(And the app is completely free.)
In a quirky twist that blends ingenuity with everyday tech, developer Krish Shah has transformed the Force Touch trackpad on Apple’s MacBook Pro and MacBook Air into a functional digital scale. Using a free app called TrackWeight, users can now weigh small objects—like jewelry, coins, or ingredients—right on their laptop’s trackpad.
How Does It Work?
Apple’s Force Touch trackpad, introduced in 2015, uses pressure-sensitive sensors beneath the glass surface to detect varying levels of force. Shah reverse-engineered this system, creating an app that interprets pressure data as weight measurements. In his Twitter demo, he weighs coins and keys with startling accuracy, noting the trackpad’s sensors are "surprisingly precise" for lightweight items (under 100–150 grams).
Real-World Testing
Tech outlet Tom’s Hardware verified the hack, confirming TrackWeight works on both MacBook Air (M1) and MacBook Pro (M3) models. Small objects like SD cards (≈2g), AAA batteries (≈11g), and tea bags (≈2.5g) registered consistently within a 0.5g margin of error. Heavier items risk damaging the trackpad, but Shah’s app caps measurements at safe levels. Read their full breakdown here.
Why This Matters
- Hardware Repurposed: The hack reveals untapped potential in everyday tech.
- Zero-Cost Utility: Home cooks, travelers, or hobbyists can ditch pocket scales.
- Open-Source Access: Shah published the code for transparency and community tweaks.
"It’s a fun experiment, but also a reminder that creativity lives at the intersection of software and hardware," Shah told Tom’s Hardware.
Try It Yourself (Carefully!)
The app is available on GitHub, with instructions for macOS users. Caveats:
- ✅ Use light, non-scratchy objects (e.g., paper clips, pills, herbs).
- ❌ Avoid anything sharp, wet, or over 150g.
- ⚠️ Apple hasn’t endorsed this—use at your own risk!
The Verdict
While not replacing professional scales, TrackWeight is a brilliant example of "tech hacking" for practical convenience. As one Reddit user joked, "Finally, my MacBook is also my kitchen scale. Take that, Apple ecosystem!"
What’s next? Maybe an iPhone app that uses Taptic Touch for weighing… 😉
🔗 Quick Links:
You can turn your Mac trackpad into a weighing scale pic.twitter.com/KxbHrVfag3
— Krish Shah (@KrishRShah) July 21, 2025
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