While Logitech’s MX Master 3S and MX Keys S remain top-tier Mac peripherals, new software choices like BetterMouse highlight a desire for lighter, more customisable control, challenging the dominance of Logi Options+.
Logitech’s MX Master 3S and MX Keys S remain among the most capable Mac accessories available, but their usefulness depends heavily on software. Cult of Mac argues that Logi Options+ adds far more overhead than many users want, turning otherwise polished hardware into a setup that feels weighed down by the very app meant to support it. Reviews from Macworld, Tom’s Guide and RTINGS describe the mouse as comfortable, precise and heavily customisable, while RTINGS notes the MX Keys S adds backlight controls and auto-brightness features that rely on software configuration.
The central complaint is not that Logitech’s app lacks features, but that it has become too important to basic operation. Cult of Mac says the app can sit in memory at roughly 400MB to 500MB on a Mac, and that some functions are effectively trapped inside it. The article also points to a January incident in which an expired certificate stopped Logi Options+ from launching on some macOS versions, briefly leaving Logitech peripherals with reduced functionality. That episode underscored the risk of tying core device behaviour too closely to a background utility.
By contrast, BetterMouse is presented as a lighter alternative that preserves the essentials while giving power users more precise control. Cult of Mac says the app occupies only about 5MB, does not require separate system extensions and can operate without internet access. It still needs macOS Accessibility permissions, which is common for mouse-mapping tools, but it offers more detailed control over scrolling, gestures and button behaviour than Logitech’s own software.
The most useful gains, according to the review, come in everyday workflow tweaks. BetterMouse allows finer adjustment of smooth scrolling, including speed, acceleration and duration, and can assign different actions to clicks, holds, drags and wheel movements. It also supports per-app profiles, so the same control can behave differently in Chrome, Finder or Final Cut Pro. The article says this makes it possible to use the MX Master 3S’ thumb wheel for tab switching in one app, timeline movement in another, and other short cuts elsewhere.
That flexibility comes with a steeper setup process. Cult of Mac says Logi Options+ is simpler to grasp, while BetterMouse requires more initial configuration to shape the mouse around individual habits. Once set, however, profiles can be exported and restored on another Mac, which makes the system easier to back up or move. The trade-off is that BetterMouse does not replace every Logitech feature: Cult of Mac notes the absence of Logitech Flow and Smart Actions, although the author says those omissions are not a practical loss for their own workflow. Logitech’s app is free, but BetterMouse costs $7.99 after a seven-day trial, a price the review considers fair for users who want less bloat and more control.
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