Testing Apple's New Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro

[DeepIn2U]

Article Link: Testing Apple's New Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro

@juliclover /

love the article headline, pretty bold.

first I thought the title referred to you being able to test the iPads features. Now I’m thinking no way she home girl she got the scoop on e’erybody and testing out the latest iPad Pro ... take that tubers! Lol.

 

[The Game 161]

Love mine, best keyboard i have ever used. Backlit is also as well and I’ve found the auto brightness on it has been enough for me. Not needed to go to settings to change it as it suits the lighting it is in.

So nice using a built in trackpad as well.

 

[ascender]

A few days in and this is (along with the recent native cursor support) the product I’ve been waiting for. Finally it looks like I’ll be able to replace my laptop with this and ditch having an iPad mainly for content consumption, so two devices down to one.

When using it like I’d normally use an Air/MBP, the weight isn’t an issue because its just like a laptop. Having built-in cellular will be very useful when we can get back out in the world.

The missing function keys are a pain, although so far, the auto screen brightness and keyboard backlighting hasn’t needed manual alterations. I’m hoping that iPadOS 14 brings full keyboard capability allowing re-mapping of keys, although I see there’s already a Shortcut popped up for screen brightness.

The one-handed removal of the iPad works well meaning you can quickly detach it if you want to use the Apple Pencil for note taking or using in a different mode.

So far, so good.

 

[tubomac]

Bummer to hear. However, it sounds like iPads are just not a productive device for you.....

Regardeless my complains about SOME tasks I can't do very well with my iPad, I wouldn't say that iPad is a complete failure for my job, on the contrary, there are some tasks that I do ONLY with my iPad and this is the best way to do them. In fact my jobs consists also in receiving a lot of pdf files I have to check and nothing is better than my iPad and my Apple pencil to do it.
Anyway I'm very happy about the direction iPadOS is taking, and this new touchpad and mouse support makes me hope in further improvements. In conclusion I'm just saying that iPad maybe ready as a substitute of a laptop for someone but not for everyone.
My dream is in the future to put in my bag only my iPad because it's funnier to use than a laptop.

 

[bobob]

For those griping about the weight of the MK and/or that it doesn’t fold all the way over, I think Jason Snell’s review on Macworld nails it:

“There’s a reason Apple’s videos about the Magic Keyboard always show someone grabbing the iPad with one hand and walking away with it. That’s the killer feature. That’s what separates it from every Mac laptop. It’s a laptop—until the moment you decide you don’t want it to be that anymore. And then it’s not.”

This same important distinction is brought up in MacStories review:

"The Magic Keyboard turns an iPad Pro into a laptop, but it does so in a way that isn’t definitive — the transformation can always be reversed by the simple act of pulling the “computing core” away from it. This is also where the Magic Keyboard differs from competing accessories such as the Brydge keyboard: aside from Brydge’s poor trackpad implementation, I always found their design discouraged a constant alternation of roles — from laptop to tablet, and vice versa. It could be done, but carefully putting the iPad inside the Brydge’s keyboard clips and pulling it out was a chore. As a result, I found myself leaving the iPad Pro inside the Brydge keyboard at all times and never using it as a tablet. The Magic Keyboard feels like it was designed with the opposite principle in mind: it enables a laptop mode for the iPad, but you can always undo it and return to the iPad’s pure tablet form in two seconds."​

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Also, it's hilarious reading the first page of this thread! The anti-Apple brigade must spend all their time waiting beside their computers to make sure they're first to post their FUD. I wonder what it's like to live like that?​

 

[otternonsense]

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.

Then I don't think it makes sense to spend over €1500 (iPad Pro, keyboard, pencil) just for "small and basic things".

Apple keeps insisting in their marketing that "your next computer is not a computer" with this magic keyboard addition, but at the end of the day.. what the hell is it if not a computer? What does this device want to be? If it's not "yet made for the requirements of the many", when will it be ready for it? It's been 10 years of having the iPad already and the iPadOS was supposed to address that. What's the real added benefit of this 2020 combo over e.g. the 2017 10.5" Pro and (origami-style) Smart Keyboard other than making myself looking upwardly mobile?

 

[sintra1]

How do you lock the screen if it doesn't have hot keys?

Floating Bubblue under accessibility and select lock screen or restart as one of the options
[automerge]1587632984[/automerge]

The weight is entirely to counteract the fact that with a tablet, the screen half of a “laptop” style setup is going to be top heavy. The floating design functions to move the center of gravity a couple of inches forward, which combined with the weight, make this by far the most stable of this kind of design ever produced. It’s extremely well designed.

Spot on from an engineering perspective well done !

 

[ct2k7]

Then I don't think it makes sense to spend over €1500 (iPad Pro, keyboard, pencil) just for "small and basic things".

Apple keeps insisting in their marketing that "your next computer is not a computer" with this magic keyboard addition, but at the end of the day.. what the hell is it if not a computer? What does this device want to be? If it's not "yet made for the requirements of the many", when will it be ready for it? It's been 10 years of having the iPad already and the iPadOS was supposed to address that. What's the real added benefit of this 2020 combo over e.g. the 2017 10.5" Pro and (origami-style) Smart Keyboard other than making myself looking upwardly mobile?

My sentiments are the same. Even though I use the iPad for much more (studying, writing essays etc), it's an expensive proposition.

 

[Yoms]

I still think that the best experience is to grab a (iMac) Magic keyboard + Magic Trackpad (or mouse).
- The iMac keyboard is better: more key travel and has function keys that do work to adjust volume and luminosity on iPad OS
- You have the choice to take a mouse instead of the trackpad if you prefer
- If you opt for the Magic trackpad, it's better: bigger and has force touch (although, is that implemented in iPadOS?)
- This combo is overall lighter than this not-so Magic keyboard
- This combo will adapt to any future iPad form factor change in the future: no need to re-invest money
- From a user experience pov, because everything stands on its own, you can adjust your workspace as you please: place your trackpad or mouse on the side of the keyboard, place your iPad higher on a stand (cool, if you're tall or have back problems) or further away from the keyboard, etc.
- Finally, this combo is cheaper

 

[ofarlig]

I still think that the best experience is to grab a (iMac) Magic keyboard + Magic Trackpad (or mouse).
- The iMac keyboard is better: more key travel and has function keys that do work to adjust volume and luminosity on iPad OS
- You have the choice to take a mouse instead of the trackpad if you prefer
- If you opt for the Magic trackpad, it's better: bigger and has force touch (although, is that implemented in iPadOS?)
- This combo is overall lighter than this not-so Magic keyboard
- This combo will adapt to any future iPad form factor change in the future: no need to re-invest money
- From a user experience pov, because everything stands on its own, you can adjust your workspace as you please: place your trackpad or mouse on the side of the keyboard, place your iPad higher on a stand (cool, if you're tall or have back problems) or further away from the keyboard, etc.
- Finally, this combo is cheaper

So you would lug around a keyboard and trackpad everywhere? Have fun using that on a plane or in a car, or if you need to do something quick while on the go.

 

[aknabi]

11" iPad Pro, base everything WiFi only w/ Keyboard - $1,098.00 weight: 2.36 lbs.

12.9" iPad Pro, base everything WiFi only w/ Keyboard - $1,348.00 weight: 2.98 lbs.

13.3" MacBook Air, base specs, already has keyboard $999.00 weight: 2.8 lbs.

13.3" MacBook Pro, base specs, already has keyboard - $1,299.00 weight: 3.02 lbs.

So the Air is cheaper but weighs more than the 11" Pro with keyboard but also has a bigger screen.

The MacBook Pro weight is almost the same (less than 1 ounce more) as the 12.9" Pro with keyboard, has a bigger screen, and costs less.

Catalina and undoubtedly the next release of macOS will bring more native iOS apps to the Mac. But you still can't run macOS on an iPad Pro. And that's still a glaring difference.

Good to have that list... the 11" is what I have and indeed i't s fairly light solution... but what I wonder is unless you really need the pencil for productivity (I'm guessing the number of folks who need that for a living represents < 1%) you were better off with the now discontinued 12" MacBook. I have one and end up using it way more than the iPad... in addition is supports multiple users so my wife and I both use it... and the clamshell makes for a better bed media viewer.

The only issue with the MacBook is/was it was a bit underpowered... but an ARM or current get Intel would sort that out. But the weight, size, tightness of the MacBook... basically form factor perfection (except they could lose the bezels and squeeze a 13" screen in there)

 

[zhenya]

For anyone with first hand experience, does the onboard battery to the keyboard get charged via the iPad at all? Or will it eventually need to be plugged in itself to stay charged? I did not see this bit of info in the video and of course Apple does not list how this works exactly. It would be great to never have to plug it in and switch between this and my folio case quickly. Not a deal breaker, just wondering. Also does the power level show up in the today view like the pencil and AirPods do? Thanks in advance!

there is no battery in the keyboard.

 

[Yoms]

So you would lug around a keyboard and trackpad everywhere? Have fun using that on a plane or in a car, or if you need to do something quick while on the go.

When you want to do something quick on the go or on the plane (as if you take the place everyday), you use the iPad in its usual way (with fingers). Both solutions we discuss here are desktop setups anyway. If you need a keyboard/trackpad all the time, you should probably have a laptop anyway.

 

[zhenya]

When you want to do something quick on the go or on the plane (as if you take the place everyday), you use the iPad in its usual way (with fingers). Both solutions we discuss here are desktop setups anyway. If you need a keyboard/trackpad all the time, you should probably have a laptop anyway.

There is a big difference between the Magic Keyboard and a separate mouse and keyboard (and you’ll need a case capable of propping up the ipad as well, that likely adds a substantial amount of bulk on its own). The Magic Keyboard opens and closes in a second, and is usable on your lap, in bed, on a tiny plane or train tray table etc. It’s far from a desktop-only setup.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Interesting product. I guess a few compromises had to be made in order to make the product strong, and honestly it was probably worth it. Sounds like it may not even be aluminium, as I would have thought it would bend easily at that thickness.

I guess the trade-off with weight is worth it when you consider that the iPad itself is the Pro version, and one would therefore expect the user to be used to the weight of a MacBook Pro. So for portability it looks very good.

At home/office though? Got to be honest, I think a separate mouse/trackpad and keyboard are more versatile and better equipped.

Logitech's MX Keys and MX Mouse are fantastic, well made products, and while the two would set you back £150, that's still half the price of the Magic Keyboard and they're better to use. Plus, they each have a button that can instantly switch between different devices.

 

[phenste]

Got my order in the mail yesterday, after ~1 day of use I honestly love it. For all the complaints that can be had about the design not allowing you to fold it back Folio-style, the ability to so finitely adjust the viewing angle and have it STAY PUT is more than enough for me. I can just take it off the stand* when I want to use it in my hands.

The keyboard is awesome. 2015 MBP-level quality (i.e. same as my laptop, if not better but I’ll chalk that up to placebo/new product excitement for now—if I had to place my finger [no pun intended] on one thing that seems better it’s key stability [wiggly-ness, for lack of a better term]). Backlit keys, extreme clickiness w/o excessive volume, good travel, the whole nine yards. I am surprisingly less irritated by the trackpad size than I thought I would be.

The profit margins on this thing are still stupid, but I look greatly forward to a day when it’s more affordable and can be in more people’s hands.

*edit: just noticed that I called this a “stand” without thinking, perhaps this Freudian slip can make way for some impressions on what kind of product this is. 😂

 

[zhenya]

At home/office though? Got to be honest, I think a separate mouse/trackpad and keyboard are more versatile and better equipped.

Logitech's MX Keys and MX Mouse are fantastic, well made products, and while the two would set you back £150, that's still half the price of the Magic Keyboard and they're better to use. Plus, they each have a button that can instantly switch between different devices.

A mouse loses access to many of the trackpad gestures that make using the iPad (or a Mac, for that matter) so fluid. I gave up mice across all of my devices years for just this reason. Far less productive.

 

[Yoms]

There is a big difference between the Magic Keyboard and a separate mouse and keyboard (and you’ll need a case capable of propping up the ipad as well, that likely adds a substantial amount of bulk on its own). The Magic Keyboard opens and closes in a second, and is usable on your lap, in bed, on a tiny plane or train tray table etc. It’s far from a desktop-only setup.

Yeah well sure, it's usable on your lap, in bed. You're right about that. Not denying it.

But if that's your main use case, you can definitely wonder if you'd not be better served with a laptop which would also be lighter.

On the other hand, if it's not your main use case and you mainly use a keyboard/trackpad/mouse with the iPad while sitting at your desk to be more "productive", then you're better served with a separate keyboard and trackpad/mouse for all the reasons I gave. I mean, you read the list, right? There are substantial good points in it I think.

 

[Johnsheehy]

I'm glad Dan didn't have any notable issues with the hummingbirds these things seem to attract.

View attachment 908397

Great animation, how can I pm you?

 

[zhenya]

Yeah well sure, it's usable on your lap, in bed. You're right about that. Not denying it.

But if that's your main use case, you can definitely wonder if you'd not be better served with a laptop which would also be lighter.

On the other hand, if it's not your main use case and you mainly use a keyboard/trackpad/mouse with the iPad while sitting at your desk to be more "productive", then you're better served with a separate keyboard and trackpad/mouse for all the reasons I gave. I mean, you read the list, right? There are substantial good points in it I think.

Not too many laptops lighter than my 11” iPad combo. And what I really value is the flexibility. My 12” MacBook I eventually gave my wife can’t remove the screen, can’t be used for handwritten notes, artwork, etc. Can’t do HD video calling from either orientation, etc.

I’m not someone who uses my iPad as a main productivity device - it’s a (very useful) companion device for my work and my main personal device. If I did use it as my main device in a fixed location, I might add an external keyboard, trackpad, and screen, but I’d do the same with a laptop, and still want the best experience possible when on the go.

 

[ofarlig]

When you want to do something quick on the go or on the plane (as if you take the place everyday), you use the iPad in its usual way (with fingers). Both solutions we discuss here are desktop setups anyway. If you need a keyboard/trackpad all the time, you should probably have a laptop anyway.

I could say the same to you, if you just want to use it at a desktop you should probably have a desktop with monitor anyway.

The idea of the iPad with the keyboard is that it has multiple uses, it can act as a tablet and a laptop. So you can sit on the couch using it as a tablet then popping it in the keyboard and catch your flight and have a ”laptop” and tablet with you.

 

[Ghost31]

Not exactly sure why everyone in this thread is so obsessed with comparing an iPad Pro with this keyboard to a MacBook Air. They seem to serve two different purposes. And the main price point difference there is speed. Even the current third gen iPad Pro has about double the multi core benchmark speed than the Airs do. That‘s a huge difference in power. That is the biggest contributor to cost there. Just get the tools you need to for the job you have. Or buy fancy things because you want to.

Why? Because it’s tradition. We all obviously haven’t debated iPad vs laptop enough over 10 flipping years and somehow still have the energy to argue the same points over and over again.

like oh man. “Why not just buy a MacBook for the same price?” Haven’t heard that one before. Also, why not when you’re car shopping buy tractor instead since it’s the same price

 

[Yoms]

Not too many laptops lighter than my 11” iPad combo. And what I really value is the flexibility. My 12” MacBook I eventually gave my wife can’t remove the screen, can’t be used for handwritten notes, artwork, etc. Can’t do HD video calling from either orientation, etc.

I’m not someone who uses my iPad as a main productivity device - it’s a (very useful) companion device for my work and my main personal device. If I did use it as my main device in a fixed location, I might add an external keyboard, trackpad, and screen, but I’d do the same with a laptop, and still want the best experience possible when on the go.

I mean I totally agree with this. As long as it can't be the main productivity device according to one's criteria you're probably better off with a computer.

But here, the focus of the conversation was about this new accessory, not so about laptop vs iPad.

If Apple made so convenient how to "release" the iPad Pro from this new Magic keyboard, it's most certainly because they know people won't be hanging with their iPad Pro attached to the Magic keyboard around the house, the garden, etc. which makes me think that this setup is first a sit-at-your-desk setup. In that case, imho having a keyboard with Fn keys and a bigger trackpad is a better and cheaper solution and also a solution you can keep even if the next iPad Pro you buy has a different form factor (and is no longer compatible with this Magic keyboard).

 

[The Game 161]

So you would lug around a keyboard and trackpad everywhere? Have fun using that on a plane or in a car, or if you need to do something quick while on the go.

This is why i love the Magic Trackpad for iPad...before i was carrying around my ASK and Magic Trackpad...just wasn’t practical.

 

[Yoms]

This is why i love the Magic Trackpad for iPad...before i was carrying around my ASK and Magic Trackpad...just wasn’t practical.

It seems that you're in the category of people who want to carry a keyboard and trackpad/mouse along with their iPad everywhere. I'm just not sure this category gather many people though. I may be wrong, but isn't the main use case of the iPad to be touch interface+light+bigger screen than an iPhone? And keyboard and trackpad/mouse just being used at times under certain conditions? I mean generally speaking, not in your particular case.

If the vast majority of people wants to carry a keyboard + trackpad/mouse along with their iPad everywhere, then yes I'm more than willing to say that this new Magic keyboard accessory is a better fit than a separate keyboard + trackpad/mouse. But if that's not the case...