iPad Accessories: A Quick Compatibility Guide for the Confused

[ocdeal]

It's a bit ridiculous to expect a consumer to distinguish between a Smart Keyboard, Smart Folio, Smart Keyboard Folio, Magic Keyboard, and Magic Keyboard Folio!

I expect Apple will consolidate this lineup in the years to come.

 

[gpat]

It’s likely they have tons of leftover Apple Pencils 1st gen and leftover Apple Pencil digitisers for the screen, or they can get them manufactured very cheap. It helps them maintain their profit margins basically, a friend of mine in the operations world is in love with Tim Cook and keeps me informed 😅

Slimming down inventory would also help, so I’m guessing it’s more that they have the stock to move

That's not a bad point, but they could've achieved that even only with the iPad 9, which stayed in production anyway.
Instead they went and designed the absurd pencil adapter and even released an iPad with a different Smart Connector standard compared to anything before it.
And they'll have to support even more stuff now, unnecessarily I'd say.

 

[Techwatcher]

Excellent article. The fact that this article exists is an issue though.

 

[Techwatcher]

If Jobs were able to return to Apple he would have everyone executed.

Jobs was very stubborn on certain areas though. We would still be using an iPad in our hands in portrait mode with no pencil if it were up to him. Tim Cook is just taking this too far to where customers have no idea what items to buy.

 

[KPOM]

I'm even more confused because this makes the inventory management unnecessarily hard for them.
Can't figure what would be their goal doing this.

My guess is that Apple will eventually move the “Smart Connector” on the Pros, but didn’t want to make a wholesale change in what was essentially a spec bump year for them.

 

[KPOM]

Jobs was very stubborn on certain areas though. We would still be using an iPad in our hands in portrait mode with no pencil if it were up to him. Tim Cook is just taking this too far to where customers have no idea what items to buy.

Steve Jobs opposed the iPad mini. It turned out to be a great seller.

 

[mansplains]

Adding to the confusion. Once you start adding a keyboard to most iPad's, you might as well consider a Macbook Air or a low end MBP. When you consider the prices of the 12.9" iPad then add $349 keyboard you begin to bump up a much better product for the job like a Macbook.

The worst part is most marketing images for iPads include some sort of keyboard, like it's expected instead of an option for those who need it. At least the Apple stores near me have more iPads without keyboards on the sales floor for an actual first impression of a tablet. But more to your point, iPad 12.9/wifi with magic keyboard is ~$250 less than full price 14" MBP with same storage. The main advantages to the iPad would be pencil and cellular support, but the additional cost of cellular would close that $250 gap even more. Then factor in MBPs on sale...

 

[aParkerMusic]

It’s messy but not confusing. If you’re that confused: go to Apple.com, go to the accessories page, filter by your model of iPad, and see everything to that is appropriate for that model.

The only thing that has changed since the day before the announcement is that there is a new “iPad” and it has its own keyboard case and a very silly way to use Apple Pencil.

But in general, this is not different from having to figure out which iPhone cases are available for your model iPhone.

I think they made a bizarre decision with the Apple Pencil, though I think I know WHY they did. But I also think we’re trying to make a little more out of this than is necessary.

 

[Mainsail]

I agree the line-up is getting confusing. I think Apple has moved from a consumer/pro line-up to a good/better/best line-up:

Good
iPhone SE
iPad 9 & 10
MacBook Air M1
Mac mini M1
Watch SE
AirPods 2nd Gen

Better
iPhone 14 & 14plus
iPad Air & Mini
MacBook Air M2 or MacBook Pro 13in
iMac
Watch
AirPods 3rd Gen

Best
iPhone Pro & ProMax
iPad Pro
MacBook Pro
Mac Studio
Watch Ultra
AirPods Pro

One thing that makes this confusing is keeping around older devices presumably to clear out inventory. I think the MacBook Pro 13in is kind of an example. Perhaps the iPad 9 is another, but there may still be a customer base for the cheapest possible iPad that is part of the Apple ecosystem.

I don't know how to explain some of the design decisions on latest iPad, especially as it relates to the pencil. Perhaps, moving the front facing camera to landscape prohibited Apple Pencil 2 type magnetic charging above the camera, so they stuck with Apple Pencil 1. Still, it sure seems like they came up with a funky solution. As for the keyboard connector, I think they wanted to go the route of a detachable keyboard that retained a kickstand, and the connector at the bottom somehow made this easier. Logitech made a similar keyboard case for older iPads with bottom connectors. But, these were bulkier than what Apple is offering.

 

[sleeptodream]

Have to keep in mind that consumers looking for an entry level iPad are more price sensitive, and keeping compatibility with Apple Pencil 1 is probably a good thing for them, if they already have one from their previous iPad they can continue using it on this one. Saves them another $129 Apple Pencil purchase, while also saving costs on the internals of the iPad itself. Not the worst thing ever, but probably not what Jobs would’ve done 🙃

 

[JohnLakemanSadSpy]

He‘s been riding on Jobs’ coat tails for ten years but the wheels are now coming off. Profits will doubtless continue into orbit but in my view the company is already Apple in name only. Ive leaving was probably the harbinger.

Meh….what Ive did on the software side was pretty bad, imo. He obviously did great work on the hardware side.

 

[Malcy16]

If we could get more interesting colours for the iPad Mini then that would be super.

 

[xpxp2002]

Jobs was very stubborn on certain areas though. We would still be using an iPad in our hands in portrait mode with no pencil if it were up to him. Tim Cook is just taking this too far to where customers have no idea what items to buy.

Agreed. I was elated when Tim Cook finally started opening up the Apple ecosystem a little bit. Jobs was so draconian -- can't have MS Office on our "superior" hardware. Apple can't offer a stylus, no matter how strong a use case you might have.

One of the first things I remember was Apple working with Microsoft on redesigning the Office suite of apps specifically for iPadOS. It was actually what finally convinced me to leave Windows Phone for an iPhone. It seemed like we were headed in a better direction where Apple would work with partners where it made sense, but mandate quality in ways other tech companies would compromise in the name of keeping prices low or profits high.

But now we need some moderation. Tim Cook has just taken Apple in too far of an extreme into the other direction, where they have a product and line of accessories for every price point, every size, and every device form-factor. And what used to be a premium product, like the mainstream iPhone with the latest tech, at a high but still affordable price has just gone out of reach for many. The fact that Apple feels the need to offer no less than five tablet products ranging from $329 to over $2000 is a perfect example of that.

 

[_Spinn_]

Apple has really made the iPad line too confusing.

 

[Lakersfan74]

Nothing confusing people are just too lazy to check

 

[darngooddesign]

If Jobs were able to return to Apple he would have everyone executed.

Remember when Steve Jobs was selling five different iPod models simultaneously?

 

[newyorksole]

Honestly, it's not very confusing.

it’s really not lmao. people making a huge deal.

 

[GuruZac]

But now we need some moderation. Tim Cook has just taken Apple in too far of an extreme into the other direction, where they have a product and line of accessories for every price point, every size, and every device form-factor. And what used to be a premium product, like the mainstream iPhone with the latest tech, at a high but still affordable price has just gone out of reach for many. The fact that Apple feels the need to offer no less than five tablet products ranging from $329 to over $2000 is a perfect example of that.

I agree with this. Do you think Apple began chasing every price point, size, etc because they realize once they get the hardware in people’s hands, they’ll inevitably buy in to the lucrative services?

I’ve kind of sat back and thought about how Apple could have actually improved the iPad Pros This year. Honestly, on the 11” add XDR, and on both add landscape camera. Hardware wise they don’t need much. They’re so capable as they are. On the iPad 10, well, still scratching my head on that one.

 

[meson]

It only takes a couple of minutes to charge the pencil, go get a cup of coffee or drink of water or stand up, walk around, and stretch. You can even top it off it while complaining about the Pencil on MacRumors.

I'm not complaining, it is what it is in both cases. However, both are without doubt poor design decisions.

It makes very little sense to change from a lightning port to a USBC port and then provide support for a device that must be connected via a lightning port in order to pair.

How hard would it have been to move the top button to the right side (consistent with iPhone design language), move the camera to the landscape location, and then place a Pencil 2 charging coil on the top edge? I suspect that it has to do with keeping a current model in the lineup that supports Pencil 1 because the removal of the headphone jack is likely to keep the 9th generation model around in some way shape or form for an extended period for a price point and to satisfy the EDU and enterprise markets and they need to maintain some level of economies of scale to produce the Pencil 1.

 

[Kiwamu]

I love the design of the new iPad 10 Magic Keyboard. Why Apple didn’t include the same function row on the Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro/Air is beyond me. I’m using mine right now and looking at where the function row would be. There’s plenty of room.

Probably they didn't think of it back than.

I wonder is the new Magic Keyboard Folio compatible with the iPad Air since the iPad 10th gen is basically a watered down Air?

Nope, the product page even says so and other reports indicate that Apple made it so that the magnetic connectors are on a different placing, to make sure you don't "accidently" buy the Magic Keyboard. If you want the Magic Keyboard Folio for the Air, you have to look at LOGITECH, they have the Folio Touch for that. I have it for my Air and it works well.

 

[GuruZac]

Probably they didn't think of it back than.



Nope, the product page even says so and other reports indicate that Apple made it so that the magnetic connectors are on a different placing, to make sure you don't "accidently" buy the Magic Keyboard. If you want the Magic Keyboard Folio for the Air, you have to look at LOGITECH, they have the Folio Touch for that. I have it for my Air and it works well.

That’s exactly my point. The function row would easily fit on the Magic Keyboard.

 

[Kiwamu]

That’s exactly my point. The function row would easily fit on the Magic Keyboard.

Gotta have to wait for the Magic Keyboard 2... or will they name it Magic Keyboard Pro?

 

[ChrisDolphin]

This doesn’t clear anything up. I am still unsure if my Magic Keyboard bought last year will work with new iPad 11 inch. I believe it should but you can’t tell from apple

I'm in same bought but I've gone ahead and bought the one off Amazon for £279 which covers v1,2 & 3....instead of the one on Apple site that is £319 ! If you search for earlier iPad Pro compatible Magic Keyboard - it comes up with the latest anyway.....so older keyboard must be compatible ? They made a newer version of the Magic k'board for the 2nd or 3rd version as it was slightly thicker but previous vs still fits it...

 

[ChrisDolphin]

IMO, it's clear on Apple's site that the 11" MK is compatible with every 11" iPad Air and iPad Pro. You could also chat with an Apple rep on their site to double-check.

View attachment 2098399

Its the other way around I believe they are asking. Can I use an older MK with the new Ipad 11inch v4.....I think you can....

 

[GuruZac]

Gotta have to wait for the Magic Keyboard 2... or will they name it Magic Keyboard Pro?

They need to just stop with the ‘Pro’ branding. Other than the higher end Macs, non of the other Pro branded products are Pro. Just name only. I actually am really glad the Watch Ultra ended up not being Watch Pro as we all thought. Ultra makes more sense. There’s nothing Pro about my iPad. Who defines what is professional any way.