Replacement for my MX Master 3? A quick check of the Cherry MW 8C Ergo

The MX Master 3 is the best office mouse for me so far. Unfortunately, despite weekly cleaning, the rubberised surface is yellowed and sticky after years of use. It looks grubby and disgusts me. That's why I'm looking for a replacement. I don't want to switch to the MX Master 3S because of the dampened switches.

The Cherry MW 8C Ergo piques my interest as it has a similar shape to the MX Master 3.

Mouse

EUR49,37

CHERRY MW 8C Ergo

Wireless

8

Mouse

EUR49,37

CHERRY MW 8C Ergo

Wireless

8

First impressions

Optically, I like the anodised aluminium main keys. They do attract fingerprints, but these can be easily wiped away. The aluminium should also be more durable and easier to clean than the rubber on the MX Master 3.

The surfaces on the sides are rubberised like Logitech's. However, the rubber is harder and I hope that the grey with the pattern is less susceptible to discolouration.

The MW 8C Ergo feels good in my hand the first time I hold it. I can't feel the small groove that runs from front to back in the centre. Like the MX Master 3, the MW 8C is slightly higher on the left than on the right. However, the elevation is not as pronounced on the Cherry. That's why my hand rests more horizontally. My palm feels less full.

What I also notice immediately: The MW 8C Ergo glides worse. This is despite the fact that it weighs 18 grams less than the MX Master 3. The attached glides have sharp edges and scrape on my Deskmat. This is also clearly audible.

Luckily, the clicking noise is also clearly audible: it has a pleasant metallic sound. I like it better than that of the Logitech mouse.

Ergonomics in the long run

After an hour or two, I got used to the different position of my hand. Only when I pick up the Master again do I realise that it fits me better. The Cherry can't keep up with that.

The thumb rest of the MW 8C Ergo is significantly smaller than that of the Master. But that's not a negative point for me. I'm used to mice without a tray for gaming. I also never used the button on the thumb rest of the Master.

At first, I feared that I would miss the side scroll button on the MX 3. However, this can easily be replaced by pressing the Shift key on the keyboard. After a short familiarisation phase, it works as if by itself.

What I really miss, however, is the scroll wheel on the MX Master. The one on the MW 8C Ergo is also made of metal, but is also rubberised. It feels good and engages comfortably, but I miss the freewheel mode. I like to turn the wheel to scroll through pages and documents more quickly. With the Cherry mouse, I have to push the wheel several times to do this.

I think the keys are very good. They all have a pleasant pressure point. The side keys are very well positioned so that I can easily reach them with my thumb.

Lasts a long time

The built-in 550 mAh battery promises a battery life of several weeks. If it runs out, I can continue working while charging via the USB-C port.

The mouse connects via Bluetooth version 4.2 or via 2.4 GHz radio. You can stow the wireless dongle on the underside of the mouse when not in use. The connection is fast and reliable.

The sensor of the MW 8C Ergo offers up to 3000 counts per inch (CPI) - also known as dots per inch (DPI). This means that the cursor moves 3000 pixels for a mouse movement of one inch. I adjust the CPI in four stages using the button above the rotary wheel. The levels are: 600, 1000, 1600 and 3000. Unfortunately I cannot adjust the CPI on the software side.

The sensor is definitely good enough for office work. However, I wouldn't want to use the mouse for gaming. In my tests, the sensor's CPI precision is between ten and 15 per cent off the specified values. I can hit the close button of the browser with it, but not the head of my opponents in shooters.

Conclusion: I'm going back to the MX Master 3 (for now)

The Cherry MW 8C Ergo fulfils many of my requirements for a replacement for the MX Master 3. It feels good in my hand and has a great finish. Due to the materials used, it should be more durable than its Logitech competitor. The fact that it is significantly cheaper than the Logitech mouse is a big plus.

The scroll wheel and the sliders are a drawback. The Cherry mouse scrapes on my Deskmat and glides poorly. This could be remedied with new sliders. But that's not worth the effort for me. Even if I could get used to the mouse wheel - it doesn't have a freewheel mode - I'll probably go back to the MX Master 3 for the time being. The MW 8C Ergo feels good in my hand, but just not as good as the Logitech mouse.