Apple’s New “Magic” Peripheral Line Packs High Tech, High Prices

There’s magic in the air… or err… Apple, Inc. (AAPL) products.

Today Apple shuffled out a new lineup of thinner, lighter I/O peripherals:

• Magic Keyboard — $99 USD
• Magic Mouse 2 — $79 USD
• Magic Trackpad 2 — $129 USD

This refresh has actually been a long time coming for Apple.  The original Magic Trackpad debuted back in 2010; the original Magic Mouse landed a year prior in 2009.  While Apple has subtly tweaked those design over the past half decade both in terms of manufacturing and firmware, this is the first major revamp to either product — a revamp some would argue is long overdue.

While the trifecta isn’t exactly light on the wallet at a combined cost of just over three hundred dollars, they do pack some cool technology.  First and foremost there’s new Li-Ion rechargable batteries, which reportedly last for about a month before needing an electrical fill up.

Then there’s a host of features borrowed from Apple’s recent product stable.

The new Magic Trackpad adds the pressure sensitive Force Touch technology to the mix.  Previously this tech appeared in the new MacBook, in the Apple Watch, MacBook Pros, and most recently in the iPhone 6S/6S+.  Now it’s available for Mac Pros and iMac desktops.

The keyboard also cribs some innovations from Apple’s laptop line, namely the scissor key mechanism found in the new MacBook.  It’s unclear whether this is exactly the same patented design, but the idea seems the same — a crisp mechanical response, but with a slimmer profile.  The Magic Mouse has a redesign base, that helps it track well, even in its own slimmed down form.

In addition to the new I/O devices, Apple also refreshed its iMac line, which I’ll summarize shortly.