The Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad
is the ideal portable keyboard for iPad if you don't want a folio-style keyboard that wraps around your iPad. It's the latest version of Apple's iconic Magic Keyboard series, which succeedsthe Apple Magic Keyboard2017 and includes a few new functions and size options.
There are two compact models,
one with Touch ID and the other without touch ID is only compatible with Mac processors that use the new M1 chip, however I've heard that the new iPad Pro with the M1 chip does not support Touch ID. To be safe, choose the Touch ID-free version.
It can connect to any Bluetooth device,
but it only supports one device at a time, which is inconvenient if you have a multi-device setup. It also lacks backlighting, making it difficult to see the keys in the dark. If you don't mind these drawbacks, it's one of the greatest iPad keyboards.
It is indeed a pleasure to type on this keyboard.
Each key has a 1mm travel and provides exact feedback with each push, allowing typing at maximum speed without any practise possible. The entire keyboard is illuminated for low-light use, and the base is rigid, so it can be used on a desk or in your lap. In photographs, the trackpad appears small, but it never feels that way, and the click is both precise and pleasurable. The trackpad, when combined with iPadOS upgrades, transforms the iPad Pro into a laptop.
That's all well and good, but what about compatibility with the various iPad Pro and Air models? Things are a little hazy, but I still think it's the best option, so here's what you need to know. If you have a new iPad Pro 11-inch or 12.9-inch tablet from 2021, known as the 3rd and 5th generation devices, you should purchase the new Magic Keyboard to go with it.
To summarise, Apple claims that the new Magic Keyboard works with the third, fourth, and fifth-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pros, as well as the first, second, and third-generation 11.9-inch iPad Pros, as well as the fourth and fifth-generation iPad Airs. Apple's Magic Keyboard is pricey, but it's well worth it if you want to do real work on your iPad.
