Apple Magic Mouse Isn’t Turning Into a Talking Assistant Anytime Soon
In the past 24 hours, the internet has been buzzing with headlines suggesting Apple might be gearing up to equip the next Apple Magic Mouse with voice controls. If that had you shaking your head in disbelief, take a deep breath — the rumor appears to be more a case of lost-in-translation chaos than Apple’s actual vision.
As 9to5Mac concluded, this misunderstanding seems to have stemmed from a poorly translated report rather than any official announcement. Let’s break it down.
It all began with a post on Naver, a South Korean platform, by the well-known leaker yeux1122. The original post, written in Korean, was run through Google Translate and yielded this:
“Apple’s design team has been working on prototype versions of the accessory in recent months to better fit the modern design. (Ergonomic design for modern computing that combines touch screens, voice commands, and hand gestures).”
Here’s where things get tricky. At the very top of the post, it credits Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman for the information, and some outlets seem to have jumped to conclusions. Gurman’s actual December report reads:
“Apple’s design team has been prototyping versions of the accessory in recent months, aiming to devise something that better fits the modern era. In a computing world now infused with touch screens, voice commands, and hand gestures, the mouse isn’t as crucial as it once was.”
In simpler terms, Gurman is highlighting how evolving technologies like voice commands are making traditional mice less critical — not that Apple is slapping voice controls onto its Magic Mouse.
Gurman himself weighed in on the confusion, clarifying that the rumor making rounds was due to “an incorrect back-and-forth translation” of his original piece. However, he didn’t entirely dismiss the idea of voice controls, adding in a thread on X (formerly Twitter):
“Voice control in the new Magic Mouse I wrote about this month makes sense in light of AI — and the fact that Apple is on a decade-plus cycle. But from what I’ve heard, the big focus is ergonomics and gestures, with a relocated USB-C port.”
I’m skeptical. Adding voice controls to a mouse feels as unnecessary as giving the Apple Watch a stylus. It’s just over-complicating a device that’s beloved for its simplicity.
Don’t Speak
Let’s face it — voice controls have their place, but they’re not always practical. Here’s where I use them:
- Asking Alexa to turn off the bedroom light so I don’t stub my toe.
- Setting a timer on my watch so I don’t burn lunch (because wandering aimlessly around the house is my specialty).
- Dictating a show name into the Apple TV remote to avoid the horror of typing with the trackpad.
Notice the pattern? I only use voice commands when there’s no better option. And even then, they’re not exactly foolproof.
When I’m using a Magic Mouse, the last thing I want is voice controls. I already have a perfectly reliable and intuitive tool under my fingertips. A mouse doesn’t mishear “Ryan Adams” as “Bryan Adams” or add random items to a shopping list because the TV mentioned “Alicia.”
This is why so many of us celebrated the quiet exit of Microsoft’s Cortana and why Amazon is reportedly rethinking Alexa’s role in the home. The reality is, voice controls still lack the reliability and precision we need for everyday tasks.
Take my Alexa “to do” list as an example. Despite barely using it, my list has gems like “Dog bosch,” “five huxley cream,” and “put the laundry light on in America.” What does that even mean?
Siri, meanwhile, is often ranked less useful than Alexa. So why would Apple add a feature with so much room for error to the Apple Magic Mouse — a product that has been simplifying our lives for over five decades?
Apple Magic Mouse
Let’s Keep It Simple
Until voice technology becomes as reliable as using a mouse or keyboard, it’s unlikely to gain widespread adoption. Millions of users, including me, will continue to see voice controls as a last resort, not a go-to solution.
So here’s hoping Apple sticks to improving the basics. Focus on making the Apple Magic Mouse more ergonomic, refine its gestures, and yes, finally give us a better charging port location. But voice controls? Let’s keep that conversation off the table — and out of the mouse.
