So long, iPad Smart Keyboard (2015-2024)

[Wormald]

Looks like our plucky little, touchpad-less, fabric bottomed, cuppy keycapped pal has finally come to the end of the road, side-by-side with the final home-button 9th gen iPad.

A delightfully simple keyboard - who needs a touchpad when you touch the whole screen? Keys so close to the screen, no hover-gap.

The origami craft-time triangle. The side-mounted smart connector, so easy to pop on and off. Concave, fingertip snugging keycaps. Humble, functional looks.

Ok sure, the edge fabric might have started fraying after a year or so, and the connection got a bit temperamental from time to time...

But all in all a quintessentially iPaddy iPad accessory that will be missed by more than you might think.

Sad to see it go. Rest well my tappy little friend 🫡

 

[Ubuntu]

RIP. I wish they still had this as I really liked mine.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I still have my 11" MKB, even though I no longer have the pro iPad. It was a decent keyboard albeit overpriced. Glad to see function keys have been added.

 

[soldano]

I will not be getting a new iPad Pro until apple makes a Smart Keyboard for it or a reputable third party does. Magic Keyboard = no thanks.

 

[cczhu]

it's much lighter and portable than the Magic Keyboard. And it's also dust resistant.

 

[andrewj]

Oh no, say it isn’t so. I like the lighter weight of the smart keyboard, plus I’m not worried about crumbs, etc., when using it in the kitchen.

 

[erikkfi]

No joke, I’m actually considering cancelling/returning my iPad Pro order over this missing accessory. Magic Keyboard offers nothing to regular Pencil users.

Apparently the latest one is compatible with the new Airs.

 

[andrewj]

Plus I like how with the Smart Keyboard, you can fold it behind the iPad, use it in portrait mode (and also use it with the Pencil).

 

[Chargr]

No joke, I’m actually considering cancelling/returning my iPad Pro order over this missing accessory. Magic Keyboard offers nothing to regular Pencil users.

Apparently the latest one is compatible with the new Airs.

Look for the logitech combo case, a better alternative

 

[erikkfi]

Look for the logitech combo case, a better alternative

I'm thinking about it. I'd like to see some reviews though, especially of how well it supports Pencil usage on a tabletop.