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.
Monday November 2, 2026 1:22 am PST by Tim Hardwick
Apple is releasing five new products this Friday, November 6, following pre-orders that opened last week, including its first touchscreen MacBook Pro models.
The following new products will be available from Friday:
iPad mini with OLED display and A20 Pro chip
iMac with M6 chip
14-inch MacBook Pro with M6 chip
14-inch MacBook Pro with OLED touchscreen
16-inch MacBook Pro with OLED...
Friday October 30, 2026 3:20 pm PDT by Joe Rossignol
In a memo shared with Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers this week, and later obtained by MacRumors, Apple provided technicians with guidance on how to diagnose and address the iPhone Duo's inner display cracking issue.
If a customer reports the issue, Apple advised technicians to inspect the iPhone Duo and repair or replace it in accordance with their standard procedures....
Monday November 2, 2026 7:27 am PST by Tim Hardwick
Apple's busiest season isn't over yet. Far from it. With two hardware launch dates still to come in November, plus software updates and new smart home accessories running into December, there's more on the way from Apple before the end of 2026, so be sure to stick around.
Below, we've rounded up what's still coming, along with one date in particular that's worth watching if you're a holiday...
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.
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
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.
