Best Mouse for Video Editing: Nine Listings Sorted by Scroll, Buttons and Wrist Fit

The Logitech MX Master family is the most complete answer on this list for video editing, because the titles of both the MX Master 3S and the MX Master 4 combine fast scrolling with programmable buttons or haptic feedback, and they come from a brand known for the shape. Cheaper picks cover narrower jobs: a vertical grip for sore wrists, a side-scroll wheel for long timelines, or a light gaming mouse that doubles as a shortcut pad. All nine listings below are judged from their titles and published specifications only.

Top picks at a glance

Logitech MX Master 3S Bluetooth Wireless Mouse No Receiver - Graphite | MagSpeed Scrolling, 8K DPI tracking, Quiet clicks, Programmable buttons, Bluetooth, Windows PC, Mac, Linux, Chrome

One of the home product options compared in this guide.

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Logitech MX Master 4 for Mac, Ergonomic Bluetooth Mouse with Advanced Performance Haptic Feedback, Ultra-Fast Scrolling, USB-C Charging, MacOS, iPadOS, Windows - Space Black

One of the home product options compared in this guide.

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Logitech MX Master 4 Ergonomic Wireless Mouse with Haptics - Graphite | Advanced performance haptic feedback, Ultra-Fast Scrolling, 8K DPI Any-surface, Quiet Clicks, Wireless, USB-C, Windows/MacOS

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TECKNET Wireless Mouse, Side Scroll Bluetooth Rechargeable, 3-Device | Switch Among 3 Devices, 6 DPI Levels (up to 4800 DPI), BT 5.3/2.4G USB-A, Quiet Clicks, 7 Buttons, Non-Programmable, Black

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ProtoArc EM11 NL Wireless Ergonomic Vertical Mouse, Rechargeable, Black | 58° vertical design supports a natural wrist posture, connect 3 devices via Bluetooth/2.4G USB-A, 500mAh USB-C rechargeable.

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ProtoArc EM11 Pro Ergonomic Mouse for Large Hands, Side Scroll, Black | Designed for 7.5–8.5" hands. Browser-based customization, Side scroll wheel for Excel/video editing, Multi-Device.

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Logitech G305 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming Mouse - White | 12,000 DPI, Lightweight, 6 Programmable Buttons, 250h Battery, On-Board Memory, Compatible with PC and Mac

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Logitech Lift Vertical Ergonomic Wireless Mouse - Graphite | Connect via Bluetooth or included Logi Bolt USB-A receiver, quiet clicks, 4 of 6 buttons customizable, Windows Mac compatible

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Redragon M908 Wired MMO RGB Gaming Mouse 12400 DPI Remapping Keys | Stable Lag-Free Connection, Redefine Keybinding Macro, Vibing Backlight, Ergonomic Grip Body Comfort

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What editors actually ask of a mouse

Timeline editing is a loop of tiny repeated actions: scrub, zoom in, cut, nudge, zoom out, undo. Over a four-hour session that can add up to thousands of scroll-wheel notches and several hundred clicks, so small frictions compound. That is why a mouse built for spreadsheets or long documents often suits an editor better than one built for aiming at a head in a shooter.

Gaming mice are usually tuned for something else: low weight, instant click response and a high DPI headline. Those traits are pleasant but secondary on a timeline. Editors tend to value a scroll wheel that can free-spin through long clips, a side wheel for horizontal movement, and extra thumb buttons that map to undo, cut or play and pause in the editing program.

Nobody on the team used or measured these units. Everything here comes from listing titles, manufacturer documentation and the patterns visible in buyer reviews, so treat any claim about feel as a general expectation, not a verdict from the desk.

The nine listings

Logitech MX Master 3S (Graphite, Bluetooth, no receiver)

The title names MagSpeed scrolling, 8K DPI tracking, quiet clicks, programmable buttons and Bluetooth across Windows, Mac, Linux and Chrome. For an editor, the scroll wheel and button mapping are the draw: the wheel is promoted as the fast, near-silent kind that suits long clips, and the buttons can be given jobs inside editing software. The phrase “No Receiver” matters, since there is no dongle implied, so your computer needs Bluetooth, and a desktop tower without it needs an adapter.

Picture a creator cutting a ten-minute vlog: wheel for zoom, thumb button for undo, another for ripple delete. That workflow suits this mouse. Ask before buying whether your editing app supports per-app profiles in the maker’s software, and check the listing for battery life and charging details, which the title leaves out.

Compared with the newer generation, this listing is the lower-risk choice: the feature list in the title is shorter, the price tier is lower, and nothing in it depends on haptics you may never use. Editors who keep their mouse for years often prefer a shape they already know, which is a reason this one stays in the conversation.

• Pros: programmable buttons per the title; quiet clicks for shared rooms; multi-OS support
• Pros: a mature shape many buyers describe as comfortable
• Cons: no receiver in the title, so Bluetooth is required
• Cons: it is sized for larger hands, and some people find it heavy

Logitech MX Master 4 for Mac (Space Black)

This listing is the Mac-labeled MX Master 4, and its title adds haptic feedback, ultra-fast scrolling, USB-C charging and support for macOS, iPadOS and Windows. Haptics are an unusual feature in a mouse, and the listing frames them as advanced performance feedback; what that feels like during timeline work is something the title cannot answer, so read the maker’s page for which actions trigger it.

It is close to a duplicate of the Graphite MX Master 4 below, so the real decision is colorway and the “for Mac” label. If your edit bay is an iPad plus a MacBook, the stated iPadOS support is relevant. Ask whether the Mac-labeled model differs in features from the other one, as the titles do not say, and confirm return terms in case the haptics feel like noise.

One more point to weigh: Mac users sometimes pair a mouse with trackpad gestures, so the question is whether you will use both together or let this mouse take over fully. If your editing runs through a keyboard-heavy workflow, the haptic layer may matter less than the wheel and button map.

• Pros: USB-C charging, per the title
• Pros: explicit macOS and iPadOS support
• Cons: premium tier, with haptics that some editors will not need
• Cons: near-duplicate of the Graphite listing, so the Mac label adds little on Windows

Logitech MX Master 4 (Graphite)

The Graphite listing repeats the haptic and ultra-fast scrolling claims and adds 8K DPI any-surface tracking, quiet clicks and wireless USB-C operation for Windows and macOS. Any-surface tracking is worth noting for editors who work at a kitchen table, a hotel desk or a glossy workstation top, although the title does not say how it handles glass.

It suits a person who edits for hours daily and treats the mouse as a core tool, not an accessory. At the premium end, the question to ask is whether you need haptics at all: if the cheaper 3S already gives you the buttons and wheel you want, the extra money buys a newer generation and USB-C more than a different editing workflow. Check the listing for the receiver, battery life and software options.

A practical scenario: a freelancer who edits client work at home and travels with a laptop. USB-C charging means the same cable can serve the mouse and other gear, and the wireless link avoids a receiver sticking out of a thin laptop. Read the listing for what is in the box, since the title does not say.

• Pros: quiet clicks and USB-C charging per the title
• Pros: any-surface tracking claim helps on varied desks
• Cons: premium tier; the haptics may be unneeded
• Cons: large shape; small hands may prefer other models

TECKNET Wireless Mouse with side scroll

This budget listing stresses a side-scroll wheel, rechargeable Bluetooth, three-device switching, six DPI levels up to 4800, quiet clicks and seven buttons. The decisive phrase is “Non-Programmable”: the buttons do what they ship with, so you cannot map undo or cut to them in the maker’s software, though some editing apps allow their own shortcuts for standard back and forward buttons.

It fits a student or hobbyist editing short clips, and the side wheel is a cheap way to try horizontal scrolling through a timeline. Ask whether the side wheel works as a horizontal timeline scroller in your editing app, because support varies by program. Check the listing for the receiver type, since the title mentions both Bluetooth 5.3 and a 2.4G USB-A link.

Given its low tier, treat it as a stepping stone, or as a spare for the travel bag. If you later find you want custom buttons, you can move up to a programmable model without having wasted much, and the three-device switching still makes it useful as a second-computer mouse.

• Pros: low cost, side scroll and three-device switching
• Pros: quiet clicks; rechargeable
• Cons: non-programmable buttons limit shortcut mapping
• Cons: titles give no scroll-wheel type, so free-spin is unconfirmed

ProtoArc EM11 NL Vertical Mouse

The EM11 NL is a rechargeable vertical mouse; the title cites a 58 degree angle for a natural wrist posture, three-device connection by Bluetooth or 2.4G USB-A, and a 500mAh USB-C battery. Vertical shapes are worth considering if long editing days leave your wrist or forearm sore, as the handshake angle takes pressure off the twisting motion of a flat mouse.

The listing says nothing about programmable buttons or a side wheel, so this is a comfort experiment more than a feature upgrade. Expect an adjustment period: precise cursor placement on a single frame feels different at first. Before buying, ask whether your editing shortcuts live on the keyboard, because a vertical mouse with few buttons works best if the keyboard handles most commands.

It is also one of the cheapest ways to learn whether vertical suits you at all. Give it a full week of real timeline work before judging, because the first days are awkward for most people. Keep the return window in mind, and confirm the right-hand-only design if you are left-handed.

• Pros: low-cost way to try a vertical shape
• Pros: USB-C rechargeable, three-device switching
• Cons: no stated programmable buttons or side wheel
• Cons: learning curve for fine trimming

ProtoArc EM11 Pro for Large Hands

The Pro model is described for 7.5 to 8.5 inch hands, with browser-based customization, a side scroll wheel for Excel and video editing, and multi-device use. It is the only ergonomic listing here that speaks to editors directly, and the browser-based tool means you set buttons without installing desktop software, which can help on locked-down work machines.

It suits a tall editor who finds standard mice cramped. Measure your hand from wrist crease to middle fingertip before ordering, because the size range is a hard fit boundary. Ask how many buttons can be remapped, as the title does not give the number, and check whether the browser tool works on your operating system.

The title’s mention of Excel alongside video editing hints at a buyer who bounces between spreadsheets, invoices and timelines, and the side wheel serves both. Compared with the NL, it targets a bigger hand and a more feature-minded buyer, so it is the one to shortlist if the NL feels cramped.

• Pros: explicit large-hand sizing and a side wheel aimed at editing
• Pros: customization without desktop software, per the title
• Cons: too big for small hands
• Cons: button count and battery details are not in the title

Logitech G305 Lightspeed Wireless (White)

A gaming mouse by category, but the title offers things editors can use: lightweight build, six programmable buttons, 250 hour battery claim and on-board memory, which stores settings in the mouse itself. That last point suits an editor who moves between a laptop and a desktop, since mappings follow the mouse.

Weak points for editing are the standard scroll wheel (the title states no free-spin or side wheel) and a compact, symmetrical shape that large hands may find short. Treat it as a budget shortcut pad: map undo and cut on the side buttons and keep the rest simple. Ask whether you want a USB receiver rather than Bluetooth, since the title points to Lightspeed wireless.

Its on-board memory is the most underrated line in the title for an editor: set the buttons once on one machine and they stay put on another. At this price tier it also works as a backup mouse, so a dead battery in your main one does not stop a deadline.

• Pros: programmable buttons and on-board memory in a small, light body
• Pros: long battery claim per the title
• Cons: gaming-class listing with no editing-specific scroll feature
• Cons: smaller than the MX Master models

Logitech Lift Vertical Ergonomic Mouse (Graphite)

Lift is the smaller, mid-priced vertical option: Bluetooth or an included Logi Bolt USB-A receiver, quiet clicks, and four of six buttons customizable. It is designed for small to medium hands, though the title does not state that, so check the listing’s sizing guidance.

A good scenario is an editor with a wrist issue who also needs a few mapped buttons: with four customizable buttons you can cover undo, cut, play and zoom, which the ProtoArc vertical options do not promise. The receiver in the box is another practical plus for desktops without Bluetooth. Ask whether you are comfortable with a right-hand-only vertical shape, as left-handed buyers should check for a separate model.

Between the Lift and the ProtoArc vertical models, the Lift’s stated customization is the clear difference, while the ProtoArc models lean on price and three-device switching. If wrist comfort and shortcuts both matter, this is the listing to compare first.

• Pros: four customizable buttons and a receiver included, per the title
• Pros: quiet clicks for shared spaces
• Cons: vertical adjustment period for trimming
• Cons: small for large hands

Redragon M908 Wired MMO RGB Gaming Mouse

This is the weakest fit for the keyword and worth saying plainly: an MMO gaming mouse with 12400 DPI, a side button grid, macros and RGB backlight. The category label matters, since its side-key array was made for spell rotations, not timelines. Its one editing argument is the number of remappable keys.

If you keep a long list of shortcuts, a bank of thumb keys could replace keyboard reaches for cut, ripple delete, marker and zoom. That is the only scenario where it makes sense, and it is a wired design that adds cable drag. Ask yourself whether you will learn twelve thumb keys; many editors settle on four or five. Check the listing for software support on your operating system.

For a reality check, picture a long edit where you reach for the keyboard anyway: a thumb grid helps only if you memorize it. Most editors do better with a small set of well-chosen buttons, which is why this listing ranks last despite offering the most keys.

• Pros: many remappable side keys, per the title
• Pros: low cost; wired connection needs no charging
• Cons: gaming-oriented, with RGB and macro marketing
• Cons: wired and bulky; no stated editing-friendly scroll wheel

How to choose a mouse for video editing

Scroll wheel and side wheel

Timeline zoom and scrub are scroll-driven in most editing programs. A wheel that can switch to free-spin helps when a clip is long, while a side wheel gives a separate horizontal axis. Titles that promise “ultra-fast scrolling” or “MagSpeed” are seller claims, so look for how buyers describe the feel before paying for it.

Buttons that you can really map

Extra buttons only help if the maker’s software can assign them. Programmable-class titles say so; “non-programmable” means the buttons keep factory jobs. Per-app profiles, which switch mappings when you change from an editor to a browser, are worth checking on the manufacturer’s page.

Shape and hand size

Hand size is the most overlooked variable. A mouse that is too small makes you claw your fingers, and one that is too large forces a stretch. The table below sets spec ideas against what to look for.

Which mouse for which editor

Worked example: a button budget for one editing session

Assume a four-hour session and a short list of repeated actions. The counts below are labeled estimates for illustration, not measured data, but they show which controls deserve your mouse buttons. Replace them with your own habits.

Under these assumptions the mouse handles about 410 repeated actions each hour, which is roughly 1,600 over four hours. Three buttons plus a good wheel cover the majority, so a mouse with twelve side keys offers little that a six-button model does not. If your own count shows zoom and scrub dominate, spend on the wheel; if undo and cut dominate, spend on programmable buttons.

Mistakes that cost editors money

Verdict by use case

For all-day work, the MX Master 3S is the most balanced listing, with the MX Master 4 as the premium alternative if you want haptics and USB-C. For wrist comfort with mappable buttons, Logitech Lift leads the vertical group. On a budget, the TECKNET adds a side wheel but no mapping, while the G305 gives programmable buttons in a light body. Before upgrading your whole setup, see our guides to RAM for video editing, PCs for video editing and laptops for editing and gaming.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a special mouse for video editing?

No editor requires one, but the right mouse removes friction. Timeline work is repetitive: scrubbing, zooming, cutting and undoing hundreds of times per session. A free-spinning or fast scroll wheel, a couple of thumb buttons you can remap, and a shape that fits your hand reduce both time and strain. A plain office mouse works for occasional cuts.

Is a vertical mouse good for editing?

It can be, if wrist or forearm strain is your main complaint. A vertical shape holds the hand in a handshake position instead of palm-down. The trade-off is a learning curve and slower fine control at first. Precise frame-by-frame trimming may feel different for a week or two, so check the seller’s return window.

Are gaming mice fine for video editing?

Many are, particularly light wireless models with remappable buttons. The catch is that gaming features such as very high DPI or rapid-fire macros matter little on a timeline. What helps editors is scroll feel, button count and comfort over long sessions, so judge a gaming mouse on those, not on its DPI figure.

Does DPI matter for video editing?

Less than most listings imply. DPI sets how far the cursor travels per inch of movement, and you can change it in software or with a button. A mid-range figure you can adjust is enough. Sensor tracking on glossy or glass desks, and whether the mouse lets you lower DPI for precise trimming, matter more.

Bluetooth or a USB receiver for editing?

Bluetooth is convenient for laptops and for switching between machines, and it frees a USB port. A dedicated receiver usually gives a steadier link on a crowded desk with many wireless devices. For timeline scrubbing either is fine in daily use, but check what the listing says is included in the box.

Should I buy the Mac or the Graphite MX Master 4?

The titles describe nearly the same mouse. The Mac-labeled listing names macOS, iPadOS and Windows, while the Graphite one names Windows and macOS. If you work on a Mac or iPad, the Mac label is reassuring, and on Windows either should do. Compare the colorway and the maker’s compatibility page before choosing.