The Magic Keyboard is the iPad Pro's most powerful accessory (the Apple Pencil doesn't even come close).
Aesthetically, it's beautiful. Functionally, it's meh.
It's great at being a keyboard. It sucks at basically everything else.
Here's what Apple can and should do to fix it.
Magic Keyboard SE 💰
The current price is monstrous.
Do people actually pay 299 dollars for a keyboard? Yes—I'm typing on one.
That being said, I think there's a need for a cheaper Magic Keyboard.
I know tons of friends that would be willing to pay $200 for the Magic Keyboard. When the price gets into the $300s, they start hesitating.
A cheaper Magic Keyboard without backlighting (maybe even without a trackpad) would be a godsend.
Apple probably has its reasons for not releasing a cheaper version already.
Reason #1 is probably that they still charge $179 for the Smart Keyboard Folio.
Stronger Materials 💪
My Magic Keyboard is falling apart faster than my roommate's relationship (this is a joke—he's single).
I have literal tape holding together fabric on the edges of my Magic Keyboard.
This tape has unironically lasted longer than the original fabric it's holding together. That says a lot about the build quality of the Magic Keyboard (and Scotch tape).
I wish Apple could get more durable materials in the Magic Keyboard.
Instead of the weird rubbery fabric they have, they could use aluminum. Engineering people would know more than me, but there has to be some durable lightweight material Apple can use instead.
right???
Magic Keyboard Pro 🧑💻
This is the opposite of what I mentioned earlier.
Apple should make a Magic Keyboard Pro.
It doesn't even have to be that Pro. All I really want is better battery life.
My iPad's battery life sucks. It sucks so much that my roommate thought it was broken.
The iPad + Magic Keyboard is every lithium battery's worst nightmare. I would pay an extra 50-100 dollars if Apple could build a Magic Keyboard that extends my iPad's battery life by a few hours.
Magic Keyboard + MagSafe 🔋
This is basically the same thing. Just a different implementation.
If Apple can't put the extra battery in the Magic Keyboard itself, why not make a MagSafe case thing that works with the Magic Keyboard?
I envision something that:
Wraps around the iPad (offers protection on the sides)
Adds 5-10 hours of battery life
Adds maybe half a pound of weight?
Almost definitely isn't possible (idk how the Magic Keyboard would close), but cool to think about nonetheless.
Bigger Trackpad? 🖱️
This is almost definitely not possible.
Apple already crams a ton of stuff into their keyboard. I'm actually pretty impressed.
But if they could somehow make the trackpad a little bit bigger...
(I'll keep my fingers crossed 🤞)
Final Thoughts 🧠
Sorry for disappearing last week—was taking a break.
Thanks for reading!
Adi
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I have the Logitech Combo Touch Keyboard/Trackpad for my 5th Gen iPad Air.
Not sure if they make one for your Pro pad by this has held up and worked very well for me.
Rich