For its next trick, Apple is reportedly preparing a Magic Mouse redesign

For its next trick, Apple is reportedly preparing a Magic Mouse redesign

The Magic Mouse with USB-C was the tiniest revision. | Photo by Nathan Edwards / The Verge

Apple is working on a redesigned successor to the Magic Mouse, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in today’s Power On newsletter. This new mouse would address complaints some users have had, including that pesky charging port.

Gurman writes that Apple’s design team has created prototypes of the mouse in recent months with an eye toward creating “something that better fits the modern era.” He doesn’t get into any specifics — the group still hasn’t settled on a design — except to say that the mouse will address the charging port location and other “longstanding complaints.” It’s at least 12 to 18 months away from release, according to Gurman.

How can Apple fix a mouse that’s objectively perfect? I’m kidding; after 15 years of largely the same design, the Magic Mouse has plenty of room for improvement, even with its recent USB-C revision for the M4 iMac release. Everyone is different, but my wishlist includes adding some mechanical controls, addressing ergonomics (my hand always cramps after a while), and not having to spear the mouse’s underbelly to charge it.

But even if Apple moves the port, I’m still a little grumpy when I have to dig out a cable to plug in the MX Master 3 that serves as my daily driver. There are better ways, like the Logitech mouse that charges wirelessly via a mousepad that my colleague, Sean Hollister, hasn’t had to intentionally charge for two years. I added MagSafe-style wireless charging by dropping my Magic Mouse into the wireless-charging equivalent of an ergonomic service industry sneaker — it ain’t pretty, and I still can’t use it while it’s charging, but it gets the job done. I’d bet Apple can do something better.