Macworld
At a glance
Expert's Rating
Pros
- Some Mac trackpad gestures
- Compact, ergonomic mouse
- Two scrolling wheels
- Programmable buttons
- Connectivity options
Cons
- Software download recommended
- Right-handed only
- Premium price
Our Verdict
The combination of Mac trackpad gestures, compact ergonomic design, and customization make it an interesting alternative to Apple’s Magic Mouse, particularly for (right-handed) people who find prolonged trackpad use uncomfortable or miss trackpad scrolling when using a mouse, especially if they switch frequently between creative applications and everyday productivity tools. However, its trackpad-like features rely on configurable scrolling and button shortcuts rather than full Multi-Touch gestures, so don’t expect the same experience as using a MacBook trackpad.
Price When Reviewed
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Best Pricing Today
Best Prices Today: INFTYLAB M Mouse
Retailer Price Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideWhat is it? A customisable Mac mouse with trackpad-style scrolling and programmable shortcuts, but without full Multi-Touch gesture support.
Who is it best for? Mac users who want trackpad-like controls and button options on a more accurate mouse.
Who should skip it? Left-handed users and anyone wanting the full range of Mac trackpad gestures, including pinch-to-zoom and multi-finger swipes. Apple’s Magic Trackpad is a better choice for those features.
Get ready for some real competition Logitech because there’s a new Mac mouse in town that might nibble away at your market share to become the new big cheese.
BenQ has long been the maker of many of the best monitors for Mac that have passed through the Macworld Lab. Its Zowie-branded mice, however, haven’t troubled our Best Mac Mice roundup as most have been aimed at Windows users with dedicated USB dongles that need to be plugged into a computer to link with the mouse, and Mac users prefer a straighter, less fussy Bluetooth connection.
Its new INFTYLAB brand is aimed at Mac users, with the six-button M Mouse in the lead and new products on the way including a lightbar engineered for Apple’s iMac. It even comes in only white, which for a long time was the only color that Apple made its mice, after the boxy Beige period, of course.
Which Mac trackpad gestures does the M Mouse support?Its real claim to a close and genuine relationship with the Mac is its dedicated INFTYLAB Glide software that can map trackpad and Multi-Touch gestures to the mouse’s shortcut buttons that should make mouse scrolling feel more natural to us.
You can customize scroll modes and map shortcut buttons; for example, making the scroll direction match your Mac trackpad. Choose “Natural” in the Glide desktop app for traditional mouse scrolling, where moving the mouse’s top scroll wheel down pulls the page content down with your fingers—mimicking the direct, touch-like feel of a MacBook trackpad. Or pick “Standard”, where moving the mouse wheel down pushes the page content up like a traditional PC mouse wheel.
If you are expecting a bunch of other Mac trackpad gestures such as pinch-to-zoom, I’m afraid that’s it. But the default Quick Pie’s options (see below) are kinda similar to swiping in the cardinal directions on the trackpad.
The Left Space and Right Space commands reference the different desktop spaces that you can use in macOS. For instance, you have a video playing in full screen but want to check another browser that was open before the video was played. You can swipe into the other spaces to see that page and then swipe back instead of minimizing the video. Essentially, it swaps you between the different virtual desktops that you may be using. Logitech has similar functions in its software for the MX Master 4 mouse.
You can set the horizontal scroll wheel for zooming. It is a little jumpy when zooming in on pages in Safari, but it performs better on RAW photos—although still less than the standard MacBook’s trackpad zoom’s smoothness. The zooming sensitivity setting is not adjustable in the Glide software.
Even Apple’s ambidextrous Magic Mouse that is a hybrid of a touchpad and a traditional mouse is so far the only traditional mouse that supports touch-sensitive top-surface gestures, such as one-finger scrolling, swiping between pages, and double-tapping for Mission Control or Smart Zoom. Like the M Mouse, it doesn’t support full four-finger or pinch-to-zoom trackpad gestures.
BenQ
If you want seamless trackpad gestures, you need to drop your mouse habit and buy the Apple Magic Trackpad that has a glass surface to give you fully native macOS multi-touch capabilities (pinch-to-zoom, rotate, four-finger swipes, and Mission Control).
BenQ
How customizable are the M Mouse’s buttons and shortcuts?You can customize the other buttons of the M Mouse. By default, the well-placed side-mounted horizontal scroll wheel has no click function, but it can be set to Forward/Next, while the side button behind it can be set to Previous/Back.
The top button is set to take a screenshot but can also be set to Show/Hide the desktop, or Zoom. I found myself accidentally taking screenshots with the loud camera shutter click noise adding to my frustration, so I moved away from the default command. You can set different screen-capture options, such as Capture screen/area/window and Copy screen/area.
Set one of the buttons to turn on the Quick Pie shortcut dial.BenQ
Another button option is called Quick Pie, which is a pop-up radial (circular) quick-access menu that appears next to your cursor when assigned to and pressed on the designated mouse button. Moving the cursor or clicking in a specific radial direction triggers the corresponding shortcut or command. Once you get the hang of it, it should be faster than using traditional linear drop-down menus.
Your settings are saved to the mouse, so you can use it on any Mac device once paired.
The eight-button Logitech MX Master 4 is also highly customizable with its own Logi Options+ software, including an Action Ring rather like BenQ’s Quick Pie. Read our Logitech MX Master 4 review.
How does the M Mouse connect to Mac?Bluetooth supports multiple paired devices, while the 2.4GHz wireless option provides a low-latency alternative through the included USB-C receiver—this comes with a USB-A adapter for older ports, but will be unnecessary for most Mac users. A USB-C wired connection is available, too, and charges the built-in 500mAh battery while you work.
The charging port is positioned at the front of the mouse rather than underneath as it is rather ridiculously on the Apple Magic Mouse. BenQ quotes battery life of up to 90 days, although actual endurance will depend on usage and settings.
Mice from left: Apple Magic Mouse, BenQ/INFTYLAB M Mouse, Logitech MX Master 4.Simon Jary
How does the M Mouse feel in hand?At 85g, the M Mouse is relatively light, measuring 4.5 x 2.9 x 1.6 inches (115 x 72.5 x 41.5mm). It’s specifically designed for small-to-medium hands, so larger-handed users should consider its compact dimensions before buying and may prefer Logitech’s MX Master mouse.
The Apple Magic Mouse weighs 99g, and the Logitech MX Master 4 is half as heavy again at 150g. In between M Mouse and Apple Mouse, the Satechi Slim EX Wireless Mouse weighs in at 90g.
The M Mouse feels comfortable in hand—if you’re right-handed, of course. Sorry, lefties. Its central arc follows the hand’s natural resting curve, while contoured surfaces and side grooves support the palm, thumb and ring finger. The idea is that your hand can shift between palm, claw and fingertip grips as fatigue builds, rather than being locked into one position. BenQ says the design is informed by “ultrasonic muscle-fatigue testing”, although individual comfort will depend on your hand size and working habits.
The equally rightie-only MX Master is equally ergonomically engineered, and has a larger side horizontal scroll wheel if you have bigger thumbs.
How precise is the mouse vs Apple and Logitech?The optical sensor offers adjustable sensitivity from 400 to 6,000dpi, with smart DPI (dots per inch) adjustment for different tasks.
The Logitech MX Master 4 has a maximum 8,000dpi, but most users are unlikely to notice much difference in everyday use.
Apple doesn’t officially publish an official DPI specification for its Magic Mouse, but benchmark databases typically estimate the Magic Mouse sensor at between 1,000 and 1,300dpi—making it unsuitable for fast-paced gaming or tasks requiring rapid precision, but fine for general productivity.
The INFTYLAB Flow Desk Mat is a supplementary accessory for the M MouseBenQ
Is the INFTYLAB M Mouse worth the upgrade?At $119.99 / £89.99, the M Mouse PS01 costs considerably more than a basic wireless mouse such as one of the $29.99 / £29.99 Satechi mice. Its appeal rests on a more specific promise: keeping some of the gestures and scrolling Mac users appreciate while adding the comfort, precision and physical controls of a mouse compared to a trackpad.
Logitech’s MX Master 4 mouse is similarly priced at $119.99 / £119.99.
Apple’s Magic Mouse is cheaper at $79.99 / £79.99, but is less customizable. The Magic Trackpad costs $129.99 / £129.99.
Which Mac mouse should you buy?- INFTYLAB M Mouse: Best for right-handed Mac users who want a compact, ergonomic mouse with customisable buttons, scrolling controls and some trackpad-like functionality.
- Apple Magic Mouse: Best for users who prefer touch-sensitive surface gestures, including swiping between pages and scrolling, rather than physical shortcut buttons.
- Apple Magic Trackpad: Best for users who want the full Mac trackpad experience, including pinch-to-zoom, multi-finger swipes and Mission Control.
- Logitech MX Master 4: Best for users who prefer a larger ergonomic mouse with extensive customisation options, particularly those with larger hands.
The INFTYLAB M Mouse is an interesting alternative to Apple’s Magic Mouse for right-handed Mac users who want a compact, comfortable mouse with programmable controls and some trackpad-like functionality. It’s particularly appealing for those who find prolonged trackpad use uncomfortable, miss trackpad-style scrolling when using a mouse, or frequently switch between creative applications and everyday productivity tools.
However, its trackpad-like features don’t offer the full Multi-Touch experience. If gestures such as pinch-to-zoom and multi-finger swipes are a priority, Apple’s Magic Trackpad is the better choice. Users with larger hands may also prefer Logitech’s MX Master 4.
Do you need a mouse mat?No, like all modern optical mice you can use pretty much any smooth surface, but BenQ has something that might tempt you: the Flow Desk Mat ($34.99 / £34.99).
Measuring 31.5 x 15.8 inches (800 x 400mm) with a thickness of 0.1 inch (2.5mm), the Flow Desk Mat is a low-resistance faux-leather surface that BenQ says makes M Mouse glide even smoother. A rubber backing increases the mat’s stability on desktops.
If you have the space it’s a mousing luxury that includes handy clips to route cables as you want them to keep your desk organized.
BenQ