HyperSpace Trackpad Pro hands-on: Windows’ answer to Apple’s magic trackpad

It was Apple The first to popularize the touchpad (or trackpad, as Apple calls it) and, more importantly, to make it good. Over the years, the company has enhanced the experience with a host of features, such as multi-finger gestures or haptic feedback. Windows alternatives have struggled to keep up.

While the touchpads found in laptops have improved on Windows laptops, there are few third-party options to compete with the rule of thumb. Apple Magic Trackpad 2A The ultimate Mac extensionuntil now. I got some early hands-on time with HyperSpace Trackpad Proa Windows touchpad that – surprisingly – outperforms Apple’s hardware.

Meet your match

The main goal of HyperSpace Trackpad Pro is to provide a high-quality Windows alternative to the Magic Trackpad. This is easy to check. It has a beautiful design and is housed in a CNC metal body that looks great. It’s similar to the Space Gray Magic trackpad, featuring dark silver sides and a black glass surface of the trackpad. It charges via USB-C next to the handy power button on the back and can connect via cable or Bluetooth. It’s about the same size as the Magic Trackpad.

Performance is what really matters. It has a report rate of 240 Hz (aka Polling rate), which gives you smooth cursor movement, matching the Magic Trackpad rate. This may not seem that impressive compared to High quality 1000Hz gaming mousebut for the touchpad, it feels very smooth. I’m happy to report that when it comes to the basics of swiping, clicking, and navigating, the HyperSpace Trackpad Pro feels every bit as precise and smooth as Apple’s hardware. It works right out of the box and raises the bar for what you can do on Windows.

Like the Magic Trackpad, the HyperSpace is entirely touch-based, meaning that when you tap down, there’s no physical button to press. Instead, you get Haptic Echo, which accurately mimics the feeling of a tap. One benefit of this is that every part of the surface is clicky, unlike mechanical touchpads with domed keys. You also get the ability to customize every aspect of the surface and the click itself, with Hyper ambitiously trying to take the Trackpad Pro beyond the competition with its Hydra Connect software.

Steep learning curve

Photo: Luke Larsen

My first impression of HyperSpace was not good. To say there was a steep learning curve, which the folks at Hyper warned me about, is an understatement. After plugging it in and trying to click on an icon on the desktop, I assumed I had a faulty unit. Trying to click kept pulling the right-click menu up, and the click itself seemed inconsistent.