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

[tbayrgs]

Apologies if someone made a similar point earlier in the thread as I haven’t read past the first few posts. I’m calling ******** on this from Apple. I admit this is only a rough approximation but I just laid 5 sheets of 20# paper which are 0.004” thick (via caliper measurement) or just ever so slightly thicker than 0.1 mm, and had no issues with it closing flat on my 2018 iPad Pro 12.9 LTE model. Using 8 sheets resulted in only a very slight gap but nothing that would prevent me from using the keyboard. The weight of the iPad folding down on top keeps it firmly closed just as it normally would.

 

[otternonsense]

That's a ridiculous incompatibility for an already ridiculous peripheral.

 

[btrach144]

You’ve got to be kidding me.

I was planning on upgrading but $330 on another keyboard is a no go.

guess I’ll ride out my 2020

 

[Jemi9OD]

Here was me thinking that no one would complain about the new iPad Pro being 0.5mm thicker to support that lovely mini LED screen.

Really, though, they took a dang Pro Display XDR - a $4999 monitor - shrunk it down and bolted it to the front of the already incredible iPad Pro. This is a ridiculous feat of engineering. It has a peak brightness of *400%* what the M1 MacBook Air puts out. 0.05mm of increased depth is entirely acceptable IMO!

Ooops, I mean, APPLE BAD, SHAME ON APPLE, SHAME ON APPLE SHEEP BEING SHEEPLED, ETC ETC

 

[Grohowiak]

Really, though, they took a dang Pro Display XDR - a $4999 monitor - shrunk it down and bolted it to the front of the already incredible iPad Pro. This is a ridiculous feat of engineering. It has a peak brightness of *400%* what the M1 MacBook Air puts out. 0.05mm of increased depth is entirely acceptable IMO!

Ooops, I mean, APPLE BAD, SHAME ON APPLE, SHAME ON APPLE SHEEP BEING SHEEPLED, ETC ETC

x <----- Point of this conversation. ||| --------------------------------------------------------------> You

 

[Crazyjoe]

Can I use the 12.9 Magic Keyboard 2020 now with the 12.9 Pro 2021 or not?

 

[Rainshadow]

No. This literally is consumerism run amok. Which I have no issue with (unless you run a farcical environmentalism campaign along side it)

I get your point and the point of many others on here. However, The 2018 and 2020 IPads are still very capable future proof iPads. I don’t consider Apple the one with the consumerism issue. They are just making products. It’s all these folks on here who want to have the yearly upgrade and all the accessories that amazes me. Do what you all want with your money but I upgrade every 3-5 years on each device. Not right or wrong, just saying that it doesn’t make Apple evil. Sure, it would be nice if they could have kept the keyboard the same, but apparently they couldn’t.

the funniest arguement: This creates ewaste... Apple is a hypocrite!

Don’t want ewaste? Don’t make ewaste by upgrading a year old product. Solved. The products didn’t stop working and they are still supported.

 

[jomo25]

Where did you notice it on the day of the event?

2021 iPad Pro tidbits: Center Stage for third-party apps, accessory compatibility, more - 9to5Mac

Apple revealed the 2021 iPad Pro during its Spring Loaded event, and we've learned a few more details about it since then...

9to5mac.com

 

[jazz1]

I am really disappointed in this news. As an owner of the original MK I was hoping I could use it with the 2021 iPP. The added price difference, of having to buy a 2021 MK, really destroys the Apple Trade-In on my 2018 iPad. I was planning to off-set the overall cost of buying the 2021 iPP with the trade-in and NOT buying an updated MK.

Yes, I really like using my iPad as a simulated laptop. Plan "B" I may just look at a MacBook Air. I just wish it had a better screen, and camera.

For me, the infamous Apple Tax has turned into the Apple Ax Stay tuned and see if I cave in for a new 2021 iPad. I promise to stop whining then!

 

[nylon]

If the new keyboard is backwards compatible then the connector points haven’t changed. This makes me think this is one of those Apple idiosyncrasies whereby what they mean as ‘not compatible’ means that it doesn’t fit the very tight tolerances. Not that it won’t work. I expect the old keyboard will work just fine with the new iPad it just won’t be perfect when closed due to the extra 0.5 mm. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

 

[jazz1]

This might be a slightly cheaper alternative, and oh look it works with iPad gen. 3-5. BlueTooth connection though. So a third party made it work, but Apple could not?​

Brydge 12.9 MAX+​

Compatibility​

IPAD MODELS​

• 12.9 iPad Pro (3rd Generation)
• 12.9 iPad Pro (4th Generation)
• 12.9 iPad Pro (5th Generation)

 

[Seanm87]

Where did you notice it on the day of the event?

on the store

 

[obamtl]

Apple sales support deny this story.

 

[satchmo]

Apple could have at least provided some incentive for existing owners to buy this new Magic Keyboard by improving it functionally. Notably a row of media keys and perhaps some way to fold it backwards.

Instead, they simply took the lazy way and added a new colour.

 

[FrozenDarkness]

Pretty surprising how poorly this has been communicated

 

[tivoboy]

Apple sales support deny this story.

View attachment 1762738

I hate to say it, but this type of support chat interaction doesn’t lend me much more comfort. My guess is one could possibly do the chat again and get a different answer. we should have some more direct from apple hardware feedback in the next few days though.

 

[Jacoblee23]

Pretty surprising how poorly this has been communicated

This. We need a concrete answer.

 

[Marshall73]

Thats a bit of a bugger. Wonder if they will notice if I get one and return my old one in the box?

 

[Rogifan]

I don’t trust Apple support or store employees. Will they let you open one up in store and test it?

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

So I did a little test. I found that 4 sheets of 28lb paper is about .5mm (or 0.02in). This is the increased thickness of the 2021 iPad, right?

I put the 4 sheets of paper on the glass of my 12.9" iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard. It closed perfectly. As a matter of fact, I could probably put a few more sheets in-between before I start having an issue.

Seems like it shouldn't be a problem to me.

 

[Mannaerts]

I didn't even knew there was a Magic Keyboard mark II? I thought Mark I was now available in white also, so whats new about the new Magic Keyboard? Just the thickness?

 

[topdrawer]

It just doesnt work.

 

[magbarn]

So I did a little test. I found that 4 sheets of 28lb paper is about .5mm (or 0.02in). This is the increased thickness of the 2021 iPad, right?

I put the 4 sheets of paper on the glass of my 12.9" iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard. It closed perfectly. As a matter of fact, I could probably put a few more sheets in-between before I start having an issue.

Seems like it shouldn't be a problem to me.

I think they're thinking about marking the screen. As it is, my 2018 screen gets marked with the MK case keys. With less tolerance it may even start to etch the screen with day to day use
Get AppleCare+ lol....

 

[Amethyst]

Hey guys, as i have iPad pro 12” Gen 3 and a magic keyboard.

I just put 1mm paper between my ipad and magic keyboard and i can close completely fine.

so i think it will work unless apple change magnetic position or connection type or etc.

 

[Sabelonada]

Why is this a surprise? An incompatible design is the reason they went on sale. I thought that would be obvious.