Apple Magic Mouse

What hackers pick instead

• Logitech MX MasterPeople praise its smooth, precise scroll wheel, long lifespan and work use; the caveat critics mention most is a rubber coating that wears and collects dirt.20recommend
• Logitech MX VerticalRecommended for ergonomics and easing wrist pain, with people preferring it to trackpads for long desk sessions. Critics mention short lifespan and poor software.6recommend
• Logitech LiftA vertical ergonomic mouse that people credit with ending long-running wrist pain, often within a few weeks of switching from a standard mouse.6recommend
• Keychron gaming mousePeople recommend Keychron mice for their good price and value, and say the reduced button count is livable. The most common complaint is that macros can be used without a password.6recommend
• Logitech M720 TriathlonRecommended by owners who find it comfortable and pragmatic, and say it has caused no pressure problems on the desk. Critics say the scroll wheel lacks a heavy wheel and detent-free option.5recommend

Every quote

The 40 most detailed of 85 comments. Each links to the original.

1. That USB port on the underside is still one of the great mysteries though, maybe it is some quirk of evolution, because it is certainly not intelligent design.

   Mixed · Feb 2026 · in “Resizing windows on macOS Tahoe – the saga continues”

2. I've owned that mouse for years and it's never once been a thing I thought about in practice

   Recommends · Mar 2026 · in “Apple Introduces MacBook Neo”

3. Multitouch still works great on the one I bought in 2010 after near daily usage.

   Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “Apple WWDC 2026 Livestream”

4. I love the magic mouse, had one going since 2016 and it is still great.

   Recommends · Oct 2026 · in “New iMac with M6”

5. in return you can use it for many years without the connector breaking

   Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “Apple WWDC 2026 Livestream”

6. it scrolls with a touch sensor so natural scrolling feels correct

   Recommends · Mar 2026 · in “Cherri – programming language that compiles directly to a Apple Shortuct”

7. It really was not nearly as annoying as everyone said it was.

   Recommends · Aug 2026 · in “Firefox 157 will include JPEG XL by default on all platforms”

8. just charging it for two minutes gives you 8 hours of runtime

   Mixed · Oct 2026 · in “Will Linux phones become a viable alternative to the Android/iOS duopoly?”

9. this is my favortite mouse and the one I still use today

   Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “I Hate (Most) Keyboard 'Fn' Keys”

10. I've used the Magic Mouse for years and love it.

    Recommends · May 2026 · in “Steve Jobs Next Computer: His Forgotten Exile Years”

11. Charging isn't a problem in actual use

    Recommends · Mar 2026 · in “The Windows 95 User Interface: A Case Study in Usability Engineering”

12. it is appallingly bad engineering. Especially since the previous design, which was functionally identical just needed a 10 second battery swap.

    Criticizes · Mar 2026 · in “Make macOS consistently bad (unironically)”

13. Many components also do not offer batteries that can be replaced, such as the magic mouse, so you end up needing to replace the entire item.

    Criticizes · Feb 2026 · in “Ask HN: Why electronics are still so unrecyclable?”

14. The charging port is on the bottom because that's the only place you can put a charging port with the existing all-glass design.

    Criticizes · Mar 2026 · in “The Windows 95 User Interface: A Case Study in Usability Engineering”

15. Think of all the criticisms Apple has received over the years due to the Magic Mouses charging port being on the bottom

    Criticizes · Nov 2025 · in “Steam Frame”

16. It's the epitome of putting form before function. It's a desk ornament that leads to frequent injuries with use.

    Criticizes · Jun 2026 · in “Apple WWDC 2026 Livestream”

17. charging the mouse from under, instead of from a position that would allow to use the mouse while charging

    Criticizes · Mar 2026 · in “The Windows 95 User Interface: A Case Study in Usability Engineering”

18. a mouse that needs to be on its back to be charged, thus rendering it completely useless during that time

    Criticizes · May 2026 · in “Ferrari shares fall after launch of first EV as Jony Ive design proves divisive”

19. the ergonomic travesty of using and ridiculousness of charging the Magic Mouse remain unaddressed

    Criticizes · Apr 2026 · in “Tim Cook to become Apple Executive Chairman”

20. a mouse with a charging port on the bottom so that you can't use the mouse while it's charging

    Criticizes · Feb 2026 · in “Apple, fix my keyboard before the timer ends or I'm leaving iPhone”

21. Apple's famous wireless mouse with the charging port on the bottom would fit into that gallery

    Criticizes · Mar 2026 · in “The Pleasures of Poor Product Design”

22. the stupid mouse where the charger plugs in at the bottom, that one actually sucks

    Criticizes · Jun 2026

23. a cordless mouse with a charger port on the bottom, the infamous hockey puck mouse

    Criticizes · Nov 2025 · in “Report: Tim Cook could step down as Apple CEO 'as soon as next year'”

24. It's really not that bad if your only computer use consists of social media

    Mixed · Jun 2026 · in “Apple WWDC 2026 Livestream”

25. This makes it worthy for the people who need this for their work.

    Recommends · Feb 2026 · in “Resizing windows on macOS Tahoe – the saga continues”

26. It fits perfectly and lets me keep my hands on the keyboard.

    Recommends · Feb 2026 · in “Ask HN: Ergo wireless keyboard with mouse for coding?”

27. The charging point on the bottom of the mouse is fine.

    Mixed · Nov 2025 · in “iPhone Pocket”

28. the "Magic mouse" of ferraris

    Mixed · May 2026 · in “Ferrari shares fall after launch of first EV as Jony Ive design proves divisive”

29. To take a shortcut like that shows a lack of respect for the customer to whom they are charging premium prices

    Criticizes · Mar 2026 · in “The Windows 95 User Interface: A Case Study in Usability Engineering”

30. it's the only mouse I've ever used that routinely sends scroll events while I'm just trying to click or drag

    Criticizes · Jun 2026 · in “Apple WWDC 2026 Livestream”

31. I've had that pitting with every magic mouse I've owned, the sides of it end up looking like a cheese grater

    Criticizes · Apr 2026 · in “Filing the Corners Off MacBooks”

32. I've completely destroyed three magic mice by sometimes accidentally touching the mouse to the laptop.

    Criticizes · Apr 2026 · in “Filing the Corners Off MacBooks”

33. The Magic Mouse also had random stuttering, a really horrible experience on brand new hardware.

    Criticizes · Dec 2025 · in “Bikeshedding, or why I want to build a laptop”

34. it does actually mean it's impossible to play something like a modern FPS with a Magic Mouse

    Criticizes · May 2026 · in “New accessibility features powered by Apple Intelligence”

35. Apple fanbois would not just tolerate it but would invent a way to rationalize it

    Criticizes · Jul 2026 · in “Apple Upgrade”

36. It would be smarter to put it on the front then it could be used as wired mouse

    Criticizes · Nov 2025 · in “Report: Tim Cook could step down as Apple CEO 'as soon as next year'”

37. would not work correctly with NiMH batteries but work fine with disposable AA

    Criticizes · Jan 2026 · in “Ode to the AA Battery”

38. Apple put the charging port on a wireless mouse on the bottom of the mouse.

    Criticizes · Mar 2026 · in “Apple Introduces MacBook Neo”

39. My biggest frustration with Apple was the number of buttons on their mouse.

    Criticizes · Apr 2026 · in “Tailscale's New macOS Home”

40. Wireless charging support could be a nice bandaid on that terrible design.

    Criticizes · Mar 2026 · in “The Windows 95 User Interface: A Case Study in Usability Engineering”