An X-Ray View of Apple's Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro

[MacRumors]

iFixit hasn't yet done a full teardown of the new Magic Keyboard designed for the new iPad Pro models, but the repair site today partnered with x-ray company Creative Electron to create Magic Keyboard x-rays that give us a view of just what's inside.

The Magic Keyboard uses scissor switch keys instead of butterfly keys, which have now been effectively eliminated from Apple's product lineup. The scissor switch mechanism is clearly visible in the x-ray view, and iFixit calls it the simplest mechanism in the accessory, but the biggest improvement compared to the Smart Keyboard.

Below the keyboard, there are metal plates that iFixit believes are for reinforcing the keyboard's body against bending, and the trackpad is a new design that's different from MacBook trackpads.

There appear to be multiple buttons under the trackpad to capture presses, while the MacBook Trackpads have no buttons and simulate presses with haptic feedback.

There are at least two spring loaded hinge designs at the folding point, featuring both a small coil and a larger coil, plus there are two cables for connecting the Smart Connector to the keyboard for power and data transfer.

Lots and lots of magnets are visible in the x-ray, with the magnets used to hold the Magic Keyboard on the iPad Pro. There's a whole ring of tiny magnets around the camera cutout, which iFixit said was a "lot of little polarized bits" to line up, space out, and configure with the iPad Pro components.

According to iFixit, there's more going on in the Magic Keyboard than there is in many laptops, which could explain its price point. Apple charges $299 for the 11-inch Magic Keyboard and $349 for the 12.9-inch version.

Article Link: An X-Ray View of Apple's Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro

 

[UltimateSyn]

So... are you guys still going to complain about the price?

 

[Lucifer666]

Those metal plates are most likely ballast; keep the thing from falling backward (Balance). If it was a flexing thing it would probably cross over.

 

[Zeroshiftfactor]

$80 worth of engineering and materials at most.

 

[maflynn]

So... are you guys still going to complain about the price?

In a word yes

 

[Petrophas]

Magnets attached to the front of the screen are a bit too strong. Other than, I love mine.

 

[maflynn]

Magnets attached to the front of the screen are a bit too strong. Other than, I love mine.

I think id rather have too strong then too weak

 

[The Cappy]

$80 worth of engineering and materials at most.

If that’s true, there will be 1-3 products with every single feature, and with *all* the complexity we see here, on the market before Fall. They’ll be priced under $150 while enjoying healthy margins.

But of course that won’t happen, because you pulled that number out of your lower orifice.

Remember that Apple generally shoots for 35-40% margins. They‘re not shy of over-engineering and making the customer pay for it. But they generally don’t command 400% margins (On items costing more than $50, anyway.)

 

[Unregistered 4U]

But does it bend?

 

[zhenya]

$80 worth of engineering and materials at most.

In 10 years of iPad production there has not been a SINGLE keyboard option that offers even a fraction of the usability and features as this one, at any price.

If your statement had even a shred of merit, we’d see dozens of decent products.

 

[techno-Zen]

And this is why it's $300

Can't front on Apple legitimately engineering 1/2 of a laptop as a keyboard case

Worth every penny

 

[Eriamjh1138@DAN]

But does it bend?

It folds.

 

[Kylo83]

I want my ipad not to be a laptop so ill never use this, its a tablet not a laptop, my misses has a new windows touchscreen laptop and im in love with it being touchscreen, time to make my £4000 macbook have one its not right, now they have made the ipad a laptop make the mac touchscreen

 

[salz4life]

I love mine! Expensive, but worth it, IMO.

 

[Kylo83]

I love mine! Expensive, but worth it, IMO.

but for that money and engineering it should fold in every way, what about if i wanna use it as a drawing mode as thats what an ipad is mainly made for, or if i wanna move the angle for bed viewing, its terrible it only works as a laptop mode, not cool

 

[tranceking26]

That is pretty neat, I do like these x-ray shots of tech.

 

[techfreak23]

Still not worth that price.

edit: if you think it’s worth the price, consider the fact that a keyboard and trackpad cost just as much as a HomePod and half the cost of an entry level Pro...if people would not buy the ridiculously priced items, Apple wouldn’t be so ballsy to price them that way.

 

[haruhiko]

but for that money and engineering it should fold in every way, what about if i wanna use it as a drawing mode as thats what an ipad is mainly made for, or if i wanna move the angle for bed viewing, its terrible it only works as a laptop mode, not cool

iPad is not ’made for’a drawing tool. It’s a canvas that can be everything. If you want to use it as a canvas, you should not use it as a laptop. The good thing about this keyboard is that you can easily remove the iPad by grabbing the lower part.

 

[farewelwilliams]

$80 worth of engineering and materials at most.

missing: R&D, software, service, transport, profit margin, and design costs.

 

[chengengaun]

The trackpad mechanism looks like a supersized butterfly key.

 

[AngerDanger]

So... are you guys still going to complain about the price?

No way! Now that I know it shows up on an X-ray, I'd probably be willing to pay double!

 

[jazz1]

Apple should have made it in clear plastic. Didn’t I see some clear demo Macs years ago?

 

[Shirasaki]

The camera cutout clearly indicates this keyboard is for that updated iPad Pro and future iPad Pro. Mine would look quite awkward if applied to it, assuming the 2018 iPad Pro is compatible.

Guess I will consider this keyboard when my current iPad Pro need upgrade.

 

[karatekidk]

When I saw the photo, I thought it was one of those "clamshell" iBook G3s. I guess I am too old.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

assuming the 2018 iPad Pro is compatible.

it is.