iFixit Tears Down Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse 2 and Magic Trackpad 2

[tomrakewell]

Does this work with mac pro 2009? or any mac computers older than 2012?

I've tried Magic Trackpad 2 on a mid-2010 iMac 27" and a late-2009 iMac 27". Both do not have BLuetooth 4, but the trackpad pairs and works fine with the latest MacOS versions.

Also, for me the new Magic Keyboard is fantastic. I was very hesitant with the new keyboard on the MacBook 12" after first trying it in an Apple Store, but giving it a further chance I feel it is the best keyboard around. My typing accuracy and speed has certainly increased. I love that I can now experience the same improved typing on my desktop Mac.

So, from a usability perspective, both Trackpad and Keyboard are top notch. In practical use, I don't think the built-in batteries will pose a problem. My first AA battery-operated Apple keyboard was rendered useless after a couple of years due to leaking AAs ... so much for the superiority of replaceable batteries.

 

[the8thark]

Thoughts: Location for charging the mouse is just a disaster, what are you going to do once the battery runs out? Sit down and wait?

Yes two minutes wait for 9 hours use.

 

[pat500000]

I've tried Magic Trackpad 2 on a mid-2010 iMac 27" and a late-2009 iMac 27". Both do not have BLuetooth 4, but the trackpad pairs and works fine with the latest MacOS versions.

Also, for me the new Magic Keyboard is fantastic. I was very hesitant with the new keyboard on the MacBook 12" after first trying it in an Apple Store, but giving it a further chance I feel it is the best keyboard around. My typing accuracy and speed has certainly increased. I love that I can now experience the same improved typing on my desktop Mac.

So, from a usability perspective, both Trackpad and Keyboard are top notch. In practical use, I don't think the built-in batteries will pose a problem. My first AA battery-operated Apple keyboard was rendered useless after a couple of years due to leaking AAs ... so much for the superiority of replaceable batteries.

Wait a minute. I'm confused. According to Apple website, it appears that track pad 2 is the only one requiring bt 4. The keyboard and the mouse 2 require new os x....so are you saying you can run wirelessly? I mean bluetooth for all of them? Including track pad 2?

 

[the8thark]

You can check out the Bluetooth capabilities of all the macs here: http://www.everymac.com/systems/by_...uetooth-different-bluetooth-capabilities.html

I'd assume that while the magic mouse and keyboard are backwards-compatible with Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, the trackpad might need that extra data rate of the Bluetooth 3.0 spec to support force touch. Since Apple never released any Bluetooth 3.0-only macs, the only macs that support Bluetooth 3.0 are the macs that support Bluetooth 4.0 and later. They can just put Bluetooth 4.0 on their requirements list and call it a day.

The issue is the keyboard and mouse only say needs bluetooth while the trackpad says needs bluetooth 4.0 All have thge same bluetooth chips in them. Possibly it's due to the power saving capabilities of bluetooth 4.0 so the trackpad lasts longer but who knows.

 

[frifra]

Why do you need BT 4.0 if there is only a BT 3.0 chip in the devices?

 

[penajmz]

The trackpad is the only thing I got. Might get the keyboard later.. It was expensive but worth it so far. The extra space is lovely.

 

[MrWillie]

Built in fixed rechargeable battery is the worst thing for a keyboard and mouse.
they will eventually degrade and won't hold charge,so user will be forced to buy a whole new keyboard/mouse.

unlike phones that will go obsolete after 2 years,people should not have to replace a keyboard and mouse after 2 years.
AA batteries were the best,easily replaceable..and you had both rechargable and disposable option.

I think the only real reason Apple switched to fixed battery is to make more profit by forcing people purchase additional keyboards and mice..definitely an anti consumer move..

I'm really starting to loose interest in Apple..so many disappointing things recently:
useless,incomplete and un-attractively designed Watch with rubber bands and ridiculously over priced steel bands as extra..
underpowered super limited Macbook..instead of a Macbook Air with high quality screen that everyone wanted..
increased price of Macs..
slow ancient hard-drives in latest iMacs instead of fusion drives..
super over priced 2-pieces case + cover for iPad Mini 4 instead of smart case..
and now this stupid redesign of keyboard and mouse..

Except that the batteries in the mouse/trackpad/keyboard should last ten plus years. You are not charging/discharging the batteries everyday like you are with your iPhone. These are not nickel cadmium, battery rules have changed. After ten years or so you would get the batteries replaced, buy the new touch free trackpad, or buy the tacks that you stick in your head to control the cursor with your thoughts.

Who knows what the future holds, but I probably won't be using the input devices I buy today because of new technology.

 

[SurferPup]

The new Magic Keyboard will pair and function with the iPad Air. It feels as light as a piece of cardboard, it is slimmer than the last generation and I like that it Bluetooth pairs faster / more easily too. No need to worry about batteries so the higher cost of the keyboard is offset by saving on battery chargers and batteries.

 

[mag01]

Disappointed to see the "prehistorical" BCM20733 inside instead of at least something like BCM20732. For those increased prices they should've at least included an adequate technology. Here come production costs cuts in the hunt for high margins...

 

[Jamester23]

Dude, you can get a 9 hour charge in a couple minutes. Go get some coffee and come back. Then use your charged mouse. Then set up to charge before sleeping.

Say what you want about the price, but this isn't as much of a burden as people are making it out to be.

Yeah I would just say that most people keep working and only charge it when it's super low. So when you're out of juice it's in the middle of a fire drill project that you literally don't have two minutes to spare. Apple thinks we're these overtly meticulous individuals that stick it on the charger every night and start the day with a fresh charge. Guess what, we don't.

 

[ApfelKuchen]

Yeah I would just say that most people keep working and only charge it when it's super low. So when you're out of juice it's in the middle of a fire drill project that you literally don't have two minutes to spare. Apple thinks we're these overtly meticulous individuals that stick it on the charger every night and start the day with a fresh charge. Guess what, we don't.

I can see running disposable batteries until they give out entirely - that's certainly what I do. Seems a waste to do otherwise. With my first-generation wireless keyboard and Magic Mouse, the OS starts giving me low battery warnings days before the batteries finally give out. If they do fail during the middle of a fire drill project, I see it as my own choice; Apple's done its job to warn me, multiple times.

I don't treat rechargeables as if they were disposables - maybe my mind is sufficiently nuanced to treat each as a separate case. Hell, I can even manage to treat lithiums differently than nicads.

I don't think Apple expects its users to be "overtly meticulous." Considering the time-between-charges for the keyboard, mouse, and trackpad, they most certainly don't expect people to charge them daily, as if they were iPhones or Watches. They just expect that, if someone gets a notification about battery condition, that they'll remember to charge them at lunchtime, during a bathroom break, or at the end of the day. If not today, then tomorrow, or the day after.

 

[Thunderhawks]

I can see running disposable batteries until they give out entirely - that's certainly what I do. Seems a waste to do otherwise. With my first-generation wireless keyboard and Magic Mouse, the OS starts giving me low battery warnings days before the batteries finally give out. If they do fail during the middle of a fire drill project, I see it as my own choice; Apple's done its job to warn me, multiple times.

I don't treat rechargeables as if they were disposables - maybe my mind is sufficiently nuanced to treat each as a separate case. Hell, I can even manage to treat lithiums differently than nicads.

I don't think Apple expects its users to be "overtly meticulous." Considering the time-between-charges for the keyboard, mouse, and trackpad, they most certainly don't expect people to charge them daily, as if they were iPhones or Watches. They just expect that, if someone gets a notification about battery condition, that they'll remember to charge them at lunchtime, during a bathroom break, or at the end of the day. If not today, then tomorrow, or the day after.

So agree, I think we get fair warning when the batteries are low and yes, most people don't take that as a sign to even THINK about making time to charge. (Human behavior

I use 2 gen 1 trackpads, which used to annoy the hell out of me with regular AA battery uses, which I felt were too short.
After starting to use rechargeable ENELOOPs that problem went away. I always have 4 batteries in the charger, but don't swap at the first warning.

I'd even switch to an Apple keyboard wireless if it came with a numerical pad and was based on AAs.