New Magic Keyboards for iPads Launching This Year: What to Expect

[MacRumors]

Apple plans to release updated Magic Keyboards for new 11-inch iPad Air, 13-inch iPad Air, and entry-level iPad 11 models "early" this year, according to an October 2024 report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In his Power On newsletter today, he reiterated that these accessories are coming in the "not-too-distant future."

Gurman's initial report said the new Magic Keyboard for the iPad Air will adopt "some" of the new features that were added to the latest Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro. That means potential features for the next iPad Air version of the accessory include a thinner and lighter design with an aluminum palm rest, a larger glass trackpad, and a row of function keys with shortcuts for things like display brightness and volume.

The new iPad Air, iPad 11, and Magic Keyboard models will likely be released this March or April. Last week, Gurman said the iPad 11 will be equipped with an A17 Pro chip and 8GB of RAM, enabling support for Apple Intelligence features on the entry-level iPad.

Article Link: New Magic Keyboards for iPads Launching This Year: What to Expect

 

[darngooddesign]

I wish Apple would do something actually useful like putting a second port on the other side.

 

[MyAppleWorld]

Please just let us have a pro keyboard without a trackpad - i hate having the screen further away from my eyes.

 

[Plutonius]

They can start by changing the name of the keyboard.

 

[switz]

Get the lube for your wallet, These keyboards will (historically) be very expensive. No free lunch at Apple these days.

 

[krull1015]

Apple is about to”form over function”. As much as I appreciate the minimalist design of the “magic” mouse and keyboard there are 3rd party accessories that are by far more ergonomic.

Isn’t Apple’s design language part of what attracts us to their products?

Ian aware the article is about iPad keyboards specifically… 😊

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

They can start by changing the name of the keyboard.

• Wizardy Keyboard?
• Enchanted Keyboard?
• Sorcerer's Keyboard?
• Voodoo Keyboard?
• Supernatural Keyboard?
• Bewitching Keyboard?
• The Devil's Keyboard?

Append some suffixes like PRO, MAX, ULTRA, etc and maybe even irrelevant ones like Liquid Retina XL Mach 3 to offer largely the same thing at an even higher price. Maybe put one special button on this one- the Devil's Enchanted Voodoo button?- so we can focus on that clear & obvious distinction advantage vs. the normal ones? "I have to have the DEV button or I'm not cool!"

All

 

[anthogag]

A keyboard with an iPad is so faux! A real iPad user uses the Pencil...and the front camera should be placed at portrait orientation.

 

[nuff_said]

I wonder if keeping the function row exclusive to the Pro keyboards and devices is part of the roadmap.

 

[Juggernaut510]

More “bs” upgrades from Apple…..

 

[CrazyMacUser]

What I want is a Smart Folio Keyboard for the new iPad Pro. The Magic Keyboard is too heavy and too thick for my liking.

 

[xiJulian_]

Updating the Magic Keyboard every like two years but not the Magic Mouse is a.. choice (not that I hate the Magic Mouse but it really needs an upgrade.)

 

[HJM.NL]

Updating the Magic Keyboard every like two years but not the Magic Mouse is a.. choice (not that I hate the Magic Mouse but it really needs an upgrade.)

I like the Magic Mouse actually. The only thing I don’t get is the stupid location of the cable.

 

[Adelphos33]

The main issue here is that the regular iPad costs as low as $279 at Amazon... but the only available keyboard available for it costs $249? Way too much for what is supposed to be a lower cost product. Should be $150 at most.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Any bluetooth keyboard works with iPad. Apple is focused on maximizing profit. Accessories priced sky high can be excessively profitable. There are PLENTY of fish in the iPad keyboard sea. PLENTY. You can find very high-rated ones on Amazon for down below $50 and those will work just fine. Up that budget $20 bucks or so and there is a whole other tier of higher quality ones. I picked up a couple for $64 each a few years ago as some gifts and they are still going strong and being heavily used every day.

 

[mansplains]

i hate having the screen further away from my eyes.

That’s what AVP is for 😵‍💫

 

[GMShadow]

Get the lube for your wallet, These keyboards will (historically) be very expensive. No free lunch at Apple these days.

Apple was always a budget brand in the old days before Tim CROOK. /s

 

[nocsi]

The latest magic keyboard has been atrocious. From being unstable while laying flat on a surface, to using inferior materials that degrade at the sides.. I had to replace it this past week through apple care. The stability issue is actually a bigger deal than it is and I've only seen a couple reviewers ever mention it. Your ipad is going to end up flipping over with a gust of wind

 

[GuruZac]

Wait, what will change vs the one they just launched?? I’m about to order my wife a 1TB 13”, Pencil Pro, and Magic Keyboard for her photography work/personal computing needs…as in like about to order this week.

 

[Corefile]

This is such a total waste of money. Pick up a real computer and use it for productivity. Nobody really believes they can get things done better on an iPad than a real computer.

 

[snipr125]

Real waste of time, money and materials here for Apple, should have just made the new MKB compatible with the older iPad Airs/Pros, would have made things so much simpler and more MKBs sold for Apple.

 

[snipr125]

This is such a total waste of money. Pick up a real computer and use it for productivity. Nobody really believes they can get things done better on an iPad than a real computer.

Some people just like the modularity of the iPP/Air and MKB. It’s more compact, especially the 11” so better for travel and iPad OS is just very smooth and snappy for general tasks. Also the M4 iPP has the best display on the market right now bar none.

Obviously for more intense work Mac OS is better because it’s a desktop OS, no one is really disputing that.

 

[darngooddesign]

Real waste of time, money and materials here for Apple, should have just made the new MKB compatible with the older iPad Airs/Pros, would have made things so much simpler and more MKBs sold for Apple.

I remember someone attaching an old 13" Pro to the new Magic Keyboard and it was top heavy and unstable.

 

[RealE]

The latest magic keyboard has been atrocious. From being unstable while laying flat on a surface, to using inferior materials that degrade at the sides.. I had to replace it this past week through apple care. The stability issue is actually a bigger deal than it is and I've only seen a couple reviewers ever mention it. Your ipad is going to end up flipping over with a gust of wind

Uh oh. Please tell us more. What parts/materials degraded? Is the aluminum palm rest not enough to balance the weight of the iPad?

 

[Corefile]

Obviously for more intense work Mac OS is better because it’s a desktop OS, no one is really disputing that.

This is what I find frustrating for the iPad. Get rid of the iPad OS garbage and run a full OS that has a touch mode. A proper, real OS that we can switch between the two on the fly, but it feels like Apple is protecting the laptop market.