At its iPad-focused event on Monday, Apple announced a new and improved Magic Keyboard, its keyboard accessory for the iPad.
The Magic Keyboard has been “completely redesigned” to be much thinner and lighter, Apple claims, and now includes a row of functions for quick access to controls such as screen brightness, volume adjustment and playback /break. Beyond that, the new Magic Keyboard features aluminum wrist rests and a larger trackpad. Plus, it’s more responsive, Apple claims, with haptic feedback and a USB-C port for charging.
This is the first major overhaul of the Magic Keyboard since its launch in 2020. And – with the addition of the Function Row – it’s now on par, feature-wise, with its counterpart the Magic Keyboard Folio.
The new Magic Keyboard comes in two sizes – one for the 11-inch iPad Pro and one for the 13-inch model – and in two colors, black and white. It can be pre-ordered today for the same price as the previous generation Magic Keyboard, $299 for the 11-inch and $349 for the 13-inch, and will be available in stores next week.
In other new keyboard accessories, there’s a new Smart Folio for iPad Air. It attaches magnetically and supports multiple viewing angles for “greater flexibility” than the older model.
The Smart Folio is available in Charcoal Gray, Light Purple, Denim, and Sage for $79 for the 11-inch iPad Air version and $99 for the 13-inch version.
Other announcements at Tuesday’s event included a new iPad Air featuring an M2 chip and the first-ever 13-inch form factor; a new iPad Pro with an all-new M4 chip and stacked OLED screens for a higher-fidelity display; a Pro version of the Apple Pencil with new sensors; and a new version of the Magic Keyboard. You can watch the full video here:
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