Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Gen 1 Magic Keyboard SHOULD BE compatible with 2021 12.9 iPad Pro

S

SOL1995

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 14, 2020
12
56
I use a SwitchEasy CoverBuddy Case with my 2018 12.9 iPad Pro alongside my Magic Keyboard, and have had no issues.

The third party cover adds 0.08" (~2mm) extra thickness to the iPad Pro, which has had no impact on using the Magic Keyboard. With the new 2021 12.9 iPad Pro *only* being 0.5mm thicker, you should be able to use the new iPad Pros with the original Magic Keyboards.

Screen Shot 2021-04-22 at 12.47.52 pm.png
 
if the magnets have changed in the new Magic Keyboard, then it wouldn't be compatible at all with the 3rd (2018) or 4th (2020) iPad Pro 12.9s.

As the new Magic Keyboard is listed as being compatible with the previous generations, the magnet placements would not have changed so drastically.
 
  • Like
Reactions: papbot and Cbarnett202
Ok
SOL1995 said:
if the magnets have changed in the new Magic Keyboard, then it wouldn't be compatible at all with the 3rd (2018) or 4th (2020) iPad Pro 12.9s.

As the new Magic Keyboard is listed as being compatible with the previous generations, the magnet placements would not have changed so drastically.
Click to expand...
Good point. Crossing fingers, but if I don’t hear any concrete by end of this week, I’ll have to return my unopened MKB I got on sale.
Anyone have any idea who we can contact for info? Email Tim Cook? Lol.
 
vega07 said:
Ok

Good point. Crossing fingers, but if I don’t hear any concrete by end of this week, I’ll have to return my unopened MKB I got on sale.
Anyone have any idea who we can contact for info? Email Tim Cook? Lol.
Click to expand...
Also if you look at the Apple Store the current Smart Keyboard folio is shown as compatible with the 5th gen ipad. That implies all physical connections - magnets and pins - are the same. The only difference is that the MKB has backlit keys. That would seem to be the only possible feature that wouldn’t work. Even that seems unlikely to me. The only reporting I can find anywhere that mentions keyboard incompatibility is that Touch ID on the iPad Magic Keyboard will not work with the new iPad. The keyboard works but not Touch ID. So as a pure guess I think at worst backlighting might not work with the MKB.
 
papbot said:
Also if you look at the Apple Store the current Smart Keyboard folio is shown as compatible with the 5th gen ipad. That implies all physical connections - magnets and pins - are the same. The only difference is that the MKB has backlit keys. That would seem to be the only possible feature that wouldn’t work. Even that seems unlikely to me. The only reporting I can find anywhere that mentions keyboard incompatibility is that Touch ID on the iPad Magic Keyboard will not work with the new iPad. The keyboard works but not Touch ID. So as a pure guess I think at worst backlighting might not work with the MKB.
Click to expand...
Not sure what you're talking about there... neither the old nor new iPad MKs have TouchID...
 
Last edited:
C. Robert said:
Im getting the new IPad and no way am I buying another magic keyboard. I will tape this damn thing on.
Click to expand...

A better action that could change Apple’s course of actions in the future would be boycotting the new iPad Pro 12” altogether and using your current Pro with its MK for as long as possible. This might teach them a lesson, whereas giving them another 1K$ will not.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: sracer, lyngo and C. Robert
Verge saying it won’t work maybe it’s to do with closing and if will work just not fully
 
one more said:
A better action that could change Apple’s course of actions in the future would be boycotting the new iPad Pro 12” altogether and using your current Pro with its MK for as long as possible. This might tech them a lesson, whereas giving them another 1K$ will not.
Click to expand...
We all know that this will not happen. The mass will throw money at Apple no matter what they do.
They love to do that so you buy more stuff that is not necessary because the old one would technically work.... but... more profits.
 
We know for sure the position of the magnets has changed. The size and position of the camera bump as well.

That 0.5mm difference in thickness is just another thing on the list.

iPad Pro 4th Gen.jpgiPad Pro 5th Gen.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: off3nc3, LogicalApex and vega07
Interesting if a little depressing as an owner of the previous MKB. So apple might be able to have a pattern in the new keyboard to cover both iPads, but not the other way round

wonder why they moved them?
 
mrklaw said:
Interesting if a little depressing as an owner of the previous MKB. So apple might be able to have a pattern in the new keyboard to cover both iPads, but not the other way round

wonder why they moved them?
Click to expand...

A whole of stuff has probably changed, including the logic board, antennas, and battery shape (capacity increased by 11%).
 
mrklaw said:
Interesting if a little depressing as an owner of the previous MKB. So apple might be able to have a pattern in the new keyboard to cover both iPads, but not the other way round

wonder why they moved them?
Click to expand...
Since the current Smart Keyboard Folio which is for sale now and is shown as compatible with the 5th gen I don’t think too much has changed with the magnets, at least not enough for the MKB to be unusable, and obviously the connector pins are the same. And the camera cut out must be the same as well for it to still be compatible. I’m still guessing that for those who just leave the MKB in an open position rather than closing it up and carrying it with them will still be able to use it with no significant issue. I have the Smart Folio Keyboard as well as the MKB and the attachment points, magnets, feel the same to me so I fully expect my MKB to work, as a stationary device. As a carrying case..well we shall see. If it does function as I expect then I will have time to decide what I really need. Or just stick with the Smart Folio Keyboard. I don’t use the trackpad that much, I mainly value it for the backlit keys. I’m sure many will be considering what kind of trade-off they really need to make.
 
How
JPack said:
We know for sure the position of the magnets has changed. The size and position of the camera bump as well.

That 0.5mm difference in thickness is just another thing on the list.

View attachment 1763761View attachment 1763762
Click to expand...
How do you know based on those pictures the camera bump has moved? And by how much? That alone would make sense why the current one would not be compatible.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Storm999
vega07 said:
How

How do you know based on those pictures the camera bump has moved? And by how much? That alone would make sense why the current one would not be compatible.
Click to expand...

Those details are in the Accessory Design Guidelines R14. Just Google for it to find the doc.
 
That’s confusing since the current smart folio as well as Smart Keyboard folio, and even a 3rd party folio I found on Amazon which have all been and still are available now all state they are compatible with 3rd, 4th, and 5th gens. So either they have bigger camera cutouts to compensate for the camera change or the camera is the same. Something doesn’t sound right. The 3rd party folio is just a copy of the Apple one, much cheaper but uses the same magnet attachments to the back of the device. Until someone actually has one in hand I don’t think we’ll know what the limitations actually are.
 
I just took a look at those diagrams, the camera assembly for the 5th gen is smaller than the 4th gen so the cutouts of any 4th gen case should accommodate it with no issue. My guess is that the additional weight of the device combined with some change in magnet placement may make the combo less stable since the iPad is in an elevated position and not resting on the bottom edge as it does in the other cases. That may be more significant than .5mm which really should also be an issue for the Smart Keyboard folio but apparently is not since it is available and shown as compatible. So neither the camera nor the thickness should be the main issue.
 
I take that back, I was looking at the wrong dimensions. I’m all confused! I’ll just have to wait till I have one in my hands.
 
papbot said:
I just took a look at those diagrams, the camera assembly for the 5th gen is smaller than the 4th gen so the cutouts of any 4th gen case should accommodate it with no issue. My guess is that the additional weight of the device combined with some change in magnet placement may make the combo less stable since the iPad is in an elevated position and not resting on the bottom edge as it does in the other cases. That may be more significant than .5mm which really should also be an issue for the Smart Keyboard folio but apparently is not since it is available and shown as compatible. So neither the camera nor the thickness should be the main issue.
Click to expand...
Wait, so the camera cutout is smaller? Should fit any gen 4 case then, correct?
 
Coolio1234 said:
Wait, so the camera cutout is smaller? Should fit any gen 4 case then, correct?
Click to expand...
I was looking at the wrong dimensions when I posted that. But the Smart Folio Keyboard, the current one, is shown as compatible, so whoever has one with their current iPad Pro should be good. And I’ve seen at least one product that’s just a copy of Apple’s folio which was originally sold for the 4th gen model, now show it also compatible for the 5th gen. All those had camera cutouts for the 4th gen so how are they fitting the new one? As I said I’m confused and until some reviewer gets their hands on a real one we won’t really know what fits and what doesn’t.
 
I ordered and have received the 3rd party folio from Amazon that says in the product description it is compatible with the 5th gen iPP. The camera cutout as well as the magnets, as far as I can tell, match up exactly with my Magic Keyboard. So either this thing isn’t really compatible with the 5th gen, glad it was pretty cheap, or the camera placement and dimensions as well as magnet placements have not changed enough to make a significant difference. My guess is whatever changes in the device that Apple has made are enough to vary from their specs so they don’t claim compatibility with the current MKB but don’t actually affect its functioning with the new device. It’s possible that the additional weight plus whatever changes were made to the magnets could have an effect on stability but not affect any function. The .5mm additional thickness shouldn’t affect anything.

I’m thinking that all current owners of the MKB will be able to use it should they purchase the new iPP but those who do not own one but are considering purchasing it will be able to use it with the new 5th gen or with any 3rd or 4th gen device they may already have. Again all pure speculation till someone actually gets their hands on the iPP but it’s a good idea to assume, for now, that the MKB will work and hold off, if anyone was planning on ordering the new one, until you have the iPP in hand.
 
Is it even worth considering getting a 2020 MKB that is now reduced to clear for a 2021 12.9 iPad Pro?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back