There are a lot of cool things out there that make us wonder — do they really work? In our I Tried It series, we set out to use them in the real world and have determined that, in fact, they really do.
On Trial: Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro
The Tester: Stefan Vazharov — a senior tech editor and an avid typing enthusiast.
The Brief: The Magic Keyboard transforms the mighty iPad Pro into an uncompromisingly excellent laptop replacement. It’s worth its considerable price tag.
Apple’s fourth-generation iPad Pro made its official debut last month with more power and cool new hardware features. However, what excited me even more about Apple’s March product announcements was the introduction of the Magic Keyboard for the range-topping slate.
Several features about the accessory caught my attention. It has backlit keys with a scissor mechanism (the same as in Apple's latest MacBook Air), a built-in trackpad for taking advantage of the iPadOS, and a USB-C port for charging. Plus, the Magic Keyboard also doubles as a protective case for the iPad Pro. It connects to the iPad via its Smart Connector, so it’s as easy to set up as it gets.
I was first captivated by the transformative looks of the Magic Keyboard. It has a floating cantilever design, which makes the iPad Pro look like a miniature iMac. The setup also makes adjusting the iPad Pro’s viewing angles a breeze. I used the Magic Keyboard while working at home and always found the perfect angle — on the couch, my dining table, and on the floor.
The Magic Keyboard's typing experience is phenomenal — I felt comfortable and confident about working with it from the get-go. The backlit keys have perfect spacing and superb tactility, allowing you to type at quick speeds without even noticing.
And then there’s the excellent trackpad. It’s plenty big, precise, and clickable anywhere. It’s an amazing tool for taking advantage of the iPadOS gesture controls. I also enjoyed using it for editing text in Apple Pages, as well as image files in Affinity Photo.
The USB-C connector of the Magic Keyboard is incredibly helpful. It frees the iPad Pro’s own port for use with other accessories, just as you’d expect from a great laptop.
Closing Argument: I used the 12.9-inch iPad Pro with a Magic Keyboard cover as my primary device for almost a week and didn’t miss the notebook it replaced even a tiny bit. Its excellent ergonomics, superb keyboard, built-in trackpad, and additional USB-C make the iPad Pro an even more powerful laptop replacement than it already is.
The Magic Keyboard is compatible with the latest iPad Pro (11- and 12.9-inch), as well as its predecessor.
SHOP THE MAGIC KEYBOARD FOR IPAD PRO
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