iPad Pro The MKB for the new M4 iPad Pro is scratch heaven

[Ettepetje]

The Magic Keyboard design for the M4 iPad Pro’s seems to be an all-out effort to go thinner and lighter:
- A metal frame keyboard
- Zero space in between it and the screen of the iPad

Not using a screenprotector you will soon be confronted with ‘mysterious’ scratches on your pricey, brand new M4 iPad.

In the past the rubbery surface of the MKB kept a particle stuck, leaving perhaps a tiny dent in the screen surface. Hardly visible.

What were they thinking at Apple HQ when they approved this design??

 

[Kahnforever]

What are you talking about? Clearly you don't own it and haven't used it or you would know... that there is a raised rubber frame around the frame of the keyboard. And that is what makes contact with the screen.

 

[madat42]

What are you talking about? Clearly you don't own it and haven't used it or you would know... that there is a raised rubber frame around the frame of the keyboard. And that is what makes contact with the screen.

There certainly is a raised rubber frame but on close inspection of the closed device you can see (at least on mine) that the iPad doesn't sit flush on it and is angled down towards the front and the screen making contact with the aluminum palm rest. I got a screen protector just in case.

 

[Ettepetje]

What are you talking about? Clearly you don't own it and haven't used it or you would know... that there is a raised rubber frame around the frame of the keyboard. And that is what makes contact with the screen.

I wanted to buy it, but luckily checked at the store first. I had some other customers check, and a helpful and candid Apple store employee. He looked closely and a meaningful silence fell.

I checked because someone had mentioned it, and the crunchy sound he didn’t like coming from his folded MKB.

We will learn soon enough seeing it is so blatantly obvious. Meanwhile I already found a YouTuber complaining about scratches where he knew no direct cause (4:30 in):

 

[Total Respray]

There is a youtube video by Jerry Schulze comparing the MKB with the Logitech keyboard where he noted the need to open the MKB carefully to avoid possible scratching (sorry I forgot where in the video it was but somewhere towards the back end):

 

[Kahnforever]

I wanted to buy it, but luckily checked at the store first. I had some other customers check, and a helpful and candid Apple store employee. He looked closely and a meaningful silence fell.

I checked because someone had mentioned it, and the crunchy sound he didn’t like coming from his folded MKB.

We will learn soon enough seeing it is so blatantly obvious. Meanwhile I already found a YouTuber complaining about scratches where he knew no direct cause (4:30 in):

I haven’t seen any video showing this. Perhaps post a video showing it, don’t post 20 min videos with no time reference.

 

[Kahnforever]

I took this photo… it does seem to taper slightly at the side opposite the hinge. But it’s not clear that causes scratches.

 

[ewrapple]

I wanted to buy it, but luckily checked at the store first. I had some other customers check, and a helpful and candid Apple store employee. He looked closely and a meaningful silence fell.

I checked because someone had mentioned it, and the crunchy sound he didn’t like coming from his folded MKB.

We will learn soon enough seeing it is so blatantly obvious. Meanwhile I already found a YouTuber complaining about scratches where he knew no direct cause (4:30 in):

Did you actually watch the video? The guy is guessing and says he thinks it was something getting on the Pencil.

 

[JemTheWire]

I have a new iPad Pro M4 11" with a Magic Keyboard. It's the the first keyboard I have ever used on any of my iPads. I too was fearful of dust etc. getting between the keyboard when the screen when closed. I did notice the raised rubber ring around the keyboard. As I always fit a screen protector to all of my iDevices, I am not concerned. However, I really do think without a screen protector the original screen will get scratched to some degree.

 

[Kahnforever]

I have a new iPad Pro M4 11" with a Magic Keyboard. It's the the first keyboard I have ever used on any of my iPads. I too was fearful of dust etc. getting between the keyboard when the screen when closed. I did notice the raised rubber ring around the keyboard. As I always fit a screen protector to all of my iDevices, I am not concerned. However, I really do think without a screen protector the original screen will get scratched to some degree.

Why do you think that.

 

[julesme]

There certainly is a raised rubber frame but on close inspection of the closed device you can see (at least on mine) that the iPad doesn't sit flush on it and is angled down towards the front and the screen making contact with the aluminum palm rest. I got a screen protector just in case.

I've noticed (on my new 11" M4 IPP) that the raised rubber frame leaves a mark / line where it contacts the screen. Hopefully that means it's working to protect the screen from contacting the metal parts of the keyboard.

 

[Kahnforever]

I've noticed (on my new 11" M4 IPP) that the raised rubber frame leaves a mark / line where it contacts the screen. Hopefully that means it's working to protect the screen from contacting the metal parts of the keyboard.

Yes, expect it to leave a mark. That is normal and you can wipe off any surface mark from it. That also shows it’s doing its job.

 

[JemTheWire]

Why do you think that.

Because when something is in close contact with something else there is friction and the softer of the two will be abrased. You could say that rubber, as in the protection ring around the keyboard, is softer than the glass screen so therefore it won't scratch the screen. You would be right, however, as is my experience, a bit of grit, dust or whatever that gets caught between the rubber and screen MIGHT be harder than the glass of the screen and potentially scratch it.
I HAVE had this happen and once its done you cannot easily undo it.

So for me, I would rather fit a quality glass screen protector and let that take the scratches.

I know that this 'argument' can go back and forth but it works for me and has for years so I ain't changing now.

 

[sparksd]

I dislike glass screen protectors because of their reflectivity - threw my last one away. I do like having a lightweight microfiber cloth with me and I just lay it over the keyboard and trackpad area when I close the case - causes no harm and solves the case rubbing problem.

 

[JemTheWire]

I also like your solution. But i have no gripe with glass screen protectors as you can probably gather.

It’s horses for courses and the World would be a boring place if there weren't choices.

 

[sparksd]

I also like your solution. But i have no gripe with glass screen protectors as you can probably gather.

It’s horses for courses and the World would be a boring place if there weren't choices.

I use one on my Mini 6 but I usually use my large iPad (13" Pro now) in a well-lit room and with the protector on, I could see my face as in a mirror when watching a video with dark scenes - too distracting for me. Too bad (for me) as the protectors are easier to clean and have a good deal of upside to them.

 

[Royksöpp]

Does this come from experience or is this just speculation? 🧐

 

[JemTheWire]

Experience for me with previous devices. I ain’t chancing a £999 device’s screen to luck. The screen is the major part of the iPad and once you see a scratch you can’t unlock see it!

 

[Kahnforever]

I’m not doing a screen protector unless it’s indistinguishable from the original screen. Something is wrong if we need screen protectors to protect the screen from the MKB.

 

[WU27f1xcCs]

I wanted to buy it, but luckily checked at the store first. I had some other customers check, and a helpful and candid Apple store employee. He looked closely and a meaningful silence fell.

I checked because someone had mentioned it, and the crunchy sound he didn’t like coming from his folded MKB.

We will learn soon enough seeing it is so blatantly obvious. Meanwhile I already found a YouTuber complaining about scratches where he knew no direct cause (4:30 in):

Then everyone clapped and you were made head of engineering for Apple that very afternoon?

 

[nathan_reilly]

Then everyone clapped and you were made head of engineering for Apple that very afternoon?

Yeah, this reads like some fantasy to the most debate-minded gotcha-seeking individuals

 

[Rogifan]

No issues with my 13” Pro.

 

[geoelectric]

Without having watched the video, I wonder if the scratching issue called out was the spine.

With the MKB you put it spine down on the table then pull the keyboard down (as opposed to a laptop that lays flat and then you pull up the screen).

Since the spine is no longer protected, that’s putting it bare on the surface, and then it can scoot around some while you hold it upright to pull the keyboard down. I’m concerned myself about scratching off space black from the spine if I do that on a dirty or rough surface.

The other issue is that when you pop the iPad off the magnets, it’s easy to drop it onto the keyboard. I’ve been a little afraid I’d scratch the top back of the keyboard that way.

I doubt the keyboard will scratch the screen though, unless you get sand caught in there at just the wrong place. As others have said, there’s a rubber bumper and the screen doesn’t quite sit flush on the keyboard because of it. My last MKB caused no damage on my 2018 IPP screen over lots of casual usage and this appears to fit similarly.

 

[klasma]

Solution:

 

[Commy1]

There is just enough room between the iPad screen and the keyboard to accommodated a 0.25mm tempered glass screen protector. I put a Spigen protector on immediately and the thought crossed my mind at that moment that I may be making a mistake, I didn’t check clearance before hand but thankfully it seems that Apple planned for this and there is clearance, I’m having 0 issues, not scratches as of yet. There is a rubber like gasket around the keys, I see more infinitely more key marks on the MacBook than I do on the iPad.