Apple has an iPad keyboard problem

Last month, Apple introduced a number of new products, including a new iPad Air with M3 chip for $599. While that iPad wasn’t exactly remarkable, it did bring something new to the table – another variant of Magic Keyboard.

This new Magic Keyboard brings function keys to the iPad Air for the first time, which is a pretty big win, but it also includes a number of head-scratching compromises. Let’s discuss.

iPad Air Magic Keyboard compromises

First things first, this new Magic Keyboard for iPad Air starts at $269. That’s by no means affordable for an iPad keyboard. Sure, a cheaper offering is always a good thing. However, with your $30 in savings compared to the Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro, you also lose out on having a backlit keyboard, a haptic touch trackpad, and an aluminum case.

Those compromises would make a level of sense if this were even cheaper, say $199-249. However, that isn’t the case. This keyboard is also only offered in white, which’ll be more subject to picking up dirt and stains.

Luckily, this iPad Air Magic Keyboard is backwards compatible with the iPad Air 4, as well as the M1 and M2 iPad Air models. It is nice to see Apple make a new accessory with backwards compatibility in mind, something they don’t always do. However, it isn’t that simple…

This new keyboard is redundant

Little known fact, Apple already made a Magic Keyboard that worked with iPad Air models. They still sell it to this day.

The original Magic Keyboard, designed for the 2018-2022 iPad Pro, worked with all modern iPad Air models, and Apple even totes as such on the compatibility page.

Seemingly, Apple only made the new Magic Keyboard for iPad Air for one reason: function keys.

Don’t get me wrong, that’s a nice perk. But, Apple currently sells four Magic Keyboards for iPad, all extremely close to price with each other – which feels a little unnecessary:

• Magic Keyboard Folio (for iPad 10/11) – $249
• Magic Keyboard (for iPad Air) – $269
• Magic Keyboard (for iPad Air, older iPad Pros) – $299
• Magic Keyboard (for M4 iPad Pro) – $299

How I would improve the lineup

If it were up to me, I would simplify the iPad keyboard lineup to just two models: one standard offering, and one pro offering.

Magic Keyboard Folio at $249 might as well not exist. The chances of people buying a $249 keyboard alongside a $349 iPad are slim-to-none. The reason this keyboard exists is because the iPad 10 and 11 use a different smart connector from the rest of the iPad lineup, so cross-keyboard compatibility wouldn’t have been an option. However, Logitech offers the Combo Touch for iPad 10 and 11 at just $159, and it’s virtually the exact same product. Kickstand and all. Apple could stop offering this keyboard.

On top of that, I would suggest that Apple simply implemented the larger camera bump cutout on the new Magic Keyboard for iPad Air. This way, compatibility with the 2018-2022 iPad Pro models could be retained, and Apple could discontinue the legacy Magic Keyboard that was introduced in 2020. Alternatively, Apple could’ve never made the new iPad Air Magic Keyboard, and instead lowered the price of the legacy model from 2020.

And of course, I wouldn’t touch the iPad Pro Magic Keyboard. That’s a good offering as is.

Four iPad keyboard offerings, all in the same price bracket – is a little bizarre. Especially when Apple has strong third-party offerings that utilize the smart connector from the likes of Logitech. This lineup is almost as bad as having four Apple Pencil offerings.

It doesn’t feel like a lot of thought was put into this, and I wouldn’t be surprised if most Apple Retail employees didn’t even understand the differences in the four iPad keyboards that are currently sold in Apple Stores. Apple could do better here.

My favorite Apple accessories on Amazon:

• Anker 25K Compact Power Bank with retractable cable
• MOFT Magnetic Wallet Stand, fits up to 3 cards
• AirTag 4-pack (on sale for 30% off!)
• Anker MagSafe 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Stand with Qi2
• AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C)
• SanDisk Extreme 2TB USB-C SSD, up to 1050MB/s

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