Tech head-to-head
Logitech MX Master 3SvsSteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3
Logitech MX Master 3S edges SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3, 8.3 to 7.9. The 5 axes split 3-2, widest on Value at 1.6.
Logitech MX Master 3S
Logitech
8.3
The default productivity mouse, and the quiet-click revision fixed its most-cited flaw.
Price and availability change constantly, so we don't quote them here — the link opens the current Amazon listing.
SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3
SteelSeries
7.9
Actuation you set per key, from a hair of travel to the full stroke, on a board that charges for it.
Price and availability change constantly, so we don't quote them here — the link opens the current Amazon listing.
Where they diverge
The widest gap is Value, Logitech MX Master 3S ahead 7.8 to 6.2. They come closest on Design, 8.6 to 8.4. Left of center is Logitech MX Master 3S, right is SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3.
Which one to pick
Take the Logitech MX Master 3S
Leads on Value, Durability and Ease of use.
- Spreadsheets and long documents, where the free-spinning wheel earns its keep
- Three computers and one mouse
- You share a room and the old model's click was too loud
Take the SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3
Leads on Performance and Design.
- Competitive games where actuation depth is worth tuning key by key
- You want a handful of keys set shallow and the rest left normal
- Media control and profile switching without opening an app
What each one gets wrong
Logitech MX Master 3S
- Small hands — this is a large, high-backed shape
- You want a symmetrical shape for left-handed use
SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3
- Typing is the main job — shallow actuation punishes resting fingers
- You would rather not have the SteelSeries suite installed to configure it
- You expect to change switches later; these are not sockets
Specs, side by side
| Spec | Logitech MX Master 3S | SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Sensor | 8,000 DPI | — |
| Scroll | Magnetic ratchet, free-spin | — |
| Connection | Bluetooth and Logi Bolt | — |
| Thumb | Horizontal wheel plus gesture button | — |
| Layout | — | Tenkeyless |
| Switches | — | OmniPoint 3.0 magnetic, 0.1–4.0 mm adjustable |
| Top plate | — | Aluminum alloy |
| Extras | — | OLED display, onboard profiles, double-shot PBT keycaps |
Rankings they both appear in
Questions
- Logitech MX Master 3S or SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 — which should I buy?
- Logitech MX Master 3S leads on Value, Durability and Ease of use. If Performance and Design matter more to you, take the SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 instead.
- Is 0.4 a real difference?
- Barely. Logitech MX Master 3S averages 8.3 and SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 averages 7.9, and the total is the plain average of 5 axes, so 0.4 is what one axis moving 2.0 looks like after averaging. The axis split, 3-2, tells you more.
- Which one ranks higher in "A desk that looks right, and what it costs the hand"?
- SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 sits at #3 in "A desk that looks right, and what it costs the hand", Logitech MX Master 3S at #4.