Question: Best Mouse for MacBook Pro (Opinions requested)?

[LinkRS]

Howdy Folks,

I am currently using this mouse with my MacBook Pro https://www2.razer.com/eu-en/gaming-mice/razer-orochi-legacy which I had been using for a few years on Windows laptop. I noticed that Razer does not officially support macOS with this mouse, but it does seem to work (ok) using BT. The problem is, that I noticed today that when I plugged in a USB (USB C) card reader into my 16" MacBook Pro, the mouse pointer started to judder around and become really unresponsive. Since this mouse is not officially supported, it seems I need to upgrade. Does anyone have any suggestions for a two-button (not pseudo two-button like the Magic Mouse) high-performance mouse for a 2019 16" MacBook Pro? Thanks!

Rich S.

 

[Canubis]

This may actually not be the mouse' but the card-reader's fault – esp. if you notice issues only when the card reader is plugged in. It seems to create interferences with BT, possibly also with WiFi.
It's a known issue with some MacBooks & some peripherals. So you may have the same issue with any other BT mouse.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP:

You're probably getting some electrical interference with the card reader plugged in.

Bluetooth doesn't seem to be the best wireless mouse connection method, in my opinion.
I prefer Logitech mice (have used them for many years), using their own "radio tech" and USB receivers.
Unfortunately, they haven't come up with a USBc version of their USB "receiver".

However, one could plug the little receiver into a dongle like this:

Cable Matters 5Gbps USB C to USB 3.0 Adapter - 6 Inches, USBC Male to USBA Female OTG Adapter, Black

The Cable Matters USB 3.1 Type-C to Type-A adapter provides a convenient connection between the newest devices with USB Type-C and legacy USB peripherals with Type A. It adapts the Type-C port on a computer to connect all legacy equipment, peripherals, cables, hubs and chargers that ...

www.amazon.com

... and use it that way (yes, I realize it's "clunky").
Or... plug the rcvr into a USB hub.

For mouse control, I recommend either of these two shareware alternatives:
- SteerMouse
- USB Overdrive

 

[LinkRS]

OP:

You're probably getting some electrical interference with the card reader plugged in.

Bluetooth doesn't seem to be the best wireless mouse connection method, in my opinion.
I prefer Logitech mice (have used them for many years), using their own "radio tech" and USB receivers.
Unfortunately, they haven't come up with a USBc version of their USB "receiver".

However, one could plug the little receiver into a dongle like this:

Cable Matters 5Gbps USB C to USB 3.0 Adapter - 6 Inches, USBC Male to USBA Female OTG Adapter, Black

The Cable Matters USB 3.1 Type-C to Type-A adapter provides a convenient connection between the newest devices with USB Type-C and legacy USB peripherals with Type A. It adapts the Type-C port on a computer to connect all legacy equipment, peripherals, cables, hubs and chargers that ...

www.amazon.com

... and use it that way (yes, I realize it's "clunky").
Or... plug the rcvr into a USB hub.

For mouse control, I recommend either of these two shareware alternatives:
- SteerMouse
- USB Overdrive

Hi Fishrman,

Thanks for taking the time to reply . It would be strange for a card reader to cause electrical interference, and I have used this card reader on my Windows 10 device numerous times with no ill effects. I purchased it from Amazon specifically to use on both my Mac and my desktop (specifically got a USB C device). Since the MacBook Pro only has 4 USB/Thunderbolt ports, I would really rather not have a dongle hanging off of one all the time, seems counterintutive to having a portable device LOL. I use the card reader to transfer video files from my camera to the Mac (now) for editing and then unplug it. I used to use Windows for this, but since Windows Movie Maker is no longer available, I switched to iMovie. I *could* plug the mouse in, using a USB A to USB C converter (I have one like what you linked), and would give that a try before plugging in a wireless dongle. I have used Logitech mice in the past, but haven't used one in recent years. Thanks again, I appreciate it

Rich S.

 

[LinkRS]

This may actually not be the mouse' but the card-reader's fault – esp. if you notice issues only when the card reader is plugged in. It seems to create interferences with BT, possibly also with WiFi.
It's a known issue with some MacBooks & some peripherals. So you may have the same issue with any other BT mouse.

Hi Canubis,

Thanks for the information! I have numerous BT devices, used primarily on my Windows 10 desktop device, and only use this mouse for my Mac. I doubt it is interference with the BT signal. However, now that you mention it... it *could* be an issue with the USB "hub" on the Mac that I have the card reader plugged into. If that is the same hub that the Apple BT controller is connected to (internally), and the card reader "hogs" it for performance, that would cause what I described. The solution would be to try a different USB port (on the Mac), hoping for a different hub. I'll give this a try before I spend any $$$. Thanks again!

Rich S.

 

[mjervin]

I use an MX Anywhere 2 or 3 and they both work great on my 2017 MacBook Pro and my 2020 13" MacBook Pro. I have used the Anywhere 2 since they first came out using BT with no issues.

 

[jerryk]

I use an MX Master 2S at my desk. It uses Logitech USB A receiver so is not on Bluetooth and has no BT related issues. However, it does mean you need a USB-C to USB-A adapter. Which to me is fine since I get perfect mouse operations.

 

[ignatius345]

My current mouse, and easily my favorite I've ever used, is the Logitech G305 gaming mouse. It's a lower- to mid-tier wireless gaming mouse, but it doesn't have any corny LED lighting or anything. The tracking is incredibly precise and smooth, much moreso than any other mouse I've used. My last Logitech, by comparison, felt like trash as far as smoothness of cursor movement.

The software it comes with isn't much to write home about, but it does let you assign specific DPI values which you can switch between with a click on the top button of the mouse. I have a second, much lower, DPI setting which I can click into occasionally for super detaily Illustrator stuff.

As a big user of Mission Control desktop spaces, maybe my favorite feature is that I'm able to assign ⌃← and ⌃→ to the two side buttons on the mouse and use them to quickly switch desktops. That shortcut, and any other button assignments, are stored onboard the mouse so even if you plug it into another Mac the button assignments are still there.

The one big drawback, as someone noted above, is that somehow Logitech still hasn't managed to make a USB-C version of its wireless receiver, so you'd end up plugging it into a MacBook via a nasty little dongle.

 

[Canubis]

Hi Canubis,

Thanks for the information! I have numerous BT devices, used primarily on my Windows 10 desktop device, and only use this mouse for my Mac. I doubt it is interference with the BT signal. However, now that you mention it... it *could* be an issue with the USB "hub" on the Mac that I have the card reader plugged into. If that is the same hub that the Apple BT controller is connected to (internally), and the card reader "hogs" it for performance, that would cause what I described. The solution would be to try a different USB port (on the Mac), hoping for a different hub. I'll give this a try before I spend any $$$. Thanks again!

Rich S.

Glad if this can help.

Unfortunately the antenna design in some MacBooks is not so great under all conditions.
As I understand, the peripheral in question could work well with other PCs and Macs (with different wireless & circuit design). Same as your MacBook could work well with other peripherals without issues. But in some situations it's just a bad mix.

Some USB 3 / C devices able to cause interferences at 2.4GHz is a known issue – I guess lot of the time interferences may just be too low/compensated e.g. by antenna design, software etc. that we don't recognize them most of the time – until we do in a very bad-mix-case.

USB 3 and USB-C devices can cause problems with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections, but there's a solution

USB 3 and USB-C devices are everywhere, and they offer a great speed boost for peripherals and storage devices. But there's a possible downside that not many people are aware of -- they can have an adverse effect on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections.

www.zdnet.com