Apple has finally launched its new updated versions of the Apple Wireless Keyboard, Magic Trackpad and the Magic Mouse. The main change between all 3 devices are that they are shifting from AA batteries to built in rechargeable batteries which can be charged using the lightning cable. Battery life is said to be unto 1 month under normal use per charge and they can also be quickly charged for upto 9 hours of usage from just 2 minutes of being plugged in. All devices use Bluetooth 4.0 for connectivity.
The new Apple Wireless Magic Keyboard now has a new ‘wedge’ design which is shared by the Magic Trackpad. The slope is highest at the top and lowest at the bottom. The keyboard and trackpad can be placed next to each other and the slopes do match to make a seamless integration. The new keyboard is getting the new scissor mechanism for better stability however the keys do have a slightly better travel compared to the butterfly mechanism on the MacBook. The keys are now a little more square in terms of design compared to the previous generation. However, the keyboard still does not have backlit keys.
The new Apple Magic Trackpad is now called the Magic Trackpad 2 and the biggest new feature is the inclusion of Force Touch which was introduced first on the new MacBook and Macbook Pro lineup this year. What this means is you can now click anywhere on the trackpad for a click and its pressure sensitive giving you more functionality. In terms of design, the new Magic Trackpad 2 has an edge to edge glass design and is 30% larger than the previous version and has a flat base made of metal. It shares the same design as the new Magic Keyboard and looks really well suited for the Mac lineup.
Apple also updated the Magic Mouse which is now called the Magic Mouse 2 and is now more lighter. It shares the same continuous shell design of the previous generation but comes with a rechargeable battery and an improved foot design. Other than that, it remains the same with the ability to perform gestures on it as well using the top shell.
All of the new accessories ship with a lightning to USB cable. The new designs look much better and functional. The Magic Keyboard costs $99.00 and the Magic Mouse 2 costs $79.00 while the price of the Magic Trackpad 2 is now more than double the price of the previous generation at $129.00!
The new Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse 2 will ship as standard with the newly announced 4K 21.5″ inch iMac and refreshed 27″ inch iMac.
