All iPads Amazing things when using a mouse with an iPad?

[Tozovac]

Outside of working on spreadsheets or doing major word-processing on an iPad, how has using a mouse (trackpad) with your iPad been an amazing breakthrough for you that you now can't live without? I'm looking for a reason to purchase a keyboard w/trackpad for my iPad Air 3 instead of just a cover w/keyboard.

My Apple Smart Keyboard for my iPad Air 3 self-destructed at the seams at 3 locations after just 12 months of truly regular use. I just got it replaced under warranty and it's currently boxed up still; I'm debating selling it if I find a better alternative, but I like how it does not need charging and is "on" and ready for use instantly once unfolded, and I'm hesitant to go to a "regular" bluetooth keyboard as I hate the stalls and waits for pairing.

I'm curious to hear real-life examples. I've not been drawn to feeling like I need a mouse for my iPad, just like I've had zero interest in an Apple Watch so far (if I were still training for bike races, I'd be all over an Apple watch). But I'd like to be enlightened by the experiences of others.

 

[pshufd]

I tested the Apple Keyboard (old aluminum BlueTooth and Magic Mouse I). Pairing is fine but the mouse disconnects if you don't use it for a while and it's a bit of a pain to reconnect. The MM1 also doesn't have scrolling and gestures and I'm annoyed at Apple for dropping that support.

I like the way they work (except for scrolling and gestures). Performance has been fine with these on my iPad Mini 5. I think that you have to get an opinion for every device as what you can say for one can't be necessarily transferred for another device.

 

[Tozovac]

I tested the Apple Keyboard (old aluminum BlueTooth and Magic Mouse I). Pairing is fine but the mouse disconnects if you don't use it for a while and it's a bit of a pain to reconnect. The MM1 also doesn't have scrolling and gestures and I'm annoyed at Apple for dropping that support.

I like the way they work (except for scrolling and gestures). Performance has been fine with these on my iPad Mini 5. I think that you have to get an opinion for every device as what you can say for one can't be necessarily transferred for another device.

Thanks, you confirmed that if I dislike the pairing pains, I might want to stick with the Apple magic keyboard, but -- what uses for a mouse/trackpad on an iPad have wowed you, if any?

 

[sparksd]

I use both Logitech MX Anywhere 2S and MX Master 3 without any issues. They nicely switch from my docked laptop to the iPad Pro and back again. Also have the Trackpad 2 - vary my devices depending on want I want to do though mostly I use the iPad without one.

 

[pshufd]

Thanks, you confirmed that if I dislike the pairing pains, I might want to stick with the Apple magic keyboard, but -- what uses for a mouse/trackpad on an iPad have wowed you, if any?

I'm a keyboard/mouse person. It makes it easier to do a lot of typing and scroll quickly through long pages.

 

[Dave-Z]

I use a Logitech MX Keys keyboard and MX Master 3 mouse. I have no disconnects at all. For both devices I switch back and forth between my Linux desktop and an iPad 7th generation (the Logitech devices allow for up to three devices). Switching to my Linux desktop (which uses a USB receiver) is instantaneous, switching back to the iPad (which uses Bluetooth) takes about 1-2 seconds before it's connected (once connected there are zero disconnects or problems).

 

[spiderman0616]

My job requires me to use a lot of web based tools that were not created with touch in mind and many of them have sub-par apps for iPhone/iPad. For those tools, I really need a keyboard and mouse--most of the time when I use the trackpad on my Magic Keyboard it's because I'm using one of those web based tools.

The other times I'm really glad it's there are when I need to edit, copy, paste, or move text. This was not a pleasant experience before the Magic Keyboard. I also find that the more advanced multitasking features in iPadOS, all of which I use daily, flow really smoothly on the trackpad and behave a lot like their macOS counterparts.

 

[AutomaticApple]

The MM1 also doesn't have scrolling and gestures and I'm annoyed at Apple for dropping that support.

Yeah, that frustrated me beyond reality before I stopped using it. 😣

 

[Apple_Robert]

The Magic Keyboard has made using the iPad Pro a real joy each day. I really like the trackpad feel and response. It is a lot easier to connect and use the Magic Keyboard, versus carrying around my Magic Trackpad 2.

 

[Tozovac]

Thanks so far to @BasicGreatGuy, @AutomaticApple, @spiderman0616, @Dave-Z, @pshufd, and @sparksd. What I'm reading so far tells me that the mouse/trackpad helps most for those doing productive coding/writing work (i.e., productivity work) vs. "taking in content." I use the heck out of my 2014 MBA for productivity but I do very little "productivity work" for hours on the iPad; I mostly just take in content on the iPad. So far I'm steering towards a simple keyboard/case for my iPad Air 3...

 

[ejin222]

Before my MK, I tried both the Magic Mouse 2 and Trackpad 2. I preferred the MM2 before Apple started to refine input capabilities. I then preferred the Trackpad because it has more swipe functions than the MM2. That alone makes it a better tool than the mouse. I still think the mouse has better precision but the trackpad is better in almost every other scenario.

 

[pshufd]

Before my MK, I tried both the Magic Mouse 2 and Trackpad 2. I preferred the MM2 before Apple started to refine input capabilities. I then preferred the Trackpad because it has more swipe functions than the MM2. That alone makes it a better tool than the mouse. I still think the mouse has better precision but the trackpad is better in almost every other scenario.

I've used the trackpad, MM and full-size, TKL and short keyboards. I have settled on Mechanical TKL + mouse as I run with two systems so I need the desk space for two KVMs. I like the trackpad but it takes up too much space in my workspace.