iFixit last week shared x-rays of the new Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro, giving us a little look at what's inside Apple's newest keyboard design, and today, iFixit is back with a mini trackpad teardown.
In an update to the original x-ray article, iFixit disassembled the trackpad to take a closer look at what's inside.
There's a single button inside the trackpad that operates on a lever system. When you press near the center, regardless of whether you're pressing the top, middle, or bottom center, you're pressing on the button.
Pressing near the top, bottom, or one of the corners activates the lever system, causing the contact plate in the center to be forced upward to make a click happen.
iFixit says that the trackpad is the only part of the Magic Keyboard that's able to be taken apart without major destruction to the accessory, so a further look inside will have to wait until the site is ready to publish repair guides.
Apple's new Magic Keyboard with trackpad works with the 2018 and 2020 iPad Pro models. It's priced at $299 for the 11-inch version and $349 for the 12.9-inch version, and can be purchased from Apple's website.
Apple's iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models will feature a number of significant display, thermal, and battery improvements, according to new late-stage rumors.
According to the Weibo leaker known as "Instant Digital," the iPhone 17 Pro models will feature displays with higher brightness, making it more suitable for use in direct sunlight for prolonged periods. The iPhone 16 Pro and...
Tuesday September 2, 2025 1:50 pm PDT by Joe Rossignol
Just one week before Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series, an analyst has shared new price estimates for the devices.
Here are J.P. Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee's price estimates for the iPhone 17 series in the United States, according to 9to5Mac:
Model
Starting Price
Model
Starting Price
Change
iPhone 16
$799
iPhone 17
...
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series on Tuesday, September 9, and last-minute rumors about the devices continue to surface.
The latest info comes from a leaker known as Majin Bu, who has shared alleged images of Apple's Clear Case for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, or at least replicas.
Image Credit: @MajinBuOfficial
The images show three alleged changes compared to Apple's iP...
Monday September 1, 2025 4:35 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series this month, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive.
If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming to...
Thursday August 28, 2025 4:08 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
An iPhone 17 announcement is a dead cert for September 2025 – Apple has already sent out invites for an "Awe dropping" event on Tuesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The timing follows Apple's trend of introducing new iPhone models annually in the fall.
At the event, Apple is expected to unveil its new-generation iPhone 17, an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17...
Thursday September 4, 2025 7:38 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
We're only days away from Apple's "Awe dropping" fall event scheduled to take place on Tuesday, September 9 – and along with the new iPhone 17 series, we're going to get a new version of the Apple Watch Ultra for the first time since 2023.
By the time the Ultra 3 is unveiled, it will have been two years since the previous model arrived. The intervening period has left plenty of room for...
nobody needs a trackpad on an iPad IMO. ruins the star feature of the device: multitouch display.
an iPad trackpad only tries to be like the MacBook but will never be better than a MacBook. smaller area, apps aren't optimized for cursor, carrying extra weight around the device, etc... it just doesn't make sense. there's a better way to be productive on the iPad that's far better than the MacBook. a cursor isn't the answer.
almost like too many people complained and Apple caved. now we're stuck with this sub-par feature. this is a classic example of customers showing how they don't know what the hell they want.
Stuck how? It's not a mandatory purchase. For those like you, avoid buying it and your star feature can remain at the forefront. For those who see the advantages, they can buy it and be happy. Both sides happy. Apple didn't cave. Apple smartly realized there was an opportunity to capitalize on consumer desire. And that opportunity in no way infringes on the desires of the consumers who don't want the feature.
Your quote is a classic example of an old man yells at cloud comment. It makes no sense but it probably makes him feel good. :D :D I should know. I'm old and I do it often.
I'm an app developer and I'm stuck having to support this feature that I believe users don't need. Maybe try your comment again.
You have to do a little extra work... on your job?!?! Bud, your arguments are getting worse. Everyone has to do things on their job they don't like. You aren't stuck though. You could always not support it. You're customer will quickly let you know if they need it or not.
No need to try my comment again. It was as effective and humorous as I wanted it to be. Maybe you should lighten up and accept what is and what's going to be. That train has left the station. I'm pretty sure once it's cost effective enough, that tech is going to go lower in the iPad lineup until it hits the cheapest iPad. Coupling that inexpensive iPad with an equally inexpensive proper keyboard and trackpad is a recipe for Apple fighting back in education where Chromebooks are currently handing them their lunch. So yeah, they aren't getting off your lawn.
Little extra work? Please. Trackpad support was introduced in March and Microsoft announced that Office will support the cursor by fall. We're talking maybe 6 months for a team of bright engineers and unlimited resources to deliver that feature. You have no clue what tf you're talking about.
Do you like subscription based apps? If yes, good for you. If not, well that's exactly what's going to happen to a lot of good quality apps that aren't making enough $$$ to reach minimum wage for developers from selling their app as a one-time payment model. Yep, as you put it, the subscription train has left the station and it's going to hit hard for those who barely have enough money to buy the cheapest iPad.
I've been against subscription based model for my solo-developed apps for the longest time, but updating my one-time-payment apps to support more and more frivolous Apple features is going to need to switch to the subscription based model. That's going to piss off a lot of my customers and if they don't bite, then I'll stop updating my apps.
If you are going to act the fool, let's disengage. I do know what I'm talking about, tf included. You're simply making a complaint that's falling of deaf ears. In the sample size of this thread, hardly anyone agrees with your position. You may be feeling attacked. I can't help that. That's still no reason for your lashing out. Trying to compare your self described solo-dev'd app to MS and Office? C'mon man. If you don't want to do it, don't do it. Everybody's job has issues and stresses. App dev'ing is no more an endeavor than other job you can name.
I'm not touching the subscription model stuff. I have no idea why you brought it up out of left field when we're talking about trackpad support.
that's because you feel safe with a pointer and don't really know of a better way of being productive on the iPad. i have an idea that's pretty reasonable and far better than a keyboard/trackpad but will save it for a blog post or something. if you go back to the ipad introduction, steve mentioned that a device has to be better than a macbook and an iphone at some key tasks otherwise it has no reason to exist. ipad with a magic keyboard is not better than a macbook air in any way except maybe battery life (which over time, ARM MacBooks can probably take care of that)
Omg. Spare me all this “you just don’t know better!” Crap. I’ve used iPad since the beginning and have followed Apple as closely as anyone. I know about touch paradigms and I also know when a cursor makes sense. When I’m editing documents or docked to a keyboard like it’s a laptop, I don’t wanna be reaching up and tapping the screen for every single interaction. I love touching it when I’m just holding the tablet itself, but when it’s on a table farther away from me? Yeah. Remember Steve Jobs also talking about “gorilla arm?”
a lot of people have been waiting for a product like the magic keyboard to come out
Biggest design overhaul since iOS 7 with Liquid Glass, plus new Apple Intelligence features and improvements to Messages, Phone, Safari, Shortcuts, and more. Developer beta available now ahead of public beta in July.