Apple Magic Mouse 2 Review

One of the biggest gripes that Mac users have with the Apple Magic Mouse is its relatively short battery life. It isn't unheard of to find the mouse needing new cells in as little as four weeks, which means you're burning through a lot of AA batteries. Apple has heard the plight of its users, and introduces the Magic Mouse 2 as standard equipment for new iMacs, including the latest Apple iMac 21.5-inch with 4K Retina display( at Amazon). Upgrades include rechargeable batteries and an idiot-proof pairing process. It's certainly an improvement over the previous iteration, though at $79 (if you buy it on its own), it is $10 more expensive.

Design and Features
Side by side, the Magic Mouse 2($94.99 at Amazon) looks just like the Apple Magic Mouse, with the same white, polycarbonate, arched profile. It's 0.85 inch tall, which is an almost-imperceptible 0.1-inch difference from the older model, and less than a quarter-ounce heavier at 3.52 ounces. It glides on a pair of low-friction strips, tracking just as smoothly as the last Magic Mouse. The optical sensor on the bottom reacts quickly to movements, and you can adjust sensitivity and tracking in the Mouse system preferences on your Mac.

Multitouch commands are easy to execute, including swiping left and right between browser pages, and up and down between full-screen apps, and bringing up Mission Control with a double-tap of two fingers. Regular scrolling and right-click are available on the mouse' touch-sensitive surface, and you can turn all of these commands on or off. The newly redesigned Apple Magic TrackPad 2($129.00 at Amazon) uses Force Touch and allows for even more gestures.

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Logitech MX Master

$146.24 at Amazon

 

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If you flip the mouse over, you'll notice two things that are new: There's no battery-access door, and there's a Lightning port in the base. With the Magic Mouse 2, it only takes two minutes to charge the batteries enough to last a 9-hour workday, though if you leave it plugged in overnight Apple claims the batteries will last a whole month. Plus, once you plug the mouse into your Mac, it automatically pairs over Bluetooth. The mouse and Mac will continue to be paired until you plug the mouse into another Mac. You need to be running OS X El Capitan for all of this to work. And if you didn't guess, the Magic Mouse 2 can't be used with Windows PCs.

Unfortunately, since the Lightning port is on the bottom of the Magic Mouse 2, when you recharge it you have to turn the mouse over, which renders it temporarily unusable. In contrast, some other rechargeable mice, like the Logitech MX Master($146.24 at Amazon), employ front-mounted micro-USB ports so you can continue to use the mouse while you top up the batteries. The issue is compounded by the fact that both the Apple Magic Keyboard($99.00 at Amazon) and the Apple Magic TrackPad 2 can be used while they are recharging. 

The Magic Mouse 2 also exhibits the same ergonomics as the previous Apple mice. And like the previous iteration, it takes some getting used to. While it tracks your movements without any undue effort, the mouse is half to a third as tall as many standard mice. Since it's so short, you either have to arch your unsupported palm to move the mouse, or essentially leave your hand almost flat on your work surface while using it. You can set the mouse buttons for tap sensitivity, where they activate at the touch of your finger, instead of having to depress the mechanical switch built into the mouse. This makes it feel more like a trackpad, but with the precision cursor control that you get from a mouse. On the whole it's a better choice than a trackpad if you need to work with and edit a lot of text, but I prefer the feel of a more traditional mouse in my hand.

Conclusion
The Apple Magic Mouse 2 is an evolutionary update to a distinctive, minimalist design. It addresses the issue of burning through disposable batteries, and using the Lightning-to-USB cable to pair the mouse instead of mucking about with Bluetooth settings is a neat bit of kit. It's a pity that Apple couldn't put the mouse's Lightning port in a better spot. Realistically, however, not everyone will find the mouse as comfortable as a traditional scroll-wheel mouse, so if you've tried the previous model and it's not for you, consider other Mac-friendly mice from manufacturers like Logitech with its MX Master, and Microsoft with the Sculpt Touch Mouse.

Apple Magic Mouse 2

3.5

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$94.99 at Amazon

MSRP $79.00

Pros

• Rechargeable battery.
• Multitouch surface.
• Good for both left- and right-handed use.
• Automatically pairs with Macs via Bluetooth.
• Ships with Lightning-to-USB cable.

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Cons

• Requires OS X El Capitan or later.
• Cannot use the mouse while it is charging.
• Shallow design doesn't fill the curve of your hand.

The Bottom Line

The Apple Magic Mouse 2 looks and feels the same as its predecessor, and now comes with rechargeable batteries. Its minimalist design may not be comfortable for everyone, however, and the Lightning port isn't in the best location.