Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro: Compared

New magic keyboard [left]old magic keyboard [right]

The Magic keyboard for iPad Pro was a statement accessory for Apple's premium tablet line. By holding the magnetic holder to the slate computer, it would levitate the iPad Pro above the keyboard thanks to the floating cantilever design.

It's also Apple's first real upgrade to the accessory. Apple has made a few key changes that improve the overall experience.

Here's what Apple updated in its new iPad Pro Magic Keyboard.

The original Magic Keyboard used a soft-touch material that was prone to fingerprints and smudges on the black model. The white version was also a fast collector of dirt, which spoiled the appearance.

The new version has the same soft-touch material on the outside. At the very least it is wipe clean like the original.

On the inside, things are different. The old material covering has disappeared and been replaced by an aluminum palm rest.

This is a change that dramatically changes the stiffness of the wrist rests, as well as their appearance. When opened, the aluminum offers an aesthetic somewhat similar to that of the MacBookPro.

The original Magic Keyboard for iPad came apart quite easily. It opens with a circular hinge at the back, before swinging the iPad Pro into place.

In our tests, the new one is at least slightly more difficult to open. The metal-on-metal construction took some effort and had to be peeled off at the edges to open properly.

The old and new Magic Keyboard hinges

The old metal tube hinge has been replaced by a metal tube hinge that has been compressed into a thinner oval. It's not much bigger than the built-in USB-C port.

Unlike the previous covered hinge, the new one is visible. This means that you have to be much more careful when placing it down, otherwise you could scratch something.

While Apple has added more aluminum to the accessory, it has also managed to shed some of the weight. Add to that the weight loss of the iPad Pro and it's a lot easier to carry around.

A comparison of the Magic Keyboard format

The old 12.9-inch Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro weighed 699 grams, while the new 13-inch version weighs 658 grams. As a package, the 12.9-inch keyboard and iPad Pro weighed a total of 1,388 grams, but the new combination weighs 1,239 grams.

The Magic Keyboard weight loss may be quite small, but overall it still helps.

Another way Apple has improved the Magic Keyboard is by customizing the trackpad. It is now significantly larger compared to the first version.

The new Magic Keyboard has a much larger trackpad

Apple achieved this by moving the keyboard itself to the back of the case. This freed up space for the new trackpad to take up space.

The larger surface area makes it easier to perform multi-touch gestures on the iPad Pro without touching the screen. It's not as comprehensive as a MacBook Pro, but it comes a lot closer.

The position of the keyboard isn't just the only change. There's a whole new row of keys to play with.

The new Magic Keyboard key row

While the top row of the old keyboard consisted of numbers and the delete key, the new version now has a row of function keys. This row is similar to a Mac keyboard, including a dedicated escape key and buttons for brightness, volume, and media playback.

They're still backlit and use a cantilevered design, so that hasn't changed either.

One thing that hasn't improved is overall sturdiness. In fact, it is slightly less sturdy to use.

Because the keyboard and iPad are lighter, so you don't have to hold it on a surface as much when you tap the screen. Removing the material on the hinge also has an impact, as does sitting the iPad Pro further back due to the keyboard movements.

The new Magic Keyboard is less sturdy for tapping on the iPad Pro

All this means that the entire structure wobbles and bounces more when you tap the iPad itself. Tap a little too aggressively and the front end can lift as everything rolls back.

Apple's new Magic Keyboard results in a vastly improved experience for users. The use of aluminium, the keyboard row and the larger trackpad all make it a lot better when used with the iPad Pro for long typing sessions.

The changes make it a bit thinner to tap on the iPad Pro itself, which you should take more into account, though.

It may even give some users the feeling that they have the optimal mobile workstation. Something with the appearance that approximates a mini MacBook Pro, but can also offer stylus and touch functions.

Regardless of what you think of the changes, you don't have much say in which version of the Magic Keyboard you can use with the new M4 iPad Pro. It only works with the new 11-inch and 13-inch models.

The previous version is still available. It is only compatible with the iPad Air and older iPad Pro units, before the 2024 redesign.

Apple's Magic Keyboard for the M4 iPad Pro is now discounted with promo code APINSIDER from Apple Authorized Reseller Adorama. Look for a link to display the coupon code field during step 4 of checkout.