Apple is set to make using a mouse or a trackpad on iPadOS similar to using a mouse or trackpad on the Mac, according to leaked iOS 14 code obtained by 9to5Mac, with full system-wide mouse cursors support expected to arrive alongside a new Smart Keyboard with a built-in trackpad.
While iPadOS already allows support for external mice, the feature isn’t mainstream and isn’t as baked into the operating system as it is believed to be on iPadOS 14, with mouse support said to become much more than an Accessibility feature.
The report says when using a trackpad or mouse with iPad, the cursor will disappear from the display after a few seconds of not being used, unlike on a Mac where the cursor is always visible. It will reappear after the trackpad or mouse is wiggled.
Additionally, the new Smart Keyboard is said to support gestures, such as a tap with two fingers to right click. While the design of the keyboard is unknown, it has been rumored it may offer backlight keys with a scissor switch design.