New 12.9-inch iPad Pro Not Compatible With Older Magic Keyboard

[MacRumors]

The brand new 12.9-inch iPad Pro will not be compatible with the older generation Magic Keyboard due to a marginal increase in device thickness, according to iGeneration.

Citing a document given to Apple Stores, the report notes that the new iPad Pro is 0.5mm thicker than the previous 12.9-inch model. Due to the increase in thickness, the new iPad will not work with the older generation Magic Keyboard. While a 0.5mm increase in thickness is small, it is enough for the new iPad Pro not to close properly when put with an older generation keyboard.

The new 11-inch iPad Pro remains compatible with previous generation Magic Keyboards.

With the new iPad Pro, Apple is selling a compatible Magic Keyboard, and besides compatibility with the newer and thicker iPad, and the availability of a new white option, the new keyboard is believed to be the same as the previous generation.

The new 11 and 12.9-inch iPad Pro which comes with a faster M1 processor, 5G, and the new 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display will be available for order on April 30, but will not begin shipping until the second half of May.

Article Link: New 12.9-inch iPad Pro Not Compatible With Older Magic Keyboard

 

[macsplusmacs]

Uggg. probably a lost sale from me. Esp if the new imacs "pros" do not show up till sept. I love this keyboard so much but at over 2K$ for the new ipad pro i would get, + a new keyboard. will have to pass. can't justify it with owning a similar one right now.

 

[cannono]

Wow. Feel bad for everyone who went out and bought old ones on sale in anticipation that it would work just like the 11-inch seems to.

 

[Darth Tulhu]

Well there goes that.

I actually was hoping for a redesigned MK that allows the iPad to sit in front of the keyboard for touch only interaction, but alas.

 

[ttyRazor]

Ugh, one would've hoped that this would have lasted at least one or two generations. Even with the frequent $100 off sales on these on Amazon and elsewhere (suspiciously like the HomePod discounts), it's way too expensive to not expect it to be usable for more than just one model.

I'd still like a good keyboard with a trackpad that supports all the multitouch gestures, but I'd want one that could be detached over bluetooth so I'm not stuck with any particular form factor.

 

[ssolomon]

That may be enough to stop me from upgrading my 2020 iPad.

 

[VforVelveta]

This title needs to be changed to say its not "officially" compatible according to Apple. They likely tweaked the design a bit, plus added the white model, but unless they moved the magnets around the old MK will still work.

People have screen protectors and skins and all sorts of stuff on their iPads right now that add up to way more than 0.5mm, and the case closes just fine.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

That’s some ********

 

[SkyRom]

Dearest Apple,

You can shear a sheep many times, but skin him only once.

With love,

Apple Ecosystem Sheep

 

[GuruZac]

Yeah that was enough to stop me from buying. I'll get another year and half worth of use out of my 2018 and Magic Keyboard and upgrade to the next iteration of iPad Pro.

As a side, I know iPadOS has not been that demanding, which may change with the M1 iPad Pros (will still need to run smoothly on 2019 iPad Air with 3GB of RAM) but my nearly 4 year old 10.5 iPad Pro is still fast and doesn't really stutter on anything. I imagine I'll have similar performance luck with 2018 12.9 as the A12X was a massive performance gain from the A10X. I believe the jump from A10X to A12X is was an even larger jump than from A12X/A12Z to M1 just based the numbers Apple released.

 

[Drogba11]

Next announcement…the new Apple TV remote isn’t backwards compatible with previous Apple TVs

 

[Paul_a]

So is it just that it won't close? I use my keyboard as a stand and keyboard on my desk and pull the iPad off that when I take it places. That set up still works, right?

 

[samadulator]

This is wrong. Apple has designed their iPad Pro "folio" style accessories to fit multiple generations of iPad, but they break the MOST expensive iPad accessory they sell after only ONE generation? The Right Thing to Do™ is to offer GOOD trade-ins on Magic Keyboard for those who are purchasing a new iPad Pro, so they can get the one that fits the model.

If I get an iPad Pro 2021 (I'm seriously doubting it now), I'm going to get a Smart Folio and then use an external wireless keyboard. Not tidy, but at least it'll last more than a generation.

Come on, Apple! You are better than this!

 

[Orange Bat]

So it’s Apple being Apple. Shocking.

 

[jk1221]

But we're environmentally friendly. Meanwhile creates e-waste with a 1 year old $300+ product that can't be re-used.

If this was a cheap well under $100 basic form-fitting case, ok sucks but ok. The dimensions are slightly different. But this thing was already WAY overpriced.

And they could have left a bit extra space (talking 1-2mm) in the thickness when closing up. There was nothing preventing that like a traditional case that wraps around.

This is intentional obsolescence. Regardless what Apple fanboy sites want to say claiming "There’s no conspiracy to make you buy a new keyboard." Rigghhhhtttt

 

[dz5b609]

Good job alienating some of your best customers Apple.

 

[citysnaps]

Chum in the water alert!

 

[stocklen]

That may be enough to stop me from upgrading my 2020 iPad.

i agree

It takes away the 'frivolous' upgrade (which im often guilty of).... so i *need* the extra power etc? no.

Would it have been nice to have? yes.... and alway a knife edge decision but...

Having take then plunge on the very expensive accessory last year when purchasing the 2020 model.... its not something I would consider changing again so soon - I had a expectation that the iPad pro would keep its current form factor for a while and assumed that the keyboard would be a tad more future proof than only the current generation!

So given that I wouldn't upgrade to the 2021 model until ive gotten enough use out of the 2020 Magic keyboard!

 

[ggx12]

I told you this new iPad was THICK ?

 

[calstanford]

Apple thinks customers are ****ing stupid, with all that pricing and all. And now the whole "pay $400 extra every time you upgrade to buy the same exact keyboard all over again"

 

[darngooddesign]

But we're environmentally friendly. Meanwhile creates e-waste with a 1 year old $300+ product that can't be re-used.

Unless you think the keyboard stopped working on the 2020 iPad, its not eWaste. Just sell it and someone with a 2020 will use it.

I bet it works with the new one, but it may not close perfectly.

 

[anakin44011]

But we're environmentally friendly. Meanwhile creates e-waste with a 1 year old $300+ product that can't be re-used.

If this was a cheap well under $100 basic form-fitting case, ok sucks but ok. The dimensions are slightly different. But this thing was already WAY overpriced.

And they could have left a bit extra space (talking 1-2mm) in the thickness when closing up. There was nothing preventing that like a traditional case that wraps around.

Good lord...it isn't waste. Just sell it along with your iPad and the new owner will have both to use.

 

[Eddy Munn]

[Deleted]

 

[darngooddesign]

So it’s Apple being Apple. Shocking.

Then again, Apple also made the new iPadAir the same size as the 11" Pro so it could use the same keyboard.

 

[ellisreed]

UPDATE: IGNORE MY PREVIOUS COMMENT. REALISING THAT THE NEW KEYBOARD IS BACKWARDS COMPATIBLE BUT THE OLDER ONE IS NOT FORWARD COMPATIBLE. ME BEING STUPID BASICALLY.

So Apple actually list the older iPads as compatible with it. Is it literally just that the case may not close properly with the older iPads? because I'd argue that means they're not compatible as they don't work as intended.
(Ignore the pricing in the screenshot. I get the EPP discount.)