ravindufdo wrote:
Additionally, the printed serial number on the bottom of the mouse is 18 characters long (*****************), whereas I understand genuine Apple serials are typically 17 characters.
Could this be a "refurbished" or "assembled" unit with a genuine logic board but a non-genuine shell/sensor? Would that explain the jerky tracking and lack of smoothness?
Any insights would be appreciated.
Short answer: A strong indicator that this could be a non-genuine device is if you purchased it neither directly from Apple or an Apple Authorized Reseller.
A bit longer answer: A few of the details you mentioned do raise legitimate flags, but they don’t automatically prove the mouse is counterfeit or assembled from mixed parts. The missing serial number in System Information is unusual for genuine Apple input devices, since most authentic Magic Mouse units expose a serial over Bluetooth. However, there are edge cases: certain firmware revisions, pairing glitches, or low-level Bluetooth descriptor issues can cause macOS to omit fields temporarily. So I wouldn’t conclude authenticity purely from that one indicator yet.
The 18-character printed serial is more concerning. Apple hardware serials are typically 12 characters on modern devices, and older formats still don’t match an 18-character pattern. That discrepancy suggests one of three possibilities: a third-party refurbished unit with replacement housing, a counterfeit shell, or a non-Apple clone presenting Apple vendor IDs. Vendor/Product IDs alone are easy to spoof, so they don’t guarantee authenticity. A genuine internal logic board inside a non-Apple shell is possible but relatively uncommon compared to outright clones.
Jerky or inconsistent tracking itself is rarely caused by firmware identity or serial data; it usually comes from optical sensor quality, surface compatibility, Bluetooth interference, or power management issues. Counterfeit or heavily refurbished units often use lower-quality sensors or misaligned optics, which absolutely can produce the “slow even at max speed” and uneven movement you’re describing. If the sensor module or lens assembly was replaced with a non-Apple component, the behavior would match what you’re seeing.
Before concluding it’s non-genuine, I’d suggest a few checks. Pair the mouse with another Mac or even an iPad to see whether tracking behavior is consistent across devices. Reset the Bluetooth module — remove the device, reboot, and re-pair — and test in Safe Mode to eliminate software or driver conflicts. Try a known good mouse surface; Magic Mouse sensors are picky about glossy or transparent surfaces. Also check if gestures feel laggy or if it’s strictly pointer movement; clones often struggle with gesture recognition fidelity.
