Inspired by MacBooks, Samsung's Galaxy Book 6 laptops get haptic trackpads

With the launch of the brand-new Galaxy Book 6 series, Samsung has finally made some long-awaited design changes. All Book 6 models now feature a centered trackpad and a tenkeyless keyboard layout. Furthermore, the latest Samsung laptops are the first to feature trackpads with haptic motors instead of mechanical switches.

It's a page ripped straight out of Apple's playbook. The latter company was the first to develop and popularize the haptic trackpad for its MacBooks. But why replace the reliable, tried-and-tested mechanical click in the first place? Here's why it matters.

Haptic laptop trackpads offer several benefits. A critical one is that they can simulate clicks more consistently across large trackpads. Classic switches can feel mushier or less responsive around the trackpad's edges and its corners.

With trackpads getting larger, Apple addressed this issue years ago by fixing the glass trackpad in place and replacing mechanical switches with quality vibration motors. These haptic motors can simulate clicks extremely well, helping large trackpads feel natural and consistently responsive.

Furthermore, while the behavior of mechanical switches cannot be changed, haptic motors allow more flexibility and custom settings.

At least, that's the theory. As yet, it's unclear whether Samsung's new Book 6 laptops offer different haptic feedback strength settings. It's too early to tell if Samsung's Galaxy Book 6 haptic trackpads are just as customizable as Apple's.

Nevertheless, from the little time we spent with the Book 6 laptops at CES 2026, the new haptic trackpad feels solid, figuratively speaking.

For reference, Apple's MacBook trackpads offer three haptic click strength levels and a “Quiet Click” option. Furthermore, Apple's trackpads have two force levels. They allow clicking once and then pressing firmly to access extra options, including variable speed media controls.

We will have to wait and see if Samsung went to similar lengths to maximize the potential of the haptic feedback system.

Either way, this brand-new technology (for Samsung) has been implemented exclusively on the Galaxy Book 6 Pro and Galaxy Book 6 Ultra models. The regular Book 6, which is cheaper, still features a smaller trackpad with classic mechanical switches.