Magic Mouse 2 or Magic Trackpad 2: Differences of Use on Mac and iPad

The Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad are the two most popular accessories for Mac and lately also iPad for their compatibility. One is a mouse and the other a trackpad, which already gives the idea of being two totally different accessories, although in the end they both pursue the same objective. In this article we compare the user experience of one versus another, as well as analyze the differences they offer.

What are these accessories for?

As we said before, the objective of both devices is the same: to be able to handle it through the macOS or iPadOS interface. In the latter case, we will always have options to move with a stylus or with our own fingers, but on a Mac they are totally essential accessories for use. You can always choose another mouse or another tackpad or even not need them if it is a MacBook that has it integrated, but first it will be necessary for computers such as iMac, since the sole operation with the keyboard is not feasible.

Magic Mouse 2 vs Magic Trackpad 2

When you buy an iMac you have both options

When buying an iMac, at least in Apple‘s physical and online stores, it comes standard with the Magic Mouse 2 as a default accessory. However, it is possible to choose the Magic Trackpad instead of this, although this will carry an extra cost of 64 euros. If you want to keep both accessories in the pack, there is an extra 149 euros that must be paid during the purchase process.

Settings available on Mac

Both devices have a general use to navigate macOS, being able to click, scroll through a page or perform gestures that perform certain actions. However, each of them has its own customizable settings so that some of these functions and others can be adjusted to the user’s taste and comfort. It should be noted that we can find an animation for each of the settings of both accessories to see how the gestures are performed.

For Magic Mouse 2

Going into System Preferences> Mouse you can find the following settings for the official Apple mouse, divided into two tabs:

Ajustes Magic Mouse

  • Point and click
    • Direction of travel (natural or opposite)
    • Secondary click (with the right or left side)
    • Cursor speed
  • More gestures
    • Page turn (scroll left or right with one finger, with two or both)
    • Switch between apps in full screen (swipe left or right with two fingers)
    • Control mission (possibility to open this panel by making a gesture with two fingers)

For Magic Trackpad 2

This has its settings within System Preferences> Trackpad. It has them divided into three tabs:

Ajustes Magic Trackpad

  • Point and click
    • Query and data detectors (click with three fingers or by pressing hard with one)
    • Secondary click (click with two fingers or in the lower right or left corner of the trackpad)
    • Tap to click
    • Click (soft, medium or firm)
    • Cursor speed
    • Silent click
    • Strong click and tactile feedback
  • Pan and Zoom
    • Direction of travel (natural or opposite)
    • Zoom in or out (by spreading two fingers together)
    • Rotate (with two fingers)
  • More gestures
    • Page turn (go left or right with two fingers, with three or both enabled)
    • Switch between apps in full screen (go left or right with three fingers, four fingers, or both enabled)
    • Exposé app (scroll down with three or four fingers)
    • Launchpad (open by bringing three fingers together)
    • Show desktop (separate thumb and three fingers)

Two completely different uses

As you may have seen by looking at the settings, one of the great advantages of the Magic Trackpad 2 is allowing a lot of custom gestures. Not only are they more than the Magic Mouse 2, but it also outperforms the trackpads that come standard on MacBooks. This says a lot about the approach that this accessory has and is that intensive Mac users who need to work with multiple applications, will greatly benefit from the shortcuts it allows to be more productive. Perhaps at first it can be overwhelming, however it ends up being something that comes naturally when the learning curve is overcome.

The Magic Mouse 2 has little customization , although what it has works quite well. In any case, it must be taken into account that it is a smaller accessory and that it has less space to perform depending on which gestures. Although there are not so many shortcuts, it is possible that its ergonomics are better than that of the trackpad and with many hours of use you will end up experiencing a better feeling than with the other.

Magic Mouse 2

Also when it comes to the work table there are differences between the two. Both have a balanced size that neither makes them small nor large, although in the end this perception will also depend on the size of the hand of each user and their space enabled to work with the Mac. A priori the Magic Mouse 2 is more suitable in small spaces, but keep in mind that for use on some surfaces a mat may be required. The Magic Trackpad 2 for its part does not need anything to use, since it works the same way on any surface.

Use experience on iPad

There are those who are still not used to using a cursor on the iPad and perhaps an accessory of this type not only means a significant expense, but also useless. However, those who are more used to using a computer may be compatible with any of these accessories if they have a version that is equal to or greater than iPadOS 13.4. While it is true that in essence, both will obtain similar functions, the truth is that perhaps the Magic Trackpad 2 takes the point in this area for allowing you to squeeze even more gestures during navigation with the device. At the end of the day, it is like having an extension of the device’s screen in a way, being able to quickly access functions such as removing the dock or opening multitasking with your fingers. With the Magic Mouse 2 you can also, but in a way the other accessory is more natural and close due to its similarity to the way you handle an Apple tablet.

Magic Trackpad 2

The way to load them is also differential

It may seem like a minor aspect, but if we consider that the Mac is usually a work team and accessories can run out of battery at the worst time, the next point becomes very relevant. The Magic Trackpad has its Lightning charging port on the front (or rear depending on how you look at it) and can be perfectly used while charging. However, the Magic Mouse 2 cannot be used while charging because its connector is located at the bottom, preventing it from being usable in any way during the battery recharging process. It is not that it is not a sufficient reason for not buying it, but it must be taken into account. In fact, this point has received many criticisms in recent years.

Carga Magic Mouse 2 y Magic Trackpad 2

Very noticeable price differences

Another of the big differences between both accessories is their price. Although you can choose when buying an iMac as we saw above, it is also possible to choose them separately in an Apple Store or in stores like Amazon where, by the way, from time to time a discount sneaks in.

The Magic Mouse 2 is available for 99 euros , a price that is the same for both its space gray and silver versions. Identical colors are found for the Magic Trackpad 2, although in this case the price rises to 149 euros , marking a difference of 50 euros with the other accessory that will probably end up being a decisive factor in the purchase as well.