I spend hours cutting video and mixing audio. Five-hour edit blocks aren’t rare, they’re Tuesday. So this isn’t a spec sheet parade; it’s a functional review of how three popular Logitech mice actually feel during long sessions: MX Vertical, MX ERGO, and MX Master 3. If you’re picking a daily driver for serious work, comfort and control beat DPI headlines every time.
Here’s what stood out after using each one for focused, multi-hour edits.
The MX Vertical — Looks ergonomic, feels awkward
You’ve seen IT folks swearing by vertical mice, hand in that “permanent handshake” pose. On paper, rotating your wrist should ease forearm strain. In practice? With the MX Vertical, my hand kept fighting the posture.
- Pointer movement: Small, restricted motions at a steep angle. On a tight desk tray, that’s tiring fast.
- Clicks: Never felt natural. Fine for light office use, not great when you’re trimming frames, setting keyframes, or nudging masks all day.
- Fatigue profile: Forearm and wrist tighten over time, especially if your surface area is limited.
If your work is mostly typing with the occasional click, you might tolerate it. If you edit for hours, the “handshake” stops feeling clever and starts feeling cramped.
Verdict: Great conversation piece. Not great for long, precise sessions.
The MX ERGO — Cloud-nine comfort, thumbs pay the bill
The MX ERGO is the comfiest mouse I’ve held. Big, sculpted, and stable. Your palm drops on it like it’s been waiting there all day.
- Palm support: Full contact. Pinky and thumb both land on real surfaces, not hanging in the air.
- Buttons & wheel: Easy reach, satisfying travel. The tilt base angle helps keep the wrist neutral.
- Trackball: Precise for micro-moves. Perfect for color wheels, gentle masks, and timeline nudges.
But here’s the trade-off: thumb repetition. Rolling that ball for hours is like texting a novel with your thumb. If you’ve ever had phone-thumb fatigue, you know the feeling. After long sessions, the thumb is the first to complain.
If Logitech shipped this exact shell with a regular optical sensor—no trackball—many of us would stop shopping. It’s that comfortable.
Verdict: The shape is near-perfect; the trackball makes marathon sessions hit the thumb.
The MX Master 3 — Almost there, with a pinky problem
The MX Master 3 is the default recommendation for a reason. It tracks beautifully, the MagSpeed wheel is a dream for timelines, and the extra thumb wheel helps with horizontal scrubbing or tool zoom. Multi-device pairing and the unifying receiver keep setups clean.
But during long edits, one thing nags: pinky support.
- Ergo feel: Palm and index land well; the outer edge rolls away so the pinky sometimes dangles. Over hours, that light “hang” turns into micro-tension.
- Shape: Good size, good sculpt—just not enough real estate on the right edge.
If you’ve never tried the ERGO, you may never notice this. Once you’ve felt a mouse that supports every finger, it’s hard to un-feel the gap.
Verdict: Fantastic sensor and features; minor shape quirk holds it back for all-day work.
Who should choose what?
Quick picks based on how you actually work:
- Video/audio editing 3–6 hours a day
- Primary need: full-hand support, minimal repetitive strain
- Pick: MX Master 3 (with desk tweaks below)
- Why not ERGO? Thumb strain accumulates on trackball-heavy days.
- Fine cursor control in tight spaces (standing desk trays, small surfaces)
- Pick: MX ERGO if your sessions are shorter or you like trackballs.
- Caveat: Watch your thumb; take stretch breaks.
- Light office work with wrist pain history
- Pick: Try MX Vertical for short sessions only; many still prefer a traditional shell with better support.
Setup tweaks that matter more than people admit
A great mouse can still feel bad in a rough setup. Three fixes that saved my hands:
- Lower the pointer speed, raise the DPI Let the sensor do the work. Fine control with smaller movements reduces overreach.
- Give your pinky a ramp A thin gel pad or a low-profile mouse mat edge under the pinky side reduces that “dangling” feeling on the MX Master 3.
- Move your elbow, not just your wrist Keep the elbow close to your side and the wrist neutral. Tiny habit, huge difference by hour four.
Bonus: map the thumb wheel on the MX Master 3 to timeline zoom or horizontal scroll in Premiere/Resolve. It’s an instant productivity boost.
Comfort ranking (for long edits)
- Shape: MX ERGO
- Overall balance (comfort + sensor): MX Master 3
- Wrist neutrality in short bursts: MX Vertical
The “perfect mouse” wishlist (Logitech, please read)
Take the MX ERGO shell—full palm, stable base, friendly angle—
and add a high-grade optical sensor (no trackball). Keep the generous thumb rest and button layout. That’s it. You already have the pieces. Ship it and it’ll fly off shelves.
Final word
- MX Vertical: interesting idea, awkward in practice for creative work.
- MX ERGO: unbelievably comfortable; the trackball is both the magic and the limitation.
- MX Master 3: the best all-rounder today; a tiny design tweak for pinky support would make it a no-brainer.
If you edit for a living, your mouse isn’t a gadget—it’s a tool that protects your hands and keeps you shipping. Pick the one you’ll still love at hour five, not the one that wins a spec race at minute one.
