Resolved Does the new Magic Keyboard fold back?

[Joseph C]

When flip up / drawing position, if you apply pressure specially on the top screen, will it fall flat easily?
Also what size is your iPad?

This video shows the hinge doesn’t handle pressure well (12.9”)
I was hoping the 11” would be sturdier at this position due to less weight to support.

Thanks in advance 😃

I have the 12.9. No issues with any level of pressure if you flip it so the keyboard is vertical and the iPad is flat on its back. It's a perfect solution.

I also think I would probably rip the iPad off the case and rest it on top of the closed case as you get a slight angle there which is ideal for drawing.

 

[The Game 161]

Could always use it like this

 

[Joseph C]

https://www.reddit.com/r/ipad/comments/g55x9v

 

[Mike Boreham]

Could always use it like this

That looks the same as what the last few posts have been discussing. The video in post #150 shows it slipping down, but post #151 says its OK. I assume you find it OK?

 

[The Game 161]

That looks the same as what the last few posts have been discussing. The video in post #150 shows it slipping down, but post #151 says its OK. I assume you find it OK?

This is only a pic I saw on twitter. Ijustine was using it like that on her video and looks more secure than when you are using it with the keyboard

 

[Fat.tofu]

Yes i mean in this position where the smaller hinge at max position. Does it handle pressure well from resting hand on / pen specially on top part of the screen? Some people says yes some don’t. Sorry if its been asked by me / others many times, just wanna get assurance as much as possible as its a ‘make it or break it’ feature for my need to replace my SKF completely for an all-in-one solution case. 😬🙇🏻‍♂️

@The Game 161 Thx for sharing this pic. Saw the iJustine video too but doesn’t look like she applied much pressure more like just sliding the pencil.

 

[D3ggy]

How long before ifixit take one apart so we can see how Apple did its wizardry?

 

[stocklen]

Yes i mean in this position where the smaller hinge at max position. Does it handle pressure well from resting hand on / pen specially on top part of the screen? Some people says yes some don’t. Sorry if its been asked by me / others many times, just wanna get assurance as much as possible as its a ‘make it or break it’ feature for my need to replace my SKF completely for an all-in-one solution case. 😬🙇🏻‍♂️

@The Game 161 Thx for sharing this pic. Saw the iJustine video too but doesn’t look like she applied much pressure more like just sliding the pencil.

I would say no. Although this in ingenuity at work.. its also wishful thinking. The secondary hinge is clearly supposed to be easily adjusted with light pressure from one hand - therefore it is not capable of taking the weight and this is borne out by other youtube examples.

The keyboard case, as is, is not designed for such an orientation. That being said, im sure that Apple will refine the design for V2 to allow a bit more flexibility.

Also, if you are worried.. just buy it, try it, and send it back if you dont like it.

But if this mode is essential... then this is clearly not what its been designed to do.

 

[Fat.tofu]

I would say no. Although this in ingenuity at work.. its also wishful thinking. The secondary hinge is clearly supposed to be easily adjusted with light pressure from one hand - therefore it is not capable of taking the weight and this is borne out by other youtube examples.

The keyboard case, as is, is not designed for such an orientation. That being said, im sure that Apple will refine the design for V2 to allow a bit more flexibility.

Also, if you are worried.. just buy it, try it, and send it back if you dont like it.

But if this mode is essential... then this is clearly not what its been designed to do.

Yeah the thing is some early reviewers say yes its stable, some not, but now many new reviews say it isnt.
Apparently this method quite popular in japan.
Unfortunately where i live now we dont have apple store, re-seller jack up price and have no-return policy.
I guess if i were to get this i have to tinker with 3d printing a clip or sort of resistant mechanism to make it stable at that angle. Thx peeps.

 

[DougFNJ]

https://www.reddit.com/r/ipad/comments/g55x9v

Ok, now THIS is looking like a good compromise. Thank you for that. So would the iPad be attached with magnets when on top of the case? If I were to hold that in my hand while standing and drawing, is it stable?

 

[DaveOZ]

It’s not stiff enough to hold in that position while drawing, I tried it. But I did flip the ipad around to detach it from the physical keyboard which allows you to use the onscreen keyboard as needed. I also placed my glasses case under it for support. In the end I concluded that it’s easier to just take it off for drawing.

 

[zhenya]

I would say no. Although this in ingenuity at work.. its also wishful thinking. The secondary hinge is clearly supposed to be easily adjusted with light pressure from one hand - therefore it is not capable of taking the weight and this is borne out by other youtube examples.

The keyboard case, as is, is not designed for such an orientation. That being said, im sure that Apple will refine the design for V2 to allow a bit more flexibility.

Also, if you are worried.. just buy it, try it, and send it back if you dont like it.

But if this mode is essential... then this is clearly not what its been designed to do.

If you do most of your writing/drawing with your palm in the lower half of the screen, which I always do naturally anyhow on an iPad because it’s much more comfortable, and freed from the constraints of physical paper, it’s no issue to simply pan or scroll to put the focal point in the most comfortable position, the hinge is plenty stiff to tolerate extensive note taking or drawing in this orientation.

Ideally there would be some position that allowed for a bunch of flexibility in the drawing position as well, but even the Surface pro, with its flexible hinge, is not as great as it appears - I always found that in the lower drawing positions that the kickstand and front edge of the device did not provide enough surface area (lol) to keep the device physically secure while writing or drawing in those positions - there wasn’t enough friction against most hard surfaces, and the device would want to slide/walk around.

This isn’t a simple problem to solve.

 

[jcshas]

https://www.reddit.com/r/ipad/comments/g55x9v

This is almost identical to a way that I often use my current Apple Smart folio keyboard. I actually don't like folded over because it feels like you're holding bubble wrap.

 

[D3ggy]

So I have had the keyboard now for 15 hours, admittedly for 8 of them I was asleep but so far I am delighted with it.

Like now I often spend the first hour in a morning sitting up in bed reviewing the news and catching up on overnight email. The ability to have the screen at 90º or even less is great for sitting like this.

I also for the first time had the ipad sitting open on the bedside table. I realised the time on the home screen makes a great clock activated by touching the keyboard. With white letters and a black screen its not intrusive.

So to sum up. Great piece of kit, well made and nice to use. Expensive? Yes! Worth it? Yes!

 

[LiemTa]

It does not fold back. And I don't think it was an intended feature.

What part of

> no way an expected feature like folding back is supported

Is confusing to you?

 

[symphony]

What part of

> no way an expected feature like folding back is supported

Is confusing to you?

I am not confused. I’m telling you how it is. Understand it. There is no folding back feature the way you intended it to be used as.

 

[kht410]

https://www.reddit.com/r/ipad/comments/g55x9v

Does it get uncomfortable writing in this position?

 

[gsmornot]

Does it get uncomfortable writing in this position?

I’m not them but this is how I write on mine daily. I have it laying on my desk to the right of my mouse. I use it to take notes while on calls and throughout the day as I work on projects. I use it this way because it replaced a notebook I used to keep that also laid on the desk.

 

[LarTeROn]

My wife just got the 2024 6th gen ipad air with the magic keyboard. We can confirm that you can't really use the pencil and the keyboard at the same time because it won't lie flat; there's no unlocking mechanism. A deal breaker.
I'm encouraging her to sell it at a loss and get something else, even though the keyboard quality is incredible. (but cold be heavier than the ipad itself)

What should we replace it with?

 

[gsmornot]

My wife just got the 2024 6th gen ipad air with the magic keyboard. We can confirm that you can't really use the pencil and the keyboard at the same time because it won't lie flat; there's no unlocking mechanism. A deal breaker.
I'm encouraging her to sell it at a loss and get something else, even though the keyboard quality is incredible. (but cold be heavier than the ipad itself)

What should we replace it with?

You take it off the keyboard to write on then put it back when you’re doing keyboard type things. The magnets make it easy. I’ve done it for years now. I took a basic folio, cut off the front cover, then stick on the back that remains to give me something with a little more grip and protection. You could keep the folio together and fold that back, I just prefer less bulk.

You could also learn to use the keyboard and pencil with it standing. My daughter does. I don’t and I’m not sure how thats comfortable for her, but she does it daily.

 

[aYvYyyPhNa]

You take it off the keyboard to write on then put it back when you’re doing keyboard type things. The magnets make it easy. I’ve done it for years now. I took a basic folio, cut off the front cover, then stick on the back that remains to give me something with a little more grip and protection. You could keep the folio together and fold that back, I just prefer less bulk.

You could also learn to use the keyboard and pencil with it standing. My daughter does. I don’t and I’m not sure how thats comfortable for her, but she does it daily.

I can't believe I didn't try that lol

I just want a protective cover for the back of the iPad when it's not in the MK case. I have the folio as well and it totally attaches inside the keyboard. I'd have to cut off the front cover though so maybe I could find a cheap on on Amazon to use instead of cutting up the $80 one.