Which Magic Keyboard to get if have Apple Watch?

[Jay-Jacob]

I will be getting new Mac (probably Studio) and want try keep cost down so thinking maybe get standard Magic Keyboard instead of Touch ID one since I have Apple Watch to unlock Mac.

So my question for people have Apple Watch and Touch ID keyboard or any MacBook with Touch ID do you use Touch ID much? Is it worth getting over standard Magic keyboard? Or I just get standard Magic keyboard instead? Is there anything Touch ID can do that Apple Watch can’t?

 

[fwmireault]

While unlock with Apple Watch is a nice feature, it is very limited in day to day use in my opinion. You can’t unlock passwords or pay with Apple Pay with it. The latter is not used that much, but I am unlocking very often my keychain to fill a password or to log in on a specific account, and I am constantly reaching out to my MBP to use TouchID

So for me, the additional TouchID on the standalone Magic Keyboard will be well worth it. I understand you want to keep the (already insane) price of Magic Keyboard down, but keep in mind that unlock with Apple Watch is uniquely unlocking the computer itself

Bottom line, if you don't use iCloud Keychain or you don't have a lot of passwords stored, you should be fine to use a non-Touch ID Magic Keyboard

 

[Jay-Jacob]

I didn’t consider about password etc on Mac use Touch ID. That good point. BTW apple watch can do Apple Pay on Mac cos I did this many times. As far I can tell Apple Watch unlock Mac and use Apple Pay on Mac.

If software need passcode/password to unlock then Apple Watch can’t do this like keychain, password manager, etc.

? Will have to think bit more.

 

[deeddawg]

@Jay-Jacob You will want the TouchID keyboard. Apple watch authentication does not completely replace TouchID. The alternative is you'll be typing in your system password fairly often, particularly any keychain or system access authentication.

Just get the TouchID keyboard.

(I use my MBP open alongside an external monitor and keyboard/trackpad - I'm often using the MBP's touchID)

 

[Jay-Jacob]

@deeddawg Ok that decided for me lol. So I will get Touch ID keyboard instead of standard keyboard.

 

[basher]

While unlock with Apple Watch is a nice feature, it is very limited in day to day use in my opinion. You can’t unlock passwords or pay with Apple Pay with it. The latter is not used that much, but I am unlocking very often my keychain to fill a password or to log in on a specific account, and I am constantly reaching out to my MBP to use TouchID

So for me, the additional TouchID on the standalone Magic Keyboard will be well worth it. I understand you want to keep the (already insane) price of Magic Keyboard down, but keep in mind that unlock with Apple Watch is uniquely unlocking the computer itself

Bottom line, if you don't use iCloud Keychain or you don't have a lot of passwords stored, you should be fine to use a non-Touch ID Magic Keyboard

Touch ID will unlock 1Password.

touch-id-mac​

 

[deeddawg]

Touch ID will unlock 1Password.

touch-id-mac​

Enpass too.

Handy for those of us who want to keep local vaults and use choose the cloud service to sync the volts across devices rather than be forced to use 1Passwords. A feature 1Password used to have, then removed. Plus the whole subscription only model.

 

[Jay-Jacob]

I have Enpass so that be useful.