I think I should have bought the black magic keyboard.

[Tozovac]

If you are lucky the leather material will tear and fray at the edges as some owners have experienced and you will get a replacement from Apple. If so, insist on a black one.

This wear is inevitable. Huge design flaw. On my third one after such wear.

 

[alecgold]

This wear is inevitable. Huge design flaw. On my third one after such wear.

Within the year that they are out now?

 

[Nhwhazup]

This wear is inevitable. Huge design flaw. On my third one after such wear.

Really? I had a smart keyboard for my old iPad Pro 9.7 which came apart at the sides but also wouldn’t connect regularly. Apple replaced that one and the 2nd has been going strong and still is for my granddaughter. My new Magic Keyboard in white that I got on launch day still looks like new.

 

[Tozovac]

Really? I had a smart keyboard for my old iPad Pro 9.7 which came apart at the sides but also wouldn’t connect regularly. Apple replaced that one and the 2nd has been going strong and still is for my granddaughter. My new Magic Keyboard in white that I got on launch day still looks like new.

It’s weird. I’m very careful with my things and don’t abuse the Smart Keyboard. I’m careful with how I open it but the side seams just keep coming apart after 10 months. Maybe somehow is how I’m using it after all (must be) but I don’t know what else to do. IMHO, it’s Apple’s typical fashionable design first over long term durability. Why should the Smart Keyboard be made of what feels like hard, pressed cloth material and not a stronger plastic or harder material.

 

[Nhwhazup]

It’s weird. I’m very careful with my things and don’t abuse the Smart Keyboard. I’m careful with how I open it but the side seams just keep coming apart after 10 months. Maybe somehow is how I’m using it after all (must be) but I don’t know what else to do. IMHO, it’s Apple’s typical fashionable design first over long term durability. Why should the Smart Keyboard be made of what feels like hard, pressed cloth material and not a stronger plastic or harder material.

I think that I would use the Smart Keyboard as the cover and flip it around when just watching movies in bed. The edges of the keyboard would take the weight when having it on its side. I think that might have contributed to mine coming apart. When I got the new Smart Keyboard, I got a thin back case for the iPad and would remove the keyboard when not using it.

My new iPad Pro has a dbrand skin on it. I only put it on the keyboard when I’m using the keyboard. So no real pressure ever on the sides. So far no problems. 🤞🏻

 

[darngooddesign]

It’s weird. I’m very careful with my things and don’t abuse the Smart Keyboard. I’m careful with how I open it but the side seams just keep coming apart after 10 months. Maybe somehow is how I’m using it after all (must be) but I don’t know what else to do. IMHO, it’s Apple’s typical fashionable design first over long term durability. Why should the Smart Keyboard be made of what feels like hard, pressed cloth material and not a stronger plastic or harder material.

I've had a Smart Keyboard on my 9.7 Pro and five years later it's still fine. I think they chose the material because it was flexible enough to have keys.

 

[iGalileo]

First and foremost: learn to type blind, 10 fingers, reasonable speed at least. Its not much fun to learn, but will make life much easier. My best investment has been my drivers license (a bit of a thing here, not that easy) but a blind typing course on an old mechanical typewriter (East-German machine Erica, cheap and NOT cheerful) has been my second best investment. There are several websites and apps that are free where you can learn to type.


I have a love hate relationship with my iPad Magic Keyboard as well. My 2018 iPP 11” is half a laptop with the keyboard and every bit iPad without. I can attach it and lift it off again with one hand. I can type blind and at almost full speed even though it is not full sized. I even gave a way my folio keyboard because I didn’t use it. Wear is still minor after a good year of daily use. And the trackpad is delight when working in Word/Excel.
But the weight, it is horrible, the bloody iPMK weights more then my iPP itself. It’s more then doubling the weight!
The horror!! 🧛‍♂️

What I wanted to say is that the iPMK is a compromise. My iPad became much more versatile, but still isn’t a laptop. It’s stable but heavy, it’s really good to type on but not full sized.
Fact is that most things in life are a compromise. Its just that the trade offs here are nagging us a bit more then we would like.

I totally agree with your first recommendation, learn to type, it is great on the ipad and the keyboard shortcuts are coming.
Now I don’t have a Magic Keyboard, I could not bring my self to pay near $500 USD for a trackpad and keyboard, and also having the memory of very bad experience with apple folio keyboard. So I decided to build a work station with 3 things, that costs half as the Magic Keyboard:
1. A stand, I got the HoverBar Duo, it works great and puts the 12.9 screen at a face level.
2. A good mechanical keyboard, I got the Logitech G915 TKL. It’s low profile and I love to type on it.
3. A good pointing device. Again I wanted an Apple Trackpad, but its very expensive, so I got the MX Master 3.
All 3 items for less than the magic keyboard, and this time around I‘m experimenting the ipad on a “Productivity Mode” which lets me think and write really fast.
Now when I lift the ipad as a tablet, with the pencil, that’s my “Creativity mode” where I sketch and even hand write my thoughts and do some planning and design with the pencil.
In a nutshell, I would try other combinations of Keyboard and Mouse.

 

[alecgold]

I totally agree with your first recommendation, learn to type, it is great on the ipad and the keyboard shortcuts are coming.
Now I don’t have a Magic Keyboard, I could not bring my self to pay near $500 USD for a trackpad and keyboard, and also having the memory of very bad experience with apple folio keyboard. So I decided to build a work station with 3 things, that costs half as the Magic Keyboard:
1. A stand, I got the HoverBar Duo, it works great and puts the 12.9 screen at a face level.
2. A good mechanical keyboard, I got the Logitech G915 TKL. It’s low profile and I love to type on it.
3. A good pointing device. Again I wanted an Apple Trackpad, but its very expensive, so I got the MX Master 3.
All 3 items for less than the magic keyboard, and this time around I‘m experimenting the ipad on a “Productivity Mode” which lets me think and write really fast.
Now when I lift the ipad as a tablet, with the pencil, that’s my “Creativity mode” where I sketch and even hand write my thoughts and do some planning and design with the pencil.
In a nutshell, I would try other combinations of Keyboard and Mouse.

Sounds like a perfect setup and certainly more ergonomic! The mx3 is great, the 915 I don’t have, but Logitech makes good keyboards and with a stand it becomes a productivity centre.
For me the magic keyboard is nice, because of the portability, the nice keys and serious good trackpad. I fold it up pack it in my backpack and there I go.
but indeed, the price…

 

[kp98077]

I can say, that I returned my white MKB for a black one, the black one get SOOO dirty drives me nuts!! and its kinda depressing looking LOL!

 

[0186279]

I can say, that I returned my white MKB for a black one, the black one get SOOO dirty drives me nuts!! and its kinda depressing looking LOL!

You mean the white one?

 

[kp98077]

Yes white one!

 

[Livvie]

I think black always look so sleek and fancy, but I always go for white because it’s fun and I try to fill my life with brightness in the hopes of lightening my mood (subconsciously?)

 

[alecgold]

I think black always look so sleek and fancy, but I always go for white because it’s fun and I try to fill my life with brightness in the hopes of lightening my mood (subconsciously?)

In that case I’m eeyore, beyond redemption, everything is grey, when I’m adventurous it’s navy, but always solid colours. 😜😉
I do still regret my pacific blue iPhone 12 Pro Max. It’s a superb phone, but space grey is always better.

 

[S1004]

That's interesting! I thought the Black MK would look dirtier cause fingerprints are easily visible on the keyboard. Have you experienced this?

Leaning towards White + adding a white skin on it :X

Yes white one!

 

[kp98077]

That's interesting! I thought the Black MK would look dirtier cause fingerprints are easily visible on the keyboard. Have you experienced this?

Leaning towards White + adding a white skin on it :X

yes I am saying the black one looks WAAAAY dirtier... i was able to take it back, thanks god! white one now!

 

[Kyle76]

One positive of the black: the backlit keys are spectacular!

 

[0186279]

My guess is they get two different kinds of dirty.

Black is easier to see oil from fingertips all over, but white will actually discolor over time.

 

[sparksd]

Well, I bought the new 12.9” iPad Pro and white Magic Keyboard. I have a Logi Slim folio Pro keyboard from my 2018 iPad pro. This new one fits in it, but barely (new one is 1MM thicker or something Like that). I like the color and the trackpad, but I think I have less typing mistakes on my foli Pro. The keys are different and spaced more on the folio despite the magic keyboard having bigger keys. I don’t need the trackpad either. But, I went for this since this was supposed to be the thing to have.

Also, When in certain light, since the keys are white and the letters white when lit up, you can’t see them at all. They kind of washout. I’m not a pro typist, so I just don’t know the keys without looking at them. I think I should of bought the black one. But, It is nice, super well built. I will give it that for sure. For 350.00, I’m not if I’m super happy, which i should be.

I wish they could an easy way to turn the backlight off when I’m in certain light. But, it is first world problems. Just when you spend alot of money, You really hope it will be an awesome experience.

Anyone else have thoughts like this, or am I the only one thinking this. I want to love this thing, and I’m trying. I like i can remove the iPad easily and it is a beautiful piece of gear.

If Logitech comes out with the slim folio pro with magnetic back for the new iPad, I’m buying that Lol.

I also went for the Slim Folio Pro for my 2021 12.9. I like the layout and feel of the keys and having the function keys available. I much prefer using a mouse over a trackpad so I wanted a keyboard case without the trackpad.

 

[johntw]

I also went for the Slim Folio Pro for my 2021 12.9. I like the layout and feel of the keys and having the function keys available. I much prefer using a mouse over a trackpad so I wanted a keyboard case without the trackpad.

I had a hard time getting mine to fit, but it finally went in. However, I found it less stable than when I used it with a 2018/2020 model. I think the iPad Pro 2021’s extra weight is a bit too much for it. But I am glad it’s working for you!

 

[sparksd]

I had a hard time getting mine to fit, but it finally went in. However, I found it less stable than when I used it with a 2018/2020 model. I think the iPad Pro 2021’s extra weight is a bit too much for it. But I am glad it’s working for you!

I got the Slim Folio for the 2021 model and it's an easy fit (like it had been with the 2018). No stability issues at all - do you mean in your lap?