New Magic Mouse said to fix everything that's been wrong with it for 15 years

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in Future Apple Hardware edited December 2024

Apple may be working on a replacement to its venerable Magic Mouse for 2026, and the new design is said to finally kill off a major sticking point for some users.

The underside of a silver computer mouse with a charging cable connected, black grip strips, and a partially visible notebook spiral.
Since 2015, you've charged the Magic Mouse through a port on its base



For most of 2023 and 2024, it was rumored that Apple would roll out a new Magic Mouse with USB-C. It finally came to fruition in October 2024, with it and the Magic Keyboard both getting the newer wired connection.

However, there haven't been any notable changes to the device other than a shift away from removable batteries to an internal battery. Reportedly, Apple is working on a new model of the device, rethinking the peripheral for the modern computing environment.



In a report on Sunday morning by Bloomberg, Apple is said to be prototyping new versions of the Magic Mouse internally. On the top of the list of changes, is a relocation of the charging port, and perhaps new ergonomics, but that point isn't clear.

It's not clear when a new design will arrive. The report says to not expect anything for at least a year, and maybe not for 18 months.

The Magic Mouse debuted 15 years ago, and wasn't widely appreciated over the lack of ergonomics. And since then, in 2015, Apple removed the ability for the mouse to take rechargeable batteries, and instead the device charged from underneath with a Lightning cable.

And at the time, Apple's design and attention to detail led to design changes in how the mouse sounded, and would glide across a surface. Apple had to completely redesign the internal components to give the Bluetooth accessory a rechargeable battery. That process, though, drastically changed the sound the mouse makes when a user moves it.

By changing the foot architecture and mass of the Magic Mouse 2, the "friction characteristics of the sound were modified," according to Kate Bergeron, Apple vice president for Ecosystem Products and Technologies at the time. Apple's designers just weren't happy with the new sound, and spent months working to fix it.

Magic Mouse 2 is lighter than its predecessor, and features fewer moving parts thanks to its built-in battery and continuous bottom shell. Like the previous model, it features a Multi-Touch surface, but it does not offer Force Touch input like the Magic Trackpad or MacBooks.

Opinions vary about if flipping the mouse over for a five-minute charge is a big deal or not.

Rumor Score: Likely

Read on AppleInsider

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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 58
    netroxnetrox Posts: 1,522member
    I haven’t used a mouse since magic trackpad came out. i cannot stand a mouse. 
    chasmDAalsethwilliamlondonbluefire1watto_cobra
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  • Reply 2 of 58
    The reason the charging port is on the bottom is due to the original removable battery option. The charging port is in the same location as the latch for the removable battery cover. That allowed Apple to save $$ by keeping the industrial design almost identical between the two different versions. 
    nubuslotonesDAalsethwatto_cobra
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  • Reply 3 of 58
    chasmchasm Posts: 3,679member
    I'm now more of a Magic Trackpad user, but as I often help others with their technology challenges I am well-used to the feel of the current Magic Mouse, and quite comfortable with the second-gen design. I love the lack of a rubber scroll wheel (which quickly gets gross and eventually useless) as with traditional PC meeses. :)

    As for the charging port on the bottom, yes it's dumb but it's never been a problem. The "low battery" alert for the Magic Mouse typically arrives at least one full day's worth of use ahead of when you actually need to recharge it, so my advice to users has always been to just make a note to plug it in when they're done using the computer for the day, get a good night's rest, and then unplug it the next day for another few weeks (at least) of use.

    Not something to waste time complaining about, though I'll also be quite happy if the plug is relocated for the benefit of people who don't pay attention to low-battery warnings.
    edited December 2024
    muthuk_vanalingamwatto_cobra
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  • Reply 4 of 58

    Make it compatible with wireless charging!

    williamlondonSpitbathdewmewatto_cobra
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  • Reply 5 of 58
    diman80 said:

    Make it compatible with wireless charging!

    I use a couple of the original magic mice with the Mobee wireless charging pads and they still work relatively well...
    Wifi seems to have become less reliable over the years - not sure why...?
    watto_cobra
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  • Reply 6 of 58
    tipootipoo Posts: 1,161member

    The charging port location is about the least worst thing about it for me, I hope they redesign it from every atom up.

    It feels weird having to hover a finger to properly right click, and there's no simultaneous left/right click which is a bit more esoteric but some apps can use.

    The sensor and wireless stack are just abysmal now though, they never updated it in all the refreshes from the 11 year old sensor, it feels bad and skippy and once you use a good mouse you realize you weren't bad at aiming at fine targets, the mouse was. Check Rtings on the Magic Mouse 2 if you think that's dramatic. 

    williamlondonblastdoordewme9secondkox2
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  • Reply 7 of 58
    The reason the charging port is on the bottom is due to the original removable battery option. The charging port is in the same location as the latch for the removable battery cover. That allowed Apple to save $$ by keeping the industrial design almost identical between the two different versions. 
    That's ok then.  I'm perfectly happy to accept suboptimal design if it contributes to Apple's bottom line.
    tipooM68000williamlondonSpitbaths.metcalf
     2Likes 0Dislikes 3Informatives
  • Reply 8 of 58
    I know Apple won't ever do it again, but I very much prefer a mechanical scroll wheel to gesture scrolling on a mouse. Gestures are fine on a trackpad that stays in one place but on the mouse it doesn't work for me.
    williamlondonbeowulfschmidtSpitbathwatto_cobra
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  • Reply 9 of 58
    Update: leaked photos of the Magic Mouse 3 prototype shows the charging port has been moved to middle of the mouse's top surface, leaving nowhere to place the user's hand while recharging. Slightly sinister laughter was also heard coming from within Apple's Product Design department.
    williamlondonavon b7wdchilderswatto_cobraTRAG
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  • Reply 10 of 58
    Marvinmarvin Posts: 15,519moderator
    diman80 said:

    Make it compatible with wireless charging!

    This seems the most likely route Apple would go instead of moving the USB port and removing it instead.

    It could be charged by sitting on a Qi charging mat. Maybe they'd have to provide a small charger mat or puck with the mouse.

    It would probably take over 4 hours to charge fully via wireless charging but if people are in the habit of placing it on the mat regularly, they'll never have to think about charging.


    williamlondonchasmwatto_cobra
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  • Reply 11 of 58
    You might want to rethink the headline for this article: A brief history of Apple's Magic Mouse; Everything Else is "Not Clear".
    CheeseFreezewatto_cobra
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  • Reply 12 of 58
    The reason the charging port is on the bottom is due to the original removable battery option. The charging port is in the same location as the latch for the removable battery cover. That allowed Apple to save $$ by keeping the industrial design almost identical between the two different versions. 
    That's ok then.  I'm perfectly happy to accept suboptimal design if it contributes to Apple's bottom line.
    It would have been suboptimal design without the fast charging capability. But since it could charge for the work day in five minutes, keeping the internal design arrangement almost identical to the removable battery version makes more sense than spending time/money on giving the end user five minutes of tethered work time. 
    dewmewatto_cobra
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  • Reply 13 of 58
    mattinozmattinoz Posts: 2,551member
    I hope they don’t touch the ergonomics. No one else makes puck mice you can just throw around and light touch if you are multi mode. The options are cheap or gaming mice. 

    They should make a mouse core that is nice but more puck like but let makers and accessory makers extend it for different user styles. 
    watto_cobra
     1Like 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 14 of 58
    MplsPmplsp Posts: 4,065member
    The reason the charging port is on the bottom is due to the original removable battery option. The charging port is in the same location as the latch for the removable battery cover. That allowed Apple to save $$ by keeping the industrial design almost identical between the two different versions. 
    That's ok then.  I'm perfectly happy to accept suboptimal design if it contributes to Apple's bottom line.
    It would have been suboptimal design without the fast charging capability. But since it could charge for the work day in five minutes, keeping the internal design arrangement almost identical to the removable battery version makes more sense than spending time/money on giving the end user five minutes of tethered work time. 
    Ah, the same old, tired “it’s not THAT much of an inconvenience” excuse. The people making it are almost as tired as the excuse is. 

    The picture in the article shows just how ridiculous the design is. I was again reminded of the absurdity when I got an alert that the battery on my Magic Keyboard was low. I simply plugged it in and kept working. I suppose what I should have done is turned it upside down and gone to do something else which I must have needed to do anyway while it charged?
    mattinozDAalsethtiredskillsmuthuk_vanalingamdewme
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  • Reply 15 of 58
    The reason the charging port is on the bottom is due to the original removable battery option. The charging port is in the same location as the latch for the removable battery cover. That allowed Apple to save $$ by keeping the industrial design almost identical between the two different versions. 
    That's ok then.  I'm perfectly happy to accept suboptimal design if it contributes to Apple's bottom line.
    It would have been suboptimal design without the fast charging capability. But since it could charge for the work day in five minutes, keeping the internal design arrangement almost identical to the removable battery version makes more sense than spending time/money on giving the end user five minutes of tethered work time. 
    It's still suboptimal design no matter how much you contort yourself and squint through Apple shaped lenses.
    DAalsethMplsPmuthuk_vanalingam
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  • Reply 16 of 58
    nubusnubus Posts: 677member
    The new mouse is required due to EU mandating easy battery replacement. It will have to arrive in 2026 or early 2027.
    MplsP
     0Likes 0Dislikes 1Informative
  • Reply 17 of 58
    MplsPmplsp Posts: 4,065member
    nubus said:
    The new mouse is required due to EU mandating easy battery replacement. It will have to arrive in 2026 or early 2027.
    Don't know if this is true or not but it's long overdue. I need to replace the battery on my Magic Mouse 2 and went to iFixit  - tell me why it needs to be this difficult? Would it have been that difficult to have a couple of screws to remove the bottom panel? and why does the battery need to be glued in place for a mouse???
    muthuk_vanalingamdewme
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  • Reply 18 of 58
    chasmchasm Posts: 3,679member
    msuberly said:
    I know Apple won't ever do it again, but I very much prefer a mechanical scroll wheel to gesture scrolling on a mouse. Gestures are fine on a trackpad that stays in one place but on the mouse it doesn't work for me.
    I can only guess that you are either a) doing it wrong, or b) have it placed on a very slippery surface.

    You lightly use two fingers to go from the center-up or the top-down for scrolling up or down (you can reverse the default direction if desired).
    watto_cobra
     1Like 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 19 of 58
    The reason the charging port is on the bottom is due to the original removable battery option. The charging port is in the same location as the latch for the removable battery cover. That allowed Apple to save $$ by keeping the industrial design almost identical between the two different versions. 
    That's ok then.  I'm perfectly happy to accept suboptimal design if it contributes to Apple's bottom line.

    Then contribute to your own physiological health by taking the damned 15 minute break to charge it if it happens to need it. 
    edited December 2024
    9secondkox2watto_cobra
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  • Reply 20 of 58
    Bliss. Bliss, I tell you. Using Apple's Magic Mouse is bliss.
    9secondkox2watto_cobra
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