, having a mouse that is accurate and ergonomic is a must. In fact, I would say that it is the most important computer accessory that needs further investment to make sure that health risks are minimised and for increased productivity.
I am obsessed with finding the best mouse for architects and designers! In fact, looking over my drawers, I am counting 15 mice! Some of them are quite old, so I won't even bother talking about them, but having the experience with so many computer mice would hopefully give you a good insight about what may be the most useful mouse for you. I have used each mouse extensively and can speak about them at length.
Before I let you know which solution works best for me, let's go and highlight each mouse, what works well and what doesn't. The list is extensive, so here are thumbnails for each mouse to scroll down
Video Review
For those of you that prefer to have a handy written guide, check out the detailed info below
The criteria
A good mouse for constant daily use for architects and designers should have the following:
Ergonomics and design
A mouse should be quite comfortable to use, comfortable to press the buttons, so as not to cause too much strain on the hand muscles. It should also be comfortable and easy to move around on the surface.
I am tall about 1.85m or 6'-2", with fairly large hands, so keep that in mind when I speak about ergonomics.
Accuracy
The more accurate a mouse is, the less movement one needs to do to move the mouse around to get to the right position. This is especially important for CAD, 3D, and graphics work. The less movement that's needed, the less strain on the wrist. So with more accurate mice, the more comfortable the experience would be of using the mouse for extended periods of time
Middle mouse button
The middle mouse button should be really easy to press without extra effort, as it is constantly needed for panning and rotating around views. Krita and the Affinity Suite (Affinity Photo, Designer, and Publisher) also work conveniently with a middle mouse button. This is essentially an extension of ergonomics, but it is so important, that it needs to be mentioned on its own
Buttons and customisation
Being able to adjust the mouse speed, and what each button does could further improve the usability and productivity of using a mouse. Some software settings also include the ability to map custom actions to buttons specific to one software. So you could have one action mapped to a button to use in Rhino, and a different action to use in Blender.
Connectivity and battery
Some mice use standard AA or AAA batteries. Others are rechargeable. Some good mice are still wired. Most are wireless, but some wireless mice could be used as wired while they are charging. All wireless mice use either Bluetooth or a dedicated wireless dongle. Some mice have both Bluetooth and wireless abilities
Wait, do I even need a mouse
Before we go on with the mouse list, I would like to mention a few words about other devices - laptop trackpads, touchscreens and pen tablets. If you use a MacBook of any kind, their trackpads are great, and many use them exclusively. With a MacBook, I still use a separate mouse for CAD and 3d. The trackpad gestures are great, but they are nowhere near as fast as having a proper mouse. With other laptops, it's a hit or a miss, so I always use a mouse for serious design work and I would recommend to all to use a dedicated mouse.
As for Wacom tablets and the likes, they are also great, but the fall more in the trackpad category than a dedicated mouse alternative for CAD or 3d work. I frequently use a Wacom tablet for quick sketches, but I find that I don't like to use it as my main pointing device.
The Mouse List
Let's talk about each mouse being tested. The order in which they are written is the order that I've acquired them in case you are wondering, except for the Dell MS116.
Dell Optical Mouse MS116
If you work in an architectural office or have used University computer labs, chances are that you have already used this mouse. This is our base case scenario. So how good are the rest of the mice compared to the default computer mouse at your office?
Ergonomics and design
The mouse has a slightly ergonomic shape. It is not the biggest, nor the smallest of the bunch, giving flexibility of how it can be held or where the hand is located on the mouse. It is ambidextrous so it can be used with either hand.
Accuracy
The mouse has a DPI of 1000, which is the typical of most general computer mice.
Middle mouse button
Dell computers can be found in most architectural offices. Clearly, Dell knows a thing or two about architects. I feel that when they designed this mouse, they were thinking about the architecture and design sector, as the middle mouse scroll button is flat, so it has a bit more room to get pressed. It is also the least stiff of the bunch. Like all other mice, you would like it to be even less stiff to cause less strain when pressing the middle mouse button, but out of the bunch, it certainly has an above average experience for using the middle mouse button for CAD and 3D work.
Buttons and customisation
The mouse has3 buttons and no customisation.
Connectivity and battery
This mouse is a USB wired mouse
My recommendation
If it's on your desk at work, great, but this is not a mouse that I would recommend going out and buying on your own. Back to top
Apple Magic Mouse
I will keep this shorter than the rest because I think it needs to be mentioned. The mouse looks great, and could be surprisingly comfortable, but it is useless for serious design work. Forget about a middle mouse button, this mouse doesn't even have a proper right-hand button. You have to lift your left finger in order for it to recognize a right click as such. In short I don't recommend this mouse and it's successive iterations at all unless you are working only on 2d graphics. Then the gestures the mouse has are pretty great.
Logitech M325 Compact Wireless Mouse
This is the cheapest Logitech mouse that I would recommend (30$ or 30€ listed on Logitech's website, but it can often be found cheaper on amazon and elsewhere)It's quite compact so it is easy to take on the road when needed between home, office, and/or school.
I've had this mouse since about 2012, and used it for student, and then personal use extensively until 2015. These days, since I've started doing the tests, I've brought it out of the drawer, and I am surprised that it's still useful and ergonomically comfortable for occasional work
Ergonomics and design
The mouse is comfortable to use, but not for a whole day of intense mouse-based activities such as CAD or 3D work. I have tried it and my hand gets tired. One nice feature about the mouse is that it's ambidextrous so it can be used with the right or the left hand. I am left-handed, but I use a mouse with my right hand. However, when my right hand gets tired, I like to give it a break and use the mouse with the left hand (if only briefly, some relief is better than no relief)
Accuracy
The mouse has a DPI of 1000, which is the typical of most general computer mice. It is not completely accurate, and I did notice the level of precision when I used one of the other mice mentioned below. However, it is not terribly inaccurate either (remember the days before laser mice, and lint build-up?)
Middle mouse button
The middle mouse button doesn't require a lot of extra effort to press
Buttons and customisation
The mouse has 5 buttons - left, right, middle, and the scroll wheel can be pushed either to the left or the right (back and forth buttons. It works with Logitech Options software, so the buttons can be reconfigured, but really what are you going to reconfigure out of the currently available buttons?
Connectivity and battery
Wireless with a Logitech Unifying receiver. Multiple Logitech wireless products can be paired with a single Logitech Unifying Receiver.
The mouse uses a single AA battery
My recommendation
This is a compact mouse, meaning that it's best to use with a laptop to move around easier. Yet, a dongle is needed to use it, which is counterproductive. The Unifying receiver is great, but only if you use more than one product. I would either recommend the next mouse on the list for a compact mouse, or as a second mouse in case you have another primary desktop mouse. Back to top
Logitech M535 Bluetooth compact mouse
This mouse came out in 2015 and it was the first decent bluetooth mouse that Logitech had produced in a very long while! Prior to that I used the Logitech V270 Bluetooth which was introduced in 2006! I pre-ordered the M535, and it is a great product. Works as advertised, it's held up pretty well, as this is the mouse that I used most extensively for home and home office work for quite a while. Only a few months ago, I bought the same mouse as a replacement of the old mouse, as the left button needed to be pushed extra hard to work, causing unnecessary strain. It's cool, mice are products that wear out over time. The profile is slightly slimmer than the M325 so it fits easier in bags.
Ergonomics and design
Similar to the M325, the mouse is comfortable to use, but not for a whole day of intense mouse-based activities such as CAD or 3D work. I had used it for whole days and my fingers were getting tired. Again similarly to the M325, it has an ambidextrous design, so it can be used with the right or the left hand.
The mouse is slightly wider than the M325, and it is much easier to move around on any surface compared to the M325. It might be because the mouse is lighter but it is much less strenuous to move the mouse around.
The size feels just right, where it can be held with either the upper palm being resting directly on the mouse, or lifted up slightly higher. It is nice to have a mouse that allows it to be held in different ways!
Accuracy
The mouse has a DPI of 1000, so the way that works is similar to the M325
Middle mouse button
Unfortunately, the middle mouse button requires quite a bit of effort. I've used much stiffer mice (including in offices I've worked, can you believe that?), but out of the ones currently on my desk, pressing the middle mouse button tends to be of the stiffer and noiser bunch
Buttons and customisation
The mouse has 6 buttons - left, right, middle, and the scroll wheel can be pushed either to the left or the right (back and forward buttons), and the awesome gesture button. Really, good job Logitech for that button! It is one of my favourite mouse features. By pressing the gesture button, you get control of extra four 5 buttons. There are presets available in the Logitech Options software to, for example, use the gesture button for music. Gesture button + mouse forward increases the volume, gesture button + mouse backward decreases volume, gesture button+mouse left goes to previous song, gesture button+mouse right, goes to next song. Pressing the gesture button without movement, starts or stops the music.
This might actually go to the ergonomics category, as it has been the easiest and simplest way to adjust the computer volume. Much more ergonomic than moving the hand from the mouse to the keyboard, pressing FN+volume up keys, and then moving the hand back on the mouse.
The Gesture button can be highly customised as well, with each part of the gesture having a different action assigned. It can also be customised for each application.
In fact, with Logitech Options, any button can be mapped as a gesture button to use the button pressed + mouse movement. This gives an incredible amount of flexibility without actually needing extra 4 buttons on the mouse.
Connectivity and battery
Bluetooth 3.0.This is not the latest Bluetooth protocol, but it doesn't matter much for a mouse. It works as well as you would expect. However, Bluetooth mice are notoriously difficult to use between different computers. Some models have multiple profiles that can be connected to different devices, but this mouse can only be paired with one device at a time.
The mouse uses a single AA battery
My recommendation
Overall I would recommend this mouse, potentially even as a primary mouse, but not for extensive 3D or CAD work. It certainly feels like a step from the Logitech M325 and is ideal if you typically use one laptop. It moves around smoother, quitter, and the extra button mapped to gestures is a huge productivity and ergonomics booster. Back to top
Logitech M590 Compact Silent Mouse
I bought this mouse specifically for creating video tutorials, as it has nearly silent clicks. Besides being obsessed with mice, I am quite obsessed with a few other technologies - clean sound definitely being another obsession. Besides the highly specific case of video tutorials, this mouse could be quite useful if you are sharing a working space with a partner and you don't want to disturb them with constant clicks.
Ergonomics and design
This mouse is a bit larger than the M535. It's a strange size for my hand. It's not small and it's not large. For some reason it is not very comfortable for extended use for me, so I only use it for recording videos.It may have to do with the higher profile, where I use only my finger knuckles to press the buttons. However, for an hours work or so I find it quite comfortable.
Accuracy
The mouse has a DPI of 1000, so the way that works is similar to the M535.
Middle mouse button
This is where this mouse is a huge winner. It is has the quietest and least resistant middle mouse click. It feels totally like a mouse from 2004! That's amazing for 3d and CAD work!
Buttons and customisation
The mouse has an impressive 7 buttons - It has twice the back and forwards buttons - once with the scroll wheel which can be titled left and right, and then there are two separate buttons. The only mouse I have with more buttons is the twice more expensive MX Master 3
Like the other Logitech mice, the M590 works with the Logitech Options software, giving extensive customisation and the ability for any button to be mapped to the amazing gestures features unique to Logitech Options. Since there are two extra buttons, it has the potential for quite a bit of productivity optimisations.
Connectivity and battery
The M590 can be connected both with Bluetooth and with a Logitech Wireless Receiver. It also has the option to have two profiles so it can be se up with two devices at the same time. The odd thing is that the button for connecting to the devices is on top of the mouse instead of underneath. Maybe Logitech decided that this is a mouse users would frequently switch between two devices? The only reason I can explain placing the button to switch at such a prominent place.
The mouse uses a single AA battery
My recommendation
I would only recommend this mouse if you need to have a silent mouse or if your need to have extra buttons. For the price point, there aren't too many other mice that offer the customisation that this mouse offers. Perhaps if your are not 185cm, it may be more comfortable for your hands as well. Back to top
Anker Wireless Vertical Ergonomic mouse
This is the first vertical mouse that I started using back in 2014, due to wrist pais at work where I was using the default Dell wired mouse. It helped quite a bit. If you are not aware, vertical mice give a more natural position to the wrist, so technically there should be less strain on the wrist. In practice, however, the mouse moves differently than what you may be used to, so even though the hand is in a more correct position, I've found that the wrist somehow works harder to move the mouse around.
Nevertheless, for the cheap price available on Amazon for the Anker mouse or one of the other no-brand similar mice, it's a must for anyone. Over the years, I've recommended this model to many co-workers who were happy to start using them and felt much less pain. It does take a few days to get used to it though.
Ergonomics and design
The mouse is in vertical position, so there should be much less strain on the wrist. It is comfortable to use, and I have used the mouse on multiple occasions for extended work days without any significant strain. The mouse has much less give though, and I have noticed that my hand at some point gets a bit tired from being in the exact same position.
The significantly taller profile of the mouse means that it takes a lot more effort to move the hand between the mouse and the keyboard. I have noticed that it causes much more movement than with some other mice in different parts of the body.
Accuracy
The mouse includes a dedicated button to switch the mouse sensitivity between 800, 1200, and 1600 DPI. In my experience, more sensitivity doesn't relate directly to more accuracy, and if the mouse moves faster, there is less overall movement, but icking, for example, just the right element on the screen may be a bit difficult. In that respect, this mouse is one of the less accurate mice that I have.
Middle mouse button
The middle mouse button requires a little pressure, so it is about the average of any mouse. I do wish that it required a bit less pressure (with pretty much any mouse besides the ones with a dedicated middle mouse button)
Buttons and customisation
The mouse has 6 buttons, with the 6th button being a DPI adjustment button, so there is zero ability to adjust the mouse's functions. But, hey, how often do we actually adjust the mouse buttons?
Connectivity and battery
The mouse uses a 2.4G wireless dongle, similar to logitech unifying receiver. However it is incompatible with any other wireless dongles, so if you use this mouse, you will always need to have the dongle plugged into a USB A port.
The mouse uses two AAA batteries.
My recommendation
This mouse is so different that even if it is not your primary mouse, I would recommend purchasing it due to its friendly price. You might even like it enough to use as your main mouse! Back to top
Logitech M570 and M575 trackball mouse
It seems that on many occasions when I've worked on an intense deadline, where wrist pains become present purely due to the number of hours spent on the computer using a mouse, I decided to buy a new type of mouse. A long while ago, I decided to buy the Logitech M570, which uses a trackball with the thumb.
Ergonomics and design
The mouse is in a traditional position, yet it's quite large that hand rests nicely on it. It also has a little give, so the mouse can be adjusted. Due to the fact that the wrist doesn't move, you can be sure that your wrist is always in the optimal position. However, the thumb muscles can get a little tired, and I've noticed that since my hand rests in the same position, it can get a little sweaty.
The updated M575, a model which I haven't personally tested, seems to retain pretty much the same ergonomic design and layout, with the added benefit of improved materials. So it may be a little more comfortable
Accuracy
The M570 has a pretty low 400 DPI. Now that I look at the numbers, I always thought that it felt a little less accurate because it's trackball instead of a traditional mouse.
The M575 states that the DPI is adjustable in Logitech Options between 400 and 2000 DPI
Middle mouse button
The middle mouse button on the M570 requires the average pressure. However, the click sound is quite loud! In fact the loudest of all the mice I am testing
I hope the middle mouse button feels a little better on the M575
Buttons and customisation
The mouse has the standard 5 buttons. The forward and back buttons are separate from the scroll wheel. The buttons can be customised in the older Logitech SetPoint software for the M570 and in Logitech Options for the M575
Connectivity and battery
The M570 uses the Logitech Unifying Receiver and M575 can be used either with the Logitech Unifying Receiver or with Bluetooth.
Both models use one AA battery
My recommendation
Similarly to the Anker Vertical mouse, this mouse is so different that if you or your wrist are aching for something different, then I would recommend purchasing it and trying it out. The M570 is no longer available but the M575 seems like a direct and worthy successor. Back to top
3Dconnexion CadMouse Pro 3 button mouse
A while back, I decided to purchase the SpaceMouse Enterprise, which is the flagship 3d mouse offered by 3D Connexion. It's a pretty pricey product, but there was (and still is) an option to purchase a kit containing the Space Mouse Enterprise, the CadMouse Pro, and the CadMouse Pad. The kit is called SpaceMouse Enterprise Kit 2 and it's a great bang for the buck. Yes, still quite pricey (actually the absolute most expensive mouse package you can purchase for a mouse), but much cheaper than purchasing the individual products separately. Up until this point, the most expensive mouse I've had was around $40. And wow! The experience has been and continues to be amazing!
The mouse is the most comfortable I've used, and it has a dedicated middle mouse button! Clearly 3D Connexion knows a thing or two about CAD and 3D professional users :) Well, clearly, they are a company where all their products are directed to this group so, yes it feels great to have products specifically made for our needs.
3D Connexion is most well known for the SpaceMouse, which is an additional device useful for orbiting in 3D, used together with a traditional mouse. In case you are curious, I have created a video specifically about the Space Mice available and how they can be useful.
Ergonomics and design
The mouse is in a traditional position and it is quite large, but very comfortable to hold. The design is specifically made with CAD in mind, so I can imagine the 3D Connexion did quite a bit of research to make sure the mouse is really comfortable for extended use. Naturally, after a 10 hour marathon design session, even with the best mouse, my hand starts to feel a bit achy, and with the CadMouse pro, the achiness seems to be on the finger knuckles. But no mouse would be comfortable for 10 hours of the exact same movements. So in regards to ergonomics, it's the most comfortable one that I have used.
The fact that it is not vertical, hasn't made it less comfortable due to the accuracy. The PTFE mouse feet are oversized compared to other mice, and this makes the movement of the mouse feel effortless on any surface, especially the CadMouse Pad.
Accuracy
The accuracy of this mouse is also the best. It isn't gimmicky like the Anker vertical mouse, and it goes up to 7200 DPI, and a poll rate of 1000hz. I don't know precisely what all this technicality means, but I can easily says this is one of the most accurate mice that I have used that causes the least strain on my hand.
Middle mouse button
The CadMouse Pro and all other CadMouse products have a dedicated middle mouse button! Huge comfort difference, but of course you would need to get used to right-clicking with the ring finger instead of the middle finger.
Buttons and Customisation Software
The mouse has 6 buttons and can be customised with the same software used to customise the Space Mouse. The software is called 3Dconnexion properties and it is the most extensive customisation software as it includes the ability to assign radial menus to a button click. The radial menu can have either 4 or 8 commands. Similarly to Logitech Options, the buttons can be adjusted individually for each app. Yet, it feels much more natural as the app auto selects the currently running program for which you may want to adjust the button mappings.
For example, to make sure that I use the same button for panning and rotating, I have assigned the middle mouse button when using Rhino to think that it's a right-mouse button, as Rhino smartly utilises a dedicated button instead of the middle mouse button. But not to worry, this mouse and all CadMouse products save the issue and greatly improve comfort.
The scrolling wheel has a feature called smart scrolling. If you want to scroll quite fast down on a website, or zoom in into a model quickly, the smart scroll helps accelerate that action. It works really well, the only problems I've had is with some online software, where I accidentally scroll really far out of, for example a whiteboard, and it takes me a to zoom back in to find my place.
The best part of the software is that it includes the ability to easily write macros containing both keystrokes and mouse clicks. For example I wrote this document in one note, and when I pasted it, it had a number of formatting issues. I assigned a Macro to the forward button to click three times, then Ctrl+B, and Ctrl+I to remove the bold and the italics from the headings.
A more complex case might be a macro for running specific commands in Rhino. for example select all on layer, join and fillet edges. All of that can be done with a single button click. A macro can be assigned to a single button or to an item in a radial menu. So you could have up to 8 macros assigned to a button! All of this customisation comes from the fact that the SpaceMouse needs to have the ability to highly
The 3dConnexion Software detects which app is currently running and allows you to customise your button for that app specifically. Here is an example of how the the middle mouse button is remapped for Rhino
Connectivity and battery
The mouse use a wired USB A connection.
My recommendation
This was the first CadMouse available, and since they have updated this model, introduced wireless version and smaller wireless version. I still use this mouse, but I would recommend getting one of the newer wireless versions, simply to have less cable clutter. Back to top
3Dconnexion CadMouse Compact Wireless
Another CadMouse product release, another purchase! I really liked the larger wired version, but I thought a slightly more compact and wireless version should only be better! It has the exact same functionality and a dedicated middle mouse button, just in a slightly smaller form factor.
Ergonomics and design
The mouse is slightly larger than the M590 and slightly smaller than the Dell MS116. The compact design means that it can either be held with the knuckles resting on the mouse or just the fingertips touching the mouse buttons. It is quite comfortable when held in both ways.
Accuracy
The mouse goes up to 7200 DPI and has different polling rates for the different ways it is connected - 90 Hz for Bluetooth, 125 Hz for wired, and 1000 Hz when using a cable
Middle mouse button
CadMouse Compact Wireless like all other CadMice has a dedicated middle mouse button!
Buttons and customisation
As with the CadMouse Pro, this mouse has 6 buttons that can be customised with the same software used to customise the Space Mouse. This is the most extensive customisation software and it includes the ability to assign radial menus to a button, with 4 or 8 custom items. The software also has the ability to write macros. Check out this info above for more extensive info about the software. Back to top
Connectivity and battery
Now we are now in the high-end wireless mouse world! This usually means triple connectivity as is the case with this mouse. It can be used either with Bluetooth, a 3d Connexion wireless receiver, or with a USB cable. Similarly to Logitech, multiple 3d Connexion devices can be set up with the same receiver.
This mouse technically has two profiles so it's possible to have it set up with two computers simultaneously - Bluetooth connection and wireless connection.
The only downside is that this mouse still uses Micro USB connection instead of a USB C connection to charge the mouse and to use it in wired mode.
Also, in case you wonder there is no way to connect a wireless Logitech mouse to a 3d Connexion receiver and vice versa.
My recommendation
When I need to work on the road, this is the only mouse that I take (along with the CadMouse Pad). It's not too bulky, comfortable, accurate, and has a dedicated middle mouse button. Really, what else could you ask for? If there was one mouse to rule them all - useful for the office, useful at home, and useful for the road, why being high accuracy and comfortable, then this would be the one! (but more on that in the conclusions further down). The mouse also comes with a really nice travel case.
Logitech MX Master 3 Flagship mouse
I purchased the current King of all mice quite a while ago, pretty much with the only intent to use it and review it. It's generally a great mouse, feels really robust in the hand and the middle mouse button on the scroll wheel feels quite well! However, in my case, I have found that my hand can get quite tired using it compared to the CadMouse. Of course I am talking about the 5th or 6th hour of design work and beyond. But around that time, my hand gets tired using any mouse!
Ergonomics and design
This is a tough one, as the ergonomics are fantastic, and it may be a tie with the CadMouse Pro. The angle at which the mouse supports the hand is a little more inclined than the CadMouse, so it should be a bit more comfortable for most. The thumb rest feels a little more ergonomic as well. Again, the only discomfort I've had is with strenuous use for 4or more hours, where my knuckles have started to hurt as it seems due to the ergonomics and maybe my large hands, I use my finger knuckles to press the buttons more than the finger tips.
This mouse feels and looks so good, that I don't want to touch it too much and ruin it with greasy fingers! The texture on the thumb feels really nice
Accuracy
On Logitech's website it says the mouse used a nominal 1000 dpi but can go between 200 to 4000 dpi. I am not sure whether the Pointer Speed in the Logitech Options Software adjusts the DPI, but there doesn't seem to be any other place that I can find, so I assume that must be the way, which then means, the DPI is set to sensitivity.
Middle mouse button
Besides a dedicated middle-mouse button, this middle mouse scroll button might be the best one around! Certainly the best one that I have access to!
Buttons and customisation
The mouse has 8 buttons! Most of any of the mice that I own. Beyond that, there are gaming mice, really. The buttons can be customized with the Logitech Options software, including with Gestures. It has a horizontal scroll wheel which has been great for video editing.
It's hard to talk about this mouse without talking about the fantastic scroller experience. No, really, there is nothing like it. Spin hard, and let it go, and then spin to infinity. It's great and works well in spins to infinity. It's great and practice with scrolling long texts (like this one)
Needless to say that this mouse can be adjusted and customised in many ways to suit your preferred working workflows.
The Logitech Options software also includes an option called Flow. With mice that can be set up with multiple devices simultaneously, the Flow options allow a seamless connection from one device to another. For example you can have a desktop and a laptop side by side, both set up with this device, and moving the cursor to the edge of one screen will allow you to go into the other screen. In theory, it sounds great, in practice, I've always experienced a bit of lag when reconnecting between computers, so I don't really use this option, but hey, it may be to my computer's Bluetooth profiles rather than the Logitech Options software.
Connectivity and battery
Similarly to the CadMouse Compact Wireless, the MX Master 3 offers three ways to connect. It can be used either with Bluetooth, a Logitech Unifying Wireless receiver, or with a USB cable. Multiple Logitech devices can be set up with one Wireless receiver, which is great if you happen to have more than a few mice laying around (but, really, you shouldn't. Who needs so many mice?)
The mouse has a USB C connection used to charge and utilise the mouse in wired mode.
This mouse also had a button on the bottom that allows it to be set up with three different devices simultaneously. This is quite cool! As there wouldn't be a need to move a wireless dongle around or reconfigure the mouse as a Bluetooth from one device to another.
My recommendation
If you are doing more non CAD/3D work like making graphics in Adobe or Affinity suites or video editing, this is definitely the best mouse out there. However, if you spend more than 50% of your time working on CAD or 3D apps, then I would recommend one of the CadMouse products instead due to the dedicated middle mouse button and improved accuracy of those mice. Back to top
Logitech MX Master 3S
This is a slight updated over the MX master 3, with the only notable difference being the silent buttons. That makes this mouse the best pro mouse for video tutorials and streams.
Logitech MX Vertical
The MX Vertical mouse is an upright mouse, supporting the hand and wrist in a handshake position.
Ergonomics and design
The mouse has wider grips than the Anker Upright mouse and a really nice texture to hold. It feels surprisingly nice to hold, but at the same time different from the Anker Upright mouse. For my large hands, both feel really nice to hold, but I get a sense that for someone with smaller hands, the MX Vertical's grip might be quite wide and tiring.
Some people question why this mouse is part of the MX line, as the build is not as high quality as the MX Master 3. I tend to agree with those people. As an owner of both products, the finish quality and features are not quite the same. However, it is also important to note that the ergonomic design is totally different for this mouse and let's assume that Logitech's R&D departments invested more in making this product ergonomically efficient compared to the Anker Upright mouse. So the price is more for the different ergonomics than the number of buttons or other features.
Accuracy
On Logitech's website it says the mouse used a nominal 1000 dpi and 1600 dpi but can go between 400 to 4000 dpi. I am not sure whether the Pointer Speed in the Logitech Options Software adjusts the DPI, but there doesn't seem to be any other place that I can find, so I assume that must be the way, which then means, the DPI is set to sensitivity.
This mouse for some reason feels much more accurate than the Anker upright mouse. Yet in a similar fashion, it feels like the wrist is actually doing a bit more work to move the mouse even though it is supported in a better position. In the end, this mouse is more for better wrist support than for accuracy, as I feel I can move around the screen much more accurately with the MX Master 3 or with one of the CadMouse products.
Middle mouse button
The middle mouse button is slightly stiffer when pressed compared to the Anker Upright Mouse, but it is less stiff than the M570 trackball mouse and than the M535 compact Bluetooth mouse. It's decent enough to not cause too much strain pressing it.
Buttons and customisation
The mouse has 6 buttons configurable with Logitech Options software. In case you are not keeping count, there is an extra button beyond the usual setup that can be used for gestures, for example music, similarly to how I mentioned above for the Logitech M535 mouse.
With all the Logitech mice, they use the same software for configuration, so they all have the same abilities including gestures. The only difference between various models is the number of buttons.
Connectivity and battery
Similarly to the CadMouse Compact Wireless and the MX Master 3, the MX Vertical offers three ways to connect. It can be used either with Bluetooth, a Logitech Unifying Wireless receiver, or with a USB cable. Multiple Logitech devices can be set up with one Wireless receiver, which is great if you happen to have more than a few mice or keyboards around
This mouse has a USB C connection used to charge and utilise the mouse in wired mode.
This mouse also has a button on the bottom that allows it to be set up with three different devices simultaneously, similarly to the MX Master 3. I tend to think that this may be the defining feature of the MX series mice.
My recommendation
Before investing in this mouse, I would suggest trying out the cheaper Anker Vertical mouse if you believe that a vertical mouse may be optimal for you. Perhaps only after you've worked with the Anker Vertical mouse would I recommend investing substantially more to get the MX Vertical mouse, knowing that upright mice might be your preferred ergonomic way of working. Back to top
3Dconnexion CadMouse Pro Wireless Flagship
This is the only mouse that I didn't purchase thus far as 3d Connexion were kind enough to send it to me to evaluate for this review.
This is the latest CadMouse design, and it is about the same size as the previous version of the CadMouse Pro Wired that I have. It has the exact same features that it shares with the rest of the CadMouse line, including the middle mouse button and excellent accuracy.
Ergonomics and design
The hand feels just right on this mouse. The design feels slightly and quite subtly different between the old and this latest current generation. I've looked at the mouse from all different angles, but I can't pinpoint it. The wireless version is slightly heavier than the wired version, but the nice PTFE legs still let this mouse slide smoothly around, and is butter smooth on the CadMouse Pad.
Along with the wired version, and the MX Master 3, this is the most comfortable mouse to hold
Accuracy
The mouse goes up to 7200 DPI and has different polling rates for the different ways it is connected - 90 Hz for Bluetooth, 125 Hz for wired, and 1000 Hz when using a cable
Middle mouse button
CadMouse Pro Wireless like all other CadMouse products has a dedicated middle mouse button! A full on button feels significantly better, and I've noticed that my hand feels less tired than having to constantly press the middle mouse scroll button on typical mice.
Buttons and customisation
As with the CadMouse Compact Wireless, this mouse has 6 buttons that can be customised with the same software used to customise the Space Mouse. This is the most extensive customisation software and it includes the ability to assign radial menus to a button click. The radial menu can have either 4 or 8 items. Similarly to Logitech Options, the buttons can be adjusted individually for each app.
Connectivity and battery
Similarly to the other high end mice, there is triple connectivity. It can be used either with Bluetooth, a 3d Connexion wireless receiver, or with a USB cable. Multiple 3d Connexion wireless devices can be set up with the same receiver. (But, really, how many of the most expensive mice could one person have?) Check out this info above for more extensive info about the software.
This mouse technically has two profiles so it's possible to have it set up with two computers simultaneously - Bluetooth connection and wireless connection.
Similarly to the CadMouse Compact Wireless, this mouse still uses Micro USB connection instead of a USB C connection to charge the mouse and to use it in wired mode.
Also, in case you wonder there is no way to connect a wireless Logitech mouse to a 3d Connexion receiver and vice versa.
My recommendation
If you just need one mouse, you spend most of your time on a desktop, and you are a heavy CAD or 3d apps user, then this is definitely the best mouse to recommend hands down. It also comes with a nice travel case so you can pack it when you are on the move. Click to go back to top.
Conclusion
Ok, a little rain check - I have spent way too much money on these amazing mice, but I don't have enough hands to use them all! Yet I am glad I can help people like you find out more about which mouse or multiple mice might be the best for you!
So the best mouse is.....none! That's right, these days, I wouldn't recommend having just one mouse. I would recommend having at least two. Our hands get tired, so we should give them a break by using a different mouse that supports the hand in a different way.
However, I do understand that there might be purists about the ultimate mouse, so here are a few recommendations.
The one and only for the road and for the office
If I can have only one mouse that I need to use for the office or home workstation setup and when travelling with a laptop, then my choice would be the CadMouse Compact Wireless. It's not the biggest, it comes with a travel pouch, with excellent accuracy and great ergonomics, and triple connectivity.
The one and only for exclusive desktop use
If I can have only one mouse to use with a desktop, I would recommend the CadMouse Pro Wireless. It is larger than the CadMouse Compact Wireless with the same excellent features that feels more robust on the hand.
As an alternative choice, I would recommend the Logitech MX Master 3, as it is also a great mouse, but probably less ideal if you tend to spend a good amount of your time in CAD or 3D.
The ultimate two mouse setup
This is the setup I would recommend for most people. If there are only two I can pick, it would be the compact Logitech M535 and the full size CadMouse Pro Wireless (I feel like I am describing cars here). They are different enough that the hand rests in a significantly different way between the two. Additionally, if you main hand gets tired, you can awkwardly use the other hand for the simpler tasks with the M535 mouse.
The best non-standard mouse
This is a highly subjective category, where I believe that if you ask three people who have used the same devices, each one of them may have a different response. I prefer the Logitech M570 trackball over the Anker Vertical Mouse and the Logitech MX Vertical. I seem to reach for it more often than the other two when I feel that my wrist has enough strain from using other devices. The M575 is the updated version that includes Bluetooth functionality.
If there was an ultimate 3 mouse setup it would be the two from above plus the M575
The best mouse for video tutorials
Steering slightly off-course here, as most architects and designers probably aren’t making 3d tutorials. But maybe there are enough that do. This is a tricky category. On one hand, the mouse should be quite accurate, yet for me, as a drummer and former DJ, I have an obsession with clean sound in videos, so I would recommend silence over accuracy. Hence why I would recommend the fairly compact Logitech M590.
Also, the brand new Logitech MX Master 3S has quiet buttons, so if you want to have one mouse for everything, including no click sounds in your recordings or streams, then this is the mouse to have.
Final words
If you upgrade your mouse, don't put your old mouse away. Keep it on your desk or somewhere with easy access if you need a slightly different type of support.
What is your preferred mouse to use?
If you work for a company that would like to see your mouse on this list, feel free to contact with me and I will review it and add my observations
This is the only mouse that I didn't purchase thus far as 3d Connexion were kind enough to send it to me to evaluate for this review.
This is the latest CadMouse design, and it is about the same size as the previous version of the CadMouse Pro Wired that I have. It has the exact same features that it shares with the rest of the CadMouse line, including the middle mouse button and excellent accuracy.