Microsoft makes many mice, and sometimes it's difficult to choose between them. Right now, Microsoft is selling two flagship mice, the Surface Mouse, and the Surface Arc Mouse. They're both great mice but are two very different kinds of mice. So which one should you choose?
Surface mice specs
Most Microsoft Bluetooth devices will not work with a Mac of any model for an unknown reason. Sometimes the keyboards will or the Mouse 3000 series will (at times). Just get a cheap, $5 Bluetooth mouse (generic) and it will work fine.
Surface Mouse
Oct 01, 2016 Microsoft Designer Bluetooth Mouse is not getting detected as a bluetooth mouse on OSX 10.10.3. During pairing, it just shows up as a bluetoth device and after some time, there is a popup that no mouse is connected. Also, when you try to add the mouse though Mouse-Add a Bluetooth Mouse screen, the mouse is not gettng detected. Dec 09, 2017 The Microsoft Surface Precision Mouse is a Bluetooth Low Energy device that requires Bluetooth 4.0 or later and features an ergonomic design with six buttons including a scroll wheel. Feb 27, 2019 The Surface Mobile Mouse has a shared power and Bluetooth pairing button located on the bottom of the mouse. Press the button once to turn the mouse on or off, or press and hold the button to put the mouse in discovery mode for Bluetooth pairing.
Category | Specification |
---|---|
Interface | Bluetooth 4.1 |
Wireless frequency | 2.4 GHz |
Buttons | Two buttons: right and left click |
Design | Universal, traditional |
Scrolling | Vertical scroll wheel |
Compatibility | Windows 10 / 8.1 / 8.0 PC must support Bluetooth 4.0 or higher |
Weight | 3.21 ounces (90.9 grams) including batteries |
Battery | Two AAA alkaline batteries (included) |
Available colors | Light gray |
Category | Specification |
---|---|
Interface | Bluetooth 4.1 |
Wireless frequency | 2.4 GHz |
Buttons | Touchpad: right and left click |
Design | Bendable tail |
Scrolling | Full scroll plane, horizontal and vertical scrolling |
Compatibility | Windows 10 / 8.1 / 8.0 PC must support Bluetooth 4.0 or higher |
Weight | 2.91 ounces (82.49 grams) including batteries |
Battery | Two AAA alkaline batteries (included) |
Available colors | Burgundy, light gray, cobalt |
Design
Both Surface mice are beautifully designed, with the Surface Mouse sporting a more traditional mouse-like shape and size. It has both right and left click buttons at the front, along with a metal scroll wheel in the middle that's cold to the touch and has small grating on it which makes it less slippery when you're scrolling.
The scroll wheel itself is quiet, which is significant for those who may be using it in a quiet environment. The mouse itself is built out of plastic, which I think feels a little cheap compared to other similarly priced mice that use more premium materials. On the flipside, the mouse is incredibly comfortable to hold thanks to its universal shape that fits in the hands of anyone.
The Surface Arc Mouse, on the other hand, is a very uniquely designed mouse. It features Microsoft's patented Arch design, which makes it incredibly thin which is good for travel. The Surface Arc Touch Mouse uses a single plastic touchpad at the front of the device rather than dedicated right and left click buttons, which also means it doesn't have a physical scroll wheel.
To scroll on the Surface Arc Mouse, you can use either one or two fingers like on a normal touch pad to scroll web pages. The touch pad itself is a click surface, so if you want to right or left click, just press down on either the right or left side of the touch pad, and the click will activate. I'd say the Arc Touch mouse is a more futuristic, elegant mouse compared to the Surface Mouse.
The mouse itself is available in multiple colors and is built out of plastic for the touchpad and a rubber-like material for the rest of the body. That's because the rest of the body actually folds flat, which enables easy carrying around in a pocket or a thin bag. Folding the mouse flat also disables Bluetooth, saving battery while you travel around. The Surface Mouse doesn't do this, making the Surface Arc Mouse better for travel.
Usage
I've used both the Surface Mouse and Surface Arc Mouse for a considerable amount of time now, and I have mixed feelings about both. I love how comfortable the Surface Mouse is, with its universal design that fits perfectly in my hand. I am a claw-gripper when it comes to mice, meaning when I use a mouse, my fingers are arched up over the mouse rather than directly against it.
Does Microsoft Surface Mouse Work With Mac
As a result, the Surface Mouse is a much more comfortable mouse during daily use compared to the Surface Arc Mouse. Due to the Arc Mouse's unique design, there's nothing under the top of the mouse to keep my fingers evenly spaced out, and as a result, I end up gripping the underside of the bottom of the mouse with my ring and pinky finger, which can cause cramps.
At the same time, I still prefer the Arc Mouse over the Surface Mouse. The Surface Mouse is a great, simple mouse, but the Arc Mouse; with its crazy futuristic design and elegant touch pad on the front, makes for an overall more functional peripheral. For example, the Arc Mouse has a whole bunch of configurable options via Microsoft's Keyboard and Mouse Center app, where the Surface Mouse doesn't.
When it comes to behavior, both mice operate the same when it comes to tracking. I find the scrolling mechanic on the Surface Mouse to be a lot more reliable, however, with the Surface Arc Mouse sometimes not catching my swiping as a scroll. I can program the Surface Arc Mouse to do different things when I left, right or middle click with three fingers. I can also easily change the direction of scrolling, horizontally or vertically. The Surface Mouse cannot do vertical scrolling.
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Does Microsoft Surface Mobile Mouse Work With Mac Free
Price
The Surface Mouse and Surface Arc Mouse are priced differently. The Surface Mouse is $49.99, which is relatively affordable for a premium, standard mouse. The Surface Arc Mouse is $30 more, priced at $79.99. The Arc Mouse does more and is using more expensive tech such as a touch pad and flexible design that allows it to fold flat. As a result, it's slightly more expensive.
That $30 is a big different, and whether you should spend the extra cash depends on what you need from your mouse.
Which should you get?
Are you looking for a straightforward, simple yet sleek mouse that features traditional physical right, left and scroll wheel and a universal design that will fit great and comfortably in your hand? Then you are going to want to opt for the Surface Mouse. If on the other hand, you're looking for something a bit different, that's super easy to carry around and doesn't feature physical right, left and scroll wheel buttons, then the Surface Arc Mouse is for you.
![With With](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41f3llmZvWL._US500_.jpg)
I must say, I have enjoyed my time with the Surface Arc Mouse far more than I have with the standard Surface Mouse, likely because I prefer the unique design that grabs people's attention. While the Surface Mouse is more comfortable, the Surface Arc Mouse feels more premium in my hand, and I much prefer the touchpad over traditional physical buttons.
Being able to quickly power off the mouse by folding it out flat is also a nice addition. On the Surface Mouse, the only way to do that is to turn the mouse over and press the small Bluetooth button once. On the Surface Arc Mouse, I have that option in addition to being able to simply fold it flat. Neat.
All-in-all, no matter which mouse you go for, you're going to be getting a great experience, along with that beautiful Surface design, either way. Let us know which mouse you decide to go for below!
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Alongside the new Surface Go, Microsoft also made available a new mouse called the Surface Mobile Mouse that features a low-profile modern design to match the rest of the Surface product line. While not a new design, the Surface Mobile Mouse is a low-cost Bluetooth mouse accessory that you can't really go wrong with. Plus, it's available in the same color options found in the latest Type Covers and Surface Laptop.
Affordable and sleek
Surface Mobile Mouse
Bottom line: This is a low-cost, modern, and low-profile accessory that features Bluetooth connectivity and a portable design, at the expense of some comfort when used over a long period of time.
Cons:
- Low-profile design can be uncomfortable.
- No rechargeable battery system.
The new Surface Mobile Mouse is essentially a reskinned Microsoft Designer Mouse, which was released a few years ago. It features a super slim and modern design that's smooth to the touch and feels great. It features a plastic body with a metallic scroll wheel. The only notable difference between the Designer Mouse and Surface Mobile Mouse is the scroll wheel itself is slightly wider, which makes it easier to find with whatever finger you're using to scroll. The Surface Mobile Mouse is also low-priced, costing only $35 brand new.
Category | Spec |
---|---|
Interface | Bluetooth 4.01/4.1/4.2 |
Wireless range | 4.2GHz frequency range |
Buttons | 4 buttons: Left, right, wheel, and power (paring button by long press) |
Compatibility | Device must support Bluetooth 4.0 or higher |
Weight | 78g including 2 AAA alkaline batteries |
Battery | 2 AAA alkaline batteries (included) |
Battery life | Up to 12 months typical usage |
Dimensions | 107.20 mm x 60.30 mm x 25.80 mm |
The dedicated left and right mouse buttons have a nice stern click to them, and the metallic scroll wheel is cold to the touch which makes it feel a little more premium than it actually is. On the underside, there's one small circular button that acts as power and Bluetooth pairing.
It's a super-simple mouse. It is a Bluetooth mouse which means it should work with any device that features Bluetooth connectivity, and it has replaceable AAA batteries that come already installed in the box. To remove the battery door on the underside, simply push in the bottom of the mouse, and the door pops out. It uses a magnet to keep it shut when in use.
For those who like some customization, the Surface Mobile Mouse features X-Y resolution adjusting, the ability to reassign the scroll wheel click button, left-right click swap, and wheel customization. It also supports swift-pair with the Windows 10 April 2018 update, which makes connecting it to your device super quick and simple.
What you'll hate about the Surface Mobile Mouse
If you were hoping for a new mouse design not seen before on a Microsoft product, you'll be severely disappointed with the Surface Mobile Mouse. As already mentioned, it's literally recycling the old Microsoft Designer Mouse design. If you didn't like that design, you won't like this one either.
The other issue is that it's almost too low-profile for my liking, making it uncomfortable after prolonged use. The Surface Mouse is just like the Surface Mobile Mouse, except it has a slightly taller humped design that makes it fit in your palm better. The Surface Mobile Mouse is lower, but that's deliberate because it's designed to be easily portable in a bag or even pocket, and it achieves that goal at the expense of ergonomic design.
But Microsoft already has a mouse designed to be mobile, with the Surface Arc Touch Mouse. It features a design that allows it to lie flat when being carried around but pops up high enough so that it doesn't cramp your hand when in use. Admittedly, the Surface Arc Touch Mouse is much more expensive and doesn't feature dedicated right and left click buttons nor a physical scroll wheel, unlike the Surface Mobile Mouse.
Should you buy the Surface Mobile Mouse?
Overall, the Surface Mobile Mouse is a cheap Surface accessory that can be used on any device that features Bluetooth connectivity. It has a slim, low-profile and modern design that looks great in any modern setup, but its low-profile form factor may make it uncomfortable after long periods of use, unless you have small hands.
So should you buy it? For the price, it's worth it as an on-the-go mouse that you need when traveling. If you don't have the cash to splash out on a Surface Arc Touch Mouse, then the Surface Mobile Mouse is your next best choice. However, I probably wouldn't buy it to use as a primary mouse on a desk at home or work; for that I'd recommend the standard Surface Mouse or Surface Precision Mouse.
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