CheckMag | Microsoft Bluetooth Mouse long-term review: Smart electronics, poor haptics
I purchased the Microsoft Bluetooth Mouse about a year ago with my own money. The product (US$24.95 on Amazon USA, US$19.95 directly from Microsoft) came in a relatively attractive-looking box, with a large portion of the latter made of see-through plastic. While a USB receiver of any kind was nowhere to be found, an AA size battery was installed that lasted several months.
- Dimensions (Microsoft data): 100.4 x 58.2 x 38.3 mm | 3.95 x 2.29 x 1.51 inches
- Connectivity: Bluetooth only
- Sensor resolution: 1,000 DPI
Initial setup was a breeze. Holding the sole button found on the bottom of the Bluetooth Mouse for three seconds or so was enough for an Intel Evo-certified laptop running Windows 11 to recognize the fact that I was about to connect the mouse and display a pop-up notification asking me if I wanted to pair the two devices. With two older systems running Windows 10, the only way to make the mouse work was to open Settings, then go to the Devices submenu, then add the device manually.
The Microsoft Bluetooth mouse also functions just fine if connected to an Android phone. Please note that once one "pairs" the Bluetooth Mouse with system B, the only way to return to using it with system A is to remove the mouse from the list of connected devices on both system A and system B, then hold the button on the bottom of the mouse for three seconds, then pair it with system A again.
The product is smart enough to let the host system know how much juice the AA battery has left. All the laptops mentioned would display a Battery Low notification once the AA battery's voltage got low enough.
I have not encountered any technical issues, such as double left clicks getting registered instead of single clicks - the second mouse pictured does that a lot. The noticeable delay of about 20 to 50 ms that's common to many Bluetooth devices does not appear to be present here, either. I experienced no issues playing Serious Sam: The Second Encounter meaning those in love with the FPS genre can buy this mouse without hesitation.
While the Bluetooth Mouse needs a bit of cleaning every once in a while, much like any other mouse would, wiping it with a wet cloth usually does the trick.
The Bluetooth Mouse looks good and certainly is smart, BUT
My only gripe with this mouse? Its poor ergonomics. It is simply a bit too tall and too heavy for my liking, making longer gaming/working sessions tiresome. Above all, the click sounds tend to be dry and loud, reminding me of coughing somehow. And the buttons require just slightly more force to actuate than I would like, too.
I am not saying this is a bad product but in terms of ergonomics, it trails behind mice that are a third of the price which is a real deal breaker. Make sure to spend a couple of minutes with the Microsoft Bluetooth Mouse, clicking the buttons and just holding it in your hand to see if it fits well, before parting with your cash.
- Further information: Teardown video (YouTube)
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The selection of devices to be reviewed is made by our editorial team. The test sample was freely purchased by the author at his/her own expense. The lender had no influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review. We never accept compensation or payment in return for our reviews. As an independent media company, Notebookcheck is not subjected to the authority of manufacturers, retailers or publishers.
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