One owner on iFixit sums up the MX Master 2S better than any lab: “Mouse otherwise works great, but the scroll wheel rubber is mush.” Years after this mouse arrived in 2017, that is the story owners keep telling. The design still earns praise, and the soft parts are what give up first.
Most of the reviews date from 2018, and the owner reports are short forum posts, so please read the wear section as a list of known risks and not as a failure rate.
Product image from the Amazon listing.
The question for a buyer is simple. A mouse from this generation is an older design. Is it still a good choice for a Mac or PC desk, or should you just buy something newer?
What Made It Famous
The 2S followed the 2015 MX Master, and PCWorld’s February 2018 review called it a “superb general-purpose mouse” and “the best in its class”. Laptop Mag was still saying the same thing in October 2018: “The Logitech MX Master 2S is still the way to go if you want a premium productivity mouse.”
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Its big idea is the pair of scroll wheels. The main wheel moves between a ratcheted mode and a free spin, and SmartShift switches between them on its own based on how fast you flick it. For long documents and code, a free-spinning wheel can be a real pleasure. A second wheel sits under your thumb and scrolls sideways, and Laptop Mag calls it “great for scrolling across web pages or design documents.” You can set it to switch browser tabs instead, but PCWorld says the mouse “is not contextually aware enough to do both.”
The shape is the other reason people buy it. Laptop Mag describes “a large, ergonomic, right-handed mouse” with a high profile and a long thumb rest for palm grips and long sessions. Windows Central also rated the comfort very highly, though its reviewer needed some time to get used to it.
Big Hands Only, Right Hands Only
Comfort comes with limits. KitGuru lists “Large and heavy” as a flaw and says the forward and back buttons are awkward to reach. Laptop Mag goes further and calls them “Tiny, uncomfortable thumb buttons”, adding that the two small buttons are easy to confuse.
PCWorld’s reviewer had a different issue. His ring finger slipped off the thumb rest, which led to some fatigue. He also warned that a bad grip can cause accidental clicks, since there are so many buttons you can press by mistake.
There is no left-handed version, and several reviews mention that. PCWorld took half a star off for it.
Product image from the Amazon listing.
Flow Across Two or Three Machines
If you work on more than one computer, this is the feature to look at. Logitech Flow lets one mouse control up to three computers, and KitGuru says it can move copied content between them. PCWorld confirms that it covers “up to three PCs (or Macs)”, so you can mix a Windows PC with a Mac.
The catches are real, though. According to PCWorld, every machine needs Logitech’s software installed, each one must connect through Bluetooth or the Unifying receiver, and all must share a network. Firewalls can block it. Big file transfers run at network speed, so a USB drive may be faster. And Flow moves only the mouse, so you still need each computer’s own keyboard.
Bluetooth or receiver is a real choice too. PCWorld’s reviewer found that the USB receiver reconnected faster after sleep on some machines, and he preferred it in rooms full of Bluetooth devices. One review summary listed Bluetooth that sometimes cuts out and finicky software as drawbacks. If you buy a used or old-stock unit, check that the receiver is included, because a modern Mac with only USB-C ports will also need an adapter for it.
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Will the Software Still Work on Your Mac
This is the most important open question for an older mouse.
The reviews from 2018 were written for Logitech Options, which is the app that made Flow and button changes possible. Logitech has since moved on to a newer app called Logi Options+. Its software page features newer mice and does not name the 2S, though it points to a full list of supported devices. So I can’t tell you that this mouse is supported in the current app, or how well it behaves on a recent version of macOS.
Almost none of the owner reports are about Macs at all. PCWorld only mentions them in connection with Flow. Before you buy, check Logitech’s supported device list for the MX Master 2S, and see which app and macOS version it asks for.
If the software doesn’t work out, the mouse should still act as a basic Bluetooth mouse, but you would lose the custom buttons and Flow, and those are much of the reason to pick it. Without them, you are left with a big mouse with a nice wheel.
Product image from the Amazon listing.
Micro USB and the 70 Day Claim
Battery life is one of the strengths. Logitech claims about 70 days on a charge, and KitGuru praises its “excellent battery life”. PCWorld found that a few minutes on the cable gave enough power for a day, and you can keep using the mouse while it charges.
The cable is the dated part. It charges by Micro USB, and PCWorld says you need to open Logitech’s software to see the exact charge level, which is one more reason the software question matters.
The good news is that the cell can be replaced. iFixit’s device page lists a 500 mAh battery, along with a replacement guide and a replacement part. For a mouse of this age, that matters. Lithium batteries wear out, and the option to fix one yourself can add years.
What Wears Out
The iFixit answers forum for this mouse reads like a list of the things that fail with age, and it is the best owner evidence there is for this model.
The rubber is the clear leader. In one thread from late 2023, an owner calls the material on the scroll wheel “one of the most common complaints and ‘failure’ points of this mouse” and asks if a replacement part will ever appear. In another from January 2024, an owner writes “Scroll wheel rubber is falling apart!” and describes it as mush. A separate thread says the rubber area from the thumb to the ring finger “has degraded after extensive use”.
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Other threads cover a right button and a left button that stopped working, a sensor that stopped tracking, and a mouse that showed as connected but stopped responding. One person opened the mouse to clean it and then found that the side wheel no longer worked, so be careful if you plan to take yours apart.
Remember what kind of page this is. People go to a repair forum because something broke, so it tells you nothing about how many mice are fine. Still, sticky or crumbling rubber is the kind of problem that gets worse with time, even on a mouse that has hardly been used. If you buy one from old stock, or used, inspect the wheel and the thumb area first.
A Good Mouse With an Expiry Date
I respect this design, and I can see why people kept buying it. For a right-handed person with a larger hand who spends all day scrolling, moves between two computers, and can confirm that the software still works, it remains a pleasant tool. Reviewers in 2018 had few doubts about that.
I would not pay close to its old premium price today, though. Laptop Mag noted that it stayed expensive, and it told owners of the original model they had little reason to upgrade. With Micro USB, unclear software support and aging rubber, a newer mouse in the same family is the safer choice if the price gap is small.
Skip it if you are left-handed or have small hands, and skip it if your main need is the side buttons. If you find a fair price and have checked Logitech’s device list first, the Logitech MX Master 2S can still earn a spot on a two-computer desk. This is an affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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