Apple's famously stylish Magic Mouse has long been admired for its clean appearance, but even Tim Cook does not use it daily. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal (via Glass Almanac ), the chief executive of Apple revealed that he prefers a mouse that prioritizes usability over sleek design: the Logitech MX Master 3. This choice naturally brings into question Apple's design choices.
Apple's Magic Mouse was originally unveiled in 2009 and introduced multi-touch functionality to computer mice. For Apple's pointing devices, which had only one button historically, that was huge progress. But at the time, Logitech and other mouse makers offered ergonomic mice with scroll wheels and additional buttons to make lives of users easier. Magic Mouse's multi-touch gestures somehow compensated for the lack of scrolling wheel, but apparently Tim Cook is not convinced.
Although Apple's Magic Mouse has evolved over the years and even adopted a USB-C port for charging, its main widely disliked feature remains: the charging port is located on the underside, which makes the device unusable while it is plugged in, which is a major problem for people who work to tight deadlines.
Cook’s daily setup includes a Mac Studio , an iPad Pro, and even an old iMac G4 he keeps for nostalgic reasons. But while he occasionally uses Apple's mouse and trackpad, the Logitech MX Master 3 is his everyday mouse he uses for work.
The MX Master 3 offers a more comfortable shape, it features a quiet scroll wheel, and allows switching between PCs and even tablets seamlessly. And yes, it charges via a front-facing USB-C port and can be used while charging. Perhaps, that choice is a little unusual for chief executive of Apple, but it shows Tim Cook's focus on what works best for him. Even within Apple, there is recognition that good looks are not enough when the product interrupts workflow. Cook's choice highlights that point.
Apple's mouse remains a design icon, but its usability has long been questioned. If the company wants its own leaders and professionals to rely on it daily, changes may be due. Meanwhile, Logitech has updated the MX Master 3 which is favored by Cook, and the MX Master 3S can be bought now for a smidgen over $90 on Amazon , offering an improved sensor and quieter click buttons.
