iPad Pro #1 Flaw Of The Magic Keyboard

[MacManiac76]

For the most part I love the iPad Magic Keyboard regardless of the price. Spending $300 on a nice peripheral for a 1000+ device is reasonable to me. My main complaint, that just happened again, is that when it is folded open to be a laptop device, there is no back support coming from the keyboard to keep the iPad Pro from tumbling backwards onto the floor as I try to rescue it before it hits the floor and I pray that it does not land screen side down.

You basically need to have at least one palm resting on the wrist rest area to keep it from committing device suicide. I mainly use my iPad Pro while sitting on the sofa while watching a series or movie. It immediately leans back at least one inch otherwise and if I move any more I have to rescue it from the plunge of death.

This happened to me with my M1 iPad Pro which was not so lucky and thankfully had AppleCare+ at the time. It tumbled off my legs and the iPad Pro became disengaged from the Magic Keyboard and slid across the floor face down leaving a permanent deep scar on the screen, one that can’t be unseen and the fingers can definitely feel. Through some sort of AC+ magic I was able to get it replaced by Apple since it was basically a fault in their design that allowed it to happen in the first place.

Any other’s with a similar experience here?

 

[Ludatyk]

It rarely happens to me... but i use two different setups with my iPP. When I know that I plan to do some typing.... then I put the Magic Keyboard to use. But when the situation calls for simply watching a series or movie... I'd use my kickstand (kind of) case. There's two of them on Amazon, but i went with the TineeOwl product... purchased when it launched back in 2024 (I believe this the only one that supports M4 & M5 iPad Pros).

 

[MacManiac76]

I really wish they didn’t discontinue the folio keyboard as that was much lighter and had multi-angle support which the only drawback to me is the lack of backlighting for the keyboard. My main use for the Magic Keyboard for me is the keyboard backlighting when using it in a dark room at night while multitasking with something I’m streaming on my Apple TV 4K.

 

[subjonas]

I use my 13" iPad Air with both the Magic Keyboard (previous generation) and keyboard folio, and the folio is only a bit more stable when the iPad is at the lower angle, but a bit less stable at the more upright angle. So I suppose the two keyboards are kind of a wash in that regard. But the other advantages of the MK besides backlighting is infinite viewing angles instead of just two, and the trackpad. The only thing it could do to be more stable (without losing its advantages) is add weight to the base or add some kind of a kickstand, both of which come with their own disadvantages. The disadvantage of added weight is obvious, and the disadvantage of a kickstand is it requires more table or lap space which some people may run out of.

Either way, this is just one of those disadvantages to using a tablet as a laptop vs a traditional laptop that will always exist due to the heavier weight of a tablet vs a thin display. But I find, while it's not ideal, the MK (nor the folio) isn't egregious; it's stable enough and I'm able to manage. No major tipping over accidents for me yet after many years of use. And I prefer its design to anything else I've seen. I generally prefer it over the folio too, but I use the folio as the keyboard I keep in my everyday bag since it's lighter weight. At home and on trips, I use the MK.

 

[Ludatyk]

I really wish they didn’t discontinue the folio keyboard as that was much lighter and had multi-angle support which the only drawback to me is the lack of backlighting for the keyboard. My main use for the Magic Keyboard for me is the keyboard backlighting when using it in a dark room at night while multitasking with something I’m streaming on my Apple TV 4K.

If you wanted something similar to the folio keyboard... could have gone with Logitech, there Combo Touch Keyboard has backlighting along with a kickstand for multi-angle support.

 

[outlawarth]

I hear you but I must say that after all these years it has not yet happened to me. I do have the M2 12.9 and it’s sitting in the MK 90% of the time, except for when I have to hand the tablet over to a client to sign something. Not sure what the ideal solution to this issue would be, a kickstand?

 

[unkl bob]

For the most part I love the iPad Magic Keyboard regardless of the price. Spending $300 on a nice peripheral for a 1000+ device is reasonable to me. My main complaint, that just happened again, is that when it is folded open to be a laptop device, there is no back support coming from the keyboard to keep the iPad Pro from tumbling backwards onto the floor as I try to rescue it before it hits the floor and I pray that it does not land screen side down.

You basically need to have at least one palm resting on the wrist rest area to keep it from committing device suicide. I mainly use my iPad Pro while sitting on the sofa while watching a series or movie. It immediately leans back at least one inch otherwise and if I move any more I have to rescue it from the plunge of death.

This happened to me with my M1 iPad Pro which was not so lucky and thankfully had AppleCare+ at the time. It tumbled off my legs and the iPad Pro became disengaged from the Magic Keyboard and slid across the floor face down leaving a permanent deep scar on the screen, one that can’t be unseen and the fingers can definitely feel. Through some sort of AC+ magic I was able to get it replaced by Apple since it was basically a fault in their design that allowed it to happen in the first place.

Any other’s with a similar experience here?

I have the M1 16" pro as well, and use the keyboard it came with. Ditto my 2012 MBP and my M4 MBA. I also have two Mac Minis. A 2023 M2 Pro and a 2010 basic (as a project), and each has it's own Magic Keyboard. No dropping problems.
I'll prolly get blasted for this, but I have trouble why anyone with a MacBook (save those who would use them in clamshell mode...) would want to use a separate keyboard. And that includes the now 15 yr old 2012. YMMV

 

[MacManiac76]

It really actually is my own fault most of the time and not the design itself. I will be doing something on the iPad Pro later at night and doze off. When I wake up I forget that it’s still in my lap and that’s when it falls backwards onto the floor. It would just be nice to have a built in safety feature like maybe a thin kickstand on the back side that can fold out and make it as stable as my MacBook Pro is.

 

[MacManiac76]

If you wanted something similar to the folio keyboard... could have gone with Logitech, there Combo Touch Keyboard has backlighting along with a kickstand for multi-angle support.

I did look at the Logitech ones as well, but their design really didn’t appeal to me aesthetically. I’ve never tried one in person like I can with the Magic Keyboard at the Apple Store. Almost always I buy the Apple branded peripherals regardless of the price. Personally I consider the higher price an acceptable trade-off for higher quality components compared to the 3rd-party options.