The brand-new Magic Keyboard is a fantastic iPad Pro accessory. With its trackpad, iPadOS can be used in new ways, USB-C port for passthrough charging, and front and back protection. And the finest typing experience ever on an iPad. It has all of the best features of the previous generation of iPads. You can magnetically attach the iPad Pro to the Magic Keyboard. And easily adjust the viewing angle to suit you thanks to the floating cantilever design.

When the newly unveiled iPad Pro was outperformed by an accessory, you had to wonder if Apple’s designers and developers were happy or discouraged.

Was it always the plan? Although Apple’s floating cantilever design is generally late to the party for tablet covers with both keyboards and trackpads. It is still quite attractive. At once simple, practical, and fashionable. Here are the facts you need to know about it!

The Facts

• It has the same finish as the current iPad Pro covers. But given the limited space, it is unquestionably a commendable accomplishment to fit a full keyboard with backlit keys, a trackpad, and strong magnets to hold the iPad itself. And a sturdy enough hinge without making it appear noticeably larger than previously.

• It’s also as rock-solid as they get. Whether you are writing on a table, desk, or your lap, this item does not want to tip over. Despite the fact that you can vary the viewing angle between zero and 130 degrees. Which is roughly as much as you would ordinarily be able to pivot the screen of your laptop. In contrast to, for example, the Surface Pro X. Which always felt like it was about to fall, it is excruciatingly robust.

• The degree of tilt won’t vary even slightly over the course of the following several hours once you’ve set the screen to the desired angle. Until you push the display positively or shut the case completely, it will remain stuck there.

• A convenient USB-C connector is another clever design choice that is hidden at the left-side hinge’s end. Consequently, you can use pass-through charging to charge an iPad Pro while freeing up the tablet’s own USB-C port for other accessories.

• Get to the keys, please. I’ll be honest and say that I like the old iPad Pro keyboard keys. They never really missed a laptop version because people found them to be snappy enough to type for extended periods of time. Apple has since modified the system to include keys with unique hard keycaps and a scissor mechanism with 1mm of travel for individuals who are unconvinced by this design. As a result, typing now has the same feel as typing on a laptop keyboard. Or, to put it another way, superior to an already excellent keyboard. The trackpad performs similarly well. Despite being much smaller than a MacBook Air, it is responsive and completely functional.

The Keys

Now let’s discuss the keys. We’ll be honest and say that some people like the old iPad Pro keyboard keys. They never really missed a laptop version because people found them to be snappy enough to type for extended periods of time. If this design doesn’t appeal to you, Apple has now improved the system to include keys with individual hard keycaps and a scissor mechanism with 1mm of travel. As a result, typing now has the same feel as typing on a laptop keyboard. Or, to put it another way, even superior to a good keyboard. The trackpad performs similarly well. Despite being much smaller than a MacBook Air, it is responsive and completely functional.

The iPad’s ambient light sensor is used to power the keys’ lighting. As a result, it will boost brightness if it detects that you are in low light. If you’re in direct sunshine outside, it will completely shut off. If you’d want, you can change this yourself in the iPad’s keyboard settings. Instead of staying on all the time like on its laptop siblings, the light will turn off after a brief period of typing. This works perfectly and is probably there to conserve life. You won’t get frustrated trying to find the keys in low light to start a phrase.

What you should take note of…

The iPad Pro’s keyboard is magnetically attached to it in a way that seems, well, pretty cozy in terms of design. The iPad and Magic Keyboard can’t really ever separate unintentionally. You may change the angle in a way that feels natural and close the entire unit to protect your iPad while keeping the camera visible. 

In addition to the iPad Pro’s built-in USB-C port, the Magic Keyboard offers a second one. That means you can use the cord hidden in the back of your iPad to charge it or connect to a computer. Which is rather convenient. Additionally, it’s important to note that the Magic Keyboard does not include a USB-C cable. Which is somewhat frustrating but also very Apple.

When using the iPad for browsing when the equally minimalist Smart Keyboard is attached, the cover can be bent about and yet stay in place. The top cover of the Magic Keyboard can only be opened up to a certain degree before bending back even more. The iPad’s cantilevered design can tilt it to a variety of comfortable viewing angles, but it can’t do more. You must remove the iPad in order to use it for drawing, for instance.

The Keyboard

It ranks right up there with the new AirPods Pro as one of Apple’s best-designed products in recent years, the new Magic Keyboard. We hope that this pleasant and unexpected post-Ive trend will carry over to the upcoming iPhones and HomePods. It functions so perfectly, paradoxically, that you almost feel irritated that it took 10 years for iPads to have such a helpful add-on.

The Magic Keyboard, though, makes the iPad Pros the best they can be at what they do. Putting aside the design and the lengthy wait for it to come. And that’s a great confidence boost for something so incidental as a keyboard attachment.

Only a small number of circumstances are enhanced by the Magic Keyboard. It is an exceptionally effective way to use your iPad Pro as a laptop, despite being pricey and bulky. This is a vast improvement over what was previously offered if that’s what you want, and you’ll adore it. But the fact that the iPad is more than a laptop is what makes it so fantastic.