The Logitech MX Master series is often described as the best productivity mouse you can buy. But with so many cheaper alternatives copying its design, is the latest MX Master 4 still worth the money?
To find out, we tested it against three very different competitors: a budget $20 mouse, a feature-packed alternative from Keychron, and its own predecessor, the MX Master 3S.
We compared them across 12 real-world categories, including unboxing and connectivity, ergonomics, buttons, scroll wheels, battery, weight, and build quality.
In each category, we awarded a gold, silver, bronze, or, in the worst cases, a death skull.
The contenders
First, let’s introduce the mice.
The most affordable option is the Tecknet TKMS029, which you can find for as low as $20.
Then we have the Keychron M6, which costs around $69; cheaper versions are available depending on the sensor you choose, starting at around $39.
Next is the Logitech MX Master 3S, which officially costs $99 but is easy to find for around $89.
And finally, we have the Logitech MX Master 4, priced at $119.
Unboxing and what’s included
The Tecknet TKMS029 comes in a very cheap cardboard box, and the mouse itself is wrapped in bubble wrap. However, it does include the essentials: an RF dongle and a USB-C cable, though the cable feels quite cheap.
The Keychron M6 offers a much better unboxing experience. It comes in a nicer box, with the specifications clearly displayed around it, and an even nicer box inside. It also includes a generous set of accessories: a braided USB-C-to-USB-C cable, a USB-A-to-USB-C extension adapter for the RF receiver, and the RF receiver itself.
The MX Master 3S also comes in a nice box, but inside, you only get a USB-C charging cable.
It does not include an RF receiver, even though the mouse is compatible with the Logi Bolt receiver, which costs around $15.
With the MX Master 4, you may not even get a cable. Depending on the version you buy, you may get the Logi Bolt receiver.
There are two versions of the MX Master 4: the Universal and Mac versions. Both cost the same, but the Universal version includes the Logi Bolt adapter. The Mac version mainly gives you Apple-style colors, such as Space Black or Silver White.
Both versions work on Mac and Windows, so unless you really care about the specific color, the Mac version feels like a bit of a Mac tax.
Both MX Master mice received a bronze medal because, in some cases, not including the RF receiver or charging cable is hard to justify.
The Tecknet gets a silver medal, because even though the packaging is cheap, you get everything you need.
The gold medal goes to the Keychron M6, because it includes everything you need and more.
Connectivity
The Tecknet TKMS029 offers Bluetooth 5.1 with support for up to two devices, plus RF connectivity. It also has buttons on the back to turn the mouse on and off and switch between different modes.
As a bonus, the Tecknet includes a slot on the back for the RF receiver, which is missing from the other mice.
The Keychron M6 offers Bluetooth 5.3 with support for up to three devices, RF connectivity, and wired mode. Unlike the other mice, when you connect it with a cable, it can actually work wired.
On the other hand, the cable is only used for charging. They still work wirelessly.
The Keychron also has buttons on the back to switch between RF, wired, and Bluetooth modes, and to change between Bluetooth devices.
The MX Master 3S and MX Master 4 both offer Bluetooth 5.1 with support for up to three devices, plus RF connectivity.
They also have two buttons on the back: one to turn the mouse on and off, and another to switch between Bluetooth devices.
The Tecknet gets bronze because it supports only 2 Bluetooth devices and runs Bluetooth 5.1.
Both MX Master mice get silver, because they support three Bluetooth devices, but still use Bluetooth 5.1.
The Keychron M6 gets gold, thanks to Bluetooth 5.3, RF, and true wired mode.
Sensor performance
The Tecknet TKMS029 has a standard 125 Hz polling rate and a DPI of up to 4800. It also includes a button to switch between six DPI settings, ranging from 800 to 4600.
The Keychron M6 has by far the best sensor. Depending on the version, you can get up to an 8000 Hz polling rate and 30,000 DPI. Even the cheaper versions come with a 1000 Hz polling rate.
The downside is that the buttons to control DPI and polling rate are on the back of the mouse, which results in a poor user experience. You need to check the website to understand what each light means.
The MX Master 3S and MX Master 4 use the same sensor. They have a 125 Hz polling rate and DPI up to 8000.
The problem is that there is no physical DPI button on the mouse. You need to change the DPI in the app. If you do not have the app installed, you are stuck with the default 1000 DPI.
The Keychron M6 gets gold for its excellent sensor.
Both MX Master mice get silver, because their DPI is better than the Tecknet’s.
The Tecknet gets bronze.
Primary buttons and switches
So far, the Keychron M6 looks very strong. But things change when we talk about switches.
The Tecknet TKMS029 has surprisingly silent and smooth switches, especially for such an affordable mouse. They become slightly harder to press as you move your finger toward your palm, but overall, they are completely fine.
The Keychron M6, however, has disappointing switches. They are not extremely loud, but they feel scratchy and wobbly. It almost feels like several clicks are happening at once.
They are also very difficult to press near the lower part of the button, which is a serious problem for a mouse you will click thousands of times every day.
The MX Master 3S and MX Master 4 have the best switches by far. They are silent, smooth, and easy to press, whether you click near the front or closer to your palm.
That said, MX Master mice do have a history of developing misclicks over time. In fact, our video editor Ana had to replace her MX Master 3S because the first one started developing misclicks on the left button.
Both MX Master mice get gold.
The Tecknet gets silver.
The Keychron M6 gets a death skull because the switches are simply not good enough.
Main scroll wheel
MX Master mice are famous for their infinite scroll wheel. You can flick it, and it keeps rolling, which is extremely useful when navigating long documents, websites, spreadsheets, or timelines.
Both the MX Master 3S and MX Master 4 also include a button to switch between infinite scrolling and regular stepped scrolling.
The Tecknet TKMS029 only has a standard scroll wheel. The button behind the wheel changes DPI, not scrolling mode.
The Keychron M6 does a surprisingly good job recreating the infinite scroll wheel. It also has a button to switch between normal and infinite scrolling.
However, that button is not pleasant to press. It feels wobbly, clacky, and generally unsatisfying.
Both MX Master mice get gold.
The Keychron M6 gets silver, because the wheel itself is good, but the button is not.
The Tecknet gets bronze, because it only has a normal scroll wheel.
Lateral scroll wheel
Another key feature of the MX Master series is the lateral scroll wheel. It is especially useful for navigating spreadsheets, video editing timelines, horizontal layouts, and more.
The Tecknet TKMS029 has a normal lateral scroll wheel with steps. It works, but it is not great. It is also placed a bit too high, which makes it harder to reach.
The Keychron M6 performs even worse here. Just like with the Keychron M5, the lateral scroll wheel is very hard to use. It is tucked away, too close to the buttons, difficult to find, and not comfortable.
The MX Master 3S has a very smooth lateral scroll wheel. Its only issue is that it is slightly tucked away, so it is not as easy to reach as it could be.
The MX Master 4 solves this. Its lateral scroll wheel is mounted on a raised protrusion, making it much easier to reach and use.
The MX Master 4 gets gold.
The MX Master 3S gets silver.
The Tecknet gets bronze.
The Keychron M6 gets another death skull, because its lateral scroll wheel is almost useless.
Secondary buttons
All four mice include additional buttons.
The Tecknet TKMS029 has two side buttons for forward and backward actions. Surprisingly, they are easy to find and press. They are also light, which makes them pleasant to use.
The problem is that none of the Tecknet buttons are programmable by default.
The Keychron M6 also has two side buttons, but they are difficult to press and hard to reach. They are too close together and do not protrude enough from the surface.
The MX Master 3S has forward and backward buttons, plus a thumb button built into the thumb rest. In our case, that thumb button activates Mission Control, although it can be customized.
The forward and backward buttons are easy to find, but a bit difficult to press. The thumb button is both difficult to find and difficult to press, so you may not end up using it much.
The MX Master 4 improves this area significantly. It adds an extra button and reworks the thumb button with haptic feedback. The mouse vibrates when you activate it or receive certain notifications.
By default, this button opens a contextual menu with additional functions depending on the app you are using. The extra button can also perform different actions depending on whether you press or hold it.
The MX Master 4 gets gold.
The Tecknet gets silver, because its side buttons are surprisingly good.
The MX Master 3S gets bronze.
The Keychron M6 gets another death skull, because its side buttons are hard to use.
Programmability
The Tecknet TKMS029 does not have programmable buttons by default. However, you can use third-party software depending on your operating system.
On Mac, you can use BetterMouse. On Linux, you can use Solaar. On Windows, you can use the outdated X-Mouse Button Control.
The problem is that this customization only works on the computers where the software is installed. If you use the mouse on another computer, the buttons go back to their default behavior.
The Keychron M6 is much better in this regard. It has on-board memory, so you can configure the buttons through a web app and store that configuration directly on the mouse.
That means your settings follow the mouse, even if you connect it to another computer without installing additional software.
The MX Master 3S and MX Master 4 rely on Logi Options+ for customization. This means your custom configuration only works on computers where Logi Options+ is installed and running.
Relying on a background app is not ideal. Some users may remember the Logi Options issue on Mac, where an expired certificate made the app unusable and caused custom configurations to go back to default.
The Keychron M6 gets gold, thanks to on-board memory.
Both MX Master mice get silver, because customization is powerful, but it depends on an app.
The Tecknet gets bronze, because there is no official app, although third-party options exist.
Battery
Battery capacity also varies across the four mice.
The Tecknet TKMS029 has a 700 mAh battery. The Keychron M6 has an 800 mAh battery. The MX Master 3S has a 500 mAh battery. And the MX Master 4 has a 650 mAh battery.
The Keychron M6 gets gold.
The Tecknet and MX Master 4 get silver.
The MX Master 3S gets bronze.
Weight
Weight is another important difference.
The Tecknet TKMS029 weighs 98 grams. The Keychron M6 weighs 87 grams. The MX Master 3S weighs 141 grams. And the MX Master 4 weighs a whopping 151 grams.
That is a difference you will notice.
It is not necessarily a problem when sliding the mice around, because all of them have decent skates. But when you need to lift and reposition them, the Logitech MX Master mice feel much heavier.
Some people prefer heavier mice, but in this comparison, we are rewarding the lighter options.
The Keychron M6 gets gold.
The Tecknet gets silver.
Both MX Master mice get bronze.
Ergonomics
Ergonomics is one of the most important categories in this comparison. After all, productivity mice are designed to be used for long periods of time.
The Tecknet TKMS029 clearly tries to copy the shape of the MX Master 3S, and it mostly succeeds. However, it is slightly thinner at the top and has a strange outward curve, making it less comfortable when you place your hand on it.
It also feels a bit tall at the front compared to the MX Master mice. Still, for a $20 mouse, it is surprisingly comfortable.
The Keychron M6 is much less comfortable. It is taller around the palm area, which pushes your hand up. Its thumb rest is also much smaller, so you cannot simply rest your hand on the mouse.
Instead, you are forced to grip it, making it far less comfortable for long sessions.
The MX Master 3S and MX Master 4 are very similar ergonomically, with small differences. The thumb rest on the MX Master 4 is slightly larger, partly to make room for the haptic button.
The MX Master 3S has a smaller thumb rest, but it is still just as comfortable.
The other important ergonomic difference is the accessibility of the lateral scroll wheel. As mentioned earlier, the MX Master 4 makes it much easier to reach.
The MX Master 4 and MX Master 3S both get gold.
The Tecknet gets silver.
The Keychron M6 gets another death skull because it is simply uncomfortable to use.
Construction and materials
Finally, let’s talk about construction.
The Tecknet TKMS029 has a grippy surface similar to the one on the MX Master 3S. It feels comfortable at first, but this type of surface is a magnet for grease and can become sticky over time.
On our unit, a small mark has already developed where the index finger rests.
The Keychron M6 is made of plastic all around, so it should not become sticky over time.
The MX Master 3S has a similar problem to the Tecknet. It uses a grippy surface where you hold it, and that surface can become sticky, degrade, and wear down badly over time.
Our current MX Master 3S is only a few months old, but compared to the one Ana used for 2 years, the difference is dramatic. The older one is heavily degraded, with visible damage and missing material.
This is something Logitech addressed with the MX Master 4. The area where your hand rests is now made of plastic, similar to the Keychron, but with a micro-textured finish.
That texture feels nicer than smooth plastic, but it should not become sticky over time like the Tecknet or MX Master 3S.
The buttons are also slightly different. On the MX Master 3S, they are smooth and shiny. On the MX Master 4, they look more matte and should develop less shine over time.
Another improvement on the MX Master 4 is that the screws are now accessible from the back. On the MX Master 3S, they were hidden under the skates, so you had to destroy the skates to open the mouse.
The same issue exists on the other mice, which do not have visible screws.
The MX Master 4 gets gold.
The MX Master 3S gets silver.
The Tecknet and Keychron M6 both get bronze.
Final medal count
After testing all four mice across 12 categories, here is the final result.
The Tecknet TKMS029 earned six silver medals and six bronze medals.
The Keychron M6 earned six gold medals, one silver medal, one bronze medal, and four death skulls.
The MX Master 3S earned 3 gold, 5 silver, and 4 bronze medals.
And finally, the MX Master 4 earned six gold medals, four silver medals, and two bronze medals.
So, is the MX Master 4 worth it?
The clear winner is the Logitech MX Master 4.
It has the best overall combination of ergonomics, scroll wheels, secondary buttons, construction, and productivity features. Logitech also fixed one of the MX Master 3S's biggest long-term problems: the sticky, degrading rubber-like surface.
However, it costs around $120 and weighs 151 grams, so it is not the best option for everyone.
If you want something much cheaper or lighter, the Tecknet TKMS029 is surprisingly good for $20. It is comfortable, light, and includes everything you need in the box. The main downside is the grippy surface, which may become sticky over time, but at this price, it is hard to complain too much.
If you want something very similar to the MX Master 4 and do not care about the improved material or the haptic button, the MX Master 3S is still a strong option. You can often get it for more than $30 less than the MX Master 4.
The Keychron M6 is the most complicated one. It has some excellent features, including a much better sensor, a high polling rate, and on-board memory. But its ergonomics, clicks, side buttons, and lateral scroll wheel are bad enough that we would not recommend it.
If the sensor is critical to you and you want something with a similar shape to the MX Master, you may be better off looking at a mouse like the Logitech G502 or the discontinued Logitech G604. They only have a 1000 Hz polling rate, not 8000 Hz, but that is enough for most people.
The MX Master 4 is still the king of productivity mice, especially if you care about ergonomics, scroll wheels, and extra buttons.
The MX Master 3S is the better-value Logitech option if you can live with the older material and fewer new features.
The Tecknet TKMS029 is the best ultra-budget alternative.
And the Keychron M6, despite its impressive specs, is too uncomfortable and inconsistent to recommend.
So, what do you think? Is the MX Master 4 still the best productivity mouse, or would you choose one of the alternatives?
Join the discussion on Reddit or Discord and share your thoughts.
See you there 💜
