Ah, the age-old debate: mouse or trackpad? Well, how about both? Many setups choose that more-inclusive path when adding input devices to use along with their chosen keyboard. And it’s typically for good reason. A mouse for many cursor movements and a Magic Trackpad 3 for gestures really does the trick for most users (even if some prefer one or the other, not both).
This post contains affiliate links. Cult of Mac may earn a commission when you use our links to buy items.
In addition to mouse, MacBook Pro setup keeps Magic Trackpad 3 for gestures
- Big multitouch surface
- Force Touch
- USB-C charging
- Black model is more expensive
Redditor 1ogic2 (“Ogic”) showcased the spare and attractive setup in a post entitled, “Updated living room setup for photo editing.” They use a MacBook Pro in clamshell mode to drive a Studio Display. Input devices are a Magic Keyboard mini, the ever-popular Logitech MX Master 3S mouse and a Magic Trackpad 3. In setup posts on social media, both a mouse and a trackpad in a setup almost never fails to bring commenter questions about what they see as a redundancy.
Why use both?
“May I know what is the reason you uses Magic Trackpad and mouse together?” a person asked. “Is one of them not good enough?”
“Trackpad for gestures and mouse for everything else,” Ogic replied.
Another commenter agreed, and offered some more detail about why.
“For me, the mouse is great for scrolling long-form content like documentation and news articles as well as quick, furtive movements of the mouse with little hand movement,” they said. “The trackpad doubles in that regard as well as mouse gestures (like pinch in/out to zoom), or situations where I need precision cursor control.”
So a Magic Trackpad allows for complex actions like swiping between desktops, opening Mission Control and performing various multi-finger taps and movements. A mouse tends to serve better for precise cursor control and basic click actions.
‘The best ever’ and the ‘best input device for macOS’
You can find more detail about Magic Trackpad in Cult of Mac‘s hands-on review of Magic Trackpad 3 — which the reviewer considers the best trackpad anywhere and the best input device for macOS. While the newest version simply replaces the Lightning connector with a USB-C connector for charging — rather than adding new features or a redesign — the peripherals retains its crown.
For some people, it’s just nice to use an input device that is dominant-hand agnostic. Unlike right- or left-handed mice, you can move Magic Trackpad around and use it with either or both hands, especially if you possess at least a bit of ambidexterity.
And if you like the wallpaper showing on the screen, you can find it here. And take note, that clock-looking gadget to the right of Studio Display’s base is actually an old Springfield analogue temperature and humidity gauge.
Shop these items now:
- Big multitouch surface
- Force Touch
- USB-C charging
- Black model is more expensive
Magic Trackpad 3 for gestures and other input devices:
Computer:
Display:
Accessories:
If you would like to see your setup featured on Cult of Mac, send some high-res pictures to [email protected] (iPhone pics usually work fine). Please provide a detailed list of your equipment. Tell us what you like or dislike about your setup, and fill us in on any special touches, challenges and plans for new additions.
David Snow, an expert on Apple hardware and software, writes on a variety of technological and cultural topics for Cult of Mac. They include Apple news, technology buying guides, and features about computer setups and Apple TV shows and movies.
With 30 years of experience covering technology and other subjects, he has written and edited for numerous print and online publications, including CMP Media, TechTV.com, CNET, Wired News, Red Herring magazine, Law.com, The National Law Journal and Law Technology News magazine. Among other roles, he served as executive editor of the Law.com network of websites and editorial director, technology, for ALM Media.
Snow graduated with a B.A. from Syracuse University with majors in magazine journalism and psychology. While there, he worked as a reporter for The Daily Orange newspaper and associate editor of Equal Time magazine.
Founder of the blog At the Waterline, he can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) via @atthewaterline and on Mastodon via @dsnow.
