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Macintosh101

macrumors 6502a
Nov 23, 2017
677
1,158
I really am wondering if this is accurate... I’ve seen a number of people who use screen protector with their IPP’s, or the coverbuddy case accessory, and the magic Keybaord has accommodated those fine with no issues closing...
 

ericwn

macrumors G5
Apr 24, 2016
12,119
10,912
I’d be surprised if this is accurate. Guess we’ll have to wait and see when the first users can test it.
 

jcmc

macrumors regular
Nov 16, 2008
151
66
I hope it isn’t accurate as I can imagine for many who rely on using a Magic Keyboard - like me - then factoring in the additional cost of a new one makes the idea of upgrading from the 2018 model just too prohibitive.
 
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Macintosh101

macrumors 6502a
Nov 23, 2017
677
1,158
I hope it isn’t accurate as I can imagine for many who rely on using a Magic Keyboard - like me - then factoring in the additional cost of a new one makes the idea of upgrading from the 2018 model just too prohibitive.
My sentiments exactly
 

Hal~9000

macrumors 68020
Sep 13, 2014
2,184
2,183
I purchased a 12.9 inch Magic Keyboard on sale for $249 back on March 17th, hoping the new iPads would be announced that month like they were (at first) rumored to be.

Eventually when the iPad announcement became April and I had to make a choice:
  • Do I keep the Magic Keyboard and hope that the new thickness on the 12.9 inch iPad Pro isn’t an issue?
  • Or just return it and wait to see if it’s compatible and hope for a new Magic Keyboard sale in the future?
I ended up going with the 2nd option and returning it a week ago. Just didn’t want to risk going past the 30-day return period and wasting $249 on an accessory that doesn’t work on the new models.
 

Precursor

Cancelled
Sep 29, 2015
1,091
1,066
Istanbul
According to Apple website both the black and white Magic Keyboards are compatible with 3rd, 4th and 5th generation iPad Pro (which is the one that just came out)
 

Macintosh101

macrumors 6502a
Nov 23, 2017
677
1,158
According to Apple website both the black and white Magic Keyboards are compatible with 3rd, 4th and 5th generation iPad Pro (which is the one that just came out)
Yes, but is the Gen 1 magic Keybaord compatible with the 5th gen iPad Pro? These Gen 2 Magic Keyboeards are backwards compatible with older IPP models, but the reverse may not be true.
 

Precursor

Cancelled
Sep 29, 2015
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Yes, but is the Gen 1 magic Keybaord compatible with the 5th gen iPad Pro? These Gen 2 Magic Keyboeards are backwards compatible with older IPP models, but the reverse may not be true.
Where does it say the Magic Keyboard is a 2nd generation? I thought they are still selling the same Magic Keyboard with additional white option.
 

Macintosh101

macrumors 6502a
Nov 23, 2017
677
1,158
Where does it say the Magic Keyboard is a 2nd generation? I thought they are still selling the same Magic Keyboard with additional white option.
According to the French site iGeneration, the fifth-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro needs a new Magic Keyboard, so anyone who has bought an older version hoping to use it with the new model will have to buy a new accessory.

While the 2021 12.9-inch iPad Pro is broadly similar to the 2018 and 2020 models, the new tablet stands out on one point: it’s thicker, at precisely 0.5mm. It might not sound like much, but it’s enough for Apple to adjust its Magic Keyboard, the iPad Pro’s dedicated trackpad keyboard. And according to the documentation provided to the Apple Stores that we have been able to consult, the old Magic Keyboard is not compatible with the large iPad Pros of 2021.
 

GuruZac

macrumors 68040
Sep 9, 2015
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This is accurate according to Apple Inside. It was confirmed by Apple that the 12.9" is not compatible but the 11" is as there were no chassis changes. Very disappointing and I will not be upgrading this year because it now becomes a $350 more expensive upgrade. Crazy.

 

kave

macrumors 6502a
Oct 31, 2012
567
308
Sweden
At the moment they are not selling magic keyboards for the iPad pro so it must be a new version completetely.
 

GuruZac

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Sep 9, 2015
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According to Apple website both the black and white Magic Keyboards are compatible with 3rd, 4th and 5th generation iPad Pro (which is the one that just came out)
Correct but the 1st Gen Magic Keyboard is not compatible with the 5th Gen. That's super disappointing and I'm wondering if many 2018/2020 users of the Magic Keyboard planning to upgrade will reconsider because of this.
 

Precursor

Cancelled
Sep 29, 2015
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Istanbul
Correct but the 1st Gen Magic Keyboard is not compatible with the 5th Gen. That's super disappointing and I'm wondering if many 2018/2020 users of the Magic Keyboard planning to upgrade will reconsider because of this.
That means I'll sell my 2018 12.9" iPP together with its Magic Keyboard and will have to buy the 2021 12.9" iPP with a new Magic Keyboard. I'll maybe lose $50 by selling the 1st gen and buying the 2nd gen.
 

GuruZac

macrumors 68040
Sep 9, 2015
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That means I'll sell my 2018 12.9" iPP together with its Magic Keyboard and will have to buy the 2021 12.9" iPP with a new Magic Keyboard. I'll maybe lose $50 by selling the 1st gen and buying the 2nd gen.
I hope you do, but that probably depends on the market. I am in medical school at East Tennessee State University which is in Johnson City, TN and I doubt there is market here for people wanting to buy a $550-$600 iPad Pro with another $300 accessory on top. Other markets may vary.
 

fwmireault

macrumors 68020
Jul 4, 2019
2,288
9,705
Montréal, Canada
I was really hoping that with an accessory this pricey, Apple would keep future compatibility for 2-3 generations, with a similar form factor. I get that an accessory shouldn't limit the new tech integrated in the iPad, but this is disappointing, especially for such a minimal form factor change.
 

barry.pearson

macrumors member
Jan 26, 2016
86
29
England
Ouch. I got my magic keyboard around a year ago to give my 2018 iPad Pro a refresh. To have such an expensive accessory become incompatible in only a year is awful.

This would be a deal breaker for me upgrading to a new iPad Pro 12.9, and if I did upgrade I’d be very cautious about getting another Apple keyboard, likely just go for one from a company like Logitech instead.
 

Lucifer666

macrumors 65816
Sep 20, 2014
1,064
416
You do realize that since the thickness was increased that they couldn't claim compatibility.
This doesn't mean it won't work fine, it just means....whatever it means.

Though I for one, want the new version. I hate slightly uneven things. It may cause problems in some ways. Then again, there may be no issues. You might even be able to bend it just a tad. Who knows.

Unless of course there's electrical differences also, but that seems unlikely.

So I sell my present 12.9 with the keyboard. Problem solved. I think. :)
 
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barry.pearson

macrumors member
Jan 26, 2016
86
29
England
I don’t know about your location, but trying to get any value out of my iPad Pro keyboard by selling it on is going to be difficult - regardless of whether I sell it with or without the iPad.

if I was lucky and got £250 out of the £350 I originally spent on the keyboard, I’m still going to the have to put that extra £100 towards the new keyboard.

Realistically someone will want a much deeper discount if purchased with my old iPad. This is added complexity and stress people don’t want to deal with. I’ll just stick with my 2018 12.9” for a few more years.
 

dotnet

macrumors 68000
Apr 10, 2015
1,668
1,393
Sydney, Australia
Should the old Magic Keyboard really be incompatible with the new iPad Pro 12.9” (which I doubt) then he tickness of the iPad Pro has nothing to do with it. This is not a tight fit, there is plenty of play.

The problem is, once closed, the Magic Keyboard grips the tablet pretty tight. Apple has not left a millimeter of leeway, because the accessory must hold the iPad in place and prevent it from falling to the bottom of a bag or worse, on the asphalt if you move the set without other protection. But with that extra half a millimeter on the 2021 generation, maybe this very precise fit is a problem and the device had to be redesigned.

This is utter nonsense. The keyboard doesn’t hold the iPad by gripping it tightly. If you close the keyboard on your 3rd or 4th gen iPad Pro 12.9 you’ll see that there is quite a gap there to peer through.

EDIT I just measured a 0.5mm stack of paper and inserted it between iPad an keyboard – no problem whatsoever. It’s still not a tight fit, and I can easily pull the paper out when the keyboard is closed.
 
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Rogifan

macrumors Penryn
Nov 14, 2011
24,735
32,201
Should the old Magic Keyboard really be incompatible with the new iPad Pro 12.9” (which I doubt) then he tickness of the iPad Pro has nothing to do with it. This is not a tight fit, there is plenty of play.



This is utter nonsense. The keyboard doesn’t hold the iPad by gripping it tightly. If you close the keyboard on your 3rd or 4th gen iPad Pro 12.9 you’ll see that there is quite a gap there to peer through.

EDIT I just measured a 0.5mm stack of paper and inserted it between iPad an keyboard – no problem whatsoever. It’s still not a tight fit, and I can easily pull the paper out when the keyboard is closed.
I guess the question is does it not work or is it just not a perfect fit? If it doesn’t work then that’s something Apple should not be hiding from consumers. This isn’t an iPhone case it’s a $350 accessory. I was all set to pull the trigger on one but if the Magic Keyboard I bought last year won’t work with the new Pro I’ll keep the one I have.
 
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Jacoblee23

macrumors 65816
Nov 10, 2011
1,486
737
If true, I guess I will not be upgrading right now. I use my magic keyboards for my 11” and 12.9” all the time. This is ridiculous if true. It just got introduced last year.
 
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