Logitech is a Swiss company with a long history of producing some of the best accessories for the PC. They started with the computer mouse, and naturally diversified into keyboards, webcams and speakers. Today, we will take a look at the Logitech MX Anywhere 2 wireless mouse, which was specially developed for mobile users.
Don’t mistaken the term “developed for mobile users” to mean a teeny-weeny or flattened mouse with wireless capabilities. The Logitech MX Anywhere 2 is designed to address the critical needs of the mobile user, namely the ability to track on any surface, dual connectivity via Bluetooth and wireless receiver, and the ability to switch between 3 different devices. Let’s take a look!
Unboxing The Logitech MX Anywhere 2
The Logitech MX Anywhere 2 comes in a very nice cardboard retail box, with its key features listed on the box in four languages. The system requirements (Windows 7 and Mac OS X 10.8 or better for WiFi and Windows 8 or Mac OS X 10.10 or better for Bluetooth) are listed on the right side. On the left is a list of the box’s contents.
The box actually flips open in the front to reveal the MX Anywhere 2 mouse and its Pico Unifying receiver behind a clear plastic window. This allows you to gauge how well the mouse will fit your hand before purchasing it. The inner side of the cover shows you the five simple steps to get the MX Anywhere 2 mouse to work with your devices in pictorial form.
Once you open up the box, you will find the following items :
- One Logitech MX Anywhere 2 wireless mouse
- One Logitech Pico Unifying receiver
- One micro USB cable
- One set of Logitech MX Anywhere 2 user documentation
Logitech MX Anywhere 2 Specifications
Specifications | Logitech MX Anywhere 2 |
---|---|
Model | M-R0057 |
Sensor Technology | Darkfield laser sensor |
Sensor Sensitivity | 1000 dpi (nominal) - Can be set between 400 and 1600 dpi in increments of 200 dpi |
Easy-Switch Technology | Yes, up to 3 devices |
Wireless Technology | 2.4 GHz WiFi or Bluetooth - Logitech Pico Unifying WiFi receiver - Bluetooth Smart Ready |
Wireless Range | 10 meters / 32 feet (typical) |
Operating System Support | WiFi - Windows 7 or better, Mac OS X 10.8 or better Bluetooth - Windows 8 or better. Mac OS X 10.10 or better |
Battery | Rechargeable 500 mAh Lithium-ion Polymer battery |
Battery Life | Up to 2 months on a single full charge |
Dimensions | 61.6 mm (2.4") wide 100.3 mm (3.9") long 34.4 mm (1.4") high |
Weight | 106 g / 3.7 oz (mouse only) 1.63 g / 0.06 oz (receiver only) |
Warranty | 1-Year Limited Hardware Warranty |
Now, let’s take a closer look at the MX Anywhere 2 mouse…
Page 2 : Size & Grip, Darkfield Laser Sensor, Dual Connectivity, Battery & Charging
The Logitech MX Anywhere 2
The Logitech MX Anywhere 2 is a compact mouse designed for mobile use, so don’t expect much palm support. It is best used with a pincer grip, even with smaller Asian hands. With a typical resolution of 1,000 dpi, you don’t need much wrist action to go a long way.
In case you are wondering, the Logitech MX Anywhere 2 only comes in one colour scheme – a mix of black and army green, with chrome accents on the scroll wheel. Let’s take a look at its specifications.
Darkfield Laser Sensor
As a mouse designed to be used on-the-go, it is important that it can work with any kind of surface. However, the traditional laser sensor has trouble tracking on clear glass or very glossy surfaces. This led Logitech to develop a dual-laser system they dub as the “Darkfield laser tracking technology“.
Basically, it uses two laser diodes to better pick up the minute surface irregularities on highly glossy surfaces. This allows the MX Anywhere 2 to track on all types of glassy surfaces as long as the glass surface is at least 4 mm thick.
Dual Connectivity
The Logitech MX Anywhere 2 has another unique feature – dual connectivity. It supports Bluetooth 4.0 (also known as Bluetooth Low Energy or Bluetooth Smart), allowing you to pair it with virtually any laptop and smart device in the market without the use of any receiver. However, your PC will need to run on at least Microsoft Windows 8 or Mac OS X 10.10.
If you are using an older computer that does not support Bluetooth 4.0, or runs on Windows 7 or an older version of Mac OS X, the MX Anywhere 2 comes with a Pico Unifying receiver. This miniature USB receiver with a range of 10 meters (32 feet) allows you to pair any computer with the MX Anywhere 2 using a direct 2.4 GHz radio connection.
As this is a Unifying receiver, you can pair any compatible Logitech keyboard to the same receiver. This allows you to save one USB port by using the same receiver for both keyboard and mouse. You will need to install and use the Logitech Unifying software to pair and unpair compatible Logitech devices to the Pico Unifying receiver.
Battery & Charging
The Logitech MX Anywhere 2 comes with a small 500 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery. Logitech claims a maximum battery life of 40 days, based on 6 hours of daily use. This is probably based on the Bluetooth 4.0 connection. Using the Pico Unifying receiver, we got about 3 weeks of use before requiring a recharge.
The MX Anywhere 2 recharges its battery via a micro USB port in the front. They intentionally placed the port there so that you can continue using the mouse while it’s charging. Once attached, the USB cable temporarily turns this wireless mouse into a “wired” mouse.
You will be glad to know that since the MX Anywhere 2 uses so little power, a single minute of charging time will give you up to 2 hours of use.
Page 3 : The Scroll Wheel & Buttons, Gliding & Stability Performance
The Scroll Wheel & Buttons
The Logitech MX Anywhere 2 comes with a scroll wheel that supports both vertical and horizontal scrolling. Pressing on the scroll wheel switches between two modes :
- a “hyperfast scrolling mode” – smooth and quiet scrolling but lacks tactile feedback, and
- a “click-to-click scrolling mode” – the typical ratcheted mode which precise but “noisy”.
There is a small middle button behind the scroll wheel that enables the Gestures feature, but only if the Logitech Options utility is installed. Right behind it is a small LED light that gives you an indication of its battery life. If the green light turns red, it means the MX Anywhere 2‘s battery is down to less than 20% of its capacity – an indication you should recharge the mouse.
The Logitech MX Anywhere 2 looks symmetrical but it’s not an ambidextrous mouse. It was definitely designed for the right-handed user, with the two side buttons on the left side and none on the right side. However, the two side buttons aren’t really all that useful – being used as Forward and Back buttons.
If you don’t mind living without the side buttons, the MX Anywhere 2 is symmetrical enough to use with your left hand. You just need to install the Logitech Options software to switch the left and right main buttons.
The base of the Logitech MX Anywhere 2 conceals its On/Off switch and a Connect button. There is also an Easy-Switch button with 3 small LED lights. The Connect button allows you to put the MX Anywhere 2 in pairing mode, while the Easy-Switch button allows you to pair up to 3 different devices with the MX Anywhere 2.
Gliding & Stability Performance
The Logitech MX Anywhere 2 is supported on its base by four average pads of what appears to be UHMWPE (Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene), also known as UPE.
The traditional PTFE (commonly known by its trade name of Teflon) is slicker and gives a smoother glide, but is also more expensive and less durable. It is also hard to differentiate the gliding performance of UPE against PTFE. So we are not surprised to see UPE being used in the MX Anywhere 2.
More importantly, the base of the MX Anywhere 2 was very stable. Nothing irritates me more than a mouse that “rocks”. It’s pointless for a mouse to use PTFE feet for a smoother glide if it’s so unstable that it rocks as you move it.
Page 4 : Logitech Options, Our Verdict
Logitech Options
The Logitech Options software is not necessarily to use the Logitech MX Anywhere 2 mouse with your Windows or Mac PC. However, it gives you the ability to customise the mouse buttons, scrolling speed and gesture options.
The Logitech MX Anywhere 2 has a default sensitivity of 1,000 dpi. This is lower than what you would expect from a gaming mouse, because this is a mouse designed for mobile users who would have less screen area to work with. However, you can use Logitech Options to change the MX Anywhere 2‘s sensitivity from as low as 400 dpi all the way to 1,600 dpi, in steps of 200 dpi.
Our Verdict
For a relatively small mouse, the Logitech MX Anywhere 2 packs a ton of smart features. It supports both WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, which includes the ability to pair with up to 3 different computers or devices.
Road warriors who have to put up with all sorts of different table surfaces at cafés and airports will love its Darkfield laser sensor. This dual-laser sensor technology allows the MX Anywhere 2 to work on virtually any surface, including glass and highly glossy surfaces.
[adrotate banner=”4″]The Logitech MX Anywhere 2 also comes with a scroll wheel that not only supports vertical and horizontal scrolling, but also the option to switch between ratcheted and smooth scrolling modes. Just press the scroll wheel to switch modes – it can’t be any faster or simpler than that!We also like the fact that Logitech was smart enough to recharge the MX Anywhere 2 via a micro-USB port in the front. This allows the mouse to be used while it’s charging, essentially converting it into a wired mouse while it’s charging up.
We thoroughly enjoyed our limited time with the Logitech MX Anywhere 2. It worked very well with both our Mac and Windows computers, switching between Bluetooth and its WiFi-based Unifying receiver effortlessly. It is therefore our pleasure to award it with our Reviewer’s Choice Award. Congratulations, Logitech!
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