Magic Keyboard Vs Smart Keyboard Domain_10

The iPad is more like a laptop than ever before. For the iPad Pro and newest iPad Air, Apple sells a breathtaking—and breathtakingly expensive Magic Keyboard case that includes a trackpad. If you think you've heard that name before, you have—it's the same proper name Apple uses for its standalone Bluetooth keyboards and MacBook keyboards.

If yous want a trivial less magic, Apple as well sells an iPad keyboard case called the Smart Keyboard Folio. And finally, in that location'south the plain Smart Keyboard for the entry-level iPad and older iPad Air and iPad Pro models. That means you take few Apple-branded options for keyboard cases, but as you'll see in our comparisons beneath, it's actually "smarter" to get for the Magic Keyboard if you can sling that kind of cash around.

Keyboard

Apple's utilize of the proper noun Magic Keyboard for its premium iPad example is meant to drive home that it's a "existent" keyboard, complete with the scissor switches y'all'll find in the latest M1 MacBook Pro and MacBook Air laptops. The keys are even backlit—which is an improvement over Apple's Magic Keyboard for the Mac—and they allow for 1mm of fundamental travel. Below the keyboard, you'll as well find a trackpad, which is probably the main reason why you desire to buy i.

As for the Smart Keyboard and Smarty Keyboard Folio, they have no trackpad or backlighting. The keys themselves are covered in a canvass-like material that essentially makes key travel non-existent. Most of the time, typing with information technology feels like drumming your fingers on a tabletop.

You lot tin get an thought of what the Smart Keyboard Folio's keys are like hither. These images too showcase the grooves we discuss in the adaptability section.

It's still possible to dearest the Smart Keyboard Page, particularly as the pattern keeps the case thin and keeps crumbs and other particles from slipping in between the keys. That (and the price) might make information technology more than highly-seasoned if y'all're often out and nigh with your iPad Pro, simply we'd notwithstanding recommend spending a little more on the Magic Keyboard. If you have an iPad or older iPad Air that doesn't support the Magic Keyboard, the Smart Keyboard is also a great option if y'all tend to utilise your iPad to do a lot of typing.

Trackpad

Here'southward an piece of cake one: The Magic Keyboard has a trackpad and the Smart Folio Keyboard and Smart Keyboard don't.

That'southward a massive advantage in the Magic Keyboard's favor as you'll have to hook upwardly an external mouse or trackpad to become the same result with a Smart Keyboard. The trackpad gestures are generally like to what you would use in a MacBook, but there are some iPad-specific ones likewise. Be sure to check out our defended how-to for more information.

The trackpad is prepare for you to apply gestures.

Adjustability

Like the Smart Keyboard Folio earlier it, the Magic Keyboard holds the iPad Pro in identify with a powerful magnet. But here there'due south an especially expert reason for that grip. Cheers to a cantilevered hinge on the Magic Keyboard, you can tilt the iPad up to 130 degrees until you find the perfect viewing angle, much equally y'all might with a MacBook. The iPad itself "floats" in a higher place the keyboard, so you won't have to wait down as far as you would with the Smart Keyboard Folio.

The Magic Keyboard is a bit more comfortable than the others to utilize on a lap, only they're all made primarily for desk-bound utilize. The Smart Keyboard Folio only allows for two viewing angles, and both are pretty steep. Substantially, you just motility the iPad into one of two grooves above the keyboard, where it'southward tightly held in place by magnets. The Smart Keyboard only has a single viewing bending and is quite uncomfortable to use on annihilation but a apartment surface.

Ports

The Magic Keyboard has a USB-C pass-through port for charging built right into the hinge. You can only use it for charging, only on the brilliant side, this port frees up the USB-C port on the iPad itself for any thumb drives, wired mice, or other peripherals you desire to hook up.

You tin can encounter the Magic Keyboard's UBC-C charging port in this shot.

The Smart Keyboard and Smart Keyboard Folio accept no ports, at least if you don't count the Smart Connector that'due south used to adhere the device to the tablet in the first place.

Compatibility

Both models of the Smart Keyboard Folio and the Magic Keyboard case piece of work with all models of the iPad Pro made after 2018. If you lot want to equip your 2018 iPad Pro with the new Magic Keyboard, go for it.

The situation gets trickier if you're considering using the 2018 Smart Keyboard Folio with the 2020 or 2021 iPad Pro since the cutout for the camera in the 2018 model is too small for the square assortment institute on the 2020 iPad Pro. Furthermore, the 2021 12.nine-inch iPad Pro is slightly thicker than the previous version, though in our testing the former Magic Keyboard case works with the new model. Still, you lot should buy the model that fits your specific iPad.

Weight

The Magic Keyboard case is noticeably heavier than the Smart Keyboard Folio and adds quite a bit of weight to the iPad (ane.half-dozen pounds versus 0.89 pounds). If yous're going to be conveying your iPad Pro effectually with the keyboard, it'southward definitely something to consider. With the Magic Keyboard attached, the iPad Pro is closer in weight to a laptop than a tablet.

Toll

The Magic Keyboard costs a jaw-dropping $349 for the 12.ix-inch model. For perspective, that's more than you'll pay for an entry-level regular iPad. The 11-inch model is slightly more affordable at $299, merely that's still a hefty chunk of change.

Equally for the Smart Keyboard Folio, the 12.nine-inch model costs $199 and the eleven-inch model costs $179, while the Smart Keyboard costs $159. That's an bonny divergence, but keep in mind that you're really missing out on a lot of features by sticking with Apple'south older design.

Source: https://www.macworld.com/article/234079/ipad-pro-magic-keyboard-vs-smart-keyboard-folio.html#:~:text=Here's%20an%20easy%20one%3A%20The,effect%20with%20a%20Smart%20Keyboard.

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