Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro Review: Your fingers will thank you


Share

It’s safe to say that I’ve waited 10 years for a proper iPad keyboard accessory from Apple. Was the wait for the Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro worth it? Absolutely. It’s probably better to be late to the game but have a solid product, than to deliver something that’s mediocre – I’m looking at you, Folio Keyboard – though I can’t help but wish it hadn’t quite taken a whole decade to arrive.

This isn’t quite the review I’d hoped to do for the Magic Keyboard. The coronavirus lockdown means that travel is off the cards for the moment; I’ll return with a follow-up after I’ve had a chance to put it through its paces on a plane, where I suspect it’ll come to be a common sight. For now, I’ve been using the Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro 12.9-inch at home, but already I’m impressed by just how good it feels to type on. Responsive and tactile, with a very satisfying thunk on every keystroke, it falls somewhere between Lenovo’s ThinkPad and Google’s Pixelbook ‘boards. They’re each very different, yes, but equally great to type on, and the Magic Keyboard lands somewhere in-between.

The 1mm key travel doesn’t sound like a lot on paper, but in the real world it feels just right. You’re not having to press down further than necessary, but nor does it feel like you’re typing on a piece of plastic – as you would on the Apple Folio keyboard.

PROS

  • Great keyboard
  • Powered by iPad Pro so no separate battery to charge
  • Well designed to protect the iPad Pro

CONS

  • Pass-through charging via USB-C is slow
  • Expensive
  • Smaller articulation range than expected
  • The ergonomics take some getting used to

Leave a reply