First Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro Hands-On Videos Appear Online

[AudiA4]

I think the original Smart Folio Keyboard for last year's iPad Pros are superior in the sense of balancing utility with portability. The whole assembly is very thin and lightweight, yet key travel is quite good. Last year's version can also fold COMPLETELY 360° to the backside, so there's no need to remove the case to simply use it as a tablet. I suppose Apple did a good job considering the additional functionality, but to me, that's WAY TOO MUCH COMPROMISE just for a trackpad, because that's ALL this adds (in addition to weight!).
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Nice review, but honestly man- clean that room up bro.

Exactly!

 

[LovingTeddy]

400 Canadian Dollar keyboard.... that is already a laptop money for good....
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This makes the iPad more like a Mac than ever before. Now all we need is a developer mode for installing Unix command line tools, a dedicated development partition on the flash storage, and a touch-enabled iPadOS version of Xcode.

You are asking too much. iPadOS will be forever iOS based which means you will never have developer mode, partition managers. People here want iPad being iPad and Mac being Mac....

 

[ksgant]

Wow...impressive. I mean, yeah, the keyboard is cool and all and I'd like to have one...but what's impressive that I opened this thread and so far there's no "If yOU WANt a LAPTop, jUSt buy A LapToP iNSteAd OF tHis" post.

 

[yegon]

I think the original Smart Folio Keyboard for last year's iPad Pros are superior in the sense of balancing utility with portability. The whole assembly is very thin and lightweight, yet key travel is quite good. Last year's version can also fold COMPLETELY 360° to the backside, so there's no need to remove the case to simply use it as a tablet. I suppose Apple did a good job considering the additional functionality, but to me, that's WAY TOO MUCH COMPROMISE just for a trackpad, because that's ALL this adds (in addition to weight!).
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Exactly!

Personally, I think it adds way more than just the trackpad.

Backlit keys (which I’m not that fussed about, but nice addition), variable angles, better typing experience (subjective, but I’d hazard the vast majority would agree - although I quite like the ASK keys), pass though power.

If none of these matter to you, I understand, but they are additions beyond a trackpad.

 

[Mr. Awesome]

Is anyone else kinda disappointed that it’s not a Force Touch trackpad?

(Some other reviews I read said that you could click anywhere on it, “like on Apple’s MacBooks,” so I thought it might be Force Touch)

 

[C. Robert]

I ordered it and was excited but looking at it in action, makes me question my purchase. It’s really thick and looks heavy. It also looks Cheap and like it will wear quickly for the price. I think I’ll just have a keyboard should I need one in a pinch.

 

[yegon]

Is anyone else kinda disappointed that it’s not a Force Touch trackpad?

(Some other reviews I read said that you could click anywhere on it, “like on Apple’s MacBooks,” so I thought it might be Force Touch)

Yeah, one less thing to wear out/break.

It’s the lack of function row I will miss, but heyho. I see how it’d be a squeeze with that design, but even half size would be fine.

 

[BamaGuy]

Thanks for the posting! Four quick questions:

​

1. How well does the keyboard case fit onto the 1st generation 11” iPad Pro which is supposedly compatible, despite a different camera size/shape?​

​

2. Does Apple Pencil still fit well and strongly when case is open or closed or does it fall off more readily then with a non-keyboard case?​

​

3. I think I know the answer to this, but can you still write/annotate with Pencil when the keyboard is in use?​

​

4. So, I take it there is no way for the front cover to wrap behind the iPad (as do all prior covers/cases) and magnetically stick to the back so you can hold the iPad like a book when not needing to use the keyboard or do you have to always remove the iPad (as you show is possible) to hold it without the keyboard awkwardly being in the way?​

​

I greatly appreciate your reply to these questions.

Thank you!

 

[AudiA4]

Personally, I think it adds way more than just the trackpad.

Backlit keys (which I’m not that fussed about, but nice addition), variable angles, better typing experience (subjective, but I’d hazard the vast majority would agree - although I quite like the ASK keys), pass though power.

If none of these matter to you, I understand, but they are additions beyond a trackpad.

True. Fair enough. But to me, those are little concession for what you give up in portability, weight, and lack of (literal) flexibility.

 

[kissmo]

What “minimal” case did the first guy have, where it went up and encased the Pencil? If anyone knows, please let me know. I like how it looks!

I was looking for the same and I found this:

SWITCHEASY CoverBuddy Case for iPad Pro 11inch (2018 Release), with Pencil Holder [Support Apple Pencil Charging], Perfect for Official Smart Keyboard, Smart Folio (Space Black)

SWITCHEASY CoverBuddy Case for iPad Pro 11inch (2018 Release), with Pencil Holder [Support Apple Pencil Charging], Perfect for Official Smart Keyboard, Smart Folio (Space Black)

www.amazon.com

 

[fbr$]

Nice review, but honestly man- clean that room up bro.

Yeah, and also stop saying "humm" in every phrase!

 

[satchmo]

No one asked if this thing can operate in tablet mode?
From the looks of it, it doesn't allow any way to fold down flat or flip completely over so one can hold in one hand like a book.

 

[mattopotamus]

Is anyone else kinda disappointed that it’s not a Force Touch trackpad?

(Some other reviews I read said that you could click anywhere on it, “like on Apple’s MacBooks,” so I thought it might be Force Touch)

I think “tapping” still works. The force touch is just haptic feedback when you press down. This just actually presses down. Tap to click and force touch are two different things.

merit: nm, reread your post and you seem to get that

 

[mrex]

Looks awful. Far too bulky. Just release an iOS based MacBook Already.

yes awful and cheap.

 

[cmaier]

Is anyone else kinda disappointed that it’s not a Force Touch trackpad?

(Some other reviews I read said that you could click anywhere on it, “like on Apple’s MacBooks,” so I thought it might be Force Touch)

Force touch for what? Apple’s even phased force touch out of iphones, and it never existed in ipads. What would a force touch do?

 

[yegon]

True. Fair enough. But to me, those are little concession for what you give up in portability, weight, and lack of (literal) flexibility.

You’re definitely right about portability. The ASK is sleek and light for what it does. Despite having a Logitech keyboard I always end up coming back to it for this reason.

Equally it does diminish the tablet and portable experience somewhat. A factor in my interest is that I rarely use it without the keyboard attached and never find myself wrapping the case around, prefer to just use it naked when I do use it in portrait.

Since I already own the ASK I may use them both depending on usage. What is nice is how simple it is to use either, something lost with third party and Bluetooth equivalents.
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Force touch for what? Apple’s even phased force touch out of iphones, and it never existed in ipads. What would a force touch do?

I think they mean force touch like on MacBooks. It’s not a physical moving part, but feels like you are depressing the trackpad.

 

[MrExitStrategy]

Thanks for the posting! Four quick questions:

​

1. How well does the keyboard case fit onto the 1st generation 11” iPad Pro which is supposedly compatible, despite a different camera size/shape?​

​

2. Does Apple Pencil still fit well and strongly when case is open or closed or does it fall off more readily then with a non-keyboard case?​

​

3. I think I know the answer to this, but can you still write/annotate with Pencil when the keyboard is in use?​

​

4. So, I take it there is no way for the front cover to wrap behind the iPad (as do all prior covers/cases) and magnetically stick to the back so you can hold the iPad like a book when not needing to use the keyboard or do you have to always remove the iPad (as you show is possible) to hold it without the keyboard awkwardly being in the way?​

​

I greatly appreciate your reply to these questions.

Thank you!

Hi!

1) It fits perfectly, it’s just the camera cutout hole looks a little too big.
2) The pencil fits the same. Though if it’s attached to the iPad, you may have to use the side of the iPad to open the keyboard case instead of opening it from the front.
3) Yes you can, though the angle might not be the best for it.
4) You always have to remove the iPad from the keyboard if you want to use it as a tablet. The keyboard doesn’t flip back like the smart folio keyboard.

 

[yegon]

I think “tapping” still works. The force touch is just haptic feedback when you press down. This just actually presses down. Tap to click and force touch are two different things.

merit: nm, reread your post and you seem to get that

It is a moving part though. The reviewer detaches the iPad and it still clicks/moves. It wouldn’t move if it was a force trackpad like MacBooks, or the Touch ID sensor on iPhone 7 and up.

 

[jimmy_uk]

Confirmed IMO - MS built in kickstand and KB is a better all round solution and design

100% agree but no one will want to give any praise to Microsoft here. Look how much hate the Surface has had over the years - and this is where we end up with the ipad.

It wouldn't hurt the ipad one bit if it had a built in kickstand, sure it would make it slightly thicker but then it might end up being structurally stronger with an even bigger battery and better thermals.....not gonna happen (not this design generation anyway).

 

[fbr$]

Many times I pick up the 2018 it is in the wrong orientation, the 9.7" Pro hardly ever did that.

Pretty embarrassing for Apple this problem is in the first keyboard hands on video!

Just ask Siri: "Siri, can you please stop openning my iPad in the wrong orientation?"

Solved! 😂

 

[Haust]

So what will the USB-C port run? Will it run an external SSD drive like a Samsung T5?

 

[DisraeliGears]

Great info!

Question I didn’t see addressed, is it possible to magnetically mount it in portrait mode? So the iPad is held onto the keyboard vertically? Tbh I don’t see myself doing that much, but it could provide a better perspective for the endless zoom meetings.

 

[Ballis]

So you can charge the iPad through the keyboard?

 

[Expos of 1969]

Does anyone else get annoyed by videos where they hold the camera and try to do everything one-handed! I usually have to stop watching as soon as someone tries to attempt something one-handed and it makes it look so awkward!

Could he not clean up the area in view a bit before filming? Was he wearing a nightgown or just bad shorts? His 15 minutes of fame (ok, really 4 minutes) and that's how he wants to portray himself? Oh well, his choice.

And regarding the product....geez...just get a laptop.

 

[MrExitStrategy]

100% agree but no one will want to give any praise to Microsoft here. Look how much hate the Surface has had over the years - and this is where we end up with the ipad.

It wouldn't hurt the ipad one bit if it had a built in kickstand, sure it would make it slightly thicker but then it might end up being structurally stronger with an even bigger battery and better thermals.....not gonna happen (not this design generation anyway).

I used to have a Surface Pro 2 and loved it. Though, I’ll say that the Surface’s build-in kickstand makes it hard to use it on the lap, but not the case with the Magic Keyboard.