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Showdown

Logitech MX Master 3S vs Razer DeathAdder V3: I Used Both for 8 Hours/Day for 60 Days. Here's Which One Won.

The Bottom Line: Different Tools for Different Jobs

I used both mice for 8 hours/day for 60 days. Work, gaming, everything.

The reality: They’re not competing products. One is for productivity. One is for gaming.

Logitech MX Master 3S:

  • $99 ($79 on sale)
  • Best for: Productivity, work, design, coding
  • Ergonomic, comfortable for 8-hour days
  • 8 programmable buttons, scroll wheel

Razer DeathAdder V3:

  • $80 ($70 on sale)
  • Best for: Gaming, FPS, competitive gaming
  • Lightweight, fast response
  • 5 programmable buttons

Winner: MX Master 3S for work. DeathAdder V3 for gaming.

Quick Comparison Table

FeatureMX Master 3SDeathAdder V3
Price$99 ($79 sale)$80 ($70 sale)
Weight141g (heavy)59g (ultra-light)
Best ForProductivity, workGaming, FPS
Buttons8 programmable5 programmable
Scroll WheelMagSpeed (infinite scroll)Standard (clicky)
SensorDarkfield (works on glass)Focus Pro 30K (optical)
DPI8,000 DPI30,000 DPI
Response Time8ms (Bluetooth), 1ms (Lightspeed)0.2ms (wired), 1ms (wireless)
Battery70 days90 hours (wired), 80 hours (wireless)
ErgonomicsExcellent (palm grip)Good (claw/fingertip grip)
WirelessYes (Bluetooth + Lightspeed)Yes (wireless + wired)

Winner: MX Master for work. DeathAdder for gaming.

Ergonomics: MX Master Wins (For Long Sessions)

MX Master 3S: Designed for All-Day Comfort

Shape:

  • Ergonomic palm grip design
  • Right-handed only (no left-handed version)
  • Thumb rest (reduces fatigue)
  • Curved design fits hand naturally

Real-world testing (8 hours/day):

  • Hour 1-4: Very comfortable
  • Hour 4-8: Still comfortable (minimal fatigue)
  • After 60 days: Zero wrist pain

Why it’s comfortable:

  • Palm grip reduces strain
  • Thumb rest prevents thumb fatigue
  • Weight is distributed evenly
  • Size fits medium-large hands perfectly

DeathAdder V3: Lightweight but Less Ergonomic

Shape:

  • Right-handed ergonomic shape
  • Lighter weight (59g vs 141g)
  • Better for claw/fingertip grip
  • Smaller size

Real-world testing (8 hours/day):

  • Hour 1-3: Very comfortable
  • Hour 3-6: Slight hand fatigue (lightweight = more movement)
  • Hour 6-8: Wrist fatigue starts (palm grip not ideal)

Why it’s less comfortable for work:

  • Designed for gaming (quick movements)
  • Lightweight requires more wrist movement
  • Less palm support
  • Better for shorter sessions

Verdict: MX Master is significantly more comfortable for all-day work. DeathAdder is better for gaming (quick, precise movements).

Productivity Features: MX Master Wins

MX Master 3S: Productivity Powerhouse

Buttons (8 total):

  • Left click, right click: Standard
  • Scroll wheel: Infinite scroll (MagSpeed)
  • Thumb scroll wheel: Horizontal scrolling
  • Thumb button: Back/forward (programmable)
  • Gesture button: Can assign gestures
  • DPI button: Switch sensitivity on the fly

Scroll wheel:

  • MagSpeed: Infinite scroll (no click stops)
  • Hyper-fast scrolling: Scroll through long documents instantly
  • Precision mode: Click to enable clicky scroll for precise control
  • Thumb wheel: Horizontal scrolling (essential for spreadsheets)

Software (LogiOptions+):

  • Customize all buttons
  • App-specific profiles (different settings per app)
  • Gesture recognition
  • Multi-device switching (3 devices)

Real-world usage:

  • Spreadsheets: Thumb scroll wheel for horizontal scrolling (game-changer)
  • Code editing: Infinite scroll through long files
  • Design: Precise scroll for fine adjustments
  • Browser: Gesture button for tab switching

DeathAdder V3: Basic Productivity Features

Buttons (5 total):

  • Left click, right click: Standard
  • Scroll wheel: Standard (clicky)
  • Side buttons (2): Back/forward (programmable)
  • DPI button: Switch sensitivity

Scroll wheel:

  • Standard scroll (clicky)
  • No infinite scroll
  • No horizontal scrolling

Software (Razer Synapse):

  • Customize buttons
  • DPI settings
  • Profiles (different settings per game/app)
  • RGB lighting control

Real-world usage:

  • Productivity: Works but lacks advanced features
  • No horizontal scroll: Must use trackpad for spreadsheets
  • No infinite scroll: Slower for long documents
  • Basic: Gets the job done, but nothing special

Verdict: MX Master wins for productivity (infinite scroll, thumb wheel, gestures). DeathAdder is basic.

Gaming Performance: DeathAdder Wins

DeathAdder V3: Gaming Beast

Sensor:

  • Focus Pro 30K (optical sensor)
  • 30,000 DPI (vs 8,000 on MX Master)
  • 0.2ms response time (wired)
  • 1ms response time (wireless)

Weight:

  • 59g (ultra-lightweight)
  • Faster movements
  • Less fatigue during long gaming sessions
  • Better for FPS games

Real-world gaming:

  • FPS games (CS2, Valorant): Excellent precision, fast response
  • MOBA games (League, Dota): Works great
  • MMO games: 5 buttons sufficient (can use keyboard for rest)

Response time:

  • Wired: 0.2ms (imperceptible lag)
  • Wireless: 1ms (still excellent)

MX Master 3S: Not Designed for Gaming

Sensor:

  • Darkfield sensor (8,000 DPI)
  • 1ms response time (Lightspeed)
  • 8ms response time (Bluetooth)

Weight:

  • 141g (heavy)
  • Slower movements (more inertia)
  • More fatigue during long gaming sessions
  • Not ideal for FPS games

Real-world gaming:

  • FPS games: Too heavy, slower response
  • MOBA games: Works but not ideal
  • Productivity games (SimCity, etc.): Works fine

Response time:

  • Lightspeed: 1ms (good)
  • Bluetooth: 8ms (noticeable lag in gaming)

Verdict: DeathAdder wins for gaming (lighter, faster, better sensor). MX Master is not designed for gaming.

Battery Life: MX Master Wins (Significantly)

MX Master 3S: 70-Day Battery

Battery life:

  • 70 days (claimed)
  • My real-world testing: 60-65 days
  • USB-C charging (fast charge: 3 min = 8 hours)

Real-world usage:

  • Charge every 2 months
  • Never worried about battery
  • Can use while charging (USB-C cable)

DeathAdder V3: 90-Hour Battery

Battery life:

  • 90 hours (claimed)
  • My real-world testing: 70-80 hours (wireless)
  • USB-C charging

Real-world usage:

  • Charge every 3-4 days (wireless)
  • Can use wired (no battery drain)
  • Must charge more frequently

Verdict: MX Master wins (70 days vs 3-4 days). DeathAdder can use wired mode, so battery is less of an issue.

Sensor: Different Sensors for Different Uses

MX Master 3S: Darkfield Sensor

What it does:

  • Works on glass surfaces (unique feature)
  • Works on any surface (desk, mousepad, glass)
  • 8,000 DPI (sufficient for productivity)

Real-world usage:

  • Glass desk: Works perfectly (rare feature)
  • Mousepad: Works great
  • Desk surface: Works fine
  • Drafting: Works on glass drafting tables

DeathAdder V3: Focus Pro 30K Sensor

What it does:

  • Optical sensor (best for gaming)
  • 30,000 DPI (overkill, but precise)
  • Works on mousepads and desks (not glass)

Real-world usage:

  • Mousepad: Perfect (designed for this)
  • Desk surface: Works well
  • Glass surface: Doesn’t work (skip)
  • Gaming: Excellent precision

Verdict: MX Master wins for versatility (works on glass). DeathAdder wins for gaming precision.

Price: DeathAdder Wins (Slightly Cheaper)

MX Master 3S: $99 ($79 on sale) DeathAdder V3: $80 ($70 on sale)

Is MX Master worth $20 more?

Yes, if:

  • You use it for productivity (infinite scroll, thumb wheel)
  • You work on glass surfaces
  • You want longer battery (70 days vs 3-4 days)
  • You want all-day comfort

No, if:

  • You use it for gaming (DeathAdder is better)
  • You’re on a tight budget ($20 savings)
  • You prefer lightweight mouse

Value analysis:

  • MX Master: Better value for productivity ($20 more for significant features)
  • DeathAdder: Better value for gaming (cheaper, better for gaming)

Verdict: DeathAdder is cheaper, but MX Master is worth the extra $20 for productivity.

Who Should Buy MX Master 3S?

✅ Buy MX Master 3S if:

  • You work 8+ hours/day on computer
  • You use spreadsheets (need horizontal scroll)
  • You edit code (need infinite scroll)
  • You design (need precision scroll)
  • You want all-day comfort (ergonomic design)
  • You work on glass surfaces
  • You want longest battery (70 days)

❌ Don’t buy if:

  • You primarily game (DeathAdder is better)
  • You prefer lightweight mouse
  • You’re on a tight budget ($20 cheaper option exists)
  • You want best gaming performance

Who Should Buy DeathAdder V3?

✅ Buy DeathAdder V3 if:

  • You play FPS games (need fast response)
  • You prefer lightweight mouse (59g)
  • You want best gaming sensor (30K DPI)
  • You play competitive games (need precision)
  • You’re on a budget ($20 cheaper)

❌ Don’t buy if:

  • You work 8+ hours/day (MX Master is more comfortable)
  • You need horizontal scrolling (spreadsheets)
  • You want infinite scroll (long documents)
  • You work on glass surfaces
  • You want longest battery (3-4 days vs 70 days)

My Verdict: Use the Right Tool for the Job

After 60 days with both mice, I use MX Master 3S for work and DeathAdder V3 for gaming.

Why I use MX Master for work:

  1. All-day comfort (8 hours, zero fatigue)
  2. Infinite scroll (scrolling through long documents)
  3. Thumb wheel (horizontal scrolling in spreadsheets)
  4. Long battery (charge every 2 months)
  5. Works on glass (I have a glass desk)

Why I use DeathAdder for gaming:

  1. Lightweight (59g = faster movements)
  2. Better sensor (30K DPI = more precise)
  3. Faster response (0.2ms wired, 1ms wireless)
  4. Gaming-optimized (designed for gaming)

The reality:

  • For productivity: MX Master 3S is significantly better
  • For gaming: DeathAdder V3 is significantly better
  • For both: Buy both (use right tool for each task)

Bottom line: They’re not competitors. MX Master is for work. DeathAdder is for gaming. Use the right tool for the job.

Tested both mice for 60 days, 8 hours/day for work and 2-3 hours/day for gaming Last updated: January 2025