Apple's New USB-C Peripherals
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Apple is finally updating its lineup of Mac peripherals, but it might not be quite the update everyone was hoping for. We picked up the new Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad, and Magic Keyboard to see what changed.
We've always been fans of Apple's peripherals. They have a lot of nice Apple-designed goodies, and the quality has always been top-notch, from the aluminum bodies to the responsive keys on the keyboard.
But they've been overlooked lately, as Apple hasn't released an updated version since 2015. When Apple moved to USB-C, these Lightning-equipped products were essentially the last to make the switch.
USB-C versions were expected, but many were also hoping that Apple would take the opportunity to update the line with new features or a redesign. Alas, not much.
All of the devices have been updated to use USB-C, but little has changed.
Each accessory comes with either a black or white braided USB-C cable
Each comes with a beautiful braided USB-C cable. If you choose the white peripherals, you'll get a white cable, and the black ones will get a black cable.
Most of these peripherals are available in black, but since it costs $20 more, we went with white. It's weird that another color would require such a burden.
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Magic Mouse
First, we unboxed our Magic Mouse. The Magic Mouse is Apple’s multitouch-enabled version of the mouse, with a touch-sensitive top surface.
Unboxing the new Magic Mouse
It’s slightly curved, giving it a shallow surface feel that some people find uncomfortable. You can slide your finger across it to scroll, turn pages in Safari, or browse photos.
The top is clear plastic with a white or black bottom. The bottom is anodized aluminum, and the charging port is on the bottom.
The top surface of the Magic Mouse is touch-sensitive
Most of us here at AppleInsider are pretty skeptical about the placement of the charging port on the Magic Mouse. It charges very quickly and has never been an issue.
Using the updated Magic Mouse for scrolling
Still, it's one of Apple's most criticized products, and it's still surprising that Apple hasn't addressed this issue. The new USB-C version still charges with the Magic Mouse on its back, like an upside-down turtle.
There's no longer an Apple logo on the bottom of Apple's Magic Mouse
The only other change we could spot was the removal of the engraved Apple logo on the bottom.
Magic Trackpad
The Magic Trackpad is undoubtedly the best in its class. There's no other trackpad that we've seen or tested that's as good as Apple's Magic Trackpad.
The new (left) and old (right) Magic Trackpad
It's a huge piece of matte glass, similar in size to the one on the 16-inch MacBook Pro. There's plenty of room to rotate, scroll, pinch, and more.
The new model is identical. There is no difference between the previous generation and the new USB-C version.
The USB-C port is on the back of the Magic Trackpad and is slightly larger
You can find the charging port on the back edge, just like before. It is easily accessible, and you can use it while it is plugged in if you need it.
Magic Keyboard
The Magic Keyboard has the most changes, although they are not particularly noticeable in use. Apple simply tweaked the images on some keys.
Holding the compact Magic Keyboard
The globe key in the lower left corner no longer has the “fn” label. And the Option, Control, and Command keys have had their icons aligned to the outer edges instead of the center.
Of all the updates, we were hoping to see a backlit version of this keyboard. There are plenty of third-party Bluetooth keyboards that are thin and backlit, but Apple has ditched it again this round.
There are slight differences in the icons on the old (top) and new (bottom) Magic Keyboard
The Magic Keyboard comes in a few different flavors depending on your Mac color, features, and preferences.
You can get it with or without a numeric keypad on the right side. It can also come with or without Touch ID.
Touch ID will only work on Apple Silicon Macs, so if you're still using Intel, you'll have to go with the version without it.
Only the larger keyboard with a numeric keypad and Touch ID is available in both black and white. The version without Touch ID and the two compact versions are only available in white.
Should You Buy Apple's New USB-C Peripherals?
These new accessories can be purchased separately, but they also come bundled with Apple's latest Mac models. Including the Mac Pro.
The color version of Apple's accessories is exclusive to the new iMacs.
If you pick up one of the new m4 iMacs, you'll get a special color-matched version. It includes a matching colored USB-C to USB-C cable that can't be purchased separately.
Aside from upgrading just to get the new port, the only real qualm is some compatibility issues. Some users seem to be reporting limited compatibility with previous versions of macOS.
We recommend, at least for now, upgrading only if you have a machine running macOS Sequoia, until some of Apple's bugs are fixed for older operating systems.
The new Magic Mouse starts at $79, the Magic Trackpad starts at $99, and the Magic Keyboard starts at $99.
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