Testing Apple's New Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro

[tgwaste]

I know many probably know this by now, but for those who don’t, CMD-. (period) works as ESC.

You can also map the Globe in the bottom left to Escape.
Also in VIM for example: Control-[ is Escape.
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I think the iPad is great for doing small and basic things, but what do you mean by real work? The iPad isn’t yet made for the requirements of the many, only for the few serious computer users.

Im not sure I would agree here. It seems like its for the LESS serious computer users. The more serious ones require the functionality of a laptop. As an engineer the iPad still cant do many things I need it to do to be a replacement.
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you can buy a windows laptop for the same price as this keyboard its a joke apple has become, $700 for dam wheels its become an embarrassment

A $350 laptop (especially one running windows) is going to be complete garbage. I dont care who makes it. It will be a terrible experience.

 

[Veinticinco]

The more I see, the less I lust.

Also, wouldn’t mind a change of MR reviewer occasionally. Dan’s style of literally not pausing for breath as he rattles off 500 words per min is really hard to listen to.

 

[nvmls]

No worse than CMD-Q, CMD-S, CMD-C,…

Right, thats why ESC is a key on conventional keyboards and CMD-Q/S/C is meant for other functionalities. The Apple consumer reasoning at its finest.

This keyboard turned out funnier than expected. The product looks terribly bland and that unboxing had no soul whatsoever lol. Imagine Jobs putting out a product with that boxing experience.

 

[yurc]

Hey, might a second or third iteration of this keyboard probably come with function row in future.

At this time we can forget XCode on iPad with this escape-less keyboard. Dunno why Apple so hate with standard row of function keys.

 

[TrickyTreeRed]

As someone who does not wish to take a full-sized laptop with me when I travel, this sort of fits the bill. The keyboard and trackpad will make things a lot easier for me to compose emails, type reports and make edits to documents, along with light video and photo editing.

The bad news. I have a 10.5" iPad Pro, so Apple's Magic Keyboard is not compatible.

The good news. Logitech's new Combo Touch is compatible and will leave me with $100 USD in my pocket.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Don't think they will sell tons of them, expensive and a MacBook (Air) makes more sense regarding weight and power.

They’ll very likely sell more in a quarter than MacBook Air’s in a year.

 

[TravelsInBlue]

You can also map the Globe in the bottom left to Escape.
Also in VIM for example: Control-[ is Escape.
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Im not sure I would agree here. It seems like its for the LESS serious computer users. The more serious ones require the functionality of a laptop. As an engineer the iPad still cant do many things I need it to do to be a replacement.
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A $350 laptop (especially one running windows) is going to be complete garbage. I dont care who makes it. It will be a terrible experience.

As if trying to do any sort of real productive work on an iPad isn’t already a terrible experience.

Love my iPad for media consumption, but if I’m needing to get actual work done, I’ll take the $350 laptop.

 

[artfossil]

I really don‘t get the point of this design. It adds a nicer typing feeling than the previous model but at the price of doubling the weight. Still, it‘s limited by ipadOS and lacks the productivity of a Macbook when doing real work. And what‘s the weight for ? Just to have the display floating above the keyboard ? Looks nice, indeed, but at the price of adding such weight ? No, really.

So for doubling the weight (which is a very important property of a mobile device) you get something that can‘t be fully exploited given the limited capabilities of the OS and the available software for the price of a notebook.

Looks rather strange to me.

Stopped reading after "real work." The iPad and the Magic Keyboard are not for everyone. They are not for you.

 

[citysnaps]

Less convenient than flipping it over attched since you have to manage two separate pieces or forced to bring a manpurse when on the go.

I see using the combination much differently.

 

[theLedger]

I bet Apple didn’t use a kickstand approach bc that means it’s harder to use on your lap. Mine arrives tomorrow and I can’t wait. I’m on my second Bluetooth keyboard and want a wired connection to avoid the severe keyboard lag issues that sometimes occurs when in an online meeting. Every iPad keyboard comes with compromises so you need to pick the one where the compromise works in your favor.

 

[Lowhangers]

I have a 11" version coming and will decide afterwards if I want to keep it. I am not willing to judge this thing without first hand experience.

Same here, my iPad Pro is my main computing device. I am very curious to experience it with a trackpad. We’ll see how it goes. If it stinks, it goes back.
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Bought one, love it. I used a Smart Keyboard Folio since the launch of the 3rd gen iPad Pro 11 and its ok but this is a dream for me. Rock solid, don't think this is the "same" thing as the SKF because the material looks the same... its rigid and well built. The magnets are rock solid unlike the SKF, your iPad isn't going anywhere. The keyboard is as good as any Mac keyboard and the folding and unfolding is perfect. The integrated trackpad changes everything and makes this a truly do everything device.

Thanks for that mini-review. I sit here typing on the folio with my 11 inch iPad Pro. It’s wobbling like mad as I type because it’s on my lap. I look forward to getting my MK, I placed the order today so it will probably be two or three weeks before it gets here.

I really need the trackpad. I love iOS, but trying to do text editing on it is enough to drive me crazy when having to touch the screen. It’s so inaccurate and slows me down terribly. I am hoping the new keyboard makes a big difference.
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It is extremely heavy, but also a great keyboard if it fits your use case. Loving mine.

Do you have the 12.9 inch or the 11? I’m hoping the 11 inch one is slightly lighter but not too light. I need stability as I type.

 

[mi7chy]

I bet Apple didn’t use a kickstand approach bc that means it’s harder to use on your lap.

How is kickstand harder to use on the lap unless you're wearing shorts? Kickstand is more stable than wobbly clamshell and doesn't require balancing act of Magic Keyboard.

 

[itunexify]

I had a Surface Pro and sincerely I prefer the approach of this MK. Surface is essentially unusable on your lap, this MK tries to replicate a laptop experience and seems it does it well. Waiting for mine!

 

[Unregistered 4U]

I bet Apple didn’t use a kickstand approach bc that means it’s harder to use on your lap.

Someone posted an image of a Surface on a lap and it looked like typing would have been uncomfortable because it just wouldn’t have been possible to slide it any further back without pulling in the kickstand. Which would, of course, change the screen angle.

 

[Lowhangers]

Why not just lift the iPad off its mount? It's magnetic and very easy/quick.

When using an iPad in tablet mode I wouldn't want the extra bulk/weight of a folded back keyboard.

I did not understand why people were asking about that either. My goodness, just take it off the damn thing. Who wants to draw with a keyboard attached to the ipad??? 🙄

 

[itunexify]

How is kickstand harder to use on the lap unless you're wearing shorts? Kickstand is more stable than wobbly clamshell and doesn't require balancing act of Magic Keyboard.

The kickstand + the keyboard occupy a larger area than a traditional laptop (or this MK). And, the connection system between the tablet and the keyboard is not rigid, and in some situations (like on the bed) that’s pretty uncomfortable
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I did not understand why people were asking about that either. My goodness, just take it off the damn thing. Who wants to draw with a keyboard attached to the ipad??? 🙄

And, if you want, take the iPad off, close the keyboard and place it on the MK

 

[tubomac]

Chuckle. They have been. Kind of? Sort of? 🙄

For me:
In order of usefulness

• Computer: Laptop > Chromebook > iPad
• Tablet: iPad

My Windows laptop and Chrome book are both touchscreens but do not make the greatest tablets.

If I got a MK it would mostly be used at my desk then pop it free as needed.

I love iPad (I own 4 of them) but I must admit: even with last update it's still a nightmare to be productive. Simple operations like filtering an excel sheet, copy the filtered data in another sheet etc...it takes so much time on a iPad. But this is just an example, in short I can say that every time I tried to leave my Macbook home and take with me only my iPad it was a disaster. The whole iPad Pro and this new keyboard is simply too expensive.

 

[theLedger]

I love iPad (I own 4 of them) but I must admit: even with last update it's still a nightmare to be productive. Simple operations like filtering an excel sheet, copy the filtered data in another sheet etc...it takes so much time on a iPad. But this is just an example, in short I can say that every time I tried to leave my Macbook home and take with me only my iPad it was a disaster. The whole iPad Pro and this new keyboard is simply to expensive.

I share some of your frustration when using Office apps but that it a limitation of the software - not the device. Sometimes, I end up using the web version of Office365 because it has more functions than the iOS version. It seems that the versions for the iPad need to mature to what the iPad and iPadOS has now become.

 

[Abazigal]

How is kickstand harder to use on the lap unless you're wearing shorts? Kickstand is more stable than wobbly clamshell and doesn't require balancing act of Magic Keyboard.

I have always found a kickstand less stable, especially when you can't rely on the keyboard to keep it from wobbling. It also takes up more space on a desk or on your lap. I have this eliteX2 tablet laptop that my school issues to me for work and overall, I am not a fan of the form factor.

 

[dingclancy23]

I really don‘t get the point of this design. It adds a nicer typing feeling than the previous model but at the price of doubling the weight. Still, it‘s limited by ipadOS and lacks the productivity of a Macbook when doing real work. And what‘s the weight for ? Just to have the display floating above the keyboard ? Looks nice, indeed, but at the price of adding such weight ? No, really.

So for doubling the weight (which is a very important property of a mobile device) you get something that can‘t be fully exploited given the limited capabilities of the OS and the available software for the price of a notebook.

Looks rather strange to me.

The heaviest iPad combo is only a hair heavier than the lightest Macbook on the market.

The addon is heavy for iPad standards, but still light when compared to most MacBooks.

Macbooks are mobile devices too, but they are just too heavy for me.

Also the real work argument is tired. If that is the argument that you have for a purchase of a personal computer, those people must value boring work.
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So the new MacBook Air is lighter, more capable and less expensive than the 12.9" iPad Pro + New Magic Keyboard. Brilliant.

Capable is subjective.
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The heaviest iPad combo is only a hair heavier than the lightest Macbook on the market.

The addon is heavy for iPad standards, but still light when compared to most MacBooks.

Macbooks are mobile devices too, but they are just too heavy for me.

Also the real work argument is tired. If that is the argument that you have for a purchase of a personal computer, those people must value boring work.
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Capable is subjective. I would love for you to use the Macbook Air to scan documents with built-in OCR, among many many of things that iPads can do that the Macbook Air does not.

 

[HiVolt]

The bad news. I have a 10.5" iPad Pro, so Apple's Magic Keyboard is not compatible.

The good news. Logitech's new Combo Touch is compatible and will leave me with $100 USD in my pocket.

Yeah, I also have an 10.5" iPad Pro. I was also pleasantly surprised that the new logitech keyboard/touchpad combo HAS a function key row, and also protects the iPad when you detach the keyboard.

I might give the logitech a try when its available in Canada.

 

[flowderf]

The game changer for me is the pairing of the magic keyboard with remote desktop software (I'm using Jump Desktop) - turns your iPad into a MacOS or Windows or Linux computer when you want it.

 

[Lobwedgephil]

Same here, my iPad Pro is my main computing device. I am very curious to experience it with a trackpad. We’ll see how it goes. If it stinks, it goes back.
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Thanks for that mini-review. I sit here typing on the folio with my 11 inch iPad Pro. It’s wobbling like mad as I type because it’s on my lap. I look forward to getting my MK, I placed the order today so it will probably be two or three weeks before it gets here.

I really need the trackpad. I love iOS, but trying to do text editing on it is enough to drive me crazy when having to touch the screen. It’s so inaccurate and slows me down terribly. I am hoping the new keyboard makes a big difference.
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Do you have the 12.9 inch or the 11? I’m hoping the 11 inch one is slightly lighter but not too light. I need stability as I type.

12.9

 

[GrindedDown]

WHEN FCPX, Logic Pro X, and XCode are announced at WWDC, these keyboards will hold significantly more value. I expect them to sell like absolute hot cakes.

 

[GuruZac]

I think it’s awesome and I’d love to have one. But at $382 after tax, and the fact I already have the Smart Keyboard Folio plus a MacBook Pro, it’s not justifiable. If my iPad was my only computing device, it would be a no brainer.