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Force Touch Trackpad moves when clicking, normal?

C

Cremerhm

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Mar 24, 2012
388
134
The Netherlands
Hi all,

Sorry if this has been asked before.
On my 15" 2016 MacBook Pro, the Force Touch Pad moves when when I am clicking on it.
As far as I know, it should be "rock solid".

Attached is a movie, can you tell me if this is normal behavior?
I never noticed this before (got it directly after release day).

Maybe it looks as if I am applying a lot of pressure on it, but that is not the case.

 
Last edited:
Perfectly normal. I have had this on both my 2016 15" and 2017 15". If the trackpad wouldn't be moving slightly, It wouldn't be able to measure the force applied to the trackpad. Also, haptic feedback wouldn't work properly without some flexibility in the trackpad. It would be a 'dead' touchpad, only able to recognize touch. No pressure, no haptic feedback.
 
vjobs said:
Perfectly normal. I have had this on both my 2016 15" and 2017 15". If the trackpad wouldn't be moving slightly, It wouldn't be able to measure the force applied to the trackpad. Also, haptic feedback wouldn't work properly without some flexibility in the trackpad. It would be a 'dead' touchpad, only able to recognize touch. No pressure, no haptic feedback.
Click to expand...

Tx, .... again! (I think you gave me the same answer on Tweakers ;-) )
 
Have just spoken to Apple about this and they said it NOT normal (I showed them your video). Got a genius appointment in an hour, I'll let you know how it goes (I'm still in my 2 week period so its all good).
 
Darkashnet said:
Have just spoken to Apple about this and they said it NOT normal (I showed them your video). Got a genius appointment in an hour, I'll let you know how it goes (I'm still in my 2 week period so its all good).
Click to expand...

Okay, let me know!
I'm still in the first 1 year period ... so if necessary it should be solved under warranty.
 
Cremerhm said:
Okay, let me know!
I'm still in the first 1 year period ... so if necessary it should be solved under warranty.
Click to expand...

That is entirely normal, as has been pointed out that's how they work. It's a piece of glass and will have some flex in the centre point.

Occasionally this comes up here, people get very stressed and take them to Apple to demand repairs and stuff. But it won't go anywhere. By all means if you wish to waste time it's your prerogative, I'm just letting you know that's how it's supposed to be. Go up to any force touch trackpad and you'll see. It's more prominent not the 15" model because it's a larger piece of glass.
 
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New_Mac_Smell said:
That is entirely normal, as has been pointed out that's how they work. It's a piece of glass and will have some flex in the centre point.

Occasionally this comes up here, people get very stressed and take them to Apple to demand repairs and stuff. But it won't go anywhere. By all means if you wish to waste time it's your prerogative, I'm just letting you know that's how it's supposed to be. Go up to any force touch trackpad and you'll see. It's more prominent not the 15" model because it's a larger piece of glass.
Click to expand...

Only taking it to Apple Store because the online chat staff member told me to! Not generally worried or concerned about it but if it is an issue I'd like to know. 2 and a half grand laptop better be bloody perfect.
 
Darkashnet said:
Only taking it to Apple Store because the online chat staff member told me to! Not generally worried or concerned about it but if it is an issue I'd like to know. 2 and a half grand laptop better be bloody perfect.
Click to expand...

Aye they'll do that. You might not be satisfied if they told you it wasn't an issue, and would probably still like to have it looked at. So easier to send you off to the Apple Store and let someone else explain. And if you're still not satisfied they'll probably recommend you send it off.

Just saying, absolutely normal and Apple will only try to appease you to make sure you're happy.
 
Just left the Apple Store and they said it is not meant to do that, they would have sent it off for repair but as I'm in my 2 weeks they just gave me a new one.
 
Literally every trackpad I've seen does that from the first one they released back in 2015.
 
It does have a little give but not as much as mine did (and the video from OP) shows.
 
Remember that a video is going to magnify the issue because your looking at it very close up. I just checked my 2017 MBP 15" and it does flex in the middle you can see it go down slightly, doesn't do it when you press the outer sides. I think it's normal and made to flex. It's also 3 X as big as the previous model track pad so something that large is bound to flex some.
 
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To anybody else before this turns into a defect concern or some random conspiracy.

This is an image of the structure (As well as some other reference images). The trackpad is supported in all 4 corners, with roughly 1mm height risers. Where the glass is not supported there is that 1mm gap between the glass and the shell. Therefore in the middle of the glass it will flex into a bow between these supports. The most prominent area for this is the width as this is the widest point, which will drop roughly 1mm before touching the base of the shell. You'll also notice it flex at the sides, and at the corners too.

If it flexes more than the roughly 1mm (Push hard, if you manage 10mm and break it...) this means there is somehow a lack of casing underneath the trackpad which is obviously an issue. Otherwise push on the centre at the top or bottom fairly hard and it should dip that 1mm before going any further, as it is touching the shell of the laptop.

forcetouch.png


Nobody should be in any way concerned about this. It is highly unlikely your computer would be manufactured with a huge hole in the casing. If this were the case the trackpad would likely crack/shatter quite quickly.

P3090503-XL.jpg Twelve-inch-MaBook-Force-Touch-trackpad-image-001.jpg iFixit_Taptic.jpg macbook_force_touch_1.jpg
 
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