The best trackpads will allow you to touch and slide through documents and websites with ergonomic ease.
The best trackpads are hard to come by these days, with many creatives opting for the more common mouse as a PC accessory. That said, trackpads are found by many designers to be more comfortable than some of the best computer mice, because there is no need to move your entire arm, and today’s sleek, low-profile designs allow you to rest your wrist on a neutral position at your desk.
The best trackpads support multi-touch gestures, with up to five-finger input and customizable shortcuts to save you time and effort on common tasks. And the great news is that there are a number of quality options when it comes to these ergonomic and convenient mouse alternatives.
Trackpads are also very affordable, and working with one is like using a touchscreen phone, tablet, or laptop, so you’ll be picking it up in no time. If you’re looking for a pointing device that’s kinder to your hands, we’ve picked the best options.
Best touch panels for pc and mac
01. Apple Magic Trackpad 2
The best overall trackpad makes navigating and scrolling easy
- Supports multi-touch gestures
- Features Apple Force Touch
- Not compatible with Windows
The Apple Magic Trackpad 2 It’s the gold standard in trackpads, and one of the few that macOS supports. It features a lower profile than Apple’s first iteration, keeping your hand in a flat, natural position as you tap and slide on its smooth glass surface.
There is support for all the same gestures you can perform on a MacBook, and Force Touch technology allows you to perform different tasks by applying different amounts of pressure. It’s completely wireless too, instantly connecting to your Mac via Bluetooth, and quickly recharging via a Lightning port. The best trackpad for macOS, you will never want to use a mouse again.
02. Jelly Comb Trackpad Mouse
The best trackpad for Windows borrows Apple’s best ideas
- Supports Windows shortcuts
- Multi-touch gestures
- No bluetooth
Jelly Comb may not be a household name, but the company makes a wide range of unusual peripherals, including upright mice, folding keyboards, and, of course, trackpads. The Jelly Comb Trackpad Mouse It is compatible with Windows rather than macOS, and although it is not as sophisticated as the Magic Trackpad (there is no Bluetooth connectivity, for example), its multi-touch capabilities and support for Windows gestures make it a great natural alternative to a mouse. conventional. Jelly Comb has also borrowed some design tips from Apple, giving its trackpad a low-profile design and a smooth, glassy surface that’s a joy to use.
03. Perixx Peripad 504
The best rugged trackpad will keep you playing for years
- Super durable
- Multi-touch support
- Unattractive design
The Perixx Peripad 504 It is available in two sizes, but for easy navigation we recommend the larger option. Its 105 x 55mm touchpad gives you plenty of room to navigate and scroll, with support for multi-touch gestures in Windows. Unlike previous Apple and Jelly Comb devices, it features two physical buttons for left and right click, which are super responsive and pleasantly tactile.
This trackpad prioritizes function over aesthetics, and it’s not the best-looking device that will ever grace your desk, but it’s super durable – designed to withstand years of use in industrial settings, you’ll still be at home in a busy studio.
04. Microsoft Arc Mouse
The best two-in-one mouse and trackpad offers the best of both
- Doubles as a conventional mouse
- Comfortable curved design
- Relatively small touch surface
Despite his name, the Microsoft Arc Mouse it has much more in common with a trackpad than with a conventional rodent. Instead of moving your entire arm, you can scroll your desk by simply tapping, tapping, and sliding your fingers on its smooth surface. If you find it uncomfortable to hold your hand flat, the smooth curve can be more pleasant than a normal trackpad, and you always have the option of re-hovering regularly if you prefer.
It looks great too and is surprisingly affordable for such a great piece of hardware with Microsoft’s solid build quality.
05. Microsoft all-in-one multimedia keyboard
The best all-in-one keyboard and trackpad is a huge space saver
- Encrypted wireless connection
- Takes up minimal space
- Not rechargeable
If you want to test a trackpad but are short on desktop space, the Microsoft all-in-one multimedia keyboard It could be the perfect solution. This Bluetooth board features a built-in trackpad that is quite small, but capable of replacing a mouse for the most common tasks. Like all the best standalone trackpads, it supports multi-touch gestures and connects to your PC (or smart TV) wirelessly via a secure connection so your data can’t be intercepted. The only downside is that it is not possible to recharge the keyboard through a USB connection; instead, two AA batteries are required.
06. Wireless touch keyboard Logitech K400 Plus
The best cross-platform trackpad is a true achiever
- Super affordable
- Windows and Android shortcuts
- The trackpad is quite small.
Another great all-in-one option, the Logitech K400 Plus Wireless Touch Keyboard it offers a slightly smaller trackpad than Microsoft’s motherboard, but is still more affordable. Logitech used to make a great standalone trackpad, and they’ve carried over all of that experience to this built-in version. Its shortcuts are customizable using Logitech Options software, there are left and right touch buttons, and it features an impressive wireless range (up to 10 meters) to keep your studio clutter-free. The K400 Plus offers shortcuts for Windows, Android, and ChromeOS, but it is sadly not compatible with MacOS. For that, the Apple Magic Trackpad is really the best trackpad.
Are touch panels and touch panels the same?
Yes, both are a surface that detects the position of one or more fingers and translates that input into output on your screen. They are usually found on laptops, where they serve in place of a separate mouse, but are also useful for navigating alongside a regular keyboard if you find a mouse uncomfortable or want to use multi-touch gestures. Some trackpads have buttons; The ones that don’t have are sometimes called ‘clickpads’.
Can you draw with a trackpad?
No, they do not offer the same control and precision as a graphics tablet. Trackpads are designed as an alternative to a mouse or other pointing device, and are intended for navigation rather than painting and drawing.
Why aren’t trackpads more popular?
Touchscreen technology has come a long way in recent years and has overtaken trackpads as an alternative way to interact with a computer. With a touch screen, you can scroll, click, drag, zoom, and perform the same tasks as a touch panel, without the need for any additional hardware. That said, navigating on a vertical touchscreen isn’t comfortable for long-term use, so the trusty trackpad still has its place.