It’s a well-made, beautiful keyboard case that’s nice to type on and makes lots of work on the iPad much more convenient — or at least familiar. So yes, finally, the Magic Keyboard lets you use your iPad Pro like a traditional clamshell laptop.
The Magic Keyboard has comfortable, backlit keys and a trackpad that supports all of the gestures in iPadOS. In fact, I think Apple may have explicitly decided to give up on the cult of thinness on this product in order to improve the keyboard’s feel.
They adjust automatically based on the ambient lighting conditions, and they were exactly the right brightness most of the time. To fix that, you have to go to the iPad’s Settings app, then dig into General, then Hardware Keyboard, and only then will you be able to adjust the brightness using a slider.
Music controls, volume, screen and keyboard brightness, home, multitasking, search: all things for which it would be convenient to have dedicated buttons. After giving in and providing a clamshell design and a trackpad, leaving both the Esc key and a function row out seems obstinate.
It is fairly small, of course, and if you’re used to the capacious trackpads on MacBooks, it will probably feel absolutely tiny. On the 12.9-inch unit I am reviewing, it’s almost exactly the same size as the trackpad on my Surface Pro — so it felt familiar to me, at least. It also expands out to become the size of UI elements like buttons or icons, sort of snapping to them when you get close. Any app that doesn’t use Apple’s standard APIs for creating buttons or text views feels off-kilter with the trackpad.
When attached to the Magic Keyboard, the iPad Pro floats above the keys, bringing the screen closer to your face and your fingers. That balance probably comes partly from the Magic Keyboard’s most unique design element: the floating screen. It also has the added benefit of moving the screen that much closer to your face when you’re working and also to your fingers when you want to reach up to use the touchscreen.
The Magic Keyboard can only tilt back 130 degrees, which is fine on a table but cramped on your lap.
That means if you plan to use an external display or USB hub with the iPad, you’re still stuck with dangling adapters off the side of the tablet. Of course, neither the MacBook Pro nor MacBook Air can shrink to half their thicknesses or weights when I just want to sit back on the couch and watch YouTube, but the iPad Pro can just ditch the Magic Keyboard and be an iPad. The USB-C port on the case allows for passthrough charging of the iPad, but it doesn’t transfer video or data. There are 5,000 words I could write comparing their software ecosystem differences, but let’s just talk hardware here.
The Surface also lets you flip the keyboard underneath so you can prop the tablet up to watch movies.
The Magic Keyboard turns the iPad into a great laptop, though one that’s a little heavier and thicker than you might expect.
And though I’m not a heavy stylus user, propping the iPad up at a shallow angle for drawing is yet another thing that a MacBook can’t do. Hell — now that there’s trackpad support, you could plug it into an external monitor and use it as a literal desktop machine, like a Mac mini but running iPadOS.
It is an incredibly good, albeit expensive and heavy, way to use your iPad Pro like a laptop. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links.
Magic Keyboard for iPad review
The viewing angle is decent for most purposes although artists may find a dedicated iPad drawing stand better for their needs. It’s an expensive add-on, and also quite heavy, so it’s only worth buying if you know you’re going to use it a lot, and don’t mind the extra weight. Why you can trust Creative Bloq Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. I use my iPad Pro for a number of purposes – mainly browsing the web, drawing with art apps such as Procreate, reading magazines and watching Netflix and other streaming platforms.
I weighed it on my kitchen scales and it was 609g / 1.34lb making the keyboard and the iPad Pro 1086g / 2.39lb altogether – pretty heavy for a ‘portable’ piece of kit. The angle is adjustable in a way that feels natural, and you can close the whole thing up to protect your iPad, with the camera still visible.
It’s also worth noting that the Magic Keyboard doesn’t come with a USB-C cable, which is a bit disappointing, but also, very Apple. I haven’t really found that a problem, and there is also the option to programme other keys to work as the ones that are missing, if you like (MacRumors has a good guide to how to do this). I find that when I’m trying to edit a spreadsheet on Google Sheets, for example, I end up getting frustrated because it’s fiddly to select a cell and try to copy and paste it with the trackpad.
But using the Apple Pencil or tapping the screen doesn’t help much either, so this is probably the fault of the app and the iPad in general, rather than a problem with the trackpad.
The iPad is still a relatively small bit of kit, which isn’t always suitable for long stints of work unless you hook it up to a larger monitor, and even then you may not find it ideal. However, adding the Magic Keyboard definitely means you’ll be able to type on your iPad for longer, and the extra port is handy, too.
Apple’s Magic Keyboard for iPad: Still Excellent, but Time for a Revision
Though the angled, hovering iPad stand design makes it a great iPad-as-laptop or desk-typing accessory, it still lacks some features you’d really expect for this price. I write fast and instinctually, and the positioning of the keys is pretty good for my muscle memory.
The Magic Keyboard has one little bonus that’s been super handy — there’s a pass-through charge port for USB-C on the side of the hinge. This means I can charge from either side at a desk, which is really important to prevent the iPad from becoming incredibly annoying.
Some iPad keyboard cases have extra rows of dedicated function keys, including volume control and play/pause buttons. Apple has a lot of keyboard shortcuts in iOS, but dedicated function keys would be a great addition. The floppy old smart keyboard cover isn’t as good, but it does fold back flat. That means popping the case off (it attaches with magnets), and then you’re left holding a naked iPad.
The old Smart Keyboard cover isn’t as good for work, yet was more flexible as a folio case solution.
It’d be lovely if a new model split the difference and became at least somewhat more affordable, because having a good keyboard on the go is increasingly useful with iPadOS.
Magic Keyboard
The wireless Magic Keyboard included with your iMac has built-in features that make it easy to enter emoji, switch keyboard languages, lock your iMac, and perform many system functions with the touch of a key. The Magic Keyboard with Touch ID also lets you use a fingerprint to sign in and make purchases using Apple Pay. Slide the on/off switch on the back edge of the keyboard to turn it on (so green is visible) or off. After that, whenever you’re asked for your password to unlock the screen or make purchases, you can use Touch ID.
Mission Control (F3): Press to view what’s running on your iMac, including all your spaces and open windows. Dictation/Siri (F5): Press to activate dictation—you can dictate text wherever you can type (for example, in Messages, Mail, Pages, and other apps).
Media (F7, F8, F9): Press to rewind, to play or pause, or to fast-forward a song, movie, or slideshow. You can press two or more keys at the same time to quickly do things on your iMac that you’d normally do with a trackpad, mouse, or other device.
For example, press Command-C to copy selected text, then click where you want to paste the text and press Command-V. For a list of commonly used keyboard shortcuts, see Keyboard shortcuts on your Mac.
Apple Magic Keyboard Review – Is this premium iPad keyboard worth it?!
After several months of use, lets get into how the Magic Keyboard performed and whether I think it was worth the steep Apple tax. As with most things Apple, there was a lot of thought that went into the user experience and design…so let’s take a look They are actually better than many of the laptops I own which made it so that I found myself using my iPad for anything that I needed to type for long periods of time (including this review).
The fact that they are backlit is a nice touch as well but I found that I rarely used the lighting to save on any battery life.
At first I had some reservation on how this keyboard would function in different use cases…especially considering the iPad is a device that you use in situations where you wouldn’t want a laptop. Probably the first thing you notice when you unpack the keyboard is that build quality and that shows in normal use. That is a feature that you don’t really realize how much you like until you go back to another keyboard where the iPad rests on the base. The USB-C pass through charging is a nice add on when you are using it on a desk and want it to be plugged in.
Obviously there is a lot to like about the Magic Keyboard but let’s get into a couple of things that I didn’t like about it. It would have been nice if you could use the keyboard as more of a laptop type base with the USB-C port actually having full functionality. This makes it so that your accessories have to be floating in the air or have a long cable attached to the side of the iPad when using it on a desk. To make the hinge design as robust as it is…it added a lot of weight to the keyboard and that takes away from some of the iPad user experience as it is supposed to be the super light alternative to carrying around heavy laptops.
When I am using the keyboard on my lap, there are several times where my palms would hit the track pad and it stopped my typing to bring up the curser. I don’t see any way Apple can get around that so it is just part of the ‘pay to play’ when it comes to the form factor of the keyboard itself.
It still would hav been a premium item that carried the Apple name and quality but at a more digestible price point. The Apple Magic Keyboard is about $50 and a couple of design features away from being absolutely perfect.
If the other keyboards had similar functions like the floating screen or as good of a typing experience, that would change the overall review.
Does Your Magic Keyboard Needs a Case? Find Out Here –
This post will answer some of the most common questions surrounding the Magic Keyboard and if it works as an iPad folio case. Let the Keyboard do it’s job as a typing tool and let an iPad Pro bag handle the protecting of your Apple tablet when on the move. Major differences include compatibility, form factor, typing experience, weight, size and price. The Magic Keyboard Folio features a compact, slim design with a floating hinge that allows you to adjust the viewing angle of the iPad.
The Smart Keyboard Folio provides a decent typing experience but may feel slightly cramped due to its smaller size. Having a dedicated Magic Keyboard sleeve or other iPad Pro bag to place it in during storage or transport is a good idea.
Apple’s trick, hinged keyboard that allows your tablet to appear to float in the space in front of you as you type, is in itself, its own case. It covers the front and back completely with the cylindrical hinge running along what could be called the “binding” edge.
The problem is it leaves the edges completely exposed and offers no security at all for the Apple Pencil when in the charging position. Apple’s $350 accessory does provide some protection for your tablet in the same way that a traditional minimal iPad case or cover does. If you someone who spends a high percentage of your time typing on your iPad Pro, then the Magic Keyboard case is worth the cost. Writers and other professionals who spend a lot of time typing love with the overall lightweight package when compared to a laptop setup of the same size.
The Magic Keyboard, reviewed: iPad Pro evolution
I’ve been using the 2020 iPad Pro with its most exciting accessory, Apple’s newly redesigned Magic Keyboard, for about a week. Case has limited angles Won’t open up flat for folio-style tablet use With it on, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro finally starts to feel like it’s melting into a Mac. That’s where the iPad is late to arrive, and it’s where Apple’s recent support of trackpads in iOS 13.4 points. Keyboards, trackpads, mice, a big touchscreen: This is the full-computing fusion I was waiting for. But Apple’s case, if you can afford it, is the best writing and editing accessory for the iPad Pro, period.
The soft-touch case has the same types of seams on the edge as the Smart Keyboard — will they hold up, or eventually wear down? Will the magnets holding the iPad up like a magic trick stay strong or sag?
I don’t think the iPad’s been a better fusion device than with the Magic Keyboard attached. The Logitech Combo Touch (left) versus Magic Keyboard (right). The Combo Touch costs a lot less (but works with non-Pro iPads). But it works, and it’s zippy for scrolling, two- or three-finger gestures or anything else Apple’s enabled.
When I saw the cantilevered design and metal hinge, I had the idea that this thing would be a thick tank of a case. It’s really not much thicker than the older Smart Keyboard, with a similar soft-touch surface.
While the 12.9-inch iPad Pro with the Magic Keyboard attached has a small profile, this is a dense package. But the Magic Keyboard only opens up to a certain angle, and then part of the top cover bends back further. Some iPad cases don’t tilt upright enough to accommodate for certain situations when video conferencing. Of course, the iPad Pro in landscape mode has its camera on the side, which means you’ll also have to remember to look at it, or accept your weird, off-angle glances in a chat with friends or colleagues.
The easy way the iPad pops off with magnets means that maybe I’d leave this as a desk tool. It works on my lap, but the limited angles the case allows don’t feel ideal. And it’s a tiny bit top-heavy, so I’m hesitant to balance it too far back on my crossed legs.
Apple has supported some gestures in iOS 13.4 that work with the trackpad, but not all apps have been optimized. Google’s office apps don’t allow for things like dragging to select copy yet. And the iPad’s more limited app and window layout means it’s not always as easy to get to something else as on a Mac with a trackpad.
Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro Review
With a 120Hz display, powerful speakers, and support for the unparalleled Apple Pencil stylus, it’s a gorgeous tablet for reading, writing, and creating art, and its processor measures up to the ones in most laptops. The Magic Keyboard (starting at $299 for the 11-inch model) finally turns the iPad Pro into the gorgeous convertible laptop it’s been trying to become for years.
But it still doesn’t have the full productivity apps it needs to supplant similarly priced Mac laptops. The keyboard has 64 roomy, full-sized keys that use the same mechanism as Apple’s new laptops: scissor switches with a satisfying bit of throw that makes it easy to type quickly.
In the case, the iPad is firm and balanced, as easy to use and as stable on a lap as a MacBook Pro, to the point that you can sort of forget it isn’t a laptop. That isn’t true with kickstand-based solutions like the Microsoft Surface devices or the Logitech Combo Pro case, which can wobble on your knees.
The Magic Keyboard appears to have a negative impact on your iPad Pro’s battery. Without the keyboard, the iPad lasts nearly eight hours on a full charge, so there’s definitely a bit of extra battery drain happening here.
Our Photoshop for iPad review has a long list of features we’re waiting for, like effects, a history brush, a blur/smudge tool, and batch operations. Taking notes on an Ericsson webcast, I found that it would pause every time I threw it into the background to check something on a different web page. If you’ve read this far, you’re probably married to Apple’s platforms, but I’d like to point out that the pricing here is out of whack with Windows competitors, as well. The Microsoft Surface Pro 7 costs $1,060 with an Intel Core i5, 128GB of storage, and a Type Cover With Trackpad.
Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 3.5 See It $349.00 at Adorama MSRP $349.00 Pros Responsive and easy to type on
11-Inch white Magic Keyboard long-term review: the perfect writing tool?
Arriving in time to make use of the equally unexpected cursor support for iPadOS, the Magic Keyboard was initially only compatible with the 2020 iPad Pro line. In April 2021, it was updated to cater for the slightly thicker 2021 iPad Pro and to include a white variant alongside the existing black version.
Although expensive, Apple’s official accessory offered ultimate convenience thanks to the absence of manual Bluetooth connectivity and its combined function as an iPad case. Over the last six months of using the White Magic Keyboard for iPad, it has been thrown into bags, placed on gross coffee shop tables, and left on the kitchen side. Certainly, if you’re the sort of owner who regularly cleans their tech, it wouldn’t be hard to keep the white Magic Keyboard looking as good as new. Given the incredibly shallow base on which it sits, Apple has done well to provide just enough travel to make it feel satisfying. If future iterations offered function keys for brightness, volume, and multitasking, that would represent a significant upgrade in convenience. When angled comfortably, it’s all too easy to consistently hit the corner of the iPad while reaching for the backspace key. A half-height top row of keys would create room for a slightly larger trackpad and likely reduce the instances of accidental iPad bashing while deleting words. If you do a lot of your writing on the road and move frequently between locations, the 11-inch Magic Keyboard offers far more convenience than its big brother. The 11-inch version is only just wide enough to straddle your lap, and the limited tilt available for the iPad means you must sit at a precise angle to avoid neck strain. Indeed, if you need to invest several hours each week into writing thousands of words, the focus afforded by iPadOS and the full screen nature of its apps makes getting into a flow state far easier.
If you pair the iPad and Magic Keyboard combination with a distraction-free writing app like Ulysses (which was used for the duration of this review), there’s nothing quite like it. Minor complaints aside, it’s a joy to type on, and combined with distraction-free writing, it will help professional and hobbyist writers craft more words than ever before. There are no Bluetooth shenanigans to be frustrated by, and the build quality makes it a joy to open, adjust, and carry around. You can also pick up the handy accessory at B&H Photo with free expedited shipping within the contiguous U.S. at press time.
Apple’s Magic Keyboard for iPad: Still Excellent, but Time for a Revision
Though the angled, hovering iPad stand design makes it a great iPad-as-laptop or desk-typing accessory, it still lacks some features you’d really expect for this price. I write fast and instinctually, and the positioning of the keys is pretty good for my muscle memory. The Magic Keyboard has one little bonus that’s been super handy — there’s a pass-through charge port for USB-C on the side of the hinge. This means I can charge from either side at a desk, which is really important to prevent the iPad from becoming incredibly annoying. Some iPad keyboard cases have extra rows of dedicated function keys, including volume control and play/pause buttons. Apple has a lot of keyboard shortcuts in iOS, but dedicated function keys would be a great addition.
The floppy old smart keyboard cover isn’t as good, but it does fold back flat. That means popping the case off (it attaches with magnets), and then you’re left holding a naked iPad. The old Smart Keyboard cover isn’t as good for work, yet was more flexible as a folio case solution.
It’d be lovely if a new model split the difference and became at least somewhat more affordable, because having a good keyboard on the go is increasingly useful with iPadOS.
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