When Apple announced the Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro, its price attracted a lot of attention. The new case retailed at $299 for the 11” model and $349 for the 12.9”. That’s an increase of $120 – $150 dollars from the Apple Smart Keyboard Folio that debuted in 2018.
The new price led to speculation, and expectations, that the new Magic Keyboard might come packed with all the features needed to turn the iPad Pro into a legitimate laptop replacement.
Did it? Several reviewers think so, but with caveats. The bigger question seems to be whether it’s worth the price. After all, at nearly $1,400 for the 12.9” iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard, it’s more expensive than a well-specced Macbook Air.
Let’s take a closer look.
A Winning Design
There’s no arguing with the build quality or design of the Magic Keyboard case. The Magic Keyboard case is made of a grey polyurethane material, sports a backlit keyboard and uses a dual-hinge design to offer viewing angles ranging from 90 – 130 degrees. That’s a big improvement over the two-position design of the Magic Keyboard’s predecessor, as Linus Tech Tips points out in the clip below.
Linus Tech Tips on Viewing Angles
iPads attach to the case via super strong magnets. And by super strong, we mean industrial grade super strong, as DailyTekk demonstrates in a shake test in the clip below.
DailyTekk on Super Strong Magnets
The dual-hinge and the magnets enable the screen to “float” above the keyboard, giving it a unique look and allowing the meatier-fingered, less dexterous typists to use top row keys without knocking the screen. iJustine takes a closer look at the floating screen design in the next clip.
iJustine on the Floating Screen Design
The case features a pass-through USB-C charging port integrated into its primary hinge. The port doesn’t support data, but users can use the USB-C port on the iPad for data transfer or to support an accessory. Watch Andru Edwards take a closer look at the pass-through charging port below.
Andru Edwards on Pass-through Charging
There were only a few minor gripes about the design. Some mentioned that opening the case one-handed is a no-go for most users, as Max Tech shows us below.
Max Tech on Opening the Case
And Andru Edwards expressed disappointment that Apple didn’t use a more premium material for the exterior, especially considering the high price point of the case.
Andru Edwards on the Case Material
Quality Keyboard & Trackpad
The keyboard and trackpad are another thing that Apple seems to have nailed with the Magic Keyboard. As mentioned above, the keyboard is backlit, which allows users to type in dark or dimly lit spaces, as DailyTekk demonstrates in this clip.
Dailytekk on the Backlit Keyboard
The big story here is that Apple used the same scissor switch design as its new laptops, giving the Magic Keyboard a high-quality typing experience. Reviewers reported that the typing feels very similar to the new Macbook Air and Macbook pro laptops. Here’s Linus Tech Tips with more on the typing experience.
Linus Tech Tips on the Typing Experience
The trackpad is small, but most reviewers said it felt comfortable to use despite its small size. It’s based on a “diving board” design, which means it actually clicks when used, and reviewers reported it to be accurate and lag free. DailyTekk made some minor changes in the settings to drastically improve the trackpad experience, as he outlines below.
Dailytekk on Trackpad Settings
Missing Function and Esc Keys
Perhaps the biggest complaint about the Magic Keyboard is that it’s missing a set of function keys and an escape key. For some reviewers, like Marques Brownlee, those missing keys kept the Magic Keyboard from turning the iPad Pro into a true laptop replacement, as he explains below.
Marques Brownlee on Missing Function Keys
But several other reviewers said they didn’t miss the missing keys. They pointed out that trackpad gestures along with on screen controls easily replaced those missing shortcuts, as Max Tech discusses below.
Max Tech on Trackpad Gestures
Speaking of gestures, it’s worth noting that the Magic Keyboard and iPad iOS introduce several new gesture controls for the trackpad that are different from the iPad’s on-screen gestures. Here’s Brian Tong reviewing how they work.
Brian Tong on New Gesture Controls
The Issue of Weight
Now, to the issue of weight. The Magic Keyboard’s sturdy and solid build also means that it’s heavy. The Magic Keyboard for the 12.9” iPad Pro weighs in at just over 702g, making it heavier than the iPad Pro, which weighs 640gs.
That means that the Magic Keyboard and the 12.9” iPad Pro together weigh more than the Macbook Air, as iJustine outlines in the clip below.
iJustine on Weight
Another potential weight-related issue with the Magic Keyboard and iPad Pro combo is that it’s top heavy, making it awkward to use in some positions. Some reviewers, like Matthew Moniz in the clip below, reported that its top-heavy weight distribution made it a bit uncomfortable to use while balanced on a lap.
Matthew Moniz on How the Case is Top Heavy
Form Factor Limitations
The one limitation that came up consistently in reviews is that the Magic Keyboard doesn’t have a tablet mode. To lay the tablet flat for sketching or writing, users need to remove it from the Magic Keyboard case
For artists and others who need to frequently use the iPad Pro in tablet mode, this may be a deal breaker. Although, there is an awkward workaround as iJustine demonstrates below.
iJustine on an Awkward Tablet Mode
The Verdict
So, back to the original questions. Does the Magic Keyboard finally turn the iPad Pro into a legitimate laptop replacement? Is it worth its hefty price tag?
For the most reviewers, the answer seems to be yes, maybe, for the right type of person who loves their iPad Pro. Linus Tech Tips discusses the nuances of the Magic Keyboard and iPad Pro combo’s use cases in the clip below.
Linus Tech Tips on Use Cases
See each of the expert reviews below