Right this moment, we begin the information with one thing fairly curious: Do you know that you should utilize your MacBook trackpad as a scale? Effectively, that’s fairly spectacular, don’t you assume so? It’s all doable because of Krish Shah, a Canadian developer and blogger, who launched an experimental macOS software known as TrackWeight. The app makes use of the strain sensitivity constructed into the MacBook’s trackpad to estimate weight and is now obtainable as open-source software program below the MIT License on GitHub.
TrackWeight works by decoding strain information captured by the Power Contact sensors. Nevertheless, it requires a steady finger contact throughout measurement to take care of the capacitive sensing crucial for operation. Shah notes that whereas this design would possibly barely impression measurement accuracy, the outcomes have confirmed to be “fairly correct” in sensible use.
The app’s performance is supported by a mix of growth instruments, together with SwiftUI for the person interface and Mix for dealing with information move. Shah additionally credit current work by developer Takuto Nakamura (@Kyome22) and the Open Multi-Contact Help library, which allows entry to detailed trackpad contact metrics like place, strain, angle, and density.
I examined the accuracy by placing my MacBook on high of a weighing scale and recording a video whereas including strain, then evaluating frames.
You’ll be able to see it’s fairly correct! pic.twitter.com/etP8qlrGCh
— Krish Shah (@KrishRShah) July 21, 2025
The app has limitations typical of experimental instruments. It’s most correct with objects weighing a couple of tens of grams, and Shah has efficiently examined it with objects as heavy as 3.5 kilograms. Nevertheless, utilizing the app to weigh baggage or an individual is strongly discouraged as a result of threat of damaging the laptop computer.
TrackWeight is solely appropriate with MacBook fashions that embrace Power Contact trackpads—particularly, MacBook Professional (2015 or newer) and MacBook (2016 or newer) fashions. Customers should guarantee the article being weighed suits inside the bodily dimensions of the trackpad. Moreover, metallic objects might trigger errors in studying attributable to false capacitive detection; Shah recommends putting such objects on a paper towel to keep away from misreadings.
Directions for constructing and operating the app can be found on the GitHub web page, however Shah emphasizes that TrackWeight is meant solely for instructional and experimental use. It isn’t really useful for industrial purposes or any context requiring exact or licensed measurements.
In essence, TrackWeight is a intelligent, low-stakes hack that demonstrates the inventive potential of Apple’s {hardware} — pushing the boundaries of what a laptop computer’s trackpad can do, whereas reminding customers to train warning when repurposing units in unintended methods.
Filed in . Learn extra about Apple, Macbook Air and Macbook Pro.
Trending Merchandise
