I used a Bluetooth mouse with the iPad mini 6, and here’s how it changed my workflow

I will tell you my experience of using a wireless mouse with the iPad — from setting up to comfort level. But most importantly, you will get a peek into how I use the iPad in my daily workflow.

My love for accessories for the iPad continues to grow. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)

The setup

You can use any wireless Bluetooth mouse with an iPad running iPadOS 13.4 or later. I used the Asus MD 100, and pairing this wireless Bluetooth mouse with the iPad was pretty straightforward. All you have to do is go to the Settings app on the iPad and tap Bluetooth. Once you have switched the mouse to Bluetooth mode (the pairing button is built next to the DPI option on the backside of the mouse), hold the pairing button for five seconds, and the LED will start flashing. Look for the mouse in the list of devices. When you see it, tap the name of the mouse. When your mouse is connected to your iPad, a round cursor appears on the screen.

To be clear, the Asus MD 100 can be used with multiple devices, including Windows PCs, macOS, and Chromebooks. USB dongle compatibility is also available- but I prefer to use the wireless Bluetooth option any day.

The iPad mini 6, when paired with a keyboard and mouse, transforms into a desktop computer. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Expres)

Appearance, comfort, and user experience

The MD 100 is a flat mouse, but still feels comfortable in the hand. Weighing just 56 grams, the mouse comes with an outer shell that gets an AntiBacterial Guard treatment. The unit I got for review comes in a soft pink colour, but the box also includes a green coloured shell. The scroll wheel is great. It’s a smooth rubber that felt nice under my fingertip. I could get through apps and web pages quickly. The pair of mouse buttons are silent and relatively easy to click. Remove the top cover, and you will find the battery compartment and the USB dongle.

And its single AA battery should last for over a year, according to Asus. The mouse is contoured for both right-handed and left-handed mouse users and should work on a variety of surfaces, primarily desks, hard and soft mousepads, wood, etc. I wouldn’t mind using it as my primary mouse, but I must point out that the MD 100 is better suited for those with small hands. Not to mention, the mouse comes with a fabric strap which not only makes it easy to carry but also helps in absorbing sweat from your hands.

Being a writer, the iPad gives me the freedom to work from anywhere. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)

The experience

The mouse functionality has been natively baked into the iPadOS for quite some time, but not many people use it. The idea of agreeing to review the Asus MD100 in the first place was to introduce my readers to my work iPad setup, which includes the iPad Air or iPad mini 6, Logitech K480/Keys to Go, and Asus MD100 wireless Bluetooth mouse. Don’t ask how much I like to invest in accessories for the iPad. I like the freedom to work anywhere – and the iPad gives me that space.

Anway, mouse support in iPadOS behaves a little differently. The cursor is a large circular pointer rather than the arrow pointer; right and left clicks work also fundamentally differently on iPadOS than standard desktop operating systems. I agree that for navigating certain things on the iPad, touch works the best. But when moving around, especially scrolling through a lengthy feature story on indianexpress.com, the mouse works exactly as it should work. The whole experience of using the Asus MD 100 with the iPad mini 6 is natural. Drag up with the pointer from the bottom of the home screen to the main screen or bring up the App Switcher. With the mouse, I can directly move apps from the dock into Slide Over or Split View. I think a lot of iPad users are going to find the mouse support functional, mimicking a lot more like a traditional computer but in Apple’s style.

The Asus Marshmallow MD100 wireless Bluetooth mouse is simple looking and easy to set up. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)

Should you buy the Asus MD100?

I think the question that really needs to be asked is whether or not you should invest in a wireless Bluetooth mouse. My experience of using a wireless mouse with the iPad mini 6 has been quite fun. I get it the iPad is primarily made for touch, but over the years Apple’s tablet (regardless of which model you choose) has become closer to a traditional computer. With a mouse, I could scroll through pages, drag apps from the dock into Slide Over, resize Split View apps, and even drag photos to the Notes app. The added mouse support is not replacing the touch-first input method on the iPad but adds an extra layer of input method which doesn’t feel half-baked or forced.

*Asus Marshmallow MD100 wireless mouse will hit both online and offline stores in May this year.