Bluetooth mice are finally compatible with iPads, but there’s no need to drop a lot of money on one. The Satchi M1 Bluetooth Mouse is a budget-friendly option for people who don’t want another pricey gadget sitting around collecting dust. This wireless mouse has a basic, ambidextrous design anyone can use, and it connects to iPads right out of the box. I was skeptical about using a mouse with my iPad, so I spent 12 hours testing this handy little guy.
Design: Simple ambidextrous build
The M1 Bluetooth mouse has a smooth, minimal design. It isn’t shaped for either hand, so it’s a good option for left-handed people. They can switch the secondary click to the left button inside the iPad’s Trackpad & Mouse settings. The mouse has a simple design with only two buttons. Knurling on the scroll wheel provides a little texture and friction. The mouse is recharged via an included USB-C cable. The port is on the front of the mouse, so recharging during use is no problem. There are four color options including gold, rose gold, silver, and space gray, so the mouse will look right at home beside an iPad.
Performance: Works well with iPads
With such a simple design, I reasoned the M1 Bluetooth Mouse wasn’t going to be difficult to use. Skipping the instructions, I pressed the little button on the bottom for a few seconds, and my iPad found the mouse. The buttons click a little heavily, which I personally prefer. The M1 Bluetooth Mouse is an optical mouse, so it would benefit from a mouse pad. The cursor tracks smoothly enough without a mousepad that I didn’t bother. This mouse is pretty small. I could fit the little mouse on a tablet stand when I didn’t need it. It fit in all the pockets in my backpack. It has a simple design that feels durable enough to survive a little travel. One thing I missed was the lack of inertia. When I stop scrolling with the mouse, the screen stops scrolling immediately. Inertia is a feature in Apple devices like iPhones and iPads that responds to the amount of pressure and continues scrolling. Since scrolling through long pages is more cumbersome on the mouse than on the iPads, I found myself reaching up to the display a lot.
Comfort: Not ideal for heavy use
Since the Satechi M1 Bluetooth Mouse doesn’t have inertia, scrolling is already cumbersome. The knurled metal scroll wheel adds another element of discomfort. It’s too abrasive, and the added friction isn’t necessary. The mouse is too small and rounded to provide much hand support. Using a palm grip with this mouse put a lot of strain on my wrist unless I was at the perfect angle. I had to break the habit of resting my hand on the mouse and use a fingertip grip instead. That was more comfortable, but still not ideal for long periods of time or tasks that required a lot of mouse use. It is on the small side even for me, so people with large hands should consider a different option.
Price: Inexpensive but unnecessary
The M1 Bluetooth Mouse is reasonably priced at around $30. It connects easily with iPads, requires no batteries, and does everything you could ask a basic mouse to do. Just because the price is low doesn’t mean it’s a good value, though. This mouse doesn’t add much functionality to iPads, and it is uncomfortable to use for long periods. This is the type of mouse I would buy just to make sure I would actually use a mouse with my iPad. After it broke, if I still wanted a mouse, then it’s worth buying a better one.
Satechi M1 Bluetooth Mouse vs. Magic Mouse
The Satechi M1 Bluetooth Mouse is a decent product for people on a budget. The rechargeable battery means it won’t die on the job, and it can even be recharged during use. If someone only needs the accessibility a mouse provides, then this mouse will get the job done. For users who want more out of the mouse, I would recommend the Apple Magic Mouse 2. The Magic Mouse 2 allows multi-touch gestures and has inertia while scrolling. These features make the mouse feel more natural to use with iPads. The cursor has contextual interactions, so it’s easy to learn how the cursor is going to respond. The Magic Mouse 2 costs up to $100 depending on color choice, but that price equates to a huge difference in functionality.
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The Satechi M1 Bluetooth Mouse is a user-friendly budget option that gets the job done. The mouse is compact and rechargeable, so it’s easy to take along wherever your iPad goes.
