No, the problem with Apple’s mouse was never the location of its USB port

15 years of longevity is undoubtedly a record for a mouse. The Magic Mouse, the first touchscreen mouse launched by Apple in 2009, has been used on all of the brand’s desktop computers since the days of the iPhone 3GS. Apple refreshed it twice, first by replacing the batteries with a rechargeable battery, then by replacing Lightning with USB-C, but never touched its features. There have also been colored versions, with the iMac in particular.

According to Bloomberg, in Mark Gurman’s weekly newsletter published on December 15, the reign of the Magic Mouse is nearing its end. “A new mouse is in the works. I’m told Apple’s design team has been working on prototypes of the accessory in recent months, aiming to design a product that better fits the modern era.writes the journalist.

Charging port location not a problem for Apple

According to Mark Gurman, Apple would seek in particular to “address long-standing issues – including the charging port issue”.

This sentence was enough to convince many specialized media of a change of location for the port, but nothing says that Apple will do it.

Regularly mocked, the location of the Magic Mouse’s charging port has become an Internet meme. Many use this characteristic to mock Apple’s absolutism, which sometimes goes too far in the name of purifying design. Apple’s detractors, like its biggest fans, regularly joke about this aspect of the mouse.

Officially, Apple has never acknowledged a problem. The brand points out that a Magic Mouse only charges once or twice a year, only in a few minutes. Apple has always considered that a hidden charging port was a good decision, since it allows us to offer a prettier product, without holes, and without major compromise for the user. There is no indication that the brand has changed its mind today, when all iterations of the Magic Mouse released since 2015 include a charging port under the mouse.

In fact, the charging port under the mouse has only one fault: it prevents you from using the product with a cord. The Magic Mouse, unlike the Magic Keyboard and the Magic Trackpad, only works wirelessly.

There are other, more serious problems with the Magic Mouse

When Bloomberg talks about a mouse more suited to the modern world, other problems come to mind.

In particular, we dream of a rounder Magic Mouse, in the vein of certain Logitech mice or the old Mighty Mouse from 2005, or of a less capricious, less messy tactile surface, capable of understanding more gestures. We can also imagine the return of real buttons, why not on the side, to configure access to certain system functions (or applications) quickly.

The major problem with the Magic Mouse is its ergonomics, since it can hurt the wrist after several hours. The Magic Trackpad, which offers a large tactile surface, is a much more pleasant product to use. Another feature that we would love to see arrive: the ability to connect to several devices easily, to go from Mac to iPad or Vision Pro without having to rely on the proper functioning of Apple’s continuity service. A button under the mouse to switch between Bluetooth connections would be handy.

According to Bloomberg, nothing will happen within 12 to 18 months, which suggests a simultaneous launch to Macs at the end of 2026, possibly with M6 chips (or later, since Apple is not used to ‘be ahead). There’s probably a lot that could be done to improve Apple’s mouse, but the brand shouldn’t prioritize the location of the charging port. A more practical, nicer, more versatile “Something” Mouse, even with a hidden charging port, would be infinitely better than the Magic Mouse.