Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Has Apple fixed the trackpad click feel yet?

EugW

EugW

macrumors G5
Original poster
Jun 18, 2017
14,900
12,876
There are three deficiencies with 2017 Core m3 12” MacBook. It needs a faster CPU - M1, it needs two USB-C ports, and it needs a better trackpad feel.

I have my 12” MacBook on the firmest trackpad setting and it often still feels quite weak. Thinking it might just be my unit, I went to the Apple Store and compared the other MacBooks and they felt the same, but the MacBook Pros’ trackpads felt considerably better. The pre-M1 Retina Airs also had the same problem.

What about the M1 Airs?
 
EugW

EugW

macrumors G5
Original poster
Jun 18, 2017
14,900
12,876
Andrey_K said:
Its ok. Came from the same 2017 MacBook.
Click to expand...
Damn. :(

I suspect this is because of their unending goal of making these thinner. It’s sad because the trackpad in my my 13 year old Macs feel so much better. The recent Retina Pros are pretty decent but the non-Pros are at best just tolerable.
 
NT1440

NT1440

macrumors Pentium
May 18, 2008
15,092
22,158
EugW said:
There are three deficiencies with 2017 Core m3 12” MacBook. It needs a faster CPU - M1, it needs two USB-C ports, and it needs a better trackpad feel.

I have my 12” MacBook on the firmest trackpad setting and it often still feels quite weak. Thinking it might just be my unit, I went to the Apple Store and compared the other MacBooks and they felt the same, but the MacBook Pros’ trackpads felt considerably better. The pre-M1 Retina Airs also had the same problem.

What about the M1 Airs?
Click to expand...
Aren’t they all the same slab of glass with a haptic engine?
 
A

Andrey_K

macrumors newbie
Dec 9, 2020
7
1
EugW said:
Damn. :(

I suspect this is because of their unending goal of making these thinner. It’s sad because the trackpad in my my 13 year old Macs feel so much better. The recent Retina Pros are pretty decent but the non-Pros are at best just tolerable.
Click to expand...
No, I mean I'm perfectly satisfied with it.
Actually I like it way more then mechanical trackpads: either 12-15 MBP or previous generation standalone.
It's more powerful than 12 inch one.
 
C

Clausewitz

macrumors regular
Apr 30, 2015
124
26
I haven't had any experience with MacBooks between early-2015 to late-2020. However, from what I have noticed the trackpad on my e-2015 rMBP is much smoother while the trackpad on my M1 is quite rough. I can almost hear the friction of my finger moving across the trackpad.
 
D

darngooddesign

macrumors P6
Jul 4, 2007
18,366
10,122
Atlanta, GA
My M1 MBA's trackpad has less travel and is more firmly dampened than the one on my 2014 MBP, I noticed the difference right away, but I almost always tap-to-click so it's a non-issue for me.
 
NT1440

NT1440

macrumors Pentium
May 18, 2008
15,092
22,158
jerryk said:
Exactly. All recent MacBooks have a Force Trackpad that does not move when you push down. It just activates motors to give the illusion of movement. You can adjust a setting to change how firm or soft the trackpad click is. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204352
Click to expand...
It just struck me that my 2015 MBP is the haptic trackpad as well. There hasn’t been a mechanical trackpad in quite some time now...
 
NT1440

NT1440

macrumors Pentium
May 18, 2008
15,092
22,158
Apple_Robert said:
There is just a little less travel with the M1 trackpad compared to older models but, it doesn't bother me at all. It works well and I really don't miss the old trackpad.
Click to expand...
You’re misunderstanding, there is no travel at all. The trackpad hasn’t physically moved in at least 5 years.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jerryk
NT1440

NT1440

macrumors Pentium
May 18, 2008
15,092
22,158
Apple_Robert said:
It has been almost that long since I owned a Mac laptop before the M1. lol Sorry for the confused post.
Click to expand...
I thought the change was made with the new 2016 chassis, then I went to click on my powered off 2015 and realize it had the haptic trackpad.

I think that’s just a testament to how astounding the haptics are on these things. You really do forget that there is NO hinge at all, just a slab of glass that doesn’t move.
 
  • Like
Reactions: OSB and Apple_Robert
Apple_Robert

Apple_Robert

Contributor
Sep 21, 2012
35,665
52,469
In a van down by the river
NT1440 said:
I thought the change was made with the new 2016 chassis, then I went to click on my powered off 2015 and realize it had the haptic trackpad.

I think that’s just a testament to how astounding the haptics are on these things. You really do forget that there is NO hinge at all, just a slab of glass that doesn’t move.
Click to expand...
It is pretty amazing. I agree. Good to know it won't wear out.
 
J

jerryk

macrumors 604
Nov 3, 2011
7,421
4,208
SF Bay Area
NT1440 said:
It just struck me that my 2015 MBP is the haptic trackpad as well. There hasn’t been a mechanical trackpad in quite some time now...
Click to expand...

And it works better because it is not mechanical. No more dead or hard to press spots in the corners and the same force required across the entire trackpad surface.
 
  • Like
Reactions: NT1440
EugW

EugW

macrumors G5
Original poster
Jun 18, 2017
14,900
12,876
jerryk said:
And it works better because it is not mechanical. No more dead or hard to press spots in the corners and the same force required across the entire trackpad surface.
Click to expand...
No dead spots, but the feedback is quite weak on the 12" MacBook, at least when I am interacting with it quickly. That's my issue with it. And I confirmed it is not just my unit. The other units in the Apple Store behaved the same, whereas it was stronger on the 13" MacBook Pro.

I think part of the reason may be that if I tap really quickly I don't get the full effect of the feedback so it almost feels like I'm tapping on a non-responsive table. However, the MBP one is stronger so that problem may be less noticeable.
 
Last edited:
J

jerryk

macrumors 604
Nov 3, 2011
7,421
4,208
SF Bay Area
EugW said:
No dead spots, but the feedback is quite weak on the 12" MacBook. That's my issue with it. And I confirmed it is not just my unit. The other units in the Apple Store behaved the same, whereas it was stronger on the 13" MacBook Pro.
Click to expand...
My M1 Macbook Air trackpad works fine. However, it is a personal taste issue. I have my Click set to medium.

I never used a 12" so cannot compare.
 
M

Maconplasma

Cancelled
Sep 15, 2020
2,489
2,215
EugW said:
There are three deficiencies with 2017 Core m3 12” MacBook. It needs a faster CPU - M1, it needs two USB-C ports, and it needs a better trackpad feel.
Click to expand...
Aside from the trackpad which is a subjective thing the rest of what you want will never happen. Apple has happily laid the 12" MacBook to rest. Makes sense with the success of the M1 AIR.
 
EugW

EugW

macrumors G5
Original poster
Jun 18, 2017
14,900
12,876
jerryk said:
My M1 Macbook Air trackpad works fine. However, it is a personal taste issue. I have my Click set to medium.

I never used a 12" so cannot compare.
Click to expand...
I’d go check it out myself but we’ve been under retail lockdown for quite some time now in Toronto.

I had to buy my Apple Watches for Xmas sight unseen.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom