Wednesday, September 29, 2021
The Surface Precision Mouse is an amazing pointer when paired with a Surface PC. It sports a solid design, is comfortable to use, can be connected via USB or used wirelessly, and has long-lasting battery life. There are plenty of other mice out there for the best Surface PCs, however, and we've rounded them all up.
Best overall: Surface Precision Mouse
The Logitech MX Master 3 is an excellent mouse and is one of our favorites, but the Microsoft Surface Precision Mouse just ever so slightly edges it out. That's not to say it's necessarily "better" than its Logitech competitor, which is why the MX Master 2S comes in as our recommended runner-up.
Microsoft's Surface Precision Mouse isn't affordable by any means. That said, you do get a lot of features.
Costing $99 at launch, Microsoft's Surface Precision Mouse isn't affordable by any means. That said, you do get a lot of features, including great software support, wireless and wired connectivity, enhanced comfort and styling, and great battery life.
Our executive editor, Dan Rubino, reviewed the Surface Precision mouse and came away torn between it and the Logitech mouse. Sporting both aluminum and plastic in the design, Microsoft has been able to create a mouse that not only has enough weight for use, but is light enough to carry around with a Surface PC and doesn't feel cheap.
The included software allows you to fine-tune the mouse (as well as other Microsoft mice and keyboards you may own) and makes personalizing the mouse to your needs a breeze. You won't need to charge the mouse for quite some time when in use since a single charge should last up to three whole months.
It's not perfect. The light-color design may lead to more frequent cleaning to avoid marks, and the reliance on Bluetooth technology may be a negative for some. Still, for the money, the Surface Precision Mouse is the best mouse for your Surface.
Pros:
- Good ergonomic design
- Excellent buttons and scroll wheel behavior
- Wireless (Bluetooth) or wired (USB) options
- Long battery life
- Robust software that lets you run on three PCs at once
Cons:
- Reliance on Bluetooth can be problematic for some
- Not overtly better than Logitech MX Master 23
- Shows dirt
Best overall
Surface Precision Mouse
The best mouse you can buy for a Surface PC
The Surface Precision Mouse is similar in many ways to the Logitech MX Master 2S, including looks and comfort, but houses a few benefits.
Runner-up: Logitech MX Master 3
The Logitech MX Master 3 is the mouse for people who require a portable unit that does it all, replacing the older Logitech MX Master 2S. You have the choice to either use the supplied receiver (which can connect up to six devices) or Bluetooth. That's a feature not present on some wireless mice — the ability to switch between wireless modes.
Up to three PCs can be paired at the same time, with just the push of a button to switch between them (handy if you have more than one device in use at once). The downside is all this functionality needs power; the mouse itself lasts up to 40 days on a charge, but this should be more than enough between top-ups through its Micro-USB port. It's a little short on what Microsoft boasts with the Surface Precision Mouse.
There's another drawback to the MX Master 2S in that there may be a slight rattle through use, and we found the mouse clicks rather loud. Still, it's a superb mouse with an amazing accurate sensor.
Pros:
- Super comfortable grip
- Excellent scroll wheels and buttons
- Outstanding support software
- Cool design
- 2.4GHz or Bluetooth wireless
Cons:
- No storage compartment for the 2.4GHz dongle
- Slight rattle and loud mouse clicks
- DPI settings are decent but not outstanding
Runner-up
Logitech MX Master 3
$100 at Amazon $141 at Walmart
A master of mice on any Surface PC
The successor to the fantastic MX Master 2S wireless mouse, which was itself a fantastic wireless mouse from Logitech.
Best portable: Surface Arc Mouse
The Surface Arc Mouse is a super-compact pointer, measuring in at just 14mm at the thickest point. You could easily carry this companion with you inside a laptop bag or sleeve. Connecting through Bluetooth, it's easy to pair it with a Surface PC.
In terms of battery life, you should expect to see upwards of six months of battery life from dual AAAs, and has a sort of touchpad feel that allows for easy swiping and clicking. It's a unique mouse that may not be to everyone's tastes, but there's plenty of features to love if you're into ergonomics.
Pros:
- Super-slim design
- Small and compact
- DPI configuration
- Up to 6 months battery life
- Multi-device pairing
Cons:
- Not to everyone's taste
Best portable
Surface Arc Mouse
Microsoft's sculpted pointer
The Surface Arc Mouse is a sound choice if you're after a pointer that won't take up much space at all.
Best ergonomic: Logitech MX Ergo
Using a PC mouse too much can lead to some health complications. Much like a keyboard, there are more ergonomic mice out there that help to alleviate some of these problems. The Logitech MX is one such example, and you'll notice just how strange it looks after unboxing.
This is all by design as it forces you to reposition your hand into a different pose, lessening the strain on your wrist. It can take some getting used to, but like an ergonomic keyboard, once you're up and running you're good to go. The performance is really good too, and you can connect it to your Surface PC via Bluetooth or using the included dongle.
Pros:
- Bluetooth and 2.4GHz
- Ergonomic design
- Good software support
- Customizable angle
- Great performance
Cons:
- No USB-C
Best ergonomic
Logitech MX Ergo
Fix your posture
Logitech's MX Ergo is perfect for those seeking a more comfortable PC experience.
Best comfort: Microsoft Bluetooth Ergonomic Mouse
If you're wanting a more comfortable experience but don't want some whacky-looking mouse, there's always the Microsoft Bluetooth Ergonomic Mouse. The design is fantastic for long periods of use, be it in the office or on the road.
The two programmable buttons allow you to pin shortcuts, and the 15 months of battery life will ensure it's always ready to go. It's just a shame about the lack of any profile switching.
Pros:
- Excellent ergonomic design
- Two programmable buttons
- Great sensor
- Feels great to use
- Up to 15 months battery
Cons:
- No profile switcher
Best comfort
Microsoft Bluetooth Ergonomic Mouse
Fix your posture
Logitech's MX Ergo is perfect for those seeking a more comfortable PC experience.
Best budget: Logitech Pebble M350 Wireless Mouse
Our budget pick is the Logitech Pebble M350 Wireless, though it's still a capable mouse. This Logitech pointer is best suited for the frequent traveler due to its low weight and thin dimensions. While it's possible to throw it inside a laptop sleeve for easier carriage, this does mean it's not as comfortable to use, especially for longer periods.
It connects with Bluetooth or a dongle, though an adapter is required for the latter solution. The best part of the Pebble M350 is the battery life. With AAA batteries, you can get up to 18 months of use.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Compact and light
- Long battery
- Bluetooth and 2.4GHz
Cons:
- Not the most comfortable
Best budget
Logitech Pebble M350 Wireless Mouse
Small and mighty
Logitech's Pebble M350 is a small pointer with big features, as well as being able to work just fine on most surfaces.
Bottom line
There's no one mouse that's perfect for all Surface owners. Some folks prefer compact mice, while others enjoy ergonomics and extra functionality. There are two mice that we love and were both so close to becoming our favorite, but one came out on top. Microsoft was able to pull ahead here by going with a compromise, which resulted in the Surface Precision Mouse.
It's the option if you desire a balance between cost and ergonomics, all while packing some handy features. If you don't fancy the Precision Mouse from Microsoft, Logitech's MX Master 3 is a stunning runner-up that's almost as good. The only sacrifice you make with the Logitech pointer is shorter battery life between charges, but it'll still last countless days before you need to top it up.
Credits — The team that worked on this guide
Rich Edmonds is a staff reviewer at Windows Central, which means he tests out more software and hardware than he cares to remember. Joining Mobile Nations in 2010, you can usually find him inside a PC case tinkering around when not at a screen fighting with Grammarly to use British words. Hit him up on Twitter: @RichEdmonds.
Daniel Rubino is executive editor of Windows Central. He has been covering Microsoft since 2009 back when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, Surface, HoloLens, Xbox, and future computing visions. Follow him on Twitter: @daniel_rubino.
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