Logitech Pop Mouse review: Emoji button meets colorful simplicity | GeekComparison

There are many reasons to prefer wireless mice. They keep your desk free of unnecessary cords, and it’s now easy to find one with advanced capabilities, a nice array of programmable buttons, and the ability to keep a reliable connection. Some people use a wireless mouse to control a system remotely, such as a media PC for example, and are interested in mice that not only cut the cord, but also the volume.

The Logitech Pop Mouse is aimed at the latter audience. But before you notice the lack of cable and the ability to easily switch between three devices paired with Bluetooth, you’ll see the bold color options screaming “vivid” in all their plastic glory.

Priced at $40, the Pop Mouse also features an “emoji button” right below the scroll wheel, pushing the device toward a young demographic. But that emoji button is programmable, so the Pop Mouse could still be a viable option for advanced users looking for a secondary or travel mouse. Don’t rely on this small, flatter, more limited mouse for your next big Photoshop project.

Let’s talk about colors

One of the biggest selling points of the Pop Mouse is its colors. That may sound crazy to some, but a bright, exciting look goes a long way in making a work setup. And the Pop Mouse has plenty of other features to make it a serious competitor.

My review unit came in what Logitech calls “Blast,” which is really just a combination of black and yellow, with a hint of gray on the scroll wheel. The mouse also comes in “Daydream,” a shade of lilac that has made its way from Logitech’s gaming side with yellow and mint green, and “Heartbreaker,” which comes in various shades of pink.

Logitech is pushing for a double purchase by offering the wireless Logitech Pop Keyboard in the same color schemes. These are eye-catching, playful designs, and there is no understated option. So if you’re not into eye-catching peripherals, the Pop collection isn’t for you.

Three wireless devices

I’m glad to see Logitech offers so much wireless functionality for $40. Like the Logitech MX Anywhere 3, which costs twice as much, the Pop Mouse has three Bluetooth profiles (the feature requires a minimum of Windows 10, macOS 10.15, Chrome OS1, iPadOS 13.4, or Linux). You can scroll through it by pressing a button on the bottom of the mouse. A small light appears next to an image of PC 1, PC 2 or PC 3, so that you know which one you are controlling.

And just like that more expensive mouse, the Pop Mouse can work with a dongle – the big difference is that one is not included. If you prefer that type of connection, which should be more reliable and easier to work with than pairing it with your PC, Logitech charges $15 for the dongle. But I could rely on Bluetooth just fine. Once my three devices were paired, I had no trouble switching through the systems in a second or two.

Another accessory not included with Pop Mouse is a charging cable to connect the mouse to your PC. The good news is that it will apparently be years before that is a problem. According to Logitech, the mouse will last up to two years before needing a new AA battery.

But even if you get a slightly shorter battery life, the mouse will still outperform many rivals. The MX Anywhere 3 claims 70 days of battery life, Razer’s Pro Click Mini can last up to about 30 days and the Dell MS7421W (another small mouse with three Bluetooth profiles) should last up to 6 months.

The mouse’s software, Logitech Options, has a battery meter, but doesn’t provide an exact battery percentage.

Listen to me: the emoji button is actually useful

Let’s get this out of the way. I have absolutely no need or interest in an emoji button. The ability to open the Windows or macOS emoji menu in any app that supports text has definitely not improved my life. The gimmick may appeal to a younger audience, but portraying the input as an emoji button really underestimates its value as a general-purpose programmable button.

By default, pressing the flat, smooth button below the scroll wheel will show emoji if you’re using Windows or macOS, but if you download the Logitech Options app, you can reprogram that button to perform more useful functions. Or you can use the button to enter a specific, frequently used emoji instead.

To be fair, I use the “thumbs up” emoji in Slack enough that the button could be useful with that functionality. But I preferred to use the button for other functions, such as showing or hiding the desktop, taking a screenshot, launching a web page or app, or controlling media.

And remember, for quick access to emoji, just press the Windows key and “.” or “;” in Windows or Control, Command and Spacebar in macOS. Pop mouse not necessary.

No one trick pony

The “click in” of the scroll wheel is also programmable.

In addition, the Options app allows the button settings to differ depending on the app currently in use. You can choose your own apps, and Logitech has a small number of pre-built profiles for some of the common ones, including Zoom and Teams, where the “clicking” scroll wheel becomes a microphone switch, and WeChat, where it becomes a screen recording tool.