iPad Pro The 2020 Magic Keyboard is just like the 3rd Gen iPad

[Rogifan]

I never owned a 3rd gen iPad but I can only image how those who did felt when Apple released the 4th gen only 8 months later. That’s what the 2020 Magic Keyboard reminds me of. The 3rd gen iPad probably should never have been released as Apple didn’t have silicon ready to support the Retina display. They had to know the A5X wasn’t good enough. I would say similarity with the Magic Keyboard they had to know what was in the pipeline for iPad and they should have been able to design for it. The new Magic Keyboard is backwards compatible (Apple is no longer selling the old one) and there’s no indication it includes any new or different functionality. So why wasn’t it designed this way to begin with?

 

[AutomaticApple]

The 3rd gen iPad probably should never have been released as Apple didn’t have silicon ready to support the Retina display.

They needed to push an iPad out. They always did so annually.

 

[Rogifan]

They needed to push an iPad out. They always did so annually.

Disagree. And as we see now there is no set schedule on when iPads come out. The only Apple product that seems to meet a specific timeline these days is iPhone.

 

[JPack]

Back in 2010-2012, the iPad had the same growth trajectory as iPhone. Everyone was new to the market and Android makers had 7-10” tablets, all with cellular. Apple needed something with LTE quick as they didn’t want to cede the market.

It wasn’t until around 2014 we saw the iPad market go from boom to bust. Things picked back up since the iPad Pro.

 

[JPack]

In terms of the keyboard, I’m not sure the designers could have done much even if they knew 2021 iPad Pro would be 0.5mm thicker.

It’s a $350 keyboard, custom designed for iPad Pro 12.9”. Do they make current users unhappy with the fit, just to make future compatibility easier?

 

[Rogifan]

In terms of the keyboard, I’m not sure the designers could have done much even if they knew 2021 iPad Pro would be 0.5mm thicker.

It’s a $350 keyboard, custom designed for iPad Pro 12.9”. Do they make current users unhappy with the fit, just to make future compatibility easier?

Do we know that the new MK with older iPads has a bad fit?

 

[Never mind]

Do we know that the new MK with older iPads has a bad fit?

Maybe........

 

[JPack]

Do we know that the new MK with older iPads has a bad fit?

We know for sure the position of the magnets has changed. The size and position of the camera bump as well.

That 0.5mm difference in thickness is just another thing on the list.

 

[ericwn]

To expect that a custom made accessory would somehow dictate the future models’ design - in the Apple universe- is a bit unrealistic. Great if it happens but that’s about it.

 

[Rogifan]

To expect that a custom made accessory would somehow dictate the future models’ design - in the Apple universe- is a bit unrealistic. Great if it happens but that’s about it.

But the new MK is backwards compatible. So they found a way to do that (and not have to keep the 2020 model around). But maybe it’s easier to do when you know you’re accommodating someone spending $350 not saving them from having to spend $350 again.

 

[Rogifan]

We know for sure the position of the magnets has changed. The size and position of the camera bump as well.

That 0.5mm difference in thickness is just another thing on the list.


View attachment 1763757 View attachment 1763758

Ah well I guess that’s saving me $1,100 then.

 

[RevTEG]

I never owned a 3rd gen iPad but I can only image how those who did felt when Apple released the 4th gen only 8 months later. That’s what the 2020 Magic Keyboard reminds me of. The 3rd gen iPad probably should never have been released as Apple didn’t have silicon ready to support the Retina display. They had to know the A5X wasn’t good enough. I would say similarity with the Magic Keyboard they had to know what was in the pipeline for iPad and they should have been able to design for it. The new Magic Keyboard is backwards compatible (Apple is no longer selling the old one) and there’s no indication it includes any new or different functionality. So why wasn’t it designed this way to begin with?

I bought the 3rd gen iPad on launch day. I could be wrong but I think Apple released the gen 4 less than 8 months later?? Either way, it didn’t bother me at all with Apple released gen 4 so soon. The back of my 3rd gen would heat up while charging but other than that I never had any issues with it. My wife never had any issues with her 3rd gen either. We’ve always had great luck with iPads. Still own them all and the boxes they came in. ??

 

[throAU]

I think the vast majority of users won't care.

• If you're on a previous generation iPad Pro you probably can skip the M1 equipped 2021 version.
• If you're not going to skip it then sell/gift the keyboard at the same time you sell/gift your 2020 iPad Pro.
• If you're not going to do both, then I suspect that the cost of a new keyboard isn't a big deal for you and you're used to "wasting money" on frequent hardware upgrades much more often than most would deem "necessary" anyhow - and after all you're ditching an iPad Pro that is still pretty current that you likely could continue to use... the keyboard is the cheaper component to replace... you're already deep into "throwing money away" territory IMHO. unless of course the performance difference with the new iPad Pro will gain you a tangible ROI, in which case the point is moot - buy the new hardware to generate more money

TLDR: anyone who bought a 2020 model keyboard can/should likely continue to use it (with the iPad Pro it is being used with) until their current 2020 hardware has run its life and probably look at upgrading around 2022-2025 depending on how keen you are to upgrade things or push them out.

There's always something new/incompatible around the corner sooner or later. I mean, exhibit A: the steps apple made from 9.7 > 10.5 -> 11" iPad Pros

 

[prospervic]

I never owned a 3rd gen iPad but I can only image how those who did felt when Apple released the 4th gen only 8 months later. That’s what the 2020 Magic Keyboard reminds me of. The 3rd gen iPad probably should never have been released as Apple didn’t have silicon ready to support the Retina display. They had to know the A5X wasn’t good enough. I would say similarity with the Magic Keyboard they had to know what was in the pipeline for iPad and they should have been able to design for it. The new Magic Keyboard is backwards compatible (Apple is no longer selling the old one) and there’s no indication it includes any new or different functionality. So why wasn’t it designed this way to begin with?

Actually it was 6 months later, and it REALLY burned me. Compared to the 4th gen (and even the 2nd gen), the 3rd gen was an absolute dog.