Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Anyone here returning the Magic Keyboard?
- Thread starter Macintosh101
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I find it very comfortable on my lap directly or atop a pillow in my lap. It feels slightly top heavy to me but not in a way that feels like it will topple over. I tend to use mine at an angle about midway between the two options, which feels balanced. On a desktop the angle doesn't seem to matter.
Good to know, thanks. Just got my 12.9 pro yesterday. I already have a magic keyboard for desktop use and was wondering if I’d be as well just buying a trackpad or go all in on the iPad magic keyboard. Lap usage is going to be the deciding factor.
I'm iPad+MK only these days (with an iPhone) and I use it in my lap 98% of the time (in a chair and in bed). I'm delighted with this setup.
If I had bought my 12.9 magic keyboard directly from Apple I would have returned it. I can't get some of the gestures to work. Bringing up the App Switcher , dismissing slideover, switch between open apps- I just can't get them to work. As a result I am mainly using my MacBook Pro.
I have both and it would depend on the usage. If travelling economy and trying to use on tray table, the smart folio is a bit more compact - ipad lower and not so deep in use. But if using in darkened cabin I would want the magic keyboard with backlighting. If using a lot for work while travelling in hotel rooms, etc - then I would definitely want the magic keyboard. Quite apart from the better keyboard and trackpad, the charge through would mean I can charge my iPhone through the iPad Pro, meaning I don’t need carry an extra charger.
AO.com(UK). Would only get a lesser amount back as its opened and used. Normally I buy direct from Apple but it was three weeks delivery time
I too have trouble getting the 3 finger swipe up to work (to find and close an open app) consistently. I am running iPadOS 14 and thought that might have something to do with it. It often takes me several swipes before I get the open apps screen. Slide over hasn’t had been a problem. If I try using the hand gesture, it works every time.
Edited to add: I just figured out what I was doing wrong. When you use 3 finger swipe up, make sure you do a slow swipe up with a pause, this will show all your open apps as it should. I had been swiping up and not pausing.
Last edited:
I just tried several times, I still cant do it. When Apple stores are fully functional I might take it in and ask them to show me!
The only gesture I have had trouble with trackpad was working out slide-over. I was slamming pointer to right hand side and expected slide-over it to appear and it was not. Now realised have to just move pointer to right edge and then steadily continue gesturing to move pointer to right - the same to put away. So now working fine.
Getting up app switcher I find easier on trackpad than using touch. With touch it has always been hit and miss (too often just returned to home screen) - but works easy with trackpad.
Getting up app switcher I find easier on trackpad than using touch. With touch it has always been hit and miss (too often just returned to home screen) - but works easy with trackpad.
Was going to add, it is top heavy, there‘s no getting away from that. Depending how you‘re sitting, you’ll either not have to do anything to compensate as the balance is fine. Sometimes, again, depending how you’re sitting, your palms rest on it and basically stop it tipping over. But that’s where you’d naturally rest your hands on a laptop too. And even when you raise them, it just tips back slightly. It doesn’t topple over or anything.
So it’s definitely not awkward and its surprisingly stable. I’m sitting using it now, can take my hands off and it doesn’t move at all.
Last edited:
I just received my magic keyboard for my 12.9 and there is no way I’m returning this thing, as soon as I took it out of the box the first thing you notice.. fingerprints so most probably going to skin this thing but other than that no issues so far. Really enjoying this new way of interacting with the iPad and I would especially recommend this to anyone using their iPad as their primary device.
I looked up ao.com's return policy, and it does indeed say you can receive up to 50% if the item is used. Its return policy is also 100 days, which is rather generous. Even so, I can understand wanting to get it sooner; I did that with Verizon (2-day shipping) even though I'm not its customer.
Last edited:
I returned a 12.9" Pro and Magic Keyboard and just got the 11" Pro to use as a tablet. Even if the MK could fold back it's heavy, combined with the iPad you're approaching the weight of a Macbook Air (2.4 vs. 2.8 lbs), not very comfortable for a handheld device. Apple had no way of knowing of course, but had they designed this thing as basically a desktop dock that would be used for work at home, they should have increased the weight to move the iPad back on the hinge and accommodate a bigger trackpad and function keys. You can tell that there were way too many cooks in the kitchen on this one (marketing dept. especially) pushing not to have the 12.9/MK combo weigh more than a Macbook Pro (at the sacrifice of functionality). The whole time I was using it I thought to myself "man, my 2013 Macbook Air is a lot more comfortable to use, less cramped, well-balanced and better designed as a laptop." Maybe they'll develop an improved design or as iPad's get lighter it will give them more flexibility, but at this point I would only get a Magic Keyboard at $200 or less. For serious typing I'll use my bluetooth Magic Keyboard and generously-sized Magic Trackpad 2.
Just returned mine. Not sure if was due to the iPadOS 14 upgrade or not but certain keys like M J 7 etc didn’t work. Plus the keyboard made my 12.9 iPad double the weight.
Thank You! Two separate swipes right to get slidover to appear. Another two separate swipes right puts it away. Got it now.
Almost returned the MK, because of what I preceive as cheap and not very durable materials used as the skin, especially for the price. I think my jr high binders had better construction than the sharp edged plastic/rubber edges of the MK. I can see these easily starting to fray and come apart in a couple years. Instead I bought Apple Care for the first time in my life since it includes the iPad, Pencil, and MK. Any signs of excessive wear, I’ll hold Apple‘s feet to the fire for it.
I was VERY hesitant buying the Magic Keyboard for the 11”, but with Amazon doing a little sale, I figured why not at least try it out. I just got mine two days ago with the intent of testing it, as $300 is a ton of money to drop on a keyboard (where i could have boughten other things instead) as I don’t have money to just throw around like some people seem to have. However, after using it for only two days, its not only a useful tool, but its also a whole new experience. Granted, i do find myself reaching for the escape key every now and then only to be pressing “`”, and I do look to reduce the volume with keys. But all in all, I really do enjoy this keyboard. I think for now, I’m planning on keeping it; but I still have 12 days of my return window left so we will see. I will be pretty ticked off if Apple releases a new one within a year with the addition of function keys...
Agree with a lot of what you said.
I'm using it on and off now. But when I do use it, sitting at a desk, it's a really pleasant experience. I'm also using split-screen/multi tasking more and it does the job. Not power-user strength, but fine for me.
I just received my iPad Pro 12.9 and connected it to my magic keyboard. Here are my feelings after 24 hour:
I Like:
The feel of the keys while typing. I like this keyboard even better than the keyboard on my 16” MacBook Pro (Even though they both use scissor switches, this keyboard feels different).
The trackpad. There are times when it comes in handy.
How strong the magnets are that hold the iPad to the keyboard.
Backlit keys!!!!!!
I do not like:
The external finish on the keyboard.
How “tippy” the keyboard is when the display is leaned back.
The fact that I cannot flip the keyboard around so that I can use the iPad flat while taking notes.
All in all, the magic keyboard is a keeper for me.
Joe
I Like:
The feel of the keys while typing. I like this keyboard even better than the keyboard on my 16” MacBook Pro (Even though they both use scissor switches, this keyboard feels different).
The trackpad. There are times when it comes in handy.
How strong the magnets are that hold the iPad to the keyboard.
Backlit keys!!!!!!
I do not like:
The external finish on the keyboard.
How “tippy” the keyboard is when the display is leaned back.
The fact that I cannot flip the keyboard around so that I can use the iPad flat while taking notes.
All in all, the magic keyboard is a keeper for me.
Joe