iMac Pro New iMac Pro... no backlit keyboard?

[AlexTardif]

Hi folks - just received the new iMac Pro. Nice machine so far, although I'm still setting it up so I can't comment on its performance yet (I'm a photographer/videographer and hope for improved performance over my 2013 iMac and 2013 MB Pro).

What I'm a bit dumbfounded by is the lack of backlit on the fancy new dark keyboard... shouldn't it be backlit??? I checked all the basic settings (Adjust keyboard brightness in low light box, etc.) and tried use F6 F5 keys to control the backlit but I've got nothing. Total bummer as I work in a dim environment and often do look at my keys!

Suggestions?

 

[TekAdvice]

Is there any chance the keyboard could be damaged?

 

[AlexTardif]

Well, it just came out of the brand new box and and nothing obvious. I guess the question is - does the keyboard have this function in the first place?

 

[shadow82x]

Nope, it's not backlight. I'd imagine they omitted it due to the likely fact that it'd drain the keyboard battery life significantly faster.

 

[AlexTardif]

Whoa, bummer! Thanks for confirming, I was going a bit mad trying to figure it out.

Another example of form over function from Apple, as far as I'm concerned. The contrast on keys is very low and I can only imagine it getting lower with use.

 

[danielwsmithee]

Yeah it isn’t backlit. I’d personally consider selling it and getting backlit mechanical keyboard. WASD Code keyboad with cheery mx brown switches is what I’m using and love it.

 

[pajako]

I have a Mattias spacegray backlit keyboard which is fine with double batteries: one for typing which is said to last for a year and an extra separate battery for the backlight. I have to say that battery drains pretty fast, for a week or so...

 

[sputnikBA]

I have a Mattias spacegray backlit keyboard which is fine with double batteries: one for typing which is said to last for a year and an extra separate battery for the backlight. I have to say that battery drains pretty fast, for a week or so...

The battery for typing drains in a week or the backlight battery drains in a week? (Or both?)

 

[Loge]

Since it's just a space grey version of the white magic keyboard it would have been an unexpected surprise if it had backlighting - agree it would be nice!

 

[pajako]

The battery for typing drains in a week or the backlight battery drains in a week? (Or both?)

I thought I described it clearly enough, but the battery for the backlighting lasts for appr 1 week, typing has not been out of power since I started using it, but then: I charged it a couple of times for the backlighting. Still: when the backlighting gets dimmer and dimmer I can still use the keyboard.
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Since it's just a space grey version of the white magic keyboard it would have been an unexpected surprise if it had backlighting - agree it would be nice!

I agree that it would have been nice to se a backlit version

 

[sputnikBA]

Ah k. Well that doesn’t surprise me considering how much more power light uses than registering key clicks. I had considered getting one of these and that battery matches what I expected tbh.

 

[barefeats]

Logitech sells mutliple backlit Bluetooth keyboards. I have two of them and the battery lasts just as long as the Apple Magic Keyboard if not longer. One of the newest Logitech backlit keyboards only turns on backlighting when you touch the keys. Also, you can always dim the backlighting or turn it off -- an option on the MacBook Pro backlit keyboard and Logitech backlit keyboards. Another option is to use a wired backlit keyboard. Logitech and Razer make some excellent ones that are black, matching the 'motif' of the iMac Pro.

 

[colodane]

Logitech sells mutliple backlit Bluetooth keyboards. I have two of them and the battery lasts just as long as the Apple Magic Keyboard if not longer. One of the newest Logitech backlit keyboards only turns on backlighting when you touch the keys. Also, you can always dim the backlighting or turn it off -- an option on the MacBook Pro backlit keyboard and Logitech backlit keyboards. Another option is to use a wired backlit keyboard. Logitech and Razer make some excellent ones that are black, matching the 'motif' of the iMac Pro.

Yes, the idea that backlighting results in poor battery life is a complete myth.

My Logitech K811 has beautiful adjustable backlighting that automatically comes on when your hands are near the keyboard. It only needs recharging every 6 weeks or so - this is with heavy daily/nightly usage. It is a joy to use.

Apple has the smarts to do this if they wanted to. They obviously don't want to. A very poor decision, in my opinion.

 

[BayouTiger]

Actually I think the black with white keys is easier to use in dim light than the white keys. but I'm struggling a bit to get used to it. I can't figure out why it feels so much flatter than the old Magic Keyboard but it just seems awkward. I plan on adding some feet to it after I get past the 14 day window.

As to battery life, Apple seems to be fine with backlighting a laptop keyboard, but my guess is that desktops are lit so they don't deem it necessary. Honestly, I've never even thought about it on the desktop.

Also funny how huge the keyboard feels on my desk after years with the tiny ones.

 

[Double-Slit]

The Apple keyboard that came with my 2015 iMac is really thin. It's relaxing that the fingers only need to be lifted a few millimeters when typing. Implementing backlighting in the Apple keyboard will make it thicker and less nice to work with. Apart from that, the Apple keyboard is a solid and reliable design. Sometimes simplicity is better.

 

[gian8989]

Hi folks - just received the new iMac Pro. Nice machine so far, although I'm still setting it up so I can't comment on its performance yet (I'm a photographer/videographer and hope for improved performance over my 2013 iMac and 2013 MB Pro).

What I'm a bit dumbfounded by is the lack of backlit on the fancy new dark keyboard... shouldn't it be backlit??? I checked all the basic settings (Adjust keyboard brightness in low light box, etc.) and tried use F6 F5 keys to control the backlit but I've got nothing. Total bummer as I work in a dim environment and often do look at my keys!

Suggestions?

Go check Logitech craft. Since you work with photo/video this could be a perfect match with the iMac Pro.

 

[zen]

As others have said, there are tonnes of good black keyboards with backlighting if you want to upgrade. I use a Ducky Shine 5 mechanical, Cherry MX blue switches. It has full RGB lighting. Corded, of course.

 

[Abazigal]

Since when is the apple keyboard backlit?

 

[SoyCapitanSoyCapitan]

We have been asking for years. It’s pretty remarkable that they have backlit keyboards in the ultra thin MacBook but still not in the Magic Keyboard. Maybe they are saving it for the More Magicker Keyboard.

 

[Jiweeon]

Hi folks - just received the new iMac Pro. Nice machine so far, although I'm still setting it up so I can't comment on its performance yet (I'm a photographer/videographer and hope for improved performance over my 2013 iMac and 2013 MB Pro).

What I'm a bit dumbfounded by is the lack of backlit on the fancy new dark keyboard... shouldn't it be backlit??? I checked all the basic settings (Adjust keyboard brightness in low light box, etc.) and tried use F6 F5 keys to control the backlit but I've got nothing. Total bummer as I work in a dim environment and often do look at my keys!

Suggestions?

I have been running into the exact same problem! I work in a dark room and edit photos and can't believe the new BLACK keyboard doesn't light up. I thought the keyboard was broken! Went crazy trying to fix it, just to find out it doesn't light up. I would rather have it plugged into the computer and light up than have it wireless. It's not like I care if a cord goes from my keyboard to my computer. Would be more helpful to see the keys! Seems like a no brainer to me. Apple is starting to care more about their superficial appearance than usability.

 

[Smoothie]

I replaced the keyboard that came with my 2017 iMac with a Logitech K811. It's designed for use with Apple computers and is backlit. It can pair with three separate devices via Bluetooth if you want to use it with different devices. I like the typing experience on the Logitech K811 much better than the Magic Keyboard. There's a bit more key travel, the keys are slightly sculpted and I'm less prone to make typing errors.

The battery life on the Logitech K811 is measured in months if you turn off the backlight. If you constantly use the backlight, it still lasts for weeks. Of course, you can adjust the backlight level to your preference. Like the base Magic Keyboard, the Logitech keyboard doesn't have a number keypad on the right so it's got a relatively small form factor.

 

[mj_]

Just a curiosity: is there a wireless Bluetooth (!) keyboard with numpad for macOS that doesn't look like it's been designed by a bunch of 18-year old hipsters high on organic vegan gluten-free caffeine-free double-shot latte mocchaccino grande with a straw? My usual go-to company when it comes to input devices has been massively disappointing when it comes to Bluetooth for many years - Logitech only seems to have a total of four Bluetooth keyboards on offer, three for macOS (top row) and one for Windows (bottom row), none of which has a numpad and all of which look like they've been designed by children for children and fairly catastrophic from an ergonomic point of view:

Any suggestions? So far I'm quite happy with my Magic Keyboard with numpad (although I wish it had retractable feet at the rear to be raised more, but I was able to fix that with two rubber feet stacked on top of each other on both sides) but it's always good to have options.

 

[danielwsmithee]

I know this one is often highly recommended.

http://matias.ca/aluminum/backlit/

I'm partial to wired mechanical keyboards though.

http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/products/code-keyboard.html

https://www.daskeyboard.com/daskeyboard-4-professional-for-mac/

 

[Hater]

https://www.daskeyboard.com/daskeyboard-4-professional-for-mac/

My go-to to replace the trash keyboards iMacs come with - Paired with a Microsoft Intellimouse and you've got peripherals to last a lifetime.

I don't understand backlighting, the only time it might be helpful is the same time of day when the backlighting hitting your eyes is distracting/annoying.

 

[betazero]

Do people not plug in their keyboard? I know there is a battery but mine is plugged in 100% of the time. Maybe they could add the feature and it only comes on when its too dark to see the keys and you start making typing errors because its nighttime and you dont want to turn the lights on and the screen is too dark because your on sites with dark backgrounds like macrumors ..... ( hypothetical situation... ) I wouldn't mind a wired keyboard and wired mouse. A mouse the shape of a Logitech mouse but with the Apple touch (but that you can keep plugged in 24/7 unlike the current "magic" paper weight) and a keyboard that has Touch Bar and Touch ID but is wired. Apple has the magic to add a keyboard charger magnet thing to the front of the base of the iMac and you just slide your keyboard there and charge. Maybe even enough magic to plop the mouse on top of the base of the iMac and that's a charger too.