 The new Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro is a very well made, very expensive add-on for this tablet. It has this backlit keyboard here and a trackpad, finally. And when you open it up, it sort of floats the iPad just so it ends up being a little bit closer to your eye holes. I am continually impressed with how well built this thing is and that is very good since the 11 inch version costs $299 and this 12.9 inch version here costs $349. The Magic Keyboard though, it's just really well executed. It does everything that it was designed to do. I'm just not totally sure that it was the right design in the first place. But I wanna start out with what's great about this keyboard. It's the keyboard. The keys are scissor switches with a really solid feel, good travel and a pretty decent thunk. I mean, give it a listen compared to the old Smart Keyboard for the iPad Pro. It's not bad, right? Now the keys, they're not quite as stable as the brand new Magic Keyboard on the 16 inch MacBook Pro, but whatever. These keys are great, I really enjoy typing on them and they are backlit in the dark, but you can't adjust the backlighting on the keyboard itself. You have to dig into the iPad settings apps like way down in general. Now, usually the keyboard lights are at the right brightness so it's not too big of a problem, but if you wanna watch a movie or something, it's a real hassle to dig in there. And that hassle would have been solved if Apple had just included a function row of keys above the number row of keys, but it didn't, which is kind of annoying. But look, this keyboard is solid. There is no flex to it, it is incredibly stable when you open it up, and it also holds the iPad pretty securely too, it's hard to get it out of there. And I really like how it does lift the screen up and bring it a little bit closer to your face than other laptops do. That's not something that I realized that I wanted, but turns out I totally did. Plus, honestly, it does just kinda look cool floating there. It does pass through charging through this USB-C port on the side here, but you can't connect like data accessories to it. But that's nice, it still means that you don't have dopey charging cables hanging off the side in the middle here. The trackpad is also really good. It's small by MacBook standards, but I had no problem getting used to it because I've used Surface laptops for a really long time. But this one is actually better than the trackpad on Surface laptops, because you can click anywhere on the trackpad and it'll still click. It's also really smooth, it just feels really nice. Now as far as trackpad support on iPad OS goes, I've said before that I think Apple basically nailed it. And it's better to have a trackpad on a keyboard case now, so it's like much more convenient. And unlike the Bridge keyboard, everything on this trackpad just works. The gestures for switching between apps are intuitive. I like how the cursor snaps to onscreen elements to make it easier to click. And editing text is much better. Mostly. Even though Apple has nailed it, a lot of other apps haven't. Google Docs is still a mess on the iPad, and there are a bunch of other apps that use non-standard UI elements that feel janky, like you can't swipe to archive stuff. Hopefully that gets fixed. So great, right? What's the problem? Well, there's a few. The first is weight. The Magic Keyboard is heavy. This 12.9 inch version, when you've got it attached, the whole package weighs just shy of three pounds. That's 25% heavier than the 12.9 smart keyboard. It's heavier than the iPad Air. It's about the same weight as my MacBook Pro, my 13 inch MacBook Pro. But it's actually thicker than my 13 inch MacBook Pro, which, ugh. Now I don't have the 11 inch version to test, but I think 25% heavier than the smart keyboard is like a safe bet. And while the floating screen is great, the available angles on it are not. You can have it anywhere between 90 and 130 degrees, which actually isn't that much. Look, I'm just gonna make a comparison here, and we're just gonna sit with it together for a minute. This is my Surface Pro X. It runs Windows on ARM, and that's not great for many reasons I know. But we're just talking about the hardware here. Now, the screen on the Surface Pro X is about the same size. The trackpad is about the same size. But the Surface here has a keyboard with a function row on it. And if you want, you can put it at nearly any angle that you want, almost completely flat. And if you wanna watch a movie or something, you can flip the keyboard behind it. And it's thinner than the iPad Pro with the Magic Keyboard, and it's lighter, and I don't know, the webcam is in the right place. It's a really good thing that everybody knows that these are different devices for different needs and different people, so that there's no reason that the comparison between these two things that I just did is gonna cause any arguments at all. Here's the thing. This is a very well-made keyboard, and Apple made choices when they made it. They made a choice not to put a kickstand on the iPad itself. Fine, they made a choice about how this whole hinge thing would work, and if you agree with those choices, this thing is amazing. I'm just not sure that I do. I think that it's just a little bit limiting. The big story with the iPad over the past few years is whether it's a computer, or what kind of computer, or whatever. So look, I'm tired of that argument, but a lot of people are going to ask whether this Magic Keyboard makes the iPad a better computer, and I think that's the wrong question. The right question is whether this keyboard makes the iPad a better iPad, and well, my iPad Pro is by far the most versatile do-anything screen that I own. I use it at my desk, like a laptop, sitting in a chair, just browsing around, doing some light work, watching movies, or reading in bed, as a second screen for my Mac using Sidecar, as a second computer next to my Mac when my Mac is chugging, and I just need to listen to some Spotify or whatever. You can even now, with the trackpad support, use the iPad as a desktop computer with an external monitor with your trackpad and your keyboard sitting in front of it. It can do a lot. Does the Magic Keyboard improve all those situations, or does it add more situations to that stack? Eh, it works really well when you're at a desk or you're working in a chair, because it feels like a laptop. And honestly, my favorite feature of this keyboard case is that it makes it easier to just grab the iPad and walk away with it, so I love this keyboard case because it helps me not use a keyboard case, but it's nice to use the iPad by itself. So honestly, since I've had this thing, this keyboard has sat on my desk most of the time. If you wanna turn your iPad into a laptop, there is nothing better for that than the Magic Keyboard. It is very well made and expensive, but maybe worth it for you. But to me, the iPad is great precisely because it does more than a laptop, it can do all of those other things. And the Magic Keyboard doesn't really help with most of those, it's kind of a one-trick pony, but I have to admit, it's a pretty good trick. Let's just see, let's just, let's just, this is better. Hey everybody, thank you so much for watching. One of the things that happens when you record by yourself at home is you forget to record the end card and your director, Viren, yells at you, so thanks for the reminder, buddy. Let me know what you think of the Magic Keyboard down in the comments below and stay safe out there.
 The new Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro
 is a very well made, very expensive add-on for this tablet.
 It has this backlit keyboard here and a trackpad, finally.
 And when you open it up, it sort of floats the iPad
 just so it ends up being a little bit closer
 to your eye holes.
 I am continually impressed with how well built this thing is
 and that is very good since the 11 inch version costs $299
 and this 12.9 inch version here costs $349.
 The Magic Keyboard though, it's just really well executed.
 It does everything that it was designed to do.
 I'm just not totally sure that it was the right design
 in the first place.
 But I wanna start out with what's great about this keyboard.
 It's the keyboard.
 The keys are scissor switches with a really solid feel,
 good travel and a pretty decent thunk.
 I mean, give it a listen compared to the old Smart Keyboard
 for the iPad Pro.
 It's not bad, right?
 Now the keys, they're not quite as stable
 as the brand new Magic Keyboard on the 16 inch MacBook Pro,
 but whatever.
 These keys are great, I really enjoy typing on them
 and they are backlit in the dark,
 but you can't adjust the backlighting
 on the keyboard itself.
 You have to dig into the iPad settings apps
 like way down in general.
 Now, usually the keyboard lights are at the right brightness
 so it's not too big of a problem,
 but if you wanna watch a movie or something,
 it's a real hassle to dig in there.
 And that hassle would have been solved
 if Apple had just included a function row of keys
 above the number row of keys, but it didn't,
 which is kind of annoying.
 But look, this keyboard is solid.
 There is no flex to it, it is incredibly stable
 when you open it up, and it also holds the iPad
 pretty securely too, it's hard to get it out of there.
 And I really like how it does lift the screen up
 and bring it a little bit closer to your face
 than other laptops do.
 That's not something that I realized that I wanted,
 but turns out I totally did.
 Plus, honestly, it does just kinda look cool floating there.
 It does pass through charging through this USB-C port
 on the side here, but you can't connect
 like data accessories to it.
 But that's nice, it still means that you don't have
 dopey charging cables hanging off the side
 in the middle here.
 The trackpad is also really good.
 It's small by MacBook standards,
 but I had no problem getting used to it
 because I've used Surface laptops for a really long time.
 But this one is actually better than the trackpad
 on Surface laptops, because you can click anywhere
 on the trackpad and it'll still click.
 It's also really smooth, it just feels really nice.
 Now as far as trackpad support on iPad OS goes,
 I've said before that I think Apple basically nailed it.
 And it's better to have a trackpad on a keyboard case now,
 so it's like much more convenient.
 And unlike the Bridge keyboard,
 everything on this trackpad just works.
 The gestures for switching between apps are intuitive.
 I like how the cursor snaps to onscreen elements
 to make it easier to click.
 And editing text is much better.
 Mostly.
 Even though Apple has nailed it,
 a lot of other apps haven't.
 Google Docs is still a mess on the iPad,
 and there are a bunch of other apps
 that use non-standard UI elements
 that feel janky, like you can't swipe to archive stuff.
 Hopefully that gets fixed.
 So great, right?
 What's the problem?
 Well, there's a few.
 The first is weight.
 The Magic Keyboard is heavy.
 This 12.9 inch version, when you've got it attached,
 the whole package weighs just shy of three pounds.
 That's 25% heavier than the 12.9 smart keyboard.
 It's heavier than the iPad Air.
 It's about the same weight as my MacBook Pro,
 my 13 inch MacBook Pro.
 But it's actually thicker than my 13 inch MacBook Pro,
 which, ugh.
 Now I don't have the 11 inch version to test,
 but I think 25% heavier than the smart keyboard
 is like a safe bet.
 And while the floating screen is great,
 the available angles on it are not.
 You can have it anywhere between 90 and 130 degrees,
 which actually isn't that much.
 Look, I'm just gonna make a comparison here,
 and we're just gonna sit with it together for a minute.
 This is my Surface Pro X.
 It runs Windows on ARM,
 and that's not great for many reasons I know.
 But we're just talking about the hardware here.
 Now, the screen on the Surface Pro X
 is about the same size.
 The trackpad is about the same size.
 But the Surface here has a keyboard
 with a function row on it.
 And if you want, you can put it at nearly any angle
 that you want, almost completely flat.
 And if you wanna watch a movie or something,
 you can flip the keyboard behind it.
 And it's thinner than the iPad Pro with the Magic Keyboard,
 and it's lighter, and I don't know,
 the webcam is in the right place.
 It's a really good thing that everybody knows
 that these are different devices for different needs
 and different people, so that there's no reason
 that the comparison between these two things
 that I just did is gonna cause any arguments at all.
 Here's the thing.
 This is a very well-made keyboard,
 and Apple made choices when they made it.
 They made a choice not to put a kickstand
 on the iPad itself.
 Fine, they made a choice about how this whole hinge thing
 would work, and if you agree with those choices,
 this thing is amazing.
 I'm just not sure that I do.
 I think that it's just a little bit limiting.
 The big story with the iPad over the past few years
 is whether it's a computer, or what kind of computer,
 or whatever.
 So look, I'm tired of that argument,
 but a lot of people are going to ask
 whether this Magic Keyboard makes the iPad
 a better computer, and I think that's the wrong question.
 The right question is whether this keyboard
 makes the iPad a better iPad, and well,
 my iPad Pro is by far the most versatile
 do-anything screen that I own.
 I use it at my desk, like a laptop,
 sitting in a chair, just browsing around,
 doing some light work, watching movies,
 or reading in bed, as a second screen for my Mac
 using Sidecar, as a second computer next to my Mac
 when my Mac is chugging, and I just need to listen
 to some Spotify or whatever.
 You can even now, with the trackpad support,
 use the iPad as a desktop computer with an external monitor
 with your trackpad and your keyboard sitting in front of it.
 It can do a lot.
 Does the Magic Keyboard improve all those situations,
 or does it add more situations to that stack?
 Eh, it works really well when you're at a desk
 or you're working in a chair, because it feels like a laptop.
 And honestly, my favorite feature of this keyboard case
 is that it makes it easier to just grab the iPad
 and walk away with it, so I love this keyboard case
 because it helps me not use a keyboard case,
 but it's nice to use the iPad by itself.
 So honestly, since I've had this thing,
 this keyboard has sat on my desk most of the time.
 If you wanna turn your iPad into a laptop,
 there is nothing better for that than the Magic Keyboard.
 It is very well made and expensive,
 but maybe worth it for you.
 But to me, the iPad is great precisely because it does more
 than a laptop, it can do all of those other things.
 And the Magic Keyboard doesn't really help
 with most of those, it's kind of a one-trick pony,
 but I have to admit, it's a pretty good trick.
 Let's just see, let's just, let's just, this is better.
 Hey everybody, thank you so much for watching.
 One of the things that happens when you record
 by yourself at home is you forget to record the end card
 and your director, Viren, yells at you,
 so thanks for the reminder, buddy.
 Let me know what you think of the Magic Keyboard
 down in the comments below and stay safe out there.