Magic Keyboard for iPad Meta Review

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I, somewhat proudly, am still rocking a 2016 iPad Pro. It’s still quite stable, it’s fast enough, and the battery life isn’t too bad. Despite some failing peripherals, it works well enough, but we’re here to talk about Apple’s latest iPad peripheral, the Magic Keyboard. Now, with my old school iPad Smart Connector, I won’t be using this anytime soon. However, it’s an interesting piece of tech. It turns your iPad into basically a MacBook with a “floating” display, a fun form factor that’s a little more ergonomic than standard displays. You get a real scissor switch backlit keyboard and a trackpad too. Sure, the trackpad is small and short, but reviewers seemed to love it.

While I can’t review it for myself (for obvious reasons), I thought I’d assemble a few reviews to give you a general idea of what Apple thinks a portable computer should look like.

Hey, what’s a computer?

The Verge: 7/10

The Verge gave the iPad Pro Magic Keyboard a somewhat mediocre rating. That’s due largely to its weight, thickness, price, and lack of a function row. In fact, that last point came up in a number of reviews. Without a function row, multitasking is slightly more difficult. They did like that it’s sturdy and the keyboard feels like a real keyboard. They even called the trackpad “excellent,” though that could be due largely to the improved trackpad support in iPad OS.

MKBHD

I noticed in Marques’ review, the iPad was difficult to open. Furthermore, it’s considerably more heavy than the iPad Pro itself. Still, he seems to like it, calling it “The best version of the iPad as a computer,” but he’d still rather have a laptop. I think his review best shows how the iPad does split duties. It’s not just a tablet or just a laptop stand-in, it’s both.

TechCrunch

TechCrunch’s reviewer, Matthew Panzarino, was coming from Apple’s old Smart Folio. He didn’t seem very fond of it. He bemoaned the typing experience and the feel, liking only the reliability of the connection.

But the Magic Keyboard is something completely new. He preferred the improved typing feel, and claimed the new accessory makes “iPads feel like better laptops than laptops.”

Engadget: 84/100

Engadget’s biggest drawbacks include the price, range of motion, and the fact that the pass through USB-C charging port can only be used for charging. You still only have one USB-C port, even when using your iPad in this case.

They called it the best productivity accessory for your iPad. It’s a spacious keyboard that, when you dock your iPad in it, transforms the device. However, if you got your iPad Pro for portability, you might want to skip it. Engadget called out the fact that the iPad Pro with a Magic Keyboard is actually thicker than the MacBook Pro, and just as heavy too.

“Apple has already started the work of blurring the line between iPad and laptop, and the Magic Keyboard turns a pricey tablet into a fascinating, functional hybrid. Now I just want to see how much further Apple can take this concept.”

– Chris Velazco, for Engadget

Overall Picture?

The case for the iPad Pro weighs more than the iPad Pro. That’s just wildly ridiculous. Furthermore, in reviews, users seem to have difficulty opening the iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard and get working on it. More difficult than just opening a laptop. With a smaller trackpad, smaller keyboard, and a back-heavy design, this is an expensive upgrade. If you’re going to spend $300 or $329, this is an important purchase. But it won’t make your iPad as much as an all-in-one do everything device as a laptop. But together with the iPad, it’ll cost as much. If you’re going to get Apple’s Magic Keyboard with an iPad Pro, you had better be sure you’re in love with the iPad first, and need the best keyboard with a trackpad second.