iPad Pro Magic Keyboard future compatibility

[ericwn]

Im really interested in the Magic Keyboard so this list isnt a slam on the product. Just a bunch of questions that the tech bloggers dont seem to be asking. (I added pictures to drool over because this does look amazing...)


1) Doesn’t Fold Back (No Portrait Mode)
The Smart Cover conveniently folds back, this does not. So it needs to be detached to be used handheld. That is incredibly inconvenient considering so many apps run in portrait mode.

2) Lack of Protection
Undocking means naked iPad. Some people like having a case at all times. And also, when you are undocked and using it then what do you do with the keyboard? Carry it around separately or get a case to carry your case?

View attachment 902947

3) Hinge Design
Apple makes amazing hinges. But what they’re doing here is pretty ambitious. Look at how thin it is! In two joints it has to be loose enough to easily detach but firm enough to hold in place.

4) Magnets
The stability of the Smart Cover is from a combination of back magnets and reinforced by that wide bottom edge holding everything in place. This new design has the screen “floating” which removes a pretty major contact point.

Also, one the 2018 Pro then one of the magnet contact points seems to be right where the camera cutout is. So does that mean we’ll have one less magnetic contact point? If you have a Smart Keyboard you can lift the iPad from the bottom rail and see how stable the magnets are when in place but how easily they release when off center.

5) Touch Response
Unlike most other hanging screens, the iPad is built around Touch. So how does the hinge and magnets respond to pencil or finger presses?

6) Lappability
The commercial shows a few split seconds of use on a lap but I am curious how stable this will be. Will it be top heavy and fall backwards? Will the screen bounce when typing? The screen is much further back than on the Smart Keyboard.

7) Weight
The Smart Cover is light but does add noticeable weight despite flimsy materials. This is some pretty heavy duty plastic so how much weight are we adding?

8) Media Keys
Not sure why they omitted media/fn keys but IF they actually make Pro level apps (FCP, Logic etc) then that row is actually pretty important.

9) Its designed for a desk
This is the conclusion I see. This simply wasn’t designed to replace a Smart Keyboard, it was meant to be a portable home dock. Thats a fine idea as an accessory but at $300 then that’s a pretty hefty investment.

Great post, thank you!

 

[goobot]

Considering all it takes is Apple to change the camera, which is something that they have been doing quite often, probably not.

 

[RevTEG]

Im really interested in the Magic Keyboard so this list isnt a slam on the product. Just a bunch of questions that the tech bloggers dont seem to be asking. (I added pictures to drool over because this does look amazing...)


1) Doesn’t Fold Back (No Portrait Mode)
The Smart Cover conveniently folds back, this does not. So it needs to be detached to be used handheld. That is incredibly inconvenient considering so many apps run in portrait mode.

2) Lack of Protection
Undocking means naked iPad. Some people like having a case at all times. And also, when you are undocked and using it then what do you do with the keyboard? Carry it around separately or get a case to carry your case?

View attachment 902947

3) Hinge Design
Apple makes amazing hinges. But what they’re doing here is pretty ambitious. Look at how thin it is! In two joints it has to be loose enough to easily detach but firm enough to hold in place.

4) Magnets
The stability of the Smart Cover is from a combination of back magnets and reinforced by that wide bottom edge holding everything in place. This new design has the screen “floating” which removes a pretty major contact point.

Also, one the 2018 Pro then one of the magnet contact points seems to be right where the camera cutout is. So does that mean we’ll have one less magnetic contact point? If you have a Smart Keyboard you can lift the iPad from the bottom rail and see how stable the magnets are when in place but how easily they release when off center.

5) Touch Response
Unlike most other hanging screens, the iPad is built around Touch. So how does the hinge and magnets respond to pencil or finger presses?

6) Lappability
The commercial shows a few split seconds of use on a lap but I am curious how stable this will be. Will it be top heavy and fall backwards? Will the screen bounce when typing? The screen is much further back than on the Smart Keyboard.

7) Weight
The Smart Cover is light but does add noticeable weight despite flimsy materials. This is some pretty heavy duty plastic so how much weight are we adding?

8) Media Keys
Not sure why they omitted media/fn keys but IF they actually make Pro level apps (FCP, Logic etc) then that row is actually pretty important.

9) Its designed for a desk
This is the conclusion I see. This simply wasn’t designed to replace a Smart Keyboard, it was meant to be a portable home dock. Thats a fine idea as an accessory but at $300 then that’s a pretty hefty investment.

Great post. Please forgive my simple reply. As for as protect goes, this isn't any different than the ASk's have been offering. There are several good (some not great) products that offer protect will still allowing the smart connector to work while using the ASK. Those should continue to work with the Magic Keyboard.

The Magic Keyboard may be somewhat of an issue for how I use my iPad. I fold the ASK to the back and teach from the iPad in portrait orientation (like a piece of paper). I don't prefer to teach in landscape. I like seeing more of my notes.All other times I use the iPad in landscape. I may need to buy the folio for class.

Im looking forward to actually hands-on reviews that show how for the hinge folds.

My other concern is the martial. I've not had the best fortune with the ASK's material holding up to daily use. Fingers crossed Apple updates the material or at least offers AC for a $349.

 

[salamanderjuice]

What issues? It works via connector so it should work on many future iPads

Ah yes, that's why all those 9.7" smart keyboards are still so useful. /s

I don't think it's a certainity. I think it'll be lucky if it works on 2 or 3 more iPads. Every single Smart Keyboard keyboard has been incompatible with the next gen Pro on the smaller size. The 9.7" KB doesn't work on the 10.5", the 10.5" doesn't work on the 11", the 2018 11" doesn't work on the 2020 11" because of the camera hole. The 12.9" isn't much better. One random camera change or redesign and it's useless.

The 10.5" Pro keyboard works on the new Air and the new 10.2" iPad but neither of those are upgrades for it, so I wouldn't be surprised if we got an 11" Air that could use this 2020 Magic keyboard in like 2022 while the 2022 Pro needs an entirely new one.

 

[OldCorpse]

I admit my taste is peculiar when it comes to this - I won't even try to defend it... it's sick, sorry. I'm not a well man. Be that as it may, I have to say, I like the Apple Smart Keyboard very much. I like it TONS more than the Folio. What I prize in the iPad, is portability. ASK is the most portable solution out there and super useful. I also - again, I admit, I'm sick - actually LIKE the feel of the keys and material on ASK. I like it a lot more than some plasticky chicklets on plasticky keyboards... yes, yes, I am sick. ASK is lighter and more like a skin on the iPad - it barely adds anything - and I like that naked feeling of minimalism. I don't get the same feeling from the FOLIO - it's overbuilt to me for an iPad... if I wanted a laptop, I'd buy a MB Air. Why do I need to clumsily build the iPad into a poor cousin of the MBA? But ASK is so minimalistic that I think it still keeps the iPad a portability champion, whereas the FOLIO already starts shading into MBA territory. I admit some faults of the ASK - the material may be easily damaged and made raggedy - fair charge. It may not be super durable, fair charge. Could it stand to be improved? If we're dreaming - and this may not be technically possible, but if they could somehow backlight it without changing the feel of the material or making it bigger-heavier (yeah, I know - not possible, sadly).

Now, the Magic Keyboard I have to evaluate in person. My fear is that it's just a bulkier FOLIO. Sure, it's amazingly capable and all... but again IF I WANTED AN MBA, THAT'S WHAT I'D GET!!! Portability, portability, portability. If you start compromising on that, seriously, the MBA is always going to be superior - at the cost of weight of course... no matter how great the Magic Keyboard is going to be, it'll still be inferior to the MBA... in which case what's the point?? Either - or. Either you want all the advantages of portability accepting some costs, or you want all the advantages of a laptop, accepting those costs. To me the ASK struck the right balance - my iPad Air 3 with ASK is a portability champ, even compared to the MBA. But an iPP with some bulky Magic Keyboard... and I'm not seeing enough differentiation from the MBA.

Now, maybe the Magic Keyboard is going to be a miracle product and I'll fall in love with it, and will want it super hard. Maybe. I'll have to wait to evaluate that in person. But it has a tall hill to climb in my book especially at $300. YMMV.

 

[aevan]

I really like the idea of the magic keyboard but its quite an investment at £300 in the UK.
What’s everyone’s opinion on its future compatibility? I would hope that it would work with iPads released a good way into the future at that price. I’ve already had to buy three iterations of the current keyboard case!

We don’t really know, but my guess is it will work for at least one more generation, if not more. I doubt Apple will increase the camera bump in any way next generation and, also, I doubt the iPad design will change anytime soon.

But, again, no one really knows.

 

[KittyKatta]

So annoying that they’ve decided to release this a couple of months after the new iPad Pro release.

The iPad / Keyboard release gap does feel familiar. What if its “AirPower” all over again where the AirPods2 were ready but delayed because of an ambitious accessory that ended up becoming vaporware. They have a date on the keyboard but never offered direct Apple pre-order so anything can happen.

 

[The Game 161]

Ah yes, that's why all those 9.7" smart keyboards are still so useful. /s

I don't think it's a certainity. I think it'll be lucky if it works on 2 or 3 more iPads. Every single Smart Keyboard keyboard has been incompatible with the next gen Pro on the smaller size. The 9.7" KB doesn't work on the 10.5", the 10.5" doesn't work on the 11", the 2018 11" doesn't work on the 2020 11" because of the camera hole. The 12.9" isn't much better. One random camera change or redesign and it's useless.

The 10.5" Pro keyboard works on the new Air and the new 10.2" iPad but neither of those are upgrades for it, so I wouldn't be surprised if we got an 11" Air that could use this 2020 Magic keyboard in like 2022 while the 2022 Pro needs an entirely new one.

That’s irrelevant as those iPads don’t connect like the magic keyboard does. Plus what you said are different size models. If the iPads remain the same size it shouldn’t be an issue

 

[KittyKatta]

I like the Apple Smart Keyboard very much. I like it TONS more than the Folio. What I prize in the iPad, is portability. ASK is the most portable solution out there and super useful.

I love the Smart Cover. Its the perfect combination of form AND function. Its a lightweight case, it folds out to be a keyboard and it invisibly folds back out of the way. I always have it on so a keyboard is always available.

And that is my primary apprehension about the Magic Keyboard. It looks amazing as a desktop keyboard but if it doesn’t function as a good case then this may be a $350 travel accessory that most people leave at home.

 

[EugW]

I love the Smart Cover. Its the perfect combination of form AND function. Its a lightweight case, it folds out to be a keyboard and it invisibly folds back out of the way. I always have it on so a keyboard is always available.

And that is my primary apprehension about the Magic Keyboard. It looks amazing as a desktop keyboard but if it doesn’t function as a good case then this may be a $350 travel accessory that most people leave at home.

I'm thinkig it should function as a case about as well as the current Apple Smart Keyboard Folio for the 2018 and 2020 iPad Pro (which is different from the ones for the 2015, 2016, and 2017 models).

 

[KittyKatta]

I'm thinkig it should function as a case about as well as the current Apple Smart Keyboard Folio for the 2018 and 2020 iPad Pro (which is different from the ones for the 2015, 2016, and 2017 models).

In its closed state then I think the Magic Keyboard will be BETTER than the Smart Keyboard due to harder materials. But where I see it failing as a case is the fact that you need to detach it in order to hold the ipad.

The scenarios I imagine is in a school (walking and reading) or a Starbucks (standing in line). With the Smart Keyboard you just fold it back and use the iPad like an iPad. But with a Magic Keyboard then you cant walk with a magnetic keyboard dangling off the side. You need to detach it. So not only does that leave the iPad completely exposed but it also means you have to now carry the keyboard separately and now its a case that isnt protecting anything.

 

[gsal]

In its closed state then I think the Magic Keyboard will be BETTER than the Smart Keyboard due to harder materials. But where I see it failing as a case is the fact that you need to detach it in order to hold the ipad.

The scenarios I imagine is in a school (walking and reading) or a Starbucks (standing in line). With the Smart Keyboard you just fold it back and use the iPad like an iPad. But with a Magic Keyboard then you cant walk with a magnetic keyboard dangling off the side. You need to detach it. So not only does that leave the iPad completely exposed but it also means you have to now carry the keyboard separately and now its a case that isnt protecting anything.

I guess it matters less if you’re stationed at a table, but if you’re, for instance, on public transport and want to use the iPad in tablet mode this is definitely an issue.

And even when you’re stationed at a table, if you wanted to use the pencil in tablet mode laying flat on top of the table top, you’re left with the camera bump exposed. This isn’t an issue with the Smart Keyboard Folio as you can just fold the keyboard back.

I just cannot see past these glaring flaws.

 

[The Boatman]

I would avoid this until Apple releases the iPad Magic Keyboard with Touch Bar in 2021. What’s the point of having a keyboard without the Touch Bar, the greatest thing Apple has ever invented?!

 

[KittyKatta]

I would avoid this until Apple releases the iPad Magic Keyboard with Touch Bar in 2021. What’s the point of having a keyboard without the Touch Bar, the greatest thing Apple has ever invented?!

Not sure if youre being sarcastic, but I wouldn’t mind a TouchBar.

I’ve been trying to use my 12.9 more like a “Computer” with a Smart Keyboard and Mouse and one of the biggest annoyances to me is the missing row of top keys (Esc, Media Control and Fn keys). It seems like a massive usability oversight for both the ASK and MK. So, while I’m not a huge fan of the TouchBar, if it fills a need then I see it as a good thing.


BTW, Apple does have a patent for a Smart Cover TouchBar so maybe our $350 keyboard will have a $500 brother one day.

Apple Patent: Smart Keyboard Touchbar

(And IF the iPad Trackpad ends up being more “task specific” and less “general use” then the diagram concept may be a practical implementation that keeps the trackpad/touchbar away when not in use)

 

[AutomaticApple]

Not sure if youre being sarcastic, but I wouldn’t mind a TouchBar.

I’ve been trying to use my 12.9 more like a “Computer” with a Smart Keyboard and Mouse and one of the biggest annoyances to me is the missing row of top keys (Esc, Media Control and Fn keys). It seems like a massive usability oversight for both the ASK and MK. So, while I’m not a huge fan of the TouchBar, if it fills a need then I see it as a good thing.


BTW, Apple does have a patent for a Smart Cover TouchBar so maybe our $350 keyboard will have a $500 brother one day.

Apple Patent: Smart Keyboard Touchbar

(And IF the iPad Trackpad ends up being more “task specific” and less “general use” then the diagram concept may be a practical implementation that keeps the trackpad/touchbar away when not in use)

That image heavily reminds me of the Surface Neo.

 

[Mainsail]

Im really interested in the Magic Keyboard so this list isnt a slam on the product. Just a bunch of questions that the tech bloggers dont seem to be asking. (I added pictures to drool over because this does look amazing...)


1) Doesn’t Fold Back (No Portrait Mode)
The Smart Cover conveniently folds back, this does not. So it needs to be detached to be used handheld. That is incredibly inconvenient considering so many apps run in portrait mode.

2) Lack of Protection
Undocking means naked iPad. Some people like having a case at all times. And also, when you are undocked and using it then what do you do with the keyboard? Carry it around separately or get a case to carry your case?

View attachment 902947

3) Hinge Design
Apple makes amazing hinges. But what they’re doing here is pretty ambitious. Look at how thin it is! In two joints it has to be loose enough to easily detach but firm enough to hold in place.

4) Magnets
The stability of the Smart Cover is from a combination of back magnets and reinforced by that wide bottom edge holding everything in place. This new design has the screen “floating” which removes a pretty major contact point.

Also, one the 2018 Pro then one of the magnet contact points seems to be right where the camera cutout is. So does that mean we’ll have one less magnetic contact point? If you have a Smart Keyboard you can lift the iPad from the bottom rail and see how stable the magnets are when in place but how easily they release when off center.

5) Touch Response
Unlike most other hanging screens, the iPad is built around Touch. So how does the hinge and magnets respond to pencil or finger presses?

6) Lappability
The commercial shows a few split seconds of use on a lap but I am curious how stable this will be. Will it be top heavy and fall backwards? Will the screen bounce when typing? The screen is much further back than on the Smart Keyboard.

7) Weight
The Smart Cover is light but does add noticeable weight despite flimsy materials. This is some pretty heavy duty plastic so how much weight are we adding?

8) Media Keys
Not sure why they omitted media/fn keys but IF they actually make Pro level apps (FCP, Logic etc) then that row is actually pretty important.

9) Its designed for a desk
This is the conclusion I see. This simply wasn’t designed to replace a Smart Keyboard, it was meant to be a portable home dock. Thats a fine idea as an accessory but at $300 then that’s a pretty hefty investment.

Very well thought out assessment. Of course, the proof will be in actual use, but you have made some good points.

 

[Abazigal]

I think many people get it backwards.

Apple doesn’t change the design of a product to force users to buy their accessories all over again. They change it because it needs to change. That your older accessories no longer work with it is simply a consequence of a product having a redesign.

The magic keyboard is compatible with the 2018 iPad Pro because it’s easier to design for a product which already exists. Conversely, it’s not realistic to expect the 2018 Smart Keyboard to still work with the 2020 iPad Pro because at the time of releasing it, there was no way the engineers could have factored in the 2020 iPad design (eg: increase the size of the camera cutout).

The magic keyboard may well be compatible with the next iPad refresh, or it may not. Either way, it’s better to err on the side of caution when it comes to making such assumptions.

 

[gsal]

From what I have picked up reading these threads, most people don’t use the rear camera on their iPads.

I personally could do without one so that I don’t need a case when lying the iPad flat on a table.

 

[duanepatrick]

6) Lappability
The commercial shows a few split seconds of use on a lap but I am curious how stable this will be. Will it be top heavy and fall backwards? Will the screen bounce when typing? The screen is much further back than on the Smart Keyboard.

This made me laugh and at the same time wonder. And then Apple will tell you, bruh, its an iPad and not a laptop. Good thread tho.

 

[gsal]

Does anybody know if this keyboard will be covered under AppleCare if taken with the iPad?

 

[KittyKatta]

Does anybody know if this keyboard will be covered under AppleCare if taken with the iPad?

If they continue how they do things with the Smart Keyboard, then No. Pencil is covered under AC+ but keyboard only gets its 1yr warranty.

Personally, I feel that the Smart Keyboard should be covered under AC+. Its a very simple product but has such a high failure rate due to poor materials and the constant flex of that hinge ribbon. The Magic Keyboard may be more durable materials but there’s so many points of failure that I’d buy an AppleCare specifically for the keyboard if i could.

 

[KittyKatta]

Now that the keyboard is available to purchase then has anyone found the actual product weight yet?

 

[otozuz]

I was very surprised to see the lack of the ESC key Even now with the Smart Keyboard I find myself reaching for the ESC key in multiple occasions.

The alternative in some situations is [cmd + .] but that doesn't work if a developer doesn't implement it in their app.

 

[BeatCrazy]

Does anybody know if this keyboard will be covered under AppleCare if taken with the iPad?

Yes.

AppleCare Products - iPad

Get iPad solutions from Apple support experts. Explore the most popular iPad topics, and find out more about iOS, iCloud, and iPad apps.

www.apple.com

 

[drxcm]

Applecare covers keyboards and pencil