Ever wanted a mouse that could easily stick to your laptop as you carry it around, perhaps from your desk to the conference room with a coffee in the other hand? I can’t say so myself — but one’s launching on Kickstarter today that seems to do the job! I’ve been testing the $36 ESR MagMouse for roughly a week now, and I’m genuinely surprised we haven’t seen anything like this before.
It’s a lightweight 75-gram (2.65 oz) travel mouse with both Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless connectivity modes, its own extremely short built-in USB-C cable for charging, and the titular magnets embedded in its frame so you can stick it to stuff. The USB-C cable folds down into its belly, and there’s a slot beneath for its 2.4GHz USB-A dongle, so it’s completely stow-and-go.
But though ESR is known for its MagSafe accessories, it’s important to know that this isn’t a MagSafe gadget, nor one that’s even magnetically compatible with all the MagSafe / Qi2 stuff. This 4800dpi optical mouse doesn’t stick to my iPhone or Samsung Galaxy, and while it does lightly stick to fridges and the metal rings designed to use with third-party magnetic gear, a rep tells me that ESR does not recommend sticking it to the rings.
Instead, the MagMouse is designed to use with ESR’s own magnetic laptop docking pad, which is a bit chunky, perhaps due in part to the two pins that pop out of it into the base of the mouse to help give the rodent an extremely secure perch. (But not secure enough to use it as a handle for the laptop or to open a stiff laptop lid, I should warn you.)
The docking pad has one of those washable, reusable sticky gel surfaces on the bottom, which feels extremely strong after the first couple of times I’ve pried it off and reattached it to the laptop — but does make it a bit harder to slide a laptop into a tight laptop sleeve!
I don’t have major complaints about the seven-button, 4800dpi mouse itself, at least not so far. (I haven’t tested its claimed 160-hour battery life or “1 minute charge for four hours use” just yet.) It feels a bit budget, perhaps, but I wasn’t expecting premium for $36. Its buttons are quiet while still feeling responsive, and I appreciate that it instantly pops up for pairing with my laptop thanks to Bluetooth Swift Pair.
But if you’re a MagSafe accessory vendor building a magnetic mouse, why not go all the way? Why not make your mouse charge wirelessly and magnetically, too, or at least stick brilliantly to the entire ecosystem of magnetic ring gadgets instead of a thick pad? While I could see this working in the office, I can’t imagine many travel situations where I’ll want my mouse stuck to my laptop inside of a bag. And if I stick a steel ring to my laptop instead of ESR’s pad, I could more easily attach other gadgets like a MagSafe SSD.
I am happy to report, though, that there are additional ways to strongly stick it to stuff: the MagMouse sticks beautifully to my Shinewee double magnet ring.
ESR says the MagMouse should begin shipping to Kickstarter backers on June 6th; as always, think carefully before backing a crowdfunded product, as you’re not exactly “buying” a thing. The risk is generally low for a completed product on a short timeline like this, but we are in unprecedented territory given Trump’s tariffs, with the import situation changing day by day.
