Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro Reviews and Unboxing Videos: Huge Jump Forward in Usability, But Expensive and Heavy

[Mr.Blacky]

Sounds like your usage is not suited for a keyboard...

Okay, but what use case do you have for this? Do you write lengthy books or other documents on your iPad? And what does the trackpad do for me?🤔

 

[Rogifan]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1252244941495054337

This is so ridiculous. For years the knock on the iPad was it was just a consumption device and couldn’t do “real work” like you can on a laptop. But now this is bad because the iPad shouldn’t be a like a laptop? 🤷🏼‍♀️

I’m going to take a wild guess that those who don’t want an iPad to be like a laptop are not Apple’s target audience for this product. And if you just want to use iPad as a consumption device you can still do that.

 

[The Game 161]

Okay, but what use case do you have for this? Do you write lengthy books or other documents on your iPad? And what does the trackpad do for me?

I use mine as a tablet but mainly as a laptop replacement. My iPad rarely leaves the ASK and soon to be magic keyboard. I find the 12.9 too big to use in hand apart from on the sofa with my knees up so for me it’s always on a keyboard...sounds like you have the 11 inch model and use it as just a tablet. Depending on your usage I don’t think you need it

 

[Adelphos33]

IJustine may be the most advanced user of the iPad of all time

 

[Darth Tulhu]

I cannot justify paying $300 - $350 for the keyboard. For a 12.9 inch iPad Pro + keyboard, this is nearly has heavy as a MacBook Pro.

But you cannot draw on a MacBook Pro' screen, you cannot leave its keyboard at home/in the hotel when you don't need it, and you cannot run iPadOS on the Mac.

Some people prefer to do all of the above.

This thing addresses only ONE of the bazillion tasks an iPad can be used for: text editing

 

[nutmac]

who thinks to buy an ipad pro with the need for the magic keyboard, should go for the macbook instead....the weight is gone, the dimensions are near...but one runs just ipadOS....the other ipadOS apps, macOS apps, windows apps and linux
So if you need in general a keyboard clear go for macbook air or wait for the 14" Mbp

If Apple makes iPadBook in MacBook form factor, perhaps with a smaller screen, it will sell like hot cakes. Especially in .edu market.

 

[Darth Tulhu]

I think you're lying. You most definitely need a keyboard and mouse/trackpad for REAL work. If you don't use a real keyboard and mouse/trackpad, it's just a toy.

I hope this is sarcasm.

Do graphic artists not do real work? You can create a masterpiece, and attach a copy to a text document you composed, and send it to your team at a creative agency with more ease than ever before.

Pretty sure people get paid for this.
[automerge]1587400452[/automerge]

I cancelled my order. Unfortunately, you cannot use the iPad as a tablet while in the case, like you could with the previous smart keyboard case. I often flip the keyboard onto the back and use the iPad in portrait mode to write with the Pencil. With this case, you have to remove the iPad from the case to use it like that. I find that to be a drawback as it makes it less versatile for me. I don't want to remove the iPad from the case, and then have to keep track of the case separately.

Now THIS is a valid argument against the keyboard. That is the trade-off of having the iPad "float".

Another thing I see is, iPad protection when NOT on the keyboard.

I guess you can only have a skin on your iPad? Does that interfere with the operation?

 

[falainber]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1252244941495054337

This is so ridiculous. For years the knock on the iPad was it was just a consumption device and couldn’t do “real work” like you can on a laptop. But now this is bad because the iPad shouldn’t be a like a laptop? 🤷🏼‍♀️

I’m going to take a wild guess that those who don’t want an iPad to be like a laptop are not Apple’s target audience for this product. And if you just want to use iPad as a consumption device you can still do that.

The point here is that iPad in its original design was positioned by Apple as a laptop replacement. It failed at that. Then Apple essentially turned it into a laptop (size, price, weight, keyboard, mouse etc.). With all these changes it somewhat approaches laptop functionality but what's the point? Now it became just another laptop.

 

[Veinticinco]

Oh cool! Does that device have Face ID, a detachable 120Hz touch screen, a pen, and cellular connectivity? What’s it called? Do you have a link? Thanks.

No but it has TouchID, a reliably fixed Retina screen that isn’t constantly smeared with unsightly fingerprints and for no extra “cellular” cost, can automatically connect via your iPhone’s hotspot, a feature that’ll come in handy when you’re able to leave your house again.

 

[Darth Tulhu]

Okay, but what use case do you have for this? Do you write lengthy books or other documents on your iPad? And what does the trackpad do for me?🤔

School work. Email. Policy letters and docs on a creative arts/marketing agency/department.

The trackpad allows you to not have to repeatedly reach out to the screen when docked and working on a text document. No more gorilla arms.

 

[falainber]

I hope this is sarcasm.

Do graphic artists not do real work? You can create a masterpiece, and attach a copy to a text document you composed, and send it to your team at a creative agency with more ease than ever before.

Pretty sure people get paid for this.
[automerge]1587400452[/automerge]

Now THIS is a valid argument against the keyboard. That is the trade-off of having the iPad "float".

Another thing I see is, iPad protection when NOT on the keyboard.

I guess you can only have a skin on your iPad? Does that interfere with the operation?

All people use computers for typing. Relatively few people use computers for drawing. Just a handful of people can create a masterpiece (and those can do it with or without a computer).

 

[1144557]

Someone over on Reddit (forget who so props to that person) said that this should be thought of more as a dock than a folio keyboard.

Which is great, UNLESS you want a trackpad and a case to carry. If the folio design had a tackpad then sure, this is more of a dock. The current folio wont work by its design though as half the cover is taken up by the ipad itself.

But there are zero options if you want a portable case and trackpad; the feature Apple has been touting up-front for months in its marketing.

I believe Logitech made one but only for the 10.2 for some reason. So zero options right now for a bigger iPad.

 

[Darth Tulhu]

The point here is that iPad in its original design was positioned by Apple as a laptop replacement. It failed at that. Then Apple essentially turned it into a laptop (size, price, weight, keyboard, mouse etc.). With all these changes it somewhat approaches laptop functionality but what's the point? Now it became just another laptop.

No it didn't. Apple did not remove ANY touch-based functionality from the iPad. They just expanded it's text editing abilities.

Think of it as adding a trailer hitch or a bike rack to your car, instead of turning your car into a pickup truck.

 

[Deliro]

Yep. Got it. Just as heavy as a MacBook with watered down apps and inferior OS. For the same price. Look I’m a fan of my iPads and what it does well, being a productivity workhorse it currently isn’t.

Anyone that wants to do extensive work on one, heavy photo editing, complex spreadsheets, coding, needing plugins, etc etc is just a masochist if they try using an iPad for that.

Again, I enjoy both my iPads, so before the Apple legion gets all crazy, this is just my opinion and my observation since owning 5 different models from the first. It may become a productivity powerhouse, and I’ll enjoy seeing its evolution, but today software is the limitation.

 

[The Game 161]

Yep. Got it. Just as heavy as a MacBook with watered down apps and inferior OS. For the same price. Look I’m a fan of my iPads and what it does well, being a productivity workhorse it currently isn’t.

Anyone that wants to do extensive work on one, heavy photo editing, complex spreadsheets, coding, needing plugins, etc etc is just a masochist if they try using an iPad for that.

Again, I enjoy both my iPads, so before the Apple legion gets all crazy, this is just my opinion and my observation since owning 5 different models from the first. It may become a productivity powerhouse, and I’ll enjoy seeing its evolution, but today software is the limitation.

Everybody has different type of work and usage and for what you mentioned you’re not wrong. For many it can’t replace a laptop but for many others it can. Choice is good to have.

 

[Kylo83]

I miss the days apple used to tell people what they need now they just turned into a Microsoft surface, now they are giving up on the iPad being a tablet and make it a computer, now apple just give us touch screen on Mac OS

 

[Darth Tulhu]

All people use computers for typing. Relatively few people use computers for drawing. Just a handful of people can create a masterpiece (and those can do it with or without a computer).

Seriously??

Do you work in the creative industry? Have you EVER seen a Pixar or regular movie behind-the-scenes doc?

Regardless, this is irrelevant. Nobody is coming to take away your MacBook, holmes.

Those who CHOOSE to draw (or do anything else) on their iPad can now use it to do text editing with more ease, without having to reach out to a Mac. "Toy" or not.

 

[webbuzz]

What was excellent about the Verge review?

Nilay wasn't the reviewer?

 

[furqan8421]

All these reviews cannot tell you the truth. They are just too shallow. How much time did the reviewers spend with the keyboard? These videos are just first impressions, nothing more.

Realistically how much more is there to be said about a keyboard case?

 

[Darth Tulhu]

Yep. Got it. Just as heavy as a MacBook with watered down apps and inferior OS. For the same price. Look I’m a fan of my iPads and what it does well, being a productivity workhorse it currently isn’t.

Anyone that wants to do extensive work on one, heavy photo editing, complex spreadsheets, coding, needing plugins, etc etc is just a masochist if they try using an iPad for that.

Again, I enjoy both my iPads, so before the Apple legion gets all crazy, this is just my opinion and my observation since owning 5 different models from the first. It may become a productivity powerhouse, and I’ll enjoy seeing its evolution, but today software is the limitation.

The question is, why are you at the car dealership when what you need for what you do is a truck?

Not just that, you're telling people they're stupid for being there.

Not everyone has YOUR needs/the needs of the industry YOU work on.

 

[petvas]

Realistically how much more is there to be said about a keyboard case?

Well, a lot! Use it for a week and then report back How the case feels in different situations. Report how the case affects battery life, how the user experience is with important apps. Our world is used to shallow judgements and opinions. It shouldn’t be like that. Publications like the Verge are the very definition of shallow.
The best review you can have is the one you conduct yourself. Another thing that bothers me is how many people in this forum are so judgmental and react over sensitive to people expressing strong opinions. Every time we have to say “for my needs”, but that should be self explanatory..

 

[mrex]

annoying position to use the pencil. as i thought when i saw how little you can tilt it back.

design fault

 

[The Game 161]

annoying position to use the pencil. as i thought when i saw how little you can tilt it back.

design fault

Suppose the question has to be asked is there a need for a pencil with a built in trackpad? Should the pencil be used more using it as just a tablet?

 

[aknabi]

The Verge review was excellent. It’s a great, albeit expensive, accessory that I just can’t justify having already own the Smart Folio.
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Yeah, and for me in Tennessee, it’s 9.25% sales tax on top, so we’re talking about $380 for an accessory...ouch!

Agree... Dieter @ The Verge gave a good breakdown (as someone who's ex-frog design I find these influencer reviews beyond annoying and less than useless... they're just fluff for those that want to look @ijustine or whatever).

Anyway, got mine an hour ago. I also have the Smart Folio... but the keyboard is *really* good (and I have the 11" and it doesn't feel cramped). The trackpad is also well done and if Xcode ran on this setup I'd be thrilled coding on it.

As it is it makes for a good tech documentation machine.

iOS is how I make my living so it's expense I need to make. However, you really need to feel like $400 is not really a big deal (like a nice dinner/evening out) if you already have a iPad Smart Folio.

However, if this is your first keyboard for your Pro I'd say stretch the money and go for the Magic Keyboard if you plan on using your iPad a fair amount and for a few years

 

[ggibson913]

I purchased the 11 inch Pro 2020 Edition. Though the new keyboard is awesome it is a little too spendy for my needs. I use my iPad Pro mostly as a tablet. Yes I could have spent half as much on an earlier iPad Pro or the Air, but I like the form factor and don't replace them often. Should I need a keyboard a nice bluetooth mouse and keyboard will do fine. I may even go for the Smart Folio but likely not $299 for deluxe model.