X
Tech
Why you can trust ZDNET : ZDNET independently tests and researches products to bring you our best recommendations and advice. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Our process

'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?

ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.

When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.

ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form.

Close

This haptic trackpad for Windows users is the PC accessory I didn't know I needed

For CES 2025, Hyper has announced a premium haptic trackpad that looks like the Windows version of Apple's Magic Trackpad. Only it's much more functional.
Written by Kyle Kucharski, Editor
HyperSpace Trackpad Pro
Hyper Products

Accessory brand Hyper announced a handful of products at CES 2025, but one of the standouts is its new premium trackpad for Windows devices, the HyperSpace Trackpad Pro -- a haptic touchpad with loads of customizable features that could finally convince me to ditch my mouse.

Hyper's Trackpad Pro is designed to be a premium productivity device for Windows laptops -- filling a void for a product that doesn't exist right now (at least not in the way that the Magic Trackpad does for Apple products).

Also: CES 2025: The 13 most impressive products so far

The whole ethos behind this product is that yes, it's premium, and yes, that's a good thing because cheap trackpads suck. I agree, as I test a lot of laptops, and some of the trackpads out there are... not good. 

So what's the deal with the Hyperspace Trackpad Pro? First of all, it's big. It measures 6.2 inches long and 3.5 inches wide, which is almost certainly bigger than the trackpad on your laptop (unless you're using a Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge).

But unlike the trackpad on that laptop, Hyper's device is haptic and angled up in a subtle wedge shape, with a minuscule .5mm bezel. Hyper says the precision haptics make the clicks feel the same no matter where you're pressing. This is one of my biggest pet peeves with dome switch trackpads that require different levels of force to activate whether you're at the very top of the pad or near the bottom.

HyperSpace Trackpad Pro
Hyper Products

Creators are the real audience this device is designed for, though. I'm all about hardware customization, which is one of the reasons why I love Asus ProArt laptops. Their trackpads allow you to create your custom gestures and map them to different functions in apps like Photoshop, Premiere, and Figma, making them much more useful, even alongside a mouse.

Hyper's trackpad allows for several layers of customization. One way is by assigning gestures -- such as tapping or swiping with one, two, or three fingers -- to each of the four corners. This allows for the same gestures to have different functions depending on where you tap, while also opening up the possibility of using two hands for increased efficiency.

Also: Dell just revamped its entire laptop portfolio - and the new names sound oddly familiar

If you don't need this kind of deep customization, you can forgo the zones and assign the easiest tap or swipe functions to zoom, pan, rotate, or scrub video with precision.

If you're wondering about false inputs from your palms, Hyper says the trackpad has intelligent palm detection built-in, which mitigates accidental cursor movements or clicks. This is another issue I have with trackpads -- feeling like you have to watch where your hands are or compromise your working posture. 

HyperSpace Trackpad Pro
Hyper Products

The trackpad features one USB-C port for charging and a single power button on the top end. Hyper says the trackpad's battery lasts up to a month, which is about what I'd expect. Additionally, the sides are magnetic, allowing you to snap on a square wristrest to both sides of the device. 

Also: I switched to a split ergonomic keyboard for a week, and it's spoiled every other peripheral for me

I'm all about deconstructing the traditional laptop setup by improving hardware components individually, and I think we'll be seeing more products with this in mind in the upcoming year. The HyperSpace Trackpad Pro will start at $129, but won't be available until late Q2 2025, which means you'll have to wait a bit to pick one up. 

Until then, I'll be keeping an eye on this trackpad and follow up with a hands-on review as soon as I'm able to get hold of one. 

Editorial standards