No this is not meant to happen. Your iPad should continue to charge when closed with the magic keyboard, through the pass through port.
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Anyone here returning the Magic Keyboard?
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No this is not meant to happen. Your iPad should continue to charge when closed with the magic keyboard, through the pass through port.
I actually plugged it in to confirm. It does charge via the pass through port when the case is closed.
I had my AMK for over a week now, and love it... it makes the iPad experience different than just using the typing and navigating on the iPad alone. For $350, the price is pretty steep, but for the experience... i think it's worth it.
The AMK material quality isn't the best... but i just guess that it will require lots of TLC. Hope there's a transparent skin that can just slap on the keyboard and call it a day.
The AMK material quality isn't the best... but i just guess that it will require lots of TLC. Hope there's a transparent skin that can just slap on the keyboard and call it a day.
I hear good things about Jump... I’m still using d MS rd and its not that great on my 11”.
For those of you who also own the keyboard folio case which do you overall prefer for traveling?
To be honest, when you're traveling, they'll both be folded down for ease of travel, therefore size isn't a big issue, but rather the weight. Now if you're carrying it in a backpack, in my personal opinion, the extra heft is immaterial to me after using both - but then again, I carry my 16" MacBook Pro with my 11" iPP + MK/SFK.
I still think that there is a time and place for both. One should not buy one over the other because one is shinier and newer.
I am a speech therapist in nursing homes and carry mine in my hand from room to room. Sounds like I may be better off sticking with my keyboard folio?
If you feel the need to fold it back (or you need something lighter) - i would agree with you. I still use my Smart Keyboard Folio along with my Magic Keyboard
Probably. The one thing I miss with the MKB is being able to fold it back flat.
And you know what, that’s the beauty of this whole arrangement with an iPad Pro. You can get Bluetooth, a Smart Keyboard folio, a Magic Keyboard with Trackpad, a mouse, a Magic Trackpad, or just a pencil... OR nothing at all. It’s all very integrated to whatever the end user can and wants to use for their workflow. It’s very refreshing, almost computing a-la-carte. Welcome to the computing buffet with your choice of iPad accessories both first and third party.
Returned both my 11" Pro Refurb and the AMK last week.
Really wanted to like it, but turning the iPad Pro into a laptop really made me realize that what I wanted was actually a laptop. This setup just has too many compromises (Weight, small trackpad, not great for lap use, cramped typing experience, just need a bit more viewing angle...).
Picked up an MBA and couldn't be happier. Solves the problems above, and then some (hazel, OmniFocus quick add, System wide TE...)
Really wanted to like it, but turning the iPad Pro into a laptop really made me realize that what I wanted was actually a laptop. This setup just has too many compromises (Weight, small trackpad, not great for lap use, cramped typing experience, just need a bit more viewing angle...).
Picked up an MBA and couldn't be happier. Solves the problems above, and then some (hazel, OmniFocus quick add, System wide TE...)
I can see this happening for some. The ipad and keyboard combo won’t be optimal for everyone as iPadOS is still limited vis a vis MacOS. The appeal really comes with the versatility of the device as a tablet and as a laptop replacement for less complex tasks. I’m more interested this year at WWDC for what’s in store for iPadOS than MacOS.
This proves another point that the iPad Pro wasn't designed from inception to be a laptop replacement, but for some people, it can be.
I use both my 16" MBP and my 11" iPad Pro + MK for different things:
MacBook Pro
- Long typing sessions
- File Management (more robust)
- Photo-Editing (triaging 50-300 RAW files from Lightroom) on the MacBook is a whole lot better
- Productivity (Moderate to Heavy) like Excel
- Emails
- Web-Browsing
- Light Productivity (quick work in Microsoft Office)
- Media/Streaming Device
I've had my Magic Keyboard for over a week. I got my 12.9" iPad Pro (first a refurb 2018 and then returned it for a great deal on a 2020) and the Apple Pencil and a regular Smart Folio (no keyboard) two weeks earlier. I was amazed that whole time at how the iPad Pro was like an artist's palette in my hands with infinitely more capabilities. It seems to have finally started reaching the potential that Steve Jobs alluded to a decade ago. I used it like a larger and enhanced version of my iPhone for practically all of my iOS apps and discovered a few more great ones like Fastmail (which I used on the web or through Apple's Mail app before) and Over (a great, graphic design app perfectly suited to the large screen and pencil). Apps like Things 3 look great on it because you can see more information at a glance. Apple's own Calendar app, the main reason I bought my first iPhone in 2008 to replace my Palm Pilot, is finally useful in the monthly view since you can see all of your appointments (what's wrong with a list view on the iPad Apple?).
Since getting the Magic Keyboard though, I haven't used the iPad in "tablet mode" much. It's relatively easy to take off (albeit a bit clunky, like opening and closing the keyboard is) but just like my Macbook Air, which has been in clamshell mode for 3 months while I use an external monitor and the "old" Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad 2, things tend to stay where they are. Your iPad is going to live on the Magic Keyboard most of the time if you get it and it will change the way you use it, not necessarily for the better. It's definitely a great keyboard, but there are a number of minor annoyances that keep me coming back to my "desktop" setup. Some have been mentioned before some not:
-no function keys means time wasted digging through menus, Apple's lackluster iPad OS 14 update did nothing to help here,
-the trackpad is just too small, maybe 2/3 the size of my 2013 Macbook Air's, you can crank up the cursor tracking speed but this is a tradeoff, the Magic Trackpad 2 is 300-400% larger, with a touch device Apple probably thought this limitation would be offset by the ability to use a finger or the Apple Pencil as well (which goes a long way to helping with the "gorilla arm" problem)
-the extra USB-C port for charging is great, but for some reason it's a really tight fit and I've felt like the connector was about to break when removing it a few times, Apple really needs to figure out something like their beloved magnetic connection from years ago
-perhaps most importantly for me, even though it's marketed as a "full-size" keyboard (on the 12.9") it's slightly narrower than the bluetooth Magic Keyboard, maybe 1/2", so it feels more cramped than what I'm used to, I'd love to see Apple finally update their external keyboards to the latest design
So I'm on the fence about returning the MK. It's the best keyboard/trackpad combo for the Pro, but it has it's limitations and when I'm at home there's no question about me using my familiar setup for most writing, editing, etc. over the iPad combo. I can type a quick reply to an email or a note on my iPhone. It may suit you as a mobile option once things open up again, but for now it doesn't make a lot of sense for me to have it sitting on my desk, especially when it discourages me from using the lighter setup of just the iPad, Smart Cover and Pencil. Maybe once iPads become lighter they can figure out the design challenges to make a keyboard with a bigger trackpad, easier opening/closing (it closes with a disconcerting thud) and function keys. If Apple made it possible to connect more than one device to their bluetooth keyboard/trackpad they would offer much more versatility. Right now I would have to buy a separate Magic Trackpad 2 dedicated to the iPad, unpairing from one device and pairing to another is way too slow and clunky.
I may have just convinced myself to return it and wait for either a steep discount or version 2.0. I've put the Smart Folio back on the iPad and will use it like I was doing before to see if I miss having the keyboard and then make a decision before the return window closes.
Since getting the Magic Keyboard though, I haven't used the iPad in "tablet mode" much. It's relatively easy to take off (albeit a bit clunky, like opening and closing the keyboard is) but just like my Macbook Air, which has been in clamshell mode for 3 months while I use an external monitor and the "old" Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad 2, things tend to stay where they are. Your iPad is going to live on the Magic Keyboard most of the time if you get it and it will change the way you use it, not necessarily for the better. It's definitely a great keyboard, but there are a number of minor annoyances that keep me coming back to my "desktop" setup. Some have been mentioned before some not:
-no function keys means time wasted digging through menus, Apple's lackluster iPad OS 14 update did nothing to help here,
-the trackpad is just too small, maybe 2/3 the size of my 2013 Macbook Air's, you can crank up the cursor tracking speed but this is a tradeoff, the Magic Trackpad 2 is 300-400% larger, with a touch device Apple probably thought this limitation would be offset by the ability to use a finger or the Apple Pencil as well (which goes a long way to helping with the "gorilla arm" problem)
-the extra USB-C port for charging is great, but for some reason it's a really tight fit and I've felt like the connector was about to break when removing it a few times, Apple really needs to figure out something like their beloved magnetic connection from years ago
-perhaps most importantly for me, even though it's marketed as a "full-size" keyboard (on the 12.9") it's slightly narrower than the bluetooth Magic Keyboard, maybe 1/2", so it feels more cramped than what I'm used to, I'd love to see Apple finally update their external keyboards to the latest design
So I'm on the fence about returning the MK. It's the best keyboard/trackpad combo for the Pro, but it has it's limitations and when I'm at home there's no question about me using my familiar setup for most writing, editing, etc. over the iPad combo. I can type a quick reply to an email or a note on my iPhone. It may suit you as a mobile option once things open up again, but for now it doesn't make a lot of sense for me to have it sitting on my desk, especially when it discourages me from using the lighter setup of just the iPad, Smart Cover and Pencil. Maybe once iPads become lighter they can figure out the design challenges to make a keyboard with a bigger trackpad, easier opening/closing (it closes with a disconcerting thud) and function keys. If Apple made it possible to connect more than one device to their bluetooth keyboard/trackpad they would offer much more versatility. Right now I would have to buy a separate Magic Trackpad 2 dedicated to the iPad, unpairing from one device and pairing to another is way too slow and clunky.
I may have just convinced myself to return it and wait for either a steep discount or version 2.0. I've put the Smart Folio back on the iPad and will use it like I was doing before to see if I miss having the keyboard and then make a decision before the return window closes.
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Even with a skin on it? I'm well pleased with how mine is wearing, also with a Sopiguard skin.
I'm going to guess you are taking yours out of the house, which should be considered normal use. If I needed to use mine away from home, I would expect it to hold up, especially with a skin. I'm sorry to hear this is happening to yours. As time goes by I'll guess we'll find out how much wear Apple considers to be normal and covered under AC+.
I haven’t taken it out of the house but it is my main computer. I am very particular with my stuff though and notice every single mark.
I have them both. It's a very nice item, overpriced of course, but it's great. I can see why people would return them of course. It has trade offs.
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My MK for the 12.9” showed up today and luckily was in flawless condition. I was a little nervous considering several members have received theirs with some cosmetic damage. So far it’s working great. Very comfortable to type on and the track pad is a solid addition. Just got to get used to using the shortcut keys.
