Apple’s use of the name Magic Keyboard for its premium iPad case is meant to drive home that it’s a “real” keyboard, complete with the scissor switches you’ll find in the latest M1 MacBook Pro and MacBook Air laptops. It’s still possible to love the Smart Keyboard Folio, particularly as the design keeps the case thin and keeps crumbs and other particles from slipping in between the keys. That (and the price) might make it more appealing if you’re often out and about with your iPad Pro, but we’d still recommend spending a little more on the Magic Keyboard.
Thanks to a cantilevered hinge on the Magic Keyboard, you can tilt the iPad up to 130 degrees until you find the perfect viewing angle, much as you might with a MacBook.
The Magic Keyboard is a bit more comfortable than the others to use on a lap, but they’re all made primarily for desk use. Essentially, you just move the iPad into one of two grooves above the keyboard, where it’s tightly held in place by magnets.
The Smart Keyboard only has a single viewing angle and is quite uncomfortable to use on anything but a flat surface. The Magic Keyboard has a USB-C pass-through port for charging built right into the hinge. Furthermore, the 2021 12.9-inch iPad Pro is slightly thicker than the previous version, though in our testing the old Magic Keyboard case works with the new model. With the Magic Keyboard attached, the iPad Pro is closer in weight to a laptop than a tablet. That’s an attractive difference, but keep in mind that you’re really missing out on a lot of features by sticking with Apple’s older design.
The Best iPad Pro Keyboard Cases
If you type for any length of time on an iPad Pro, or hope to ditch a second computer entirely, a great keyboard case can turn your tablet into a true laptop replacement. In addition to a great typing experience, the Zagg Pro Keys offers some benefits that other keyboard cases don’t. Dedicated iPadOS function keys provide quick access to commonly used features, and an Apple Pencil holder lets you easily carry the stylus around. The 4.4-by-2.3-inch glass trackpad set beneath the keyboard is as smooth as anything else we’ve tested and provides full support for Apple’s multitouch gestures.
The Best iPad Keyboard Cases
In addition to providing a great typing experience, the Pro Keys offers some benefits other keyboard cases don’t. Dedicated iPadOS function keys provide quick access to commonly used features, and an Apple Pencil holder lets you easily carry the stylus around.
It automatically connects with your iPad when it’s properly aligned in the typing position and disconnects when it isn’t, so you never need to worry about turning the keyboard on or off.
This clever power management helps the replaceable coin-cell battery last for up to four years, which is very likely the amount of time you’ll use the iPad itself.
The best iPad keyboards for 2022
Typing on the touchscreen is surprisingly fluid and natural, but there’s nothing like a physical keyboard for getting work done quickly and efficiently. We know from experience, having typed more than 7,000 words on the iPad Pro 2020 and Apple’s Magic Keyboard during our review. Our recommendations take into account your budget and which iPad model you may own, to help smooth the transition between relaxing with Netflix to furiously working on a Word document when you’re seated at your desk. Stick around to the end of the article for information on alternative keyboards that aren’t part of a case, or directly related to the iPad.
Read our in-depth review Pros Tactile, precise typing experience Why you should buy this: It provides a superb typing experience, a trackpad with sturdy construction, and a passthrough USB-C port. Each key has 1mm of travel, and gives precise feedback with each press, making it easy to type at full speed without much practice. The entire keyboard is backlit for use in low light and the base doesn’t flex, so it’s suitable for use on both a desk and your lap. Combined with iPadOS enhancements, the trackpad makes using the iPad Pro feel like a laptop. The angle of the iPad Pro’s screen can be adjusted easily, the floating design looks fantastic, and the strong magnets ensure the tablet won’t accidentally slip off. If you’re looking for a Magic Keyboard for your 2020 iPad Pro, the same applies if you buy the brand new version, it’ll work but the fit may not be absolutely perfect. The keys are backlit with three levels of brightness, and everything integrates with iPadOS using the Brydge Connect app.
The internal battery of the Brydge Pro+ will last for three months before it needs recharging, and the tablet’s screen can be angled up to 180-degrees, meaning it can be laid flat. The aluminum keyboard comes in a space grey color, and the package includes a metal cover that snaps on the back of your tablet.
Why you should buy this: Versatile and highly portable, the Apple Smart Keyboard doesn’t add much bulk to your tablet and is reasonably priced considering the quality.
It’s very well made, has a soft lining so it won’t scratch the iPad when closed, and feels like it will last for many years.
It does not feel like a laptop in the same way as the Magic Keyboard and does require a little getting used to, but once you’ve adjusted it’s easy to type quickly. Why you should buy this: It provides a fast, precise, and pleasurable typing experience that rivals one on the desktop, and it’s still compact enough to carry around.
The iPad is an excellent laptop alternative, and is very effective as a typing and work tool, but what if you want a keyboard to rival the one you use on the desktop without sacrificing portability? Enter the Keychron K3, a low-profile mechanical keyboard with Bluetooth that’s designed to work with iOS and MacOS.
Available with either mechanical or optical switches, the typing experience on the Keychron K3 is excellent: It’s responsive, tactile, and precise. At 396 grams and 22mm thick the 75% layout size Keychron K3 is surprisingly compact and light, which makes it easy to carry around in a bag with your iPad. Because it’s designed to work with Apple software, all the required keys (like Command) are pre-fitted, and all the keyboard shortcuts operate without a problem. It only requires you to set up the Bluetooth connection and it works, no need for any additional software or apps.
The typing experience is great, and the chance to personalize it with different switches makes it desirable to someone who works a lot on their tablet. Best of all, the price is very reasonable at $84 with the RGB backlighting, which you’ll definitely want as it adds character to the otherwise simple design. Why you should buy this: The Logitech Combo Touch has a keyboard and a trackpad, sturdy construction, and is tough enough to protect your expensive tablet too. The Logitech Combo Touch is a solid pick if you want a functional, protective iPad keyboard case. It doesn’t have the sleek design of Apple’s Magic Keyboard, but the Combo Touch does make up for it with other features. Keys have reasonable travel and a spacious layout making maximum use of the space available. This and the Bluetooth connection is powered by a built-in battery, which should last for about a year on a single charge, and is topped up using a Micro USB cable. It comes in space grey or silver colors to match your iPad Mini and can be carried with the tablet attached, or taken off when it’s not needed.
The iPad’s Bluetooth connection will happily link up to any Apple wireless keyboard and the Apple Magic Trackpad too, or many other non-Apple keyboards and mice provided they’re running iPadOS 13.4 or later, giving you an alternative to one of the combined options.
While it doesn’t have any provision to hold the iPad and isn’t especially portable, it’s still versatile as it can be used with other Bluetooth-enabled devices too, whether that’s a desktop setup or another tablet. Some keyboards can be connected directly through the case or through a wired setup, so you need to make sure you’re picking the model that’s most convenient for you.
Review: Apple’s Smart Keyboard Folio is the best option for the iPad Pro, but has too many compromises
AppleInsider is supported by its audience and may earn commission as an Amazon Associate and affiliate partner on qualifying purchases. What has always made Apple’s iPad-centric keyboard somewhat unique was the lack of any moving parts. The keyboard itself is made of fabric, which is stiffened and reinforced to form the actual key caps.
Apple trimmed up the extra space on the sides, retaining the full-keyboard size.
Because of the space constraints, the 11-inch isn’t a full-sized keyboard so muscle memory is a bit harder to transfer. I’ve spent a lot of time typing on the Smart Keyboard over the past couple years and I enjoy them a great deal.
They only have subtle audio feedback and don’t have a super satisfying click to them, but they are quick and responsive. Apple didn’t just shrink down their existing keyboard for the smaller 12.9-inch iPad Pro, they instead took this as an opportunity to try to improve upon it.
It was also difficult to pick up the iPad while open in typing mode from the edge of your keyboard, again due to that hinge. We are disappointed Apple is forcing the back protection upon us for this product which adds unnecessary weight and thickness to the combined unit for not enough in return.
To compound things, those keys facing backward actually makes the iPad slide a bit in this situation when sitting on different surfaces. Many times we pick up our open iPad, set it on our Mac, and walk around the house or office.
Since we’ve started using the new model, it has been exceedingly frustrating to use and we wish Apple didn’t remove the capability. They aren’t as satisfying as some dedicated keyboards, but once you adjust, you can touch type as quickly and as accurately as on your Mac.
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