ESR bills its new MagMouse Wireless Mouse, unveiled at CES 2025 in January, as the world’s first magnetic mouse with built-in charging cable. The mouse attaches via adhesive base to a laptop or tablet so you can take it with you. And a handy little USB-C charging cable stows under the mouse. I put it through some paces for my ESR MagMouse review.
You can preorder the mouse now but it’s officially available Monday, April 28, via Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign. I happily tested it partly to see who it serves best. Not me, as it turns out — but plenty of others could find its unusual features quite useful.
ESR MagMouse review
ESR MagMouse features a sleek, modern design in black, white and gray. The mouse weighs just 77 grams (2.72 ounces), making it incredibly lightweight and easy to transport. Its most distinctive feature, though, is the magnetic attachment system, which consists of a slim base with 3M adhesive that attaches to your laptop or tablet. You just stick it on, then attach the mouse magnetically. And off you go.
Table of contents: ESR MagMouse review
- Portability factor
- Connectivity options
- Charging and battery life
- Comfort and ergonomics
- Unique features
- Who is ESR MagMouse for?
- Pros and Cons
- ESR MagMouse review: The bottom line
Portability factor
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
The magnetic base is impressively thin at just 4.8mm, ensuring it doesn’t significantly alter your device’s profile when the mouse isn’t attached (with the mouse attached is another story; big lump).
With a magnetic strength of 700 grams, the base firmly holds the mouse in place even when moving between workspaces. In my case, that’s going from my setup in the bedroom to a table in the living room or dining nook off the kitchen. But for many, it could be a trip to conference room on another floor or even across town. In my case, though, the functionality is less crucial because my M4 Pro MacBook Pro is usually on its vertical base as the engine of my setup. And I never got in the habit of using a mouse with my iPad Air 5.
But at any rate, the primary selling point of the MagMouse for many people is its portability. Unlike traditional mice that require separate carrying cases or risk being lost in a bag, the MagMouse securely attaches to your device.
In terms of build quality, MagMouse seems fine, though I noticed it carries less heft and has cheaper-feeling buttons than my Logitech MX Anywhere 3 mouse.
Connectivity options
This rechargeable Bluetooth mouse for laptops fixes magnetically to them for easy carry. Includes Bluetooth 5.0 + 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi connectivity plus built-in charging cable, plus silent clicks, ergonomic design and six adjustable DPI levels.
- Magnetic attachment prevents loss
- Integrated charging cable
- Impressive battery life, quick charging
- Short integrated charging cable
- Limited programmable buttons
- Adhesive base stays on your laptop
The MagMouse offers dual connectivity options: Bluetooth 5.0 and a 2.4GHz connection via an included dongle that stores in the base of the mouse next to the short USB-C charging cable. This versatility ensures compatibility with virtually any computing device, including MacBooks, iPads, Windows laptops and Android or iOS tablets.
During testing, switching between devices was seamless, with minimal lag when transitioning between connection types.
Precision and sensitivity
With six adjustable sensitivity levels ranging from 800 to 4800 DPI, the MagMouse provides impressive customizability for different tasks. I also liked the four-way functionality of the scroll wheel. I found I could scroll smoothly up and down, of course, but also sideways across zoomed webpages, wide documents or large images.
I found this range sufficient for everything from detailed photo editing work requiring precision to general browsing that benefits from faster cursor movement. The sensor responded accurately on multiple surfaces, though performance was best on smooth, non-reflective surfaces.
Charging and battery life
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
One of the most innovative aspects of the MagMouse is its integrated charging. The mouse features a stow-able USB-C charging cable built directly into the body, eliminating the need to carry a separate charging cord.
The 500mAh battery delivers impressive performance. A one-minute quick charge provides approximately 4 hours of use, while a full charge takes just 45 minutes and lasts up to 160 hours. During my testing period, the battery consistently performed as advertised, though I didn’t test it for ages, so it never died on me.
It’s worth noting that while the integrated cable is excellent for emergency charging, it’s too short for comfortable use while plugged in, so you’ll want to plan your charging sessions accordingly. At least it’s fast.
Comfort and ergonomics
The MagMouse features an ergonomic design that feels comfortable during extended use. While not specifically marketed as an ergonomic mouse, its shape fits naturally in the hand and doesn’t cause fatigue during long work sessions.
The button layout is intuitive and accessible without awkward finger stretching. In that it’s similar to my Logi MX Anywhere 3 mouse. I guess MagMouse resembles plenty of other mice, but none of them have the magnetic-connection-and-built-in-cable combo. And some of them are more programmable, too.
Unique features
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
The standout feature is undoubtedly the magnetic attachment system. During testing for my ESR MagMouse review, the mouse remained firmly attached to my laptop when moving between rooms and even when placed in a bag.
The magnetic strength strikes a good balance — strong enough to hold securely but not so strong that removing the mouse becomes difficult.
The integrated charging cable is another distinctive feature that proved remarkably useful in practice. Having an emergency charging option always available eliminated the anxiety of running out of battery during important tasks.
Who is ESR MagMouse for?
Mobile professionals. Anyone who frequently changes work locations will appreciate the security and convenience of the magnetic attachment system.
Digital nomads. Those who work from cafés, co-working spaces, and other temporary locations will benefit from never having to worry about losing their mouse.
Laptop and tablet users. The mouse works seamlessly with multiple device types, making it perfect for those who alternate between computers and tablets.
Casual gamers. While the mouse offers decent sensitivity options, serious gamers might prefer dedicated gaming mice with higher polling rates and more programmable buttons. However, casual gamers will find it more than adequate for most games.
ESR MagMouse review: Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Innovative magnetic attachment system prevents loss and simplifies transport.
- Integrated charging cable eliminates the need for extra cords.
- Impressive battery life with quick charging capabilities.
- Versatile connectivity options compatible with multiple device types.
- Adjustable sensitivity levels for various tasks.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
Cons:
- The integrated charging cable is too short for comfortable use while charging.
- Limited programmable buttons compared to some competitors.
- Single Bluetooth connection (rather than multiple device pairing).
- The adhesive base adds a permanent element to your device.
ESR MagMouse review: The bottom line
This rechargeable Bluetooth mouse for laptops fixes magnetically to them for easy carry. Includes Bluetooth 5.0 + 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi connectivity plus built-in charging cable, plus silent clicks, ergonomic design and six adjustable DPI levels.
- Magnetic attachment prevents loss
- Integrated charging cable
- Impressive battery life, quick charging
- Short integrated charging cable
- Limited programmable buttons
- Adhesive base stays on your laptop
ESR MagMouse represents a thoughtful innovation in the portable mouse market. By addressing the common pain points of transporting and potentially losing a wireless mouse, ESR created a product that genuinely enhances productivity for mobile users.
While it doesn’t have every bell and whistle of premium productivity mice (like multiple device pairing or numerous programmable buttons), its magnetic attachment system and integrated charging cable deliver benefits that probably outweigh limitations for its target audience.
ESR said MagMouse should launches April 28 via Kickstarter campaign and then it will be on Amazon. The regular retail price will be $35.
Where to preorder with discount: ESR or Amazon
★★★★☆
ESR provided Cult of Mac with a review unit for this article. See our reviews policy, and check out other in-depth reviews of Apple-related items.
