First Look: MSI Launches Biggest (and Smartest) Laptop Touchpad Ever
Who expected the humble touchpad to be a Computex 2023 star? At its laptop press event, MSI showcased its commitment to innovate new features in some of its existing product lines. One of the more notable additions is the recently launched Smart Touchpad on its aptly named premium gaming laptop, the Raider GE78 HX Smart Touchpad.
We’ve seen some touch-based LED interfaces embedded in touchpads before, most notably on some rival Asus machines, but the Smart Touchpad is kicking it up to a whole other level. Not only is the full touch surface much larger than most (MSI calls it the largest ever on a laptop), but you'll find an array of digital commands and shortcuts at your fingertips. Read on for details, and check out the photos of the layout as you go.
The wide view of all this: The Smart Touchpad allows swift on-pad access to frequently used functions with a single tap, alongside customizable instant-access functions.
Look no further than our photos here for the types of commands you will find on the digital grid. You have quick buttons for the camera, recording, files, key lighting, and Bluetooth, among others. These are located right next to the touchpad, rather than needing to move your hands up to the function row. Additionally, available macro buttons (the M1 to M5 ones) can be customized with different inputs.
You can toggle all of these buttons off, or the entire touchpad area, with the persistent touch buttons on the right side. If you turn just the grid off, the space will be given back to the touchpad. With the buttons active, you'll see a fairly standard amount of touchpad space, but turning them off makes this touchpad truly titanic, with plenty of room. In this form, it is the largest touchpad we've ever
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