The Magic Mouse 2 is a modern mouse that offers convenience and a sleek design, replacing the two AA batteries of its predecessor. It has a built-in rechargeable battery that provides nine hours of battery life in a quick two to three-minute charge. However, it cannot be charged and used simultaneously due to the Lightning port located on the bottom of the mouse. Apple claims that the battery will power the mouse for about a month or more between charges, but this is not universal.
The second-gen Magic Mouse is a subtle upgrade from its predecessor, featuring a unique multitouch top and rechargeable battery. The new mouse is lighter, sturdier, and features an optimized foot design for better movement. However, rechargeable batteries for the standard Magic Mouse are unlikely to exceed 18 days before needing a recharge, while the mouse itself can last up to 3-4 months per single charge.
Wireless mice offer greater freedom of movement and better portability, but the battery life may not be universal. Some users have reported issues with their Apple Magic Mouse, with only the batteries that came with the mouse and AA Duracell 1.2-volt, DX1500 2,000 nAh batteries working. To address this issue, users should start using rechargeable batteries, such as Panasonic Eneloop, which can provide four AA size batteries and a charger.
In conclusion, the Magic Mouse 2 offers a wireless and rechargeable option with an optimized foot design that allows it to glide smoothly across your desk. However, some users have reported issues with their original Magic Mouse, suggesting that using rechargeable batteries is a recommended solution.
📹 Why Apple’s Mouse Charges From The Bottom
Apple’s known for making some interesting design decisions, and nowhere is that more clear than with their Magic Mouse.
Do Apple wireless mice go bad?
Apple wireless mice can be broken in rare cases, but they can also be unrepairable. In such cases, the only option is to buy a new mouse. To fix issues like frozen mac cursors, right-clicking, and a stopped Mac keyboard, follow these steps:
- Check for hardware issues with the mouse.
- Try resetting the mouse to its default settings.
- Check for any other issues.
Can you overcharge an Apple mouse?
It is possible for the mouse battery to overcharge if it is left plugged in for an extended period of time. It should be noted that the device is not designed for charging, in contrast to a cord that is attached at the conventional location. It is somewhat surprising that the entire Apple team considered this to be a viable concept.
How long does the Apple Magic Mouse battery last?
The Magic Mouse is equipped with a rechargeable battery that can sustain operation for over a month and is designed to automatically pair with the user’s Mac computer. The device is accompanied by a woven USB-C to Lightning cable, which enables the user to establish a connection with a USB-C port on their Mac computer for the purposes of pairing and charging.
Should you turn off Magic Mouse when not in use?
In order to maximize battery life, it is recommended that users disable their keyboard, mouse, or trackpad when they will not be using their computer for an extended period of time. This can be done by using the on/off switch. It is advisable to refrain from disclosing personal information in the comments section.
Can I leave my Magic Mouse charging overnight?
Technically, you can leave your Magic Mouse charging overnight, as it contains a lithium-ion battery that is designed to stop charging once full. However, it’s generally recommended to unplug electronics once they are fully charged to conserve energy and to maintain optimal long-term battery health.
You can check the health of your Magic Mouse battery by looking in System Preferences under the Bluetooth or Mouse preference pane. This will show you the current battery level and allow you to monitor its health easily.
For Magic Mouse 1, using high-quality lithium-ion or rechargeable NiMH batteries can improve longevity. Magic Mouse 2’s rechargeable battery may degrade with age or intensive use. Proper charging practices can help maintain battery health for both models.
Do you need batteries for Magic Mouse?
The Apple Magic Mouse is a wireless device that employs Bluetooth® technology to establish a connection with a Mac computer. It is powered by two AA batteries.
Should I turn my Magic Mouse off when not in use?
In order to maximize battery life, it is recommended that users disable their keyboard, mouse, or trackpad when they will not be using their computer for an extended period of time. This can be done by using the on/off switch. It is advisable to refrain from disclosing personal information in the comments section.
Is Magic Mouse 1 or 2 better?
The Magic Mouse 2 is a more advanced version of the original Magic Mouse, offering enhanced features and functionality. Its rechargeable battery system is more sustainable and convenient, while the original mouse requires quick replaceable batteries. The decision between the two depends on personal preferences, charging convenience, and overall priorities. The Solumics Case can significantly enhance the user experience by addressing ergonomic issues.
Both models offer a seamless user experience with minimalist design, multi-touch gesture support, and seamless integration with Apple devices. However, the Magic Mouse 2 offers a rechargeable battery system, lighter weight, and enhanced design. Ultimately, the best choice depends on personal preferences and needs.
What’s the difference between Magic Mouse 2 and 3?
The Apple Magic Mouse 3 is a new innovation from Apple, featuring a sleek, simple design with a touch-sensitive surface for multi-touch gestures. It comes with a premium-quality woven USB-C to Lightning cable, ensuring durability and flexibility. The mouse is designed to be easy to use, with a touch-sensitive surface for multi-touch gestures. The package includes a stylish Magic Mouse with a sleek, simple design, and a premium-quality woven USB-C to Lightning cable for added durability. This innovative mouse is a must-have for tech enthusiasts and innovators alike.
How is it best to charge Magic Mouse?
In order to recharge the device’s battery, it is necessary to connect a Lightning to USB cable to the Lightning port and then to link the other end to either a Mac computer or a USB power adapter. It is recommended that the device be in an operational state to ensure optimal performance. It is possible to utilise the Magic Keyboard and Trackpad while the device is undergoing the charging process; however, the Magic Mouse is not operational during this time. To ascertain the remaining charge on your device, navigate to the Control Center and select the Bluetooth option.
Why Magic Mouse White is cheaper?
The mouse’s bottom is constructed from aluminum. The white version is crafted from plain brushed aluminum, while the space gray version is anodized to alter its color. This additional step in the manufacturing process may result in a slight increase in cost.
📹 Everything you need to know about the Apple Magic Mouse in 2024
In this video, we look at the Apple Magic Mouse 2, a sleek and intuitive companion for your Mac. This rechargeable mouse offers …
Greg, I respectfully disagree with your statement. Having the ability to quickly charge up doesn’t justify Apple putting the port at the bottom. Being a Magic Mouse user myself, I have found that over time the battery gets weaker faster and thus requires more frequent top-ups. Having the charging port at such an awkward position really yields no advantages to the end user. The fact that it charges via Lightning only makes things worse, as I have far more USB-C cables lying around than Lightning ones. I appreciate that you give credit to Apple when due, but you should really call them out when they make questionable product decisions (such as these) that really brings no benefit to consumers apart from the so-called ‘aesthetic’ reasons.
1:43 see that right there is the difference between Steve Jobs and Tim Cook. Steve would’ve explained that on stage the same way you just did “it’s as simple as plugging it in for a bathroom break and having enough power for the rest of the work day. It almost takes that long to go digging for the double or triple A’s and shoving them into the slot!”
“Those complaints are probably coming from people who don’t even use the product in the first place.” I think this line says a lot. You can’t just assume that most of the negative comments are coming from people who don’t use the product. In my case, I hate the fact that I can’t charge the mouse while using it – especially since it doesn’t warn me that the battery is low until I have no choice but to stop what I’m doing and charge it. It’s okay to admit that sometimes Apple makes bad design choices.
As a user, I can confirm Greg’s point. Plugging the mouse shortly while taking a break can make it last for the rest of the day, while plugging it in during the lunch break can charge it to almost full capacity. Also, Magic Mice come with incredibly powerful batteries for such tiny devices. I’ve been using mine for five years now, and even though the battery has obviously degraded it still lasts months on one charge. The mouse itself is probably going to fail first before I need to consider replacing it due to insufficient battery life, and it’s going to be years.
Look, I’m not an Apple user and this website gets me interested in their products a lot and I think this article has done a great job at its purpose, explaining. However, the product itself is still questionable at best. Even if the need to charge it rarely comes up, it doesn’t change the fact that it’s still objectively awkward to charge.
As someone who has been using various mice for multimedia creation over decades – this is straight up one of the most horrid mice ever designed. This is a perfect example of apple completely going against their “user experience first” approach and prioritizing nothing more than aesthetics. I would rather use a bottom of the range mini laptop wired mouse than that pancake.
i don’t normally comment, but the ending bothered me, as someone who uses every apple product under the rainbow daily for work, i have NEVER once gotten either my home office or office office magic mouse to charge to a usable amount in under 30 minutes. Not once, it’s very noticeable because of that… BUT in defense it normally lasts a very long time on a full charge! but let me add my apple pencils are the same way, 15 seconds my butt! it has to be connect MINIMUM 15 minutes, or you’re going to lose connection FAST. but again, the battery life is great when it’s fully charged. (also let me add, those charging times aren’t that bad imo, just nowhere near as good as this article portrays them)
I was never a fan of Apple. In fact I previously had make fun of Apple. Due to work, I have been using Apple product for work. I agree 100%, the complaint mainly comes from people who don’t use Apple product, Apple product make sense when you use it, simple as that. You don’t get the best feature, the best ergonomic, best battery, but what you have simply works. I use basically the whole Apple ecosystem, it’s not the best, there are things that can be done better. But what you have across all of Apple product is, consistency in ui and quality, again not the best quality but consistence good quality across all of Apple product. Can you say the same thing with other brand ?
Greg, thanks for your website and your great explanations. I really appreciate it and find it stunning what you find out sometimes. But as a UX Designer myself I think in this case you might be not quite right. I think the aspect that is it is a much greater experience to use it without a cable is a very strong point here. And I could imagine really good that Apple wanted to force people to have this cable-less experience. Because it is very different from the experience you have with the keyboard or the trackpad. Because you simply don’t move these two normally and so the cable can’t bother you really. But well, just my Opinion on this topic, anyway keep up the very good and inspiring work! Already looking forward to the next article✌️🙂
I have the black Magic Mouse and it’s by far my favorite mouse, it looks so cool, it connects directly through the Bluetooth menu, I will admit I found it uncomfortable at first but now I’m used to it and other mice seem strange. And I think I’ve had to charge it like 3 times and I’ve had it for like 6 months…
This is the most ridicilus explanation i ever heard. They had to „redesign” the mouse by removing the door and adding the port. The position of the port has nothing to do with the internal placement of the battery. Youre not directly plugging into the battery. It has to do with the design, but not as you explained it. I think it has to do with the touch surface, when the port is on the front they have to make a cutout in it for the port and they didnt want that. But anyway i avoided the stupid and expensive magicmouse and keyboard and went for a logitech mx mac keyboard and a mx master 3 mouse. They are cheaper and just better devices….
until you run out of battery at a critical moment in time and you need access to your computer quickly. The 2 min charge applies only when the battery just lost charge moments ago. I went on vacation for 1 month, the mouse discharged and it took a full hour to get it back in. That full hour, i couldnt use my computer, and i really needed it. It is a reliability issue, the moment you need it the most it dies and you have to wait. They should put the port on the side so you can use it while charging
“Those complaints are probably coming from people who don’t even use the products in the first place” Well I don’t use it because it’s a stupid product. There are 483537562 mice with cables on front, some of them as thin as apple’s mouse. They could have easily done this. They just decided to make sure people don’t use it plugged in. As simple as that. A keyboard doesn’t really lose it’s magic when plugged in, but a mouse does. Also 9 hours is pathetic even if charged in 2 minutes. Total capacity is 1 month and you have to charge it like charging a phone. That’s just one more thing to remember. I am using a logitech G305 which is a small wireless gaming mouse that lasts me literally a year on high performance mode with infinitely higher precision and poll rate than apple’s mouse, and it doesn’t have a stupid charging port at the bottom
Yeeea if only battery longevity relied solely on amount of hours it spent working and didn’t include the actual charging cycles, which is one of the reasons why usually it is better to charge the thing fully at once rather than in short bursts… So I think the situation about people complains is pretty justified. Who in the right mind would want to buy a product that gives more questions about itself than answers.
The real thing is, every time you plug any rechargeable device to charge, the lifespan of it’s battery is reduced… Let’s say you plug it to charge for couple of minutes, and at the end of the day you plug to fully charge over night…. it’s just like you have wasted 2 fully charges attempt… They did that to force the user to reduce the battery’s life, so they will need to replace it sooner… it’s about money $$!
Solution: place the transformer in the same location but before converting it, take the pure raw power from the cable and just use basically an extension cord. Modern technology would likely allow the components to shrink to fit such a cable and I think the best part of all to me is how apple called their mouse “loved by customers” which is such a good joke
This explanation sounds more like defending Apples dumb mistakes. If some functionality like quick charging is “Good Enough” doesn’t mean you can take away a such a simple easy great feature. Only true Apple Fanboys will agree to the explanation given in the article. No offense: This is just constructive criticism
Hey, I have some issues with this explanation. I get that it takes money in r&d and tooling to significantly alter the design of a product, but there is indeed an issue I would like for you to have mentioned. And that is the fact that batteries degrade with time, it’s a fundamental property of rechargeable cells. Let’s say I upgrade on a less frequent basis than most, say every 6-7 years. I’m fairly certain that the magic mouse won’t keep its endurance that long, so unless I buy newer ones get the battery replaced, I cannot use it. I believe I’d be able to had the carge port been parallel to the ground. This would force me to spend more on a mouse that’s fundamentally fine, and I don’t that’s a good time
Not a valid explanation. I use the mouse and to charge it at the bottom, it’s a hassle. Not every human are meant to be the same. We tend to forget things like charging the mouse so we use and charge instead to ensure that it can hold charges in the future while our work is being done . And if that’s not an issue, why do still people complain ? I rather switch to something else soon .
It would be awesome if they just made a new mouse with useable tracking and usb charging and regardless of the theories in this article it would still make much more sense to put the charger into a normal place. Oh and give it an actual ergonomic shape. I really tried loving it because I’m heavily invested in the apple ecosystem and I love apple products but their mouse is just utter garbage it has very slow and inaccurate tracking, it’s very unergonomic and uncomfortable to use, lighting should fuck off and come included with usb c. Other then the fact that it’s really beautiful and elegant it’s a piece of shit product. I bought the Logitech mx anywhere 3 and while it doesn’t feel as nice and doesn’t look as stylish, it’s a hundred times more useable.
It’s probably also that they don’t want the lightning cable to wear out. Moving the mouse back and forth is hard on the port and cable. They could get around this by using a trident design (cable in the center and plastic re-enforcements on either side) but Apple doesn’t like throwing off the A E S T H E T I C.
You’re wrong those complaints come from people that actually do use the product but the biggest issue is I had no idea that only two minutes would give you nine hours of charge most of us think that we need to wait until the devices charged up fully or semi folding because that’s how most other products work
I appreciate the effort to justify this, but at the end, it just came out as Apple just doesn’t care enough to redesign the product since they know that most of the people who buys their products (i.e. the people who use these products) will still buy the mouse regardless of the inconvenience, because ecosystem.
There was a wireless charging solution for 1st generation of Magic Mouse and it was quite reliable. I was using Artwizz wireless charging adapter for years, before I got Magic Mouse 2 with my iMac. The adapter was made of two elements: a charging base and rechargeable battery pack which looked like an original battery cover of Magic Mouse. It worked like MagSafe today, aligning the mouse on the charger using magnets, but the charging speed wasn’t very fast. There were few other brands making their own solutions based on this idea (one of them was from Mobee brand), before disappearing from the market after Apple has discontinued 1st generation of Magic Mouse. I think Apple has missed the opportunity to bring wireless charging to Magic Mouse with introduction of 24″ iMac, because from the technological point of view it’s not impossible to add MagSafe technology to their mouse.
“those complaints are coming from people who don’t even use the product” Greg, people don’t use it, because they complain about it. Apple went lazy with this product. It doesn’t matter if you can have it plugged for just two minutes, it just looks stupid. Imagine having a power socket in the ceiling.
This guy will never speak one bad line about Apple no matter what they do. They charge nearly $80 for a piece of PCB and plastic. You could at least of thought of a better place to put a charging port for this. Even better create a descrete keyboard and mouse combo mat that will charge both wirelessly while resting on the mat (Yes, these QI wireless charging was a thing back in 2009). It doesn’t matter if it’s 2 minutes of charging or 1 it’s an inconvenience and anyone with a straight mind knows this is stupid. “These companies are coming for people who don’t even use the product in the first place” – Then explain to me how ppl like Linus Tech Tips who spend their entire life reviewing this stuff said its a load of bs?!
They took away functionality in case people got the mouse confused with something else? What is this cope? If Apple didn’t see this design as an issue, then they obviously didn’t test the mouse, did they? I think the worst thing for me is how horrible it is to use, this thing deserves a redesign, and Apple deserve to be held accountable for terrible design practices, instead of finding ways to rationalize terrible, terrible decisions. They’re a multi-million dollar company for crying out loud, the bar should not be tripped over this easily.
I’m an Apple user and I have the Magic Mouse 2. I totally do not mind that it charges from the bottom simply because as Greg explained it, barging it for 2 minutes gives you several hours of power. Also I don’t have to charge my Magic Mouse for weeks and if still would have a high battery percentage. Thanks Apple. And thanks Greg for breaking it down.
Just pay the extra for a Magic Trackpad. It is a significantly better experience. OR just get the Logitech MX Master 3S for Mac for $20 more at $99. (MX Master 3S is $99, Magic Trackpad is $129) But hopefully when Apple releases their USB-C version of the Magic Mouse they fix this issue. Crossing my fingers…
I respect some of your article explained about apple but not this one, battery degrades overtime meaning you will have to charge it more often. Easier to explain is that it saves them money, no need to design means less money spent while maintaining a good amount of profit from the same accessories, and Macbook lineup is probably their focus and they have have a real good track pad that making a magic mouse seems like a bulk to the package.
Apple explained = clutching on straws to explain the dumbest apple design choices. What if i am in a meeting and my mouse runs out of battery? I know that Apple is a small indie company, but it does not cost much engineering resources to move the port on the front an run some wires till the battery location
While I’m a well known anti-mac person despite learning to program on the apple 2 and 2e back in the late 90’s, I still object to apple’s more recent attitude of form before function. This speaks of design laziness more than anything, and that bugs me. this also means that in critical infrastructure, I’m going to use a wired USB mouse or not an apple, as 2 minutes in an industrial process environment could be costly in a number of ways. I have grown up in, and worked in, environments where little things like this can become the final link in the chain of disaster, and therefore I have little tolerance of it.
OK, try this one. Today I was looking for something in my control panel, went to scroll down, and accidentally turned OFF BlueTooth. Now I had no mouse to turn it back on again. If the charging port had been where I could use the mouse while it was plugged in, I simply could have connected it to my charging cable, and clicked BT back on. Instead, I had to connect my keyboard to the charging cable, hit Command-Spacebar to bring up Spotlight, enter ‘Bluetooth’, use my direction arrows to select ‘Bluetooth File Transfer’, use my arrows again to select ‘Turn On Bluetooth’ and hit the return key. (All that after half an hour searching the internet to find those particular instructions while wading through all the useless”‘try this’s” ) It was a dumb thing to do, but maybe something Apple has never considered to be a drawback to the present design. If the keyboard had been designed the same way, I would have been hooped. Perhaps a shutdown and restart of the computer may have forced a restart of BT but I didn’t see that anywhere in the suggestions.
While I will agree that charging the mouse is a nonissue, this thing should have been redesigned years ago. It simply sucks and even the cheapest Logitech mouse out performs it. It requires you to grip it with just your thumb and ring or pinky finger and the profile is so thin that it leaves no place to rest your palm. It is the antithesis of ergonomic. I challenge anyone to use the magic mouse for a day and you will end up with a terrible cramp. Thankfully apple made up for it by putting out one of the best trackpads on the market.
say whatever you want, it’s still criminal that they were too lazy to design this in a more user-friendly way. Too hard to redesign a mouse? Dell probably makes 2 new mouse designs in a year. It’s a mouse, not a nuclear reactor. Apple’s most obnoxious failing is their refusal to redesign things when realities change. iMac – designed for spinning disks, sold until this year with terrible thermals but a big hole inside where 3.5″ hard drives used to go. Mouse – designed for AAs and with no vertical surfaces a charging port might go Desktop computers – post 2003 (G5 case, recycled as Mac Pro) Apple made only 3 new case designs. Mac Mini, Shorter Mac Mini, Trash Can Mac Pro, and $10,000 Mac Pro. Meanwhile every other PC manufacturer made dozens of cases to meet various needs during that time.
I’d like to offer another viewpoint. Consider that operating the keyboard while plugged in doesn’t impact its usability in any way. The keyboard stays stationary while it is being used, so there is no disadvantage to operate it while “tethered”. However, by definition the mouse is moved while being used, and the cable can impair its usability by limiting its range of motion, or getting tangled up with another cable. I’d like to believe Apple DID intentionally place the charging port where they did, not to avoid a redesign, and not to avoid conflation with their wired mouse line; but to prevent the user from setting up the mouse in a configuration that would cause the usability to suffer.
I actually bought a Magic Mouse for my Windows computer because touch gesture mice for Windows are pretty rare and expensive. I bought a first generation, so I can change the batteries. Didn’t use it long though. Apple’s software for Windows doesn’t use the gestures, so I had to use Magic Utilities, a third party software. I used it until the trial ended, because pinch to zoom isn’t worth their monthly subscription.
It boggles my mind how people don’t see the reason clearly, even in the comments. It’s about being conspicuous about the port which you use rarely, that’s typical Apple. And the charging argument is spot on, right now I cannot recall when was the last time I’ve charge my mouse. Also, I have it for years and it still holds the charge like crazy, I’ve used the first one with interchangable batteries before, and I had to put new batteries every 5 days, this one holds for at least two weeks, I don’t even think about it, I charge it while I go to the grocery store and it’s ready for another two weeks. If we are to pick things apart like people do with Apple hardware, other products should be thrown away the minute you open the box, how crappy they are 🙂 🙂
Hi Greg, Magic Mouse user here. It IS a stupid design, and Apple should have given us a better solution. It’s okay to say they made a bad design choice. It’s a poorly designed product by 2021 standards, but I hope that a new version which incorporates a “use and charge” design comes out soon, and then we can move onto getting Apple to focus on other things such as switching to USB-C on the iPhone. Remember. They are beholden to us, not the other way around.
Great explanation but my issue with Apple is greed. I have a m1 MacBook with only 2 lighting ports. So to charge all the accessories for work(mouse,keyboard, external monitor,etc) I have to spend another $150 to get more ports. If I buy a $1500 Mac it should have at least 4 to charge all this stuff overnight.
as Somebody who uses a pencil yeah it’s annoying when it’s dead and when you need to use it. No not the first GEN you can’t use it while it’s plugged in. The bigger design flaw with the mouse is that it is undistinguishable from using it upside down trust to me this is happened and I’ve had to do the support call and subsequently stick an arrow on it later. Having something to distinguish the back/top would’ve been nice. I think the charging port was more of an afterthought and we don’t want to redesign the mouse.
I challenge the claim that they haven’t shipped a Mac with a wired mouse since 2005. The Mighty Mouse (wired version) was released in 2005 and shipped for years bundled with macs after that. The wired Mighty Mouse as a standalone accessory wasn’t actually disco’d until 2017 though it stopped shipping with computers well before that.
my PS4 controller internal battery faced burnout because I was leaving it plugged in while using it. It wasn’t holding a charge and the meter registered as low the entire time, forcing it to shut off completely when unplugged. I had to reset it but nothing worked. I then learned about the warning to never do what I did and replaced the battery with an aftermarket one and never played while plugged in again. I have a charging base now. This may be the case with the mouse. It’s a longevity feature to prevent battery bulge and burnout.
I used the mouse at work where i had a iMac, and suddenly it’s empty right in the middle of work. Then I need to find a cable or replace the batteries. At that moment I’m annoyed to have to charge from the bottom even tho it’s short feels like an inconvenience and poor design choice. It’s not making my life easier it makes it frustrating knowing that they knew that could happen but decided not to do anything about it. If the charge port was on the grond it would have been just as good looking (who looks at a mouse from the front?) but it gives the option to keep on going. I switched to Windows for work using a Logitech G403 and I’m so glad i did, more buttons, feels alot better in the hand and i don’t even notice the cable. It might not look as “sexy” as a iMac and people judge you because a “real designer” uses a Mac and that’s just not true. Software works just as well on a Windows computer and the final work you deliver is just as good maybe even better. I do like the iPhone though so i’m not 100% switched 🙂
It’s now 18/4/22 and Apple just release “redesigned” Magic keyboards and Trackpad (rounder corners) and it seems that they just couldn’t be bothered designed a new one. Or have they lost the ability to design new equipment, as most of the these designs were were from the Steve Jobs era. I was hoping they Magic Mouse was also redesigned and not just given a paint job.
In response to your closing comments, I disagree based on my experience. I owned and regularly used the Magic Mouse before switching to the Logitech MX Master 3s, which is superior in functionality and ergonomics. Additionally, its front charging port allows for use while charging, highlighting the unfortunate design of the Magic Mouse.
Devices based on lithium batteries are very often charge OR use, as opposed to charge AND use. Circuitry for charge AND use is more complex because battery needs to be isolated while charging with bypass circuit to feed “house power” to run device while charging. Does the device continue to operate while being charged? If so it would point to that charghe AND operate circuitry being used and the plug could have been on the side. Due to tapering, you can’t put the plug on the top lower ends of mouse. But there is enough space on the sides. If the mouse ceases to operate while being charged, it would explain the deliberate design to prevent its use. But considering Apple already sues charge AND operate circuits for iPhone and laptops, I would expect them to know how to build the mouse with that functionality.
Just got the newest version of this mouse, and had used the original removable battery one for a year or so back in the day. Biggest gripe with this mouse is that it’s way way way too low profile. I don’t understand their design language in regards to that. Issue I have is the click function of the top glass will constantly get impeded by my thumb on the side because there isn’t enough room below it to comfortable position it. If they had made this mouse with ~10mm more depth, it would be an amazing accessory.
I don’t own a Mac, nor use the Magic Mouse. From the outside even after your explanation it still seems silly. It’s still better to have the option to leave it plugged in, so you don’t even need to think about charging it. Unplug it and use it wirelessly when needed. Wireless keyboards and mice on desktops are silly anyway. They’re only useful for a theater PC or some other scenario where you need to control the machine at a distance. For a workstation, I’d rather just have a wired mouse.
apple designed it as most mice were designed back then. that ended up causing them to have to put the charging port in the bottom but they didn’t change the design because they didn’t think it would be a problem, since it takes about 2 minutes of charge for 9 hours of battery, and a full battery lasts about a month. and that’s why… apple is still stupid
I think people are just upset that such a beautiful design has such an obviously glaring flaw that would make people feel better if it was where a normal cable is. The “people complaining probably don’t even use it” argument is very soft and easily disproven since most of us with the mouse complain about it.
Apple locks hardware on the iPhone from new genuine parts, Apple has a proprietary cable to interact with many of its products. Apple Axed the headphone jack and released the AirPods on the same day. Apple eliminated the charge brick and headphones from the box. Apple made the new iPads super flimsy where they would Bend easily and then said “just put a case on it”. Apple doesn’t care. They only do the bare minimum they can to get away with now and the users are cattle to them. They know the cattle will follow them through the fence enclosure if persuaded properly and then they proceed to close the gate behind them.
yeah but the battery degrades over time, at the end you are going to have to buy a new mouse because you can’t use it plugged in, and the charching port could have been solved by having the mouse just a little higher, how ever its not super comfortable to grab one, its way better a gaming mouse or just an ergonomic one.
Seriously? My takeaway is simply “apple is too lazy to redesign the mouse” rather than excusing lazy design because fast charging. I don’t care if 2 min of charge can last me the next 9 hours, if the battery went out during the time I want to use it, that means I’m stuck with 2 minute downtime waiting the damn thing to charge, and that 2 minute is exactly 2 minutes too long. All of this can be avoided with a better design, but I guess that’s too much to ask from Apple.
I’ve been a user for the last 3 years and still don’t like the idea of bottom charging. I am a heavy user and it annoys me a lot when the battery dies. Yes, you can quickly charge it and get few more hours out of it, but then you forget and the same thing happens again the next day. This all could’ve been avoided if they did it the right way. Yes, it’s a sleek and clean design, but I have yet to meet a single person who uses it and thinks it’s a good idea. Even Apple fan boys think it’s a bad idea.
I’ve had my mouse and keyboard both plugged in ALL DAY. But neither is working. Why??! Also, neither has a charge indicator light it seems, so I’ve been moving them around to different sockets and using different lighting cords, but neither one seems to be accepting a charge. The computer is only 2 months old. The whole situation is frustrating. Apple may think they’re designing user friendly products, but they’re not. They always seem to leave out crucial details that could seriously limit a person’s frustration with their stuff.
Why are the comments so triggered? The website is called apple explained. He is literally just explaining the thought process and reasoning behind specific things apple has done. Saying this guy is doing apple’s pr is just mistaken, you clicked on here to find out why and he told you why. Even if the mouse is flawed, and it is, that is still not what he is discussing here. He is simply providing the way in which the mouse is different, the reason why the mouse is different and the why that apple justified themselves in the decision.
\\ The only thing I hate about it being at the bottom is if you’re in the middle of a meeting and it’s ending or you’re having to switch to a different room you can’t do that if it just dies out of nowhere you have to wait two minutes and then you can get in trouble because this has happened and also it’s gonna be annoying if you’re playing a game or something or you’re on a call with someone playing a game and dice also has happened :/
as an addictive to buy mouse every few months I can tell for sure the making the charger in the bottom is a smart idea cuz a lot of customers will just use it with cable attached to it all the time and that will kill the awesomeness of it (just remember when cellphone used to have an external memory card except for apple what happened? a lot of people bought really cheap memory cards making the device very slow then blamed the cellphones companies for it!) – before cars invented if u asked people what they need they will tell u a faster horses! –
I think these minutes rating you gave are mostly not true, they would maybe in ideal impossible cases. And, well, they would not need to redesign the mouse that much, just make a rounded hole on the white plastic on the back, so the lightning port can just slide in. And… when you need to redesign, why not do it as good as possible, cut the plastic in halves from the middle of the mouse to its end where there is a rounded hole for the cable, or maybe not from the middle but a little bit further… just to have more dedicated left and right clicks!
IDK but this is a dumb idea in my opinion. I actually preferred the slightly heavier mice that could take the AA batteries because you can find those most places. If they had put the charge port somwhere else so you could charge it while using it, that would have been different. Maybe they did this on purpose thinking that “hey after X number of hours or days, go take a break and let your mouse charge”.
Sorry to say it like this, but I don’t care how little time it takes for it to charge. IT’S STILL A BAD DESING I’m a Qualified electrician, and there is NO way that you can tell me that it is IMPOSIBLE to put the charging port at the top, WHERE EVERY MOUSE CABLE ONCE WAS, and internally wire it to the battery. Also have you ever seen the Angry German Kid. I’M ALSO GERMAN AND I DON’T WANT TO WAIT 2 MINUTES TO PLAY UNREAL TURNEMENT!!!!
I’m an avid Apple iPhone fan and find Apple as the best producer of phone software, and the same goes for the Apple Watch. However, I can’t get behind their computers. The laptops are solid powerhouses, but the Mac computers are slow compared to even some of the more basic Windows office computers. Not to mention, the accessories for the Mac are mediocre at best. While the Magic Keyboard has a good feel and does it’s job, it’s no better in terms of functionality than an Amazon-brand keyboard. The Magic Mouse, in my opinion, is the worst Apple product. Horrible response times, uncomfortable feel, and the inability to charge while using it make it the worst mouse I have ever used.
“Those complaints are probably coming from people who don’t use the products in the first place.” I genuinely laughed out loud at this. It’s BS design decisions like this that are the reason we do not use apple products… But since your point is apparantly that Apple products are only bought by people who don’t care about getting screwed over, I can only agree.
While I think it’s not a big deal that the Magic Mouse cannot be used while charging – because you’re using the mouse 99.9% of the time and charging it very infrequently – it still looks ridiculous placing the mouse on its back with the charging cable going straight up into the air. It just looks comical and doesn’t reflect Apple’s usual attention to detail.
I use the mouse everyday, and I hate this design decision. It is too easy to not realize that the mouse charge state is low & have to stop and charge in the middle of something. THEN you have to remember to plug it in to charge when you call it a day. This is true even with a 3rd party menu tool to show me the battery states. I just don’t look at it very often, because I’ve always used mice powered by AA’s–which accept rechargable AAs by the way–and THOSE mice typically get 2 or 3 months of use off a set of batteries; whereas the Apple Magic Mouse gets at best 1.5 weeks on a single charge. The charging port location is just stupid. You can’t even put it in any kind of attractive position while charging…it has to be laying on its side like a dead beast–violating the aesthetic that I’m sure Apple was going for with everything else about the mouse design. I love most of what Apple does, but their mice have never held up to the competition. Not only that, but it is the single least ergonomic thing I’ve ever tried to use. To make it somewhat usable, you need to buy 3rd-party rubber bumpers to keep it from cutting into your hand. I love the touch surface, but hate everything else about the mouse. I’ve been trying to make this mouse work for months, and I’m ready to throw in the towel and buy a Logitech.
Somebody will always come up with some “elegant” solution to a confusingly dumb design flaw on an Apple product. “Oh, just go to the bathroom!” How about not make a design flaw that makes no sense? Pretty sure Apple has the cash to do a little tweaking on it. (and yes, I do own and use a Magic Mouse…I want to throw the mouse at the wall every time I need to charge it)
The “no room for the charging port at the front” part of this isn’t true at all. Take a look at a teardown of the mouse before you make a article. There is plenty of room in the front of the mouse for a charging port. Additionally THERE ARE LITERALLY UNUSED SOLDER PADS AT THE FRONT OF THE MOUSE FOR A CHARGING PORT! They were clearly planing to give it a front charging port. Maybe I’m wrong, but my money is till on someone at apple telling the engineers “nope, a charging port on the front wouldn’t be aesthetically pleasing”
I hate the apple magic mouse 2. It’s so hard to play games with it. I keep pressing the wrong buttons on it. When I want to right-click, it makes me left-click and vice versa. Overall, it’s just a messy and unergonomic experience. The only thing that is good about the mouse is the aesthetics, it looks so simple yet it’s so complicated. For work, I recommend something better like a Razer Chroma. It looks aesthetically pleasing and is easy to use. The Apple magic keyboard is very good though, it has really good buttons and only takes 1hr of charging for it to last an entire month without any charge. Like if you agree…
I’m glad they don’t allow people to use it while it’s charging because otherwise the user might forget to unplug it when the battery’s full and it’ll kill the battery’s long term life. On top of that, there was no way for them to redesign the magic mouse because in my opinion, it looks perfect the way it is and if it aint broke, don’t fix it.
Apple’s bad second-genmagic mouse charging design forces me to keep a secondary mouse connected to each Mac because I cannot afford the interruption of the mouse battery dying in the middle of my work. Making excuses for Apple mistakes is a pitiful fanboy exercise. Apple requiring a lightning cable to ‘pair’ its bluetooth mice and keyboards is also a wretched mistake. Magic Keyboard bluetooth is so awful that both of them remain plugged in to lightning USB cables at all times.
2 minutes of charging for 9 hours of use becomes meaningless when the battery gives up entirely. Both my current and previous mice have rechargeable batteries and a charging port on the front, USB-C in the case of the current one (imagine Apple accessories with an up-to-date non-proprietary standard). If the battery gives up, they can just be plugged in and used as wired mice. If it’s easily and fully avoidable, I can’t excuse even the smallest of inconveniences.
well, yes if that the case but, from my friends who actually uses the mouse complains were “it would be nice if i was able to chare and use it” i mean, its kinda like hotkeys IMHO u see, its not a problem, people can go “file > save” instead of using hotkeys, but it would be nice to have hotkeys yes, you can charge for 5 mins and have the battrey last for a day, but would be nice to be able to use it while charging then again, i never use the stuff and all i know is from my friend complain (he have and use it) so….
Yeah, I can let it charge for few minutes to be able to use it for the rest of the day, but then I will of course forget to plug it in, so I can do it every single day… What I don’t understand is why it takes so damn long to charge this thing. It takes more than three hours to fill this small-ass battery.
Sorry Greg – When you are deep in the process of what ever you are creating getting a dead mouse is no joy! I prefer to control when I step away, not dictated to by the device. Because of this I have TWO mice’s one plugged in while I work, and yes I often runout of power as I’m a very heavy mouser! Simply put Apple messed up!
Ah it wasn’t not only screwing people over it was also lazy design. I gotta love that apple didn’t see a mouse having to be inoperable while charging as an issue. Or how that was just tossed aside as not an issue and ignored because it was “2 minutes.” Just move the charging port to the front like nearly any other company? Right that would require redesigning the product and apple doesn’t redesign anything anymore. Imagine now having it at least be wireless charging or magsafe with a dock. Knowing apple they’ll make an addon batter that slaps to the bottom of their mouse. making it bulkier and call that a solution or some other lame half baked attempt to sell more accessories with as little effort as possible.