iPad Pro Apple Smart Keyboard vs Bluetooth Keyboard ...questions

[ukpetey]

Love my Apple Smart Keyboard for my 9.7" Pro - but then I don't listen to music on it. It works well for me, no charging, no lag, and I type so fast on it that I amaze myself!

As always with Apple's great return policy - give it a try - if its not for you, send it back (within the specified time for your location) and get a full refund, no questions asked.

 

[Booji]

Zagg was good for all the reasons you've listed. At the same time it made me want to switch back to a 9.7 due to the overall increase in weight which made it resemble my macbook a lot more which imo made it a lot less a tablet.

When I used a Belkin Quode on my Air 2, I realized I had just doubled the thickness and weight if the whole thing, and it was just as heavy as my MacBook Air. The whole point of a tablet is that its super light and portable.

 

[Synergie]

I just picked up the 12.9 iPad Pro to use as a laptop replacement and here is what I figured out. Majority of the time, I don't need the full physical keyboard (surfing, majority of apps etc) and I didn't like how the Smart Keyboard looked when the cover was closed as it bumped up on one side and kind of looked funny. Other keyboard cases were bulky. I wanted slim for most of the time but a BT keyboard for when I need to type a significant amount. I picked up the Apple Magic Keyboard instead. It's slim and small enough to fit in a backpack along with the iPad Pro. For a case I just use the apple branded silicone back cover and Smart Cover. Keeps things slim and light and sleek looking. If I need a physical keyboard I just pull out the Magic Keyboard.

I actually used this at Starbucks and got some looks because it actually looks like a small desktop (instead of a laptop) with the keyboard separate. But since this is an actual Apple keyboard even more so. My recommendation is unless you need the physical keyboard ALL the time, get the Apple magic keyboard. Way less expensive and feels way better to type on and it's still Apple so it looks like it goes together (if u know what I mean).

Pic Attached

 

[Night Spring]

My recommendation is unless you need the physical keyboard ALL the time, get the Apple magic keyboard.

That was my thought too, when I first got my 12.9 Pro. But instead of buying the Magic Keyboard, I just used an Apple Bluetooth keyboard I already had. However, I soon found myself just getting by with typing on the onscreen keyboard, even for modestly long documents. I might feel differently if I needed to type super long documents, like say, more than 10 pages long. But most of the documents I work on are around 1-2 pages, with the occasional document between 5-10 pages, and for that amount of typing, I'm finding the onscreen keyboard works fine, for me.

 

[Max Your Macs]

That was my thought too, when I first got my 12.9 Pro. But instead of buying the Magic Keyboard, I just used an Apple Bluetooth keyboard I already had. However, I soon found myself just getting by with typing on the onscreen keyboard, even for modestly long documents. I might feel differently if I needed to type super long documents, like say, more than 10 pages long. But most of the documents I work on are around 1-2 pages, with the occasional document between 5-10 pages, and for that amount of typing, I'm finding the onscreen keyboard works fine, for me.

I've been feeling this same way myself. I have the ASK and my typing needs vary some but I find the virtual keyboard offers more options than the ASK such as trackpad and the obvious thing - it is ALWAYS lit up so there goes the backlit keys argument. I tried the Zagg and the Logitech and they were just clunky behemoths and totally destroyed the aesthetic and elegance of the IPP. I'm finding I like the virtual keyboard more and more so I may just end up sticking with it after all. The ASK is nice but it's a little floppy to set up and when you fold it back (as I have it now but typing on the virtual keyboard).

 

[Synergie]

That was my thought too, when I first got my 12.9 Pro. But instead of buying the Magic Keyboard, I just used an Apple Bluetooth keyboard I already had. However, I soon found myself just getting by with typing on the onscreen keyboard, even for modestly long documents. I might feel differently if I needed to type super long documents, like say, more than 10 pages long. But most of the documents I work on are around 1-2 pages, with the occasional document between 5-10 pages, and for that amount of typing, I'm finding the onscreen keyboard works fine, for me.

I guess the difference is that with the magic keyboard you can have your full screen real estate…… good if you are typing a large document and want to see more of the layout as you are typing. For small things I can use the on screen keyboard and that's why I said most of the time I I just use the iPad and don't need the physical keyboard but when I have a large project and want to have more screen space available I use the magic keyboard.

 

[sracer]

I guess the difference is that with the magic keyboard you can have your full screen real estate…… good if you are typing a large document and want to see more of the layout as you are typing. For small things I can use the on screen keyboard and that's why I said most of the time I I just use the iPad and don't need the physical keyboard but when I have a large project and want to have more screen space available I use the magic keyboard.

how do you transport the magic keyboard so that it doesn't turn on while in a backpack?

 

[Synergie]

how do you transport the magic keyboard so that it doesn't turn on while in a backpack?

Switch the power off till I need it

 

[M. Gustave]

Switch the power off till I need it

I do the same. My old Apple Bluetooth kb has gone everywhere with me.

 

[eyeseeyou]

When I used a Belkin Quode on my Air 2, I realized I had just doubled the thickness and weight if the whole thing, and it was just as heavy as my MacBook Air. The whole point of a tablet is that its super light and portable.

Did you use the Belkin qode or qode pro? I love the qode pro because you could easily remove the iPad from it and go into tablet mode and the keyboard would automatically connect and disconnect. The only drawback was that at retail it was pretty expensive.

So many features of the qode pro can't wait till they make one for the ipp.

 

[Night Spring]

I guess the difference is that with the magic keyboard you can have your full screen real estate…… good if you are typing a large document and want to see more of the layout as you are typing. For small things I can use the on screen keyboard

Yes, I totally agree. It just turns out that I don't do that much work where layouts matter, I just need to see the one paragraph I'm working on at the moment, and for that, the on screen keyboard is good enough. If you do need to see a few paragraphs at a time, then you should use an external keyboard.

 

[zosokm]

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my ASK. I think I type faster on it than I ever have on any keyboard (and I was really skeptical), and I used to type quite a bit for a living back in my pre-kid and grandkid days. It is just so easy and you barely have to touch the keys.

I love that it's connected as soon as I attach it, and never has to be charged. It's just really an awesomely done keyboard.

I can usually base how much I love something on what I would do if it broke or I lost it. I would replace my ASK immediately if something happened to it.

 

[Vedett]

I just purchased an iPad Pro 12.9 and went through the same question as you.

In the end I went for Apple's Magic Keyboard. My reasoning was that the Magic Keyboard is now easy to charge via a cable (no more hassle with batteries) and - most of all - I'm just not a fan of the cover thickness of the Smart Keyboard. The cover/Smart Keyboard combination - to me - looks and feels like a cheap hobby project.

I like to work outside when the weather is nice and the iPad Pro Smart Cover combined with the Magic Keyboard allows me to position the screen as far or as close as I want, unlike the Smart Keyboard.

The Magic Keyboard was a good choice for me. Bluetooth connection was setup in no time and it hasn't dropped the connection since I started using it. Typing this on the Magic Keyboard as we speak.

As for travelling: the iPad Pro's thickness combined with the Magic Keyboard is still a small package in width to carry around.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Synergie]

I just purchased an iPad Pro 12.9 and went through the same question as you.

In the end I went for Apple's Magic Keyboard. My reasoning was that the Magic Keyboard is now easy to charge via a cable (no more hassle with batteries) and - most of all - I'm just not a fan of the cover thickness of the Smart Keyboard. The cover/Smart Keyboard combination - to me - looks and feels like a cheap hobby project.

I like to work outside when the weather is nice and the iPad Pro Smart Cover combined with the Magic Keyboard allows me to position the screen as far or as close as I want, unlike the Smart Keyboard.

The Magic Keyboard was a good choice for me. Bluetooth connection was setup in no time and it hasn't dropped the connection since I started using it. Typing this on the Magic Keyboard as we speak.

As for travelling: the iPad Pro's thickness combined with the Magic Keyboard is still a small package in width to carry around.

Just my 2 cents.

This is my thinking too. Prefer the smaller profile of the regular Smart Cover without the keyboard and oust of the time when I don't need a keyboard I don't have to worry about the extra bulk. When I do need it, I take out the magic keyboard and like you I sometimes have the keyboard in my lap and the IPP is. Further away. Can't do that with the ASK. Also magic keyboard actually has function keys. I have been using it for a week now and it is still near fully charged! So I think the estimates of maybe one charge a month are accurate.

 

[Southern Dad]

I use the Apple Smart Keyboard with my iPad Pro 12.9" I also have an Apple Bluetooth keyboard. I far prefer the Smart Keyboard which works as a stand, too.