Keychron M3 review: Affordable ergonomic mouse with gaming power
Keychron M3 review: Affordable ergonomic mouse with gaming power
Wired or wireless, light weight, DPI up to 26,000
Hyperdrive Hits
4/5 Medals of Yavin: Strongly recommended for anyone looking for a powerful ergonomic mouse that is also affordable
Wired or wireless (BT 5.1 and 2.4 GHz) connectivity
Fantastic “shoe lace” USB-C cable
Fully customizable with computer application
Cool RGB lighting color options
Check out my YouTube Shorts video for a quick visual tour of the mouse.
Intro
There are some components of our daily computing system that we use without giving too much thought. Over the past couple of years I have seriously stepped up my keyboard game thanks in large part to the fantastic PR folks, thanks Borjana, working with Keychron.
Another component I didn’t think much about was the mouse and I’ve been using a Microsoft Touch Arc mouse for about a decade. I had gotten used to it and didn’t even consider other options. A few weeks ago I was sent a Keychron M3 Wireless Mouse and I’m kicking myself for not looking into options that could help me work better and improve my work environment.
While I no longer play games on my computer (no time for that), the mouse has performed very well for my daily work and is a joy to use for several reasons. If you are looking for an affordable, and very capable, mouse then I highly recommend the Keychron M3.
Rating:
As explained in my palmsolo’s Refresh Rating Scale post, I’m awarding the Keychron M3 Wireless Mouse four (4) Medals of Yavin. When I was asked if I wanted to review the mouse, I accepted the offer because of how pleased I’ve been with Keychron keyboards. I didn’t expect much because it’s “just a mouse” and after a few weeks of using it daily I am thankful I took the chance to try it out.
The Good and the Bad
Despite all of the internal testing and trials, it’s rare to find a perfect product. Reviewers tend to push things to the limits and find unique situations where things may not perform perfectly. Software updates can also come later to fix some cons on products.
Pros
Affordable price
Very comfortable design and shape
Reliable performance
Superb “shoe string” USB-C cable
Customizable settings
Fun RGB color options
Cons
Ambidextrous shape, but no side buttons for left-handed users.
Doesn’t slide around flawlessly
No free scrolling mode on the wheel
Experiences
Keep in mind that I am coming at this review from the perspective of a guy who used a fairly basic Microsoft Arc Touch mouse that had a rather unreliable haptic slide area and two buttons. I haven’t used mice that have multiple buttons, tilt wheels, and all of the bells and whistles needed to create a super efficient mouse experience.
With this perspective, having two extra side buttons and a scroll wheel is a big step forward and I have thoroughly enjoyed using these on the Keychron M3 Wireless Mouse. After downloading and installing the M3 application (Windows available now, MacOS version coming in June), you can go in and customize the six available buttons to your preferences. There are limits to what you can choose for the options, but it is nice to have these available in the software.
Under the mouse we find buttons for DPI and report rate with indicator lights to reflect the option. In the desktop application, you can further customize the DPI sensitivity options up to 26,000 for serious gamers. I recommend you take some time to test out the various sensitivity and report rate settings that function best for how you work and play.
One other benefit of diving into the desktop software is the ability to create and then use macros with the mouse and your keyboard. I need to do more research on this capability since it is currently beyond what I have ever used a mouse for in the past.
There are multiple ways to connect the mouse to your computer; using the 2.4 GHz receiver with a USB-A port, using the other 2.4 GHz receiver with a USB-C port, connect via Bluetooth 5.1, and connection via USB-C to USB-C with that fantastic soft ultra-flex paracord cable.
Specifications
Specifications alone don’t mean much, but they are useful for comparing similar devices and checking that you are getting value for your money.
Sensor: PixArt PAW 3395
DPI range: 100-26000
Polling rate: 125, 500, or 1000 Hz
Battery: 600 mAh for up to 70 hours of continuous use
Weight: 79 grams
Colors: Black and White
Bottom Line
The Keychron M3 Wireless Mouse is a welcome replacement to my old Microsoft mouse and even though it supports wireless connectivity I have been using it primarily with a direct USB-C connection. I now need to keep from diving down the rabbit hole of seeing what other mice can provide to help me get work done more efficiently, but then again there is still plenty to explore with macros on the M3 mouse.
It doesn’t seem to glide across my mouse pad as seamless as I would like so I’ll explore other surfaces to use with the mouse. I’m loving the RGB colors, ergonomics of my hand placement, and additional buttons that are definitely saving me from having to bounce all of the screen to navigate.
The full retail price is $49, whether you select the black or white model. The two 2.4 GHz adapter and the USB-C cable are included in the package.
I've been using Keychron keyboards for a bit now. They're good. Haven't tried the mouse yet.