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From Apple's description, all you need is BT4.0 and OSX 10.11. As long as your 2012 iMac meet this requirement, I can't see why you can't use it.
 
And since it also works with the lightning cable I assume it will work on any USB mac as long as you use the cable.
 
Um... I doubt about it. Even though it can, but from Apple's history, they may still place some extra software limitation at there to force you pair and use the magic trackpad via BT4.0. Also, it's a REQUIREMENT on their official site.

Is there any official info says this trackpad can work ONLY via the lightning cable?
 
I wish apple list what iMac's & MacBooks are compatible on their site to make it clear for us whats compatible and what isn't.

I'm just glad my late 2013 iMac & Mid 2014 MBP are compatible.
 
The review on arstechnica said it works when you connect the cable and disable bluetooth.

How about use it without BT4.0 pairing but straight from the lightning cable?

Just like the Apple watch, it works with Wi-Fi only but BT off, but that's after pair up with the phone via BT.
 
The review on arstechnica said it works when you connect the cable and disable bluetooth.
I read that but that's on a modern Mac. We don't know if Apple has other limitations to prevent this from working on older Macs.
 
why does it require 4.0 to use this?

I believe BT 4.0 is LE low energy. So it's probably more battery efficient. From what I know 4.0 doesn't require a steady data stream to stay connected which is battery efficient also.
 
I have a Late 2012 iMac model (which does have BT 4.0) and the Magic Trackpad works fine. I'm not entirely sure when the iMac got BT 4.0 (it could have been starting with the Late 2012 model), but mine works fine.
 
Do you think that would work with a Mid-2011 or Late 2011 iMac? It looks like it works with iMac 2012 (that doesn't use Bluetooth 4.0)
And by the way, has Apple ever used Bluetooth 3.0? Or that norm never existed and BT2.0 jumped directly to BT4.0?
 
Do you think that would work with a Mid-2011 or Late 2011 iMac? It looks like it works with iMac 2012 (that doesn't use Bluetooth 4.0)
And by the way, has Apple ever used Bluetooth 3.0? Or that norm never existed and BT2.0 jumped directly to BT4.0?
1. Supposedly yes wired using the lightning cable. All the features are only there on OS X 10.11
2. As far ads I know no. 2.1 -> 4.0 Apple went.
 
I just got a Magic Trackpad 2 and I have a 2009 iMac without BT 4.0 at home. I'll test it out later and report back.
 
So I just tried the Magic Trackpad on an iMac here at work... Mid-2011, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR and it works fine, wired and wireless. The Magic Trackpad 2 apparently doesn't really require BT 4.0. I obviously haven't had time to see how it impacts battery though.
 
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