Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro

Apple Magic Keyboard for M4 iPad Pro
Every M4 iPad Pro buyer should at least consider getting the Apple Magic Keyboard.

The Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro sports a cool cantilever design, a slim form, trackpad, and even a USB-C port to charge the tablet. The clamshell keyboard converts the tablet into a notebook computer ready to enter large amounts of text, while leaving it ready to become a lightweight tablet again when it’s time to learn back and watch video.

Apple made a series of these over the years, though they’ve all used the same basic design.

Read Cult of Mac’s latest posts on Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro:

More affordable iPad Magic Keyboard is in development

By

Apple Magic Keyboard for M4 iPad Pro
The budget iPad might get a version of the brilliant iPad Magic Keyboard.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

iPad users can look forward to a less expensive version of Apple’s Magic Keyboard, according to information leaking out of Apple. The goal is apparently a variant more appealing to buyers of entry-level tablets.

Expect a launch in 2025.

Stylish new iPad Pro case turns tablet into workstation

By

Pitaka MagEZ Case 2 for iPad Pro
Pitaka MagEZ Case 2 for iPad Pro is both stylish and protective.
Photo: Pitaka

The new Pitaka MagEZ Case 2 for iPad Pro fuses stylish design and tough protection for your tablet, the company said Wednesday. And what’s more, you can use it more like a desktop computer or laptop with a highly functional magnetic case like this one.

How to find the iPad Magic Keyboard’s hidden backlight

By

How to find the iPad Magic Keyboard's hidden backlight
The control for the iPad Magic Keyboard's backlight isn't where you might think it is.
Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Some people complain that the Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad lacks a backlight for the keys. Turns out the accessory really has one but the controls aren’t where you might expect.

Here’s how to find the control for the Magic Keyboard in the Control Center. And how to adjust the backlight, too.

4 reasons Logitech’s M4 iPad Pro keyboard case is better than Apple’s [Review] ★★★★

By

Logitech Combo Touch for M4 iPad Pro★★★★
Logitech Combo Touch is one of the best M4 iPad Pro keyboard cases available.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Logitech’s Combo Touch keyboard case for the new M4 iPad Pro offers nearly everything Apple’s beloved Magic Keyboard case does. And the Logitech version includes features Apple’s does not.

I put both peripherals through hands-on testing. Here’s where the Combo Touch comes out ahead … and where it doesn’t.

Apple Magic Keyboard expands M4 iPad Pro to its full potential [Review] ★★★★

By

Apple Magic Keyboard for M4 iPad Pro★★★★
Every M4 iPad Pro buyer should at least consider getting the Apple Magic Keyboard.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

With its cool cantilever design, Apple Magic Keyboard was a standout iPad Pro accessory even before its recent upgrade. Now that Apple fixed some of the original’s problems by adding a glass trackpad, a row of function keys and an aluminum palm rest, it’s even better. Especially with an improved USB-C port.

But does the functionality (and sheer coolness) justify the epic price of the Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro? Read on to find out.

Why Apple should steal Microsoft’s Flex keyboard design for iPad

By

Microsoft Surface Pro Flex Keyboard does a trick Apple Magic Keyboard should steal.
Microsoft's new Flex keyboard does a trick Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad should "borrow."
Photo: Microsoft

While not nearly as cool as the iPad Pro’s redesigned Magic Keyboard, the new Flex Keyboard for the Microsoft Surface Pro does a trick that Apple should steal: It works as both a wired and a wireless keyboard.

An Apple version would make the iPad even more flexible than it is now, and therefore more useful.

Confirmed: Redesign makes M4 iPad Pro incompatible with older cases, keyboards, styli

By

M4 iPad Pro with older Apple Magic Keyboard
M4 iPad Pro absolutely does not work with previous Apple Magic Keyboard.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

A change in the location of magnets built into the M4 iPad Pro breaks compatibility with a wide array of accessories designed for earlier models. That includes many folio cases, clip-on keyboards, and styli. Many of Apple’s own previous offerings are on the incompatible list, too.

Apple had already warned of this, but Wednesday’s launch of the tablet allows real-world tests to confirm the full extent of the affect.

It’s iPadmania! [The CultCast]

By

iPad Pro leads our Apple
How much iPad chatter can you handle?
Image: Cult of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Apple’s “Let Loose” event is over, and the new iPad Pro and iPad Air are officially here. In our postmortem, we discuss the pros (tons) and cons (not many) of the new tablets. Plus, we go over what we got right and wrong in the run-up to the event.

Also on The CultCast:

  • Apple Pencil Pro and the new Magic Keyboard for iPad sound great for artists.
  • Logic Pro and Final Cut Pro gain some cool new features.
  • The first M4 chip benchmarks look promising.
  • That eye-catching “Crush!” ad for the iPad Pro lands Apple in hot water.
  • And we have a winner in our “Let Loose” event predictions challenge.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

New Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro features a bigger glass trackpad with haptic feedback

By

Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro M4
The new Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro packs some big upgrades.
Photo: Apple

Apple Let Loose Event:Apple has finally given the Magic Keyboard for iPad the revamp it deserves. The new keyboard accessory includes an aluminum palm rest, a larger trackpad and a row of function keys.

Given the big redesign, the new Magic Keyboard for iPad is only compatible with the M4 iPad Pros.

Next-gen Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro could get aluminum upgrade

By

Turn your iPad Pro into a laptop (for $50 less than the usual price).
Magic Keyboard for 2024 iPad Pro could look a lot more premium.
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

Apple’s Magic Keyboard for the revamped 2024 iPad Pros could feature an aluminum top case. This could make the accessory more like a laptop.

Like Macs, the aluminum area around the keyboard will give the Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro a premium look and feel. It also should make the case a lot sturdier when holding the tablet.

Next iPad Pro could be an even better laptop

By

iPad Pro 2022 Back View
Apple's iPad Pro lineup is set to get a big revamp in 2024.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple is working on a big iPad Pro revamp due as soon as next year. This will be the first major overhaul to Apple’s Pro tablet lineup since 2018.

Besides the switch to M3 chips and a new design, the next-gen iPad Pros reportedly will feature OLED displays.

Apple’s brilliant iPad Pro Magic Keyboard gets a stellar $55 discount

By

iPad Pro 2022 in Magic Keyboard
This is the iPad Pro Magic Keyboard deal you were waiting for.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple’s Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro and iPad Air is a great albeit expensive accessory. But if you want an external keyboard for your iPad, you can’t go wrong with Apple’s offering.

Take advantage of Amazon’s latest deal to save up to $55 on the keyboard accessory. This means you can get the Magic Keyboard for the 11-inch iPad Pro for as low as $245.95.

Get $50 off iPad Pro Magic Keyboards and $30 off Apple Pencil 2

By

Turn your iPad Pro into a laptop (for $50 less than the usual price).
Turn your iPad Pro into a laptop (for $50 less than the usual price).
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

With a new week come new discounts on Apple products — especially at this time of year, with new product releases from Cupertino around the corner.

Today Amazon is chopping $50 off of iPad Pro Magic Keyboards and $30 off Apple Pencil 2 (which is a return to an all-time low price).

BookBook Cover turns iPad and keyboard into a medieval tome

By

BookBook Cover turns iPad and keyboard into a medieval tome
Adds some library camouflage to your iPad and keyboard with the Twelve South BookBook Cover.
Photo: Twelve South

While there are a lot of generic iPad cases, the new BookBook Cover from Twelve South is completely eye opening. It turns an iPad and keyboard into a leather-bound book. While making the tablet look medieval, it’s also protecting the valuable computer inside from bumps and blows.

Unlike the standard BookBook Case for iPad, this version has room to hold an Apple Magic Keyboard.

Actually, the original Magic Keyboard will work with new iPad Pro

By

iPad-Pro-Magic-Keyboard
The Magic Keyboard for iPad looks incredible. And it’ll be usable with more than one generation of iPad Pro.
Photo: Apple

Turns out the 2020 version of Apple Magic Keyboard does fit the slightly thicker iPad Pro set for release in May. Apple said Thursday the accessory is “functionally compatible” with its newest tablet.

The clarification was necessary because previous statements from the company seemed to indicate that only a new, larger version of keyboard case was usable with the 12.9-inch version of the 2021 iPad Pro.

Original $350 Apple Magic Keyboard is ‘functionally compatible with’ 2021 iPad Pro [Updated]

By

Original Apple Magic Keyboard might not work with 2021 iPad Pro
Seems there’s might not be quite enough room in the original Apple Magic Keyboard for an iPad Pro that’s 0.5 mm thicker.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The 12.9-inch 2021 iPad Pro unveiled April 20 is slightly thicker than its predecessor. And that’s enough to prevent the latest tablet from being a good fit with the Apple Magic Keyboard released last year. But apparently the fit is just close enough.

Update April 29, 2021: Apple added a paragraph to its support document for this keyboard that says:

“The first generation of the Magic Keyboard (A1998) is functionally compatible with the new iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation) with Liquid Retina XDR display. Due to the slightly thicker dimensions of this new iPad Pro, it’s possible that the Magic Keyboard may not precisely fit when closed, especially when screen protectors are applied.”

iPadOS 14.5 finally adds emoji search [Updated]

By

iPadOS 14.5 adds emoji search. Finally!
Finding just the right emoji to say what you mean gets easier in iPadOS 14.5.
Screenshot: Cult of Mac

iPhone fans were first able to search for emoji last year, and Apple is finally bringing this feature to iPads. It’s built into the iPadOS 14.5 beta 1 released to public beta testing on Thursday.

Also, those with the Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad get a horizontally-oriented boot screen.

A setup great for long grinds [Setups]

By

MacBook Pro setup
This setup is ready for battle.
Photo: @designingforscale

Wissam Abirached is a senior engineering manager at Github, so he needs a desk to match his position. His MacBook Pro-powered rig orbits around an LG 34-inch UltraWide monitor. Aside from Apple’s Pro Display XDR, the LG’s UltraWide is the monitor to use when working with Apple products.

He uses an Apple Magic Keyboard and Mouse — can’t go wrong there. His MacBook sits on top of a Griffin GC16034 Elevated Laptop Stand. This puts his laptop at a comfortable height and gives him a place to store his Xbox controller.

A dual-monitor rig can still be minimal [Setups]

By

MacBok Pro Setup
You won't find much clutter on this desk.
Photo: @ jordanpulmano

Jordan Pulmano is a professional cinematographer and photographer so he wanted a desk with style, specifically minimalist style. He has two LG 27-inch FreeSync monitors. He got his first in 2017 and liked it so much he decided to get a new one. They are both held up by a pair of North Bayou Monitor Stands. He thought about getting a dual monitor stand but he rearranges his desk a lot and did not want to remove a monitor and have one arm exposed.

He has both the Magic Mouse and Keyboard. The setup is MacBook-run but he stows his laptop in a VIVO Sliding Laptop Tray. This gives him a convenient place to store his MacBook while freeing up space on his desk.

Amazing Apple Magic Keyboard might come to more iPads

By

iPad-Pro-Magic-Trackpad-3
The eye-catching Apple Magic keyboard could be available for a range of iPads.
Photo: Apple

There’ll be versions of Apple’s clip-on Magic Keyboard for other models besides the iPad Pro, according to a reliable source.

Apple’s accessory wowed reviewers and users this spring, but it’s currently only for the company’s top-tier tablets. Apparently, that’s going to change.

We talk our WWDC ’20 hardware predictions plus big iPhone 12 leaks, this week on The CultCast

By

CultCast 442: AirPods with health sensors
WWDC 2020 goes virtual, and it's gonna be different.
Image: The CultCast

This week on The CultCast: Apple announces WWDC 2020! We talk our hardware and software predictions. Plus: A new leak gives us some exciting info on the upcoming Apple TV hardware, and the iPhone 12 lineup, including some surprising prices and new features. And we wrap up with a look at the new 13-inch MacBook Pro, so stay tuned!

Our thanks to Squarespace for supporting this episode. Easily create a beautiful website all by yourself, at Squarespace.com/cultcast. Use offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.