Logitech Wireless Mouse M320 Review

It is increasingly difficult in the world of technology to find something simple. Extra functions, customizations, and features upon features seem to rule the day, especially in the world of computer mice. Sure, you can find simple and inexpensive models, but as a rule they tend to be poorly made and short lived. Enter the Logitech Wireless Mouse M320 ($29.99), a basic wireless mouse that has none of the bells and whistles, but all of the well-designed quality of Logitech’s more expensive offerings. For everyday use, the Logitech M320($44.99 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window) is a fine example of simplicity done right, and is our Editors’ Choice general-purpose mouse.

Design and Features
The M320 is a compact wireless mouse that dresses up its bare-bones design with an asymmetrical shape and comfortable rubber grip. Available in a variety of colors (black, blue, red, and silver), the M320 looks and feels pretty great for the price. The feature set is minimal, with just the right and left mouse buttons and a clickable scroll wheel, but the design looks nice.

The lack of extra buttons or programmable features may put some off—even the Microsoft Sculpt Mobile Mouse($17.99 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window) has at least one programmable button—but for many users, basic functionality is all they want. Most mice with a larger feature set are more expensive, however, like the Logitech Marathon Mouse M705, which adds forward and back buttons and a multi-directional scroll wheel, but at a significantly higher price.

Our review unit came in black, with a plastic top and a rubberized grip running around the sides and back of the mouse. The rubber grips are textured with an imprinted pattern of small triangles. The asymmetrical design is well-shaped for the hand (right-handed only; sorry, lefties), with a thumb cradle on the left, a jutting palm rest in the back, and a comfortable curve for the fingers on the right. Another nice touch is the M320’s extra-wide scroll wheel, which offers comfortable scrolling with just a bit of a ratcheting feel for feedback. It’s actually quite comfortable and even ergonomically friendly, though not so much as a specially designed ergonomic product like the Penclic Bluetooth Mouse B3($105.84 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window).

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Measuring 1.51 by 2.67 by 4.15 inches (HWD) and weighing just 3 ounces, the M320 is really meant to be used with just the fingers rather than supporting the entire hand. The wireless mouse connects via USB wireless nano receiver, which is small enough to plug into the side of a laptop or tablet and leave it plugged in when you pack up your system and go. The mouse is powered with a single AA battery (included and preinstalled), but you shouldn’t have to replace it often—Logitech claims up to two years of battery life on a standard AA. A Smart Sleep mode automatically shuts off the mouse when it’s not in use and wakes it when it’s moved, while an On/Off switch lets you shut down for long periods. Obviously, I wasn’t in any sort of position to test the claims of two-year battery life, but the automatic sleep and wake function worked just fine during testing.

This mouse is plug-and-play, so there’s no software to download or install once the initial drivers have loaded up. It’s system-agnostic as well, working with Windows (8/7/Vista), Mac OS X (10.5 or later), Chrome OS, and Linux (Kernel 2.6+). Logitech covers the M320 with a one-year warranty.

Performance
The M320 is small and light to use, though not small enough to be considered a travel mouse. The size is fine for the commuter who wants to slip it into a laptop bag once in a while, but doesn’t want the Lilliputian size most travel mice offer.

There are just two buttons and the scroll wheel on the M320, but for your basic clicking and scrolling, that’s all you need. The design is good for daily use, but if you’re a power user reliant on features like built in forward and back buttons, you might have to look elsewhere.

Conclusion
The Logitech Wireless Mouse M320 is simple and inexpensive, but offers a high-quality design and an appealing low price. It may not have all of the features offered on our previous top pick, the Logitech Marathon Mouse M705, but the affordable price and refined design make it a great option for anyone who wants a great mouse for everyday use, and our Editors’ Choice.