You’ve probably seen the sleek ads. An iPad Pro hovering mid-air, looking like a prop from a sci-fi movie. It's the Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 11-inch, and it’s basically the most expensive accessory you can buy that isn't a whole other computer.
Honestly? It's kind of a weird device.
For years, we were told the iPad was a tablet. Something for drawing, scrolling, and maybe watching Netflix. Then Apple dropped this heavy, cantilevered hinge and told us it was a laptop. But if you spend any real time with the 11-inch model, you realize the reality is a lot more nuanced than "it's a laptop replacement." It’s more like a highly specialized productivity tool that has some frustrating quirks most reviewers gloss over.
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The Weight Problem Nobody Mentions
If you’re looking at the Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 11-inch, you’re likely trying to stay portable. That’s the whole point of the 11-inch over the 13-inch, right? But here is the kicker: the keyboard itself weighs roughly 1.3 pounds (around 600 grams).
When you snap your iPad Pro into it, the total weight jumps to nearly 2.3 pounds.
For context, a MacBook Air 13-inch weighs about 2.7 pounds. You’re saving less than half a pound of weight but losing a massive amount of screen real estate and the "lap-ability" of a traditional clamshell.
The weight is concentrated in the hinge and the iPad itself. Because the iPad "floats," the center of gravity is high. If you’re typing on your lap while sitting on a couch, it can feel a bit tipsy. You sort of have to rest your palms firmly on the aluminum or polyurethane rest just to keep it from flipping backward. It’s a minor thing until you’re in a cramped airplane seat trying to finish an email and the whole rig keeps trying to nose-dive into your lap.
That M4 Refresh Changed the Game (Sort Of)
If you have the newest M4 iPad Pro, you’re looking at a different beast than the older M1 or M2 versions. Apple finally added the function row.
It sounds like a small thing. It’s not.
Being able to hit a physical key to change the brightness or skip a track without reaching up to the screen or digging into the Control Center is a massive quality-of-life upgrade. The M4 version also swapped the interior palm rest for actual aluminum. It feels colder, more premium, and much more like a "real" computer.
However, if you are rocking an older 11-inch Pro, you're stuck with the polyurethane finish. It’s grippy, sure, but it’s also a magnet for skin oils and dust. After six months, those black models start looking a little "shiny" in the spots where your palms rest.
Compatibility is a Total Mess
This is where Apple gets frustrating.
- M4 and M5 Models: You need the "new" Magic Keyboard.
- M1, M2, and older Pros: You need the "old" Magic Keyboard.
- iPad Air 11-inch: It uses the "old" design, even the newest M2 Airs.
Basically, you can’t just buy "a" Magic Keyboard. You have to check the camera cutout and the connector pins. If you buy a used one on eBay, make sure you know exactly which generation your iPad is, or you’ll end up with a very expensive paperweight that doesn't quite fit the magnets.
Typing on the 11-inch: The "Cramped" Myth
People love to complain that the 11-inch keyboard is too small. I disagree.
Unless you have absolute shovels for hands, the 1 mm travel scissor mechanism feels fantastic. It’s clicky. It’s stable. It’s actually more satisfying than some of the older butterfly keyboards on MacBooks.
The real issue isn't the key size; it's the trackpad.
On the 11-inch model, the trackpad is a tiny little rectangle. On the M4 version, they moved to a haptic feedback system—meaning it doesn't actually "click" physically; it just vibrates to trick your brain. It’s much more precise, but the vertical height is still limited. You'll find yourself hitting the top or bottom edge of the trackpad when trying to drag files across the screen.
It’s usable. It’s just not "MacBook comfortable."
Is the "Apple Tax" Actually Worth It?
Let’s talk about the $299 price tag. Or $349 if you aren't catching a sale.
You could buy a Logitech Combo Touch for significantly less. The Logitech even protects the edges of your iPad, which the Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 11-inch does not. Seriously, if you drop this thing, the edges of your iPad are completely exposed. It’s a "case" in name only.
But here is why people still buy the Apple version: the passthrough charging.
The USB-C port in the hinge of the Magic Keyboard is only for power. This is a genius move because it keeps your iPad’s main port free for a SSD, a microphone, or a camera. You don't have to deal with a dongle-hell just to charge your tablet while working. Plus, the magnetic attachment is addictive. You just pull the iPad off when you want to use it as a tablet. With the Logitech, you're usually peeling it out of a plastic shell.
Pro Tips for Daily Use
If you decide to pull the trigger, there are a few things you should know that aren't in the manual.
First, the white model actually stays looking "new" longer than the black one. It sounds counterintuitive, but the white polyurethane hides fingerprints and those oily "shiny spots" much better than the black.
Second, the battery drain is real. Since the keyboard doesn't have its own battery, it sucks juice from your iPad. If you leave the backlight on full blast in a bright room, you’ll notice your iPad percentage dropping significantly faster. Pro tip: Go into Settings > General > Keyboard > Hardware Keyboard and turn that brightness down manually if the auto-sensor is being goofy.
Practical Next Steps
- Check your iPad model before buying. Go to Settings > General > About and check the Model Name. If it’s an M4, you must get the specific "M4" version of the keyboard.
- Decide on your "Why." If you use the Apple Pencil 80% of the time, this keyboard will annoy you. You have to take the iPad off the magnets to draw comfortably because the hinge doesn't fold flat.
- Look for Refurbished. Apple's build quality is high enough that buying a "Renewed" unit on Amazon or a "Refurbished" one from Apple can save you $100 without any real downside.
- Clean it carefully. Use a lightly damp microfiber cloth. Don't use harsh chemicals on the polyurethane, or it will start to "peel" or get sticky over time.
The Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 11-inch is a luxury. It’s a tool that turns a tablet into a focused, distraction-free writing machine. It isn't perfect, and it's definitely not a value play, but once you get used to that floating design, everything else feels a bit clunky.