The new Magic Keyboard with trackpad costs at least 340 euros, even as die-hard Apple fans you are a bit irritated.
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The product launches on Wednesday looked almost like a discount battle: The
Mac Mini
comes with more memory for the same price, the new one
Macbook Air
gets a memory upgrade, as does the new one
iPad Pro
. The highly anticipated Magic Keyboard with trackpad is definitely not a bargain. The price for the elegant and innovative solution is likely to irritate even Apple fans: Apple wants a proud 340 euros for the smaller version, which is compatible with all iPad Pro 11-inches, for the version for the iPad pro 12.9 – Customs are even due 400 euros – as much as for an Apple Watch. Some will ask whether the keyboard is set with diamonds and was created by elves in the fairyland? The almost infamous special stand of the new Apple monitor also comes to mind.
As is so often the case with Apple, you shouldn’t make a hasty judgment and take a closer look at the product – and as an Apple expert, ask yourself the question: Is the high price really that surprising? Did anyone think Apple would not ask for a keyboard including a trackpad more than a folio keyboard without a trackpad? This keyboard also costs from 200 euros. The new keyboard may well be worth the additional price of 140 euros – at least for some users. It uniquely solves several problems that we have seen in almost all available tablet keyboards and keyboard covers for years – including Apple.
Apple’s older iPad keyboards are perhaps the best iPad keyboard cases on the market, but they do have some annoying weaknesses: So the positioning of the iPad is fixed, unlike a Macbook, you cannot change the tilt angle. For the first time, the new keyboard enables stepless inclination adjustment – between 90 to 130 degrees – with the current Folio model there are only two setting options. In addition, the iPad is positioned a little higher here. This is also an ergonomic benefit, since most iPad keyboards have the iPad simply positioned too low – not to mention the unstable folding and stabilization systems of some of the competitors.
New keyboard lets iPad Pro float
If you use the new keyboard, the iPad “hovers” a few centimeters above the keyboard – almost like a notebook and allows you to work comfortably. What often annoyed us with keyboard sleeves: The “putting on” of the sleeves is almost always time-consuming and fiddly. With some cheap solutions from third-party manufacturers, you quickly worry about the screen or housing, with the new case – just like with the new Pro Display XDR – a magnet for easy putting on and taking off of the case, which not only stands and keyboard, but is also a full-fledged protective cover.
But aren’t 340 euros too much? Generally, yes. But if you really want to work with an iPad keyboard for a long time, write about eight hours of text or fill out Excel tables under time pressure – then you quickly learn to appreciate high-quality hardware. The quality of Apple’s old iPad keyboards was already very good, but by no means perfect. Apple now uses the new scissors mechanism known from the 16-inch Macbook Pro as the keyboard – which offers first-class feel and reliability, as well as a backlight. The quality of the touchpad should not be underestimated either – for the Apple users who are spoiled by Macbooks, the good quality of the touchpad is a matter of course. But if you also know the cheap and unreliable alternatives of the cheap competition, you can pay a small surcharge for reliable usability.
It is probably no coincidence that the
Apple partner Logitech also announced a cheap alternative yesterday
, a new iPad case with keyboard. The company, which apparently cooperates closely with Apple, thus offers a cheap, solid alternative – also with a trackpad and also with backlit keys.
Conclusion
The keyboard is too expensive for the home user who uses his iPad for Netflix and Facebook. The professional user, who will use the keyboard intensively and for hours, should take a very close look at the new keyboard.
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