Inside Apple's Force Touch Trackpad

In our recent teardown of Apple’s brand new 13” MacBook Pro with Retina Display, one of the upgrades—the Force Touch Trackpad—really caught our eye. This updated trackpad has changed in just about every way, so we sat down with Andrew Goldberg, one of our teardown engineers, to get a little more insight into how it is put together and how it works. Spoiler alert: it’s really cool!

Check out our full 13” Macbook Pro with Retina display teardown here

If you want to take apart your very own Force Touch Trackpad you’re going to need some tools!

[SPNDAT]

I didn't find out until 2 months after I got my computer that it actually doesn't click, my mind was blown tbh

[Qddens]

the force trackpad is amazing to use, compares to noting i have used on any other mac or PC.
The simulated click and sound is so real you can't tell a difference

[savedfaves]

Possibly the best video iFixit has ever done.

[ziich]

I really appreciate this indepth look. Awesome you guys keep it up!

[dave]

just clicked the like button with the force touch trackpad!

[rhoharane]

I like this format. Nice change every now and then to have two people in the video covering a thing.

There's a weird faint buzzing sound throughout the video. Is anybody else hearing this?

[john_is_underpaid]

So where do I get one of those shirts he's wearing?

[JanNoriega]

My track pad on macbook pro retina display with taptic engine, the click is not working how to fix it please help me 😥 i can still use it but i cant click 😥

[progenitor_amborella]

Is it just me, or does anyone else REALLY want the shirt he's wearing? I would just hope there would be text on it, just the image. Would buy.

[warrenmcclure]

Nice video, interesting how the touchpad works. So my question is do you guys think this new force touch touchpad will wear down quicker than the older touchpads? Thats one thing that has worried me about this new touchpad

[djokawari]

I love the Force Touch on my 15".

[facebookfreak]

@ifixit: Where did you get this awesome iPhone tShirt?

[swiperboysb]

so is the teardown macbook destroyed or can yall still use it?

[johnaistrup]

Stupid question but I think its worth asking nonetheless!  Is it possible to retrofit the new force trackpad to an older generation macbook?  Or does it require processing direct from the newer motherboards?

[FutureAllenNL]

Bad to take out the battery for recyclers? Doesn't apple already have a recycle plan where you would just give your device back so they do it for you?
As for replacing batteries the question would be to how many people and how often would this happen? My macbook pro is 4 years old and so far the battery runs at an adequate level.

[mhlee]

where can I get that iPhone teardown T-shirt?

[getfull]

anyone know where i can get a replacement force touch trackpad?

[adnaansoorma]

Does the trackpad move when the Taptic engine fires? Like can you feel the glass surface slide back and forth rather than just a buzz underneath?

[ninadpchaudhari]

I am pretty sure its a capacitor in those hinges of spring . The resistance would require the two ends to be connected . But the prongs of the wire (as shown in video) has a typical capacitor like arrangement ... Something like a "Lateral Capacitor" ? I may be wrong, but it seems similar ..

[mrteaman]

Omg I would marry Andrew, he is gorgeous!