Expanded Mouse Cursor Support Coming to iPadOS 14 Alongside New Smart Keyboards With Trackpads

Apple in iPadOS 13 introduced support for external mice as an Accessibility feature, and in iPadOS 14, Apple is set to expand cursor support to make using a mouse or a trackpad on iPadOS similar to using a mouse or trackpad on the Mac.

trackpad folio keyboard front

A mockup of a Smart Keyboard with Trackpad

Apple is rumored to be working on a ‌Smart Keyboard‌ for the iPad Pro that includes a trackpad that will work with the new cursor capabilities, and code found in leaked iOS 14 snippets shared by 9to5Mac provides details on some of the functionality we can expect.

  • No Persistent Cursor - When using a trackpad or mouse with an iOS device, the cursor will disappear after a few seconds of not being used, unlike on a Mac where the cursor is always visible. It will reappear after the trackpad or mouse is activated again.
  • Multiple Pointers - As on the Mac, you'll see multiple pointers depending on what you're doing. A standard arrow pointer will be visible most of the time, but it will switch to a hand when overing over links.
  • Right-Click - Gestures will be supported, such as a tap with two fingers to right click.
  • Tap to Click - Tap to Click, a feature present on the Mac's trackpad, will also be available on the ‌iPad Pro‌ ‌Smart Keyboard‌ trackpad.

Code in iOS 14 allegedly contains references to two new ‌Smart Keyboard‌ model identifiers, which suggests that the ‌Smart Keyboard‌ with Trackpad will be available for multiple iPad models. That could perhaps mean the 11 and 12.9-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ models.

While there's no detail on the physical shape of the accessories, the functionality suggests the upcoming Smart Keyboards will feature a standard laptop-like design that includes a keyboard above the trackpad.

Related Roundup: iPad Pro
Buyer's Guide: iPad Pro (Don't Buy)
Related Forum: iOS 14

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Top Rated Comments

cmaier Avatar
70 months ago

This is moving closer to a hybrid device, something Apple has been against. In which case, why not buy a Surface?
Because windows sucks, and the surface is not a great tablet?
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
1144557 Avatar
70 months ago
Never owned an iPad but the more we here

Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Nimrad Avatar
70 months ago
iPadOS is starting to look like Apple's chance of building a new computer OS from the ground up.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
PhoneI Avatar
70 months ago
In which case, why not buy a Surface?
If you ever used a surface, you would know the answer to that.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HiVolt Avatar
70 months ago
Thank god, why did it have to take so long?
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
calzon65 Avatar
70 months ago
With the way the iPad has been evolving into a "laptop", if Apple had a MacBook with a removable touchscreen that reverted to IOS when detached, that would be amazing (best of both worlds).
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)