Apple Magic Keyboard

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Magic Keyboard
Model no. A1644 MLA22LL/A (compact silver/white),
A1843 MQ052LL/A (full-size silver/white),
A1843 MRMH2LL/A (full-size grey/black)
Branding Apple
Features Automated pairing (compact, full-size)
Keyswitches Scissor switch/Rubber dome
Keycaps Laser-etched chiclet
Interface USB, Bluetooth 3.0 (compact, full-size)
Proprietary "Smart connector" (iPad Pro)
Battery 2.98 Wh Li-Ion (compact)
Dimensions 279×115×109 mm (compact), 419×115×109 mm (full-size)
Weight 231g (compact), 390g (full-size)
Introduced 2015 (compact), 2017 (full size)
Supersedes Apple Aluminium Keyboard
Price $99 (compact), $129 (full size)
Website www.apple.com/shop/mac/mac-accessories/mice-keyboards

The Apple Magic Keyboard is Apple's current keyboard line for Macintosh computers and the iPad Pro.

Description

The first "Magic" keyboard was introduced in 2015 as a successor to the aluminium Apple Wireless Keyboard to be shipped with desktop Macintosh computers. The keyboard was also available separately. The "Magic" moniker is shared with Apple's contemporary Magic Mouse and the Magic Trackpad.

The key travel was shortened, but not as much as on the "butterfly" keyboards on Apple's laptops introduced the same year. As on that other keyboard, the keycaps are also very wide, the keys on the bottom row are no longer slightly larger vertically than on other rows. On the desktop keyboards, the left and right cursor keys are no longer halved in height to make an inverse-T shape. The function key row is also not halved in height on the desktop keyboard.

In late 2019, a thinner variation of the "Magic" keyboard's scissor and rubber-dome design started replacing the problem-ridden "Butterfly" mechanism on Apple's laptops. And in early 2020, the Apple iPad Pro also got a "Magic" keyboard as part of its stand. On these portable keyboards, the left and right cursor keys are halved in height.

Desktop models

Unlike its predecessors (the Apple Aluminium Keyboard), the "Magic" desktop keyboards have fixed rechargeable batteries. These are difficult to replace but allow the keyboards to have a flatter profile.

The function keys are the same size as other 1u keys, but the Escape key is wider.

The keyboards use Bluetooth 3.0 and can pair automatically to a Macintosh when connected via the USB-A-to-Lightning cable to a computer running MacOS X 10.11 "El Capitan" or higher. The pairing protocol is proprietary.

The keyboards also work as a keyboard over USB, but because its report protocol is different from the boot protocol there may be problems with some systems such as BIOS:es or KVM switches that don't follow the USB specification completely.

Unlike its wired predecessors, there is no USB hub.

"Magic Keyboard"

A compact variety, without numeric keypad. Successor to the aluminium "Apple Wireless Keyboard". Only in silver/white. Shipped with iMac.

Rumour has it that some symbols were changed from June 5 2017 onwards.

"Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad"

The full-size varities are wireless, unlike the previous full-size Apple Aluminium Keyboard which had been wired only.

The silver/white introduced in June 2017, available only separately. A "Space Gray" variant with black keys was introduced with the iMac Pro in Dec 2017, and has been available separately since March 2018.

Portable

The "Magic" keyboards for Apple's portable computers replace the butterfly mechanisms in previous MacBooks and in the "Smart" "keyboard" for the iPad Pro line. The keyboards are backlit.

The scissor mechanism is slimmer than on the desktop keyboards, with less key travel but are otherwise the same mechanically.

The left and right cursor keys are halved in height, making them easier to find by touch. The cursor keys are however slimmer than on pre-2015 keyboards where the entire space-bar row was thicker to begin with.

MacBook

Laptop keyboards have a function keys that are halved in height, or a touch bar. Unlike previous keyboards with touch bar, the Escape key is now always a physical key however.

iPad

The keyboard for the iPad Pro is also a cover and an adjustable stand. The keyboard itself lacks function keys and an Escape key, but Escape can be mapped onto another key in iPadOS. It also has an integrated touchpad, battery and USB C battery-charging port. It is connected to the tablet via a proprietary pogo-pin connector ("Smart keyboard" connector) over which it is able to charge itself and provide power to the iPad Pro, thus leaving the tablet's USB C port free. It is however very expensive, for which it has received much criticism.

External Links

Desktop keyboard:

MacBook:

iPad Pro: