And because they’re bigger, they’re typically heavier and thus less likely to slide around on your desk during a heavy typing session. Larger keyboards tend to be more comfortable than smaller models because they don’t force your hands and arms into an unnaturally cramped position. One of the most important things to consider when buying a keyboard for your Mac is how big you want it to be. One of the first things I did when I unboxed my new Mac was toss the included Apple keyboard into a drawer and grab a more comfortable keyboard from my repertoire. I’m primarily a Mac user, with an M1 iMac as my main machine. I own several of the keyboards on this list, including the Logitech MX Keys Mini for Mac and the Logitech Craft keyboard, both of which are among my top choices for anyone who does a lot of typing. But it sure can be weird sometimes.The Expert: As a tech journalist who spends long days reviewing and writing about the latest gadgets for publications such as The New York Times, Time, and The Atlantic, I unabashedly love keyboards and own more than a dozen, which I rotate depending on my mood and what I plan to use them for. I still love the Magic Keyboard, and it tends to stay on every iPad I've used it with. It's half the price of the iPad Air! It'd be lovely if a new model split the difference and became at least somewhat more affordable, because having a good keyboard on the go is increasingly useful with iPadOS. And that priceĪt $300 (or $350 for the 12.9-inch version), this is just a lot of money for a keyboard case, especially when the entry iPad costs about as much. But it doesn't work with the Magic Keyboard-compatible iPads (Air, Pro). Surely Apple can figure this out? The old Smart Keyboard cover isn't as good for work, yet was more flexible as a folio case solution. That means popping the case off (it attaches with magnets), and then you're left holding a naked iPad. iPads are sketchpads and readers, too, and you can't use the iPad easily for those purposes with the Magic Keyboard on. You either use it as a laptop-thing, or fold it shut. The Magic Keyboard's odd design means it can't fold all the way back, with the keyboard parked behind the screen. Scott Stein/CNET It can't fold flat as a folio case The floppy old smart keyboard cover isn't as good, but it does fold back flat. the iPad Air (right, with the Magic Keyboard). The iPad (left, with the Smart Keyboard) vs. Apple has a lot of keyboard shortcuts in iOS, but dedicated function keys would be a great addition. I love these, and Apple oddly left them out on the Magic Keyboard. Some iPad keyboard cases have extra rows of dedicated function keys, including volume control and play/pause buttons. But it lacks protection for the iPad sides, and the magnets can detach when inside a bag or if you drop the iPad, knocking the entire case loose. The Magic Keyboard folds smaller than most other keyboard cases, wrapping tightly around the iPad. That port can't output to things like monitors (you need to use the iPad's own USB-C/Thunderbolt port for that), but it's a useful charge-up aid. This means I can charge from either side at a desk, which is really important to prevent the iPad from becoming incredibly annoying. It's on the left side, while the USB-C port on the iPad is on the right. The Magic Keyboard has one little bonus that's been super handy - there's a pass-through charge port for USB-C on the side of the hinge. Scott Stein/CNET And the extra USB-C charge port The Magic Keyboard adds an extra pass-through USB-C charge port that can be used while the iPad's USB-C port is connected to other things. And Apple has no key backlighting adjustment controls on the keyboard (which other keyboard cases often have). The backlit keys are subtle and work well in low light or darkness, although sometimes the lights take too long to automatically turn off. All the keyboard cases made for the 11-inch iPads have some sort of key compression like this, though. The side keys (Tab) and the edge-oriented keys (Return, some symbol keys) suffer the most. It works, but I also get that "typing on a Netbook" old-fashioned feeling I had years ago on 10-inch laptops. I'm talking about the 12-inch version of the Magic Keyboard - the 11-inch model is a little more compressed. Sure, it could be bigger, but it's big enough. The trackpad beneath is just the right size. I write fast and instinctually, and the positioning of the keys is pretty good for my muscle memory. For me, the key travel is perfect, and it mirrors the feel of Apple's most recent MacBooks. The best thing about Apple's keyboard case is the feel of its keys.
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