Let's be real. Spending $200 on a keyboard feels slightly insane when you can grab a generic mechanical deck for fifty bucks on Amazon. But if you’re staring at a Mac Studio or a docked MacBook Pro all day, the Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad starts to make a weird kind of sense. It isn't just about typing. It is about that tiny sensor in the top right corner that basically replaces your brain's memory for passwords.
Apple released this specific iteration alongside the M1 iMac era, finally untethering the biometric security we loved on laptops and putting it on the desk. It’s thin. It’s wide. Honestly, it’s a bit of a polarizing slab of aluminum.
People love to hate on the shallow key travel. They say it feels like typing on a piece of plywood. But for the "scissor switch" loyalists—the ones who grew up on the late 2010s chiclet designs—this is the peak of the mountain. It doesn’t clack. It whispers. If you’re in a quiet office or a shared bedroom, that matters more than "tactile feedback" or whatever the mechanical keyboard enthusiasts are shouting about this week.
The Touch ID Game Changer
The real reason you buy this specific model is the biometric sensor. It’s not just for logging in. It’s for Apple Pay. It’s for 1Password prompts. It’s for that moment when you need to install a new driver and don't want to type your 20-character admin password for the fifth time today.
There is a technical catch, though. This Touch ID magic only works if you have an Apple Silicon Mac (M1, M2, M3, or M4 chips). If you are still rocking an Intel-based Mac Pro or an older iMac, that button is literally just a decorative piece of plastic. It won't do anything. Apple uses a Secure Enclave in their own chips to handle the encrypted handshake between the keyboard and the computer. It’s a closed-loop system.
I’ve seen people buy these for older machines hoping for a workaround. There isn't one. Don't be that person.
Size Matters: The Numeric Keypad Debate
Why go for the big one? The standard Magic Keyboard is cute and portable, but the Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad gives you the full layout.
If you spend your life in Excel or Numbers, the ten-key pad is non-negotiable. Using the top row of numbers for data entry is a slow form of torture. Plus, you get dedicated navigation keys. Page Up, Page Down, Home, and End are actually there. On the smaller version, you're stuck hunting for Fn-key combinations that nobody actually remembers.
The footprint is wide. It’s about 16.5 inches across. If you have a tiny desk or a massive mousepad for gaming, this thing is going to eat up your real estate. But the stability is unmatched. It doesn't slide. It stays put because of the sheer surface area and the rubber feet that actually grip.
Battery Life and the Lightning Port Grumble
Apple claims the battery lasts about a month. In my experience, it’s closer to six weeks unless you’re writing a novel every weekend. It’s impressive. You charge it once and basically forget that cables exist.
However, we have to talk about the port.
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As of early 2024, most of these still ship with a Lightning port for charging. In a world where the iPhone 15, the iPads, and the MacBooks are all USB-C, having one rogue Lightning cable on your desk feels like a relic of the past. Apple has been slowly refreshing these, so keep an eye on the box. If you find one with a braided USB-C to Lightning cable, you’re getting the standard current-gen experience.
The Comfort Factor (or Lack Thereof)
Ergonomics are where things get dicey. This keyboard is flat. There are no flip-out feet to change the angle. Apple decided the 1-degree slope was "the way," and that’s what you get.
If you suffer from carpal tunnel or wrist strain, this keyboard might be your enemy. Because it’s so low profile, many users find themselves "bottoming out" the keys with too much force. It requires a light touch. If you’re a heavy-handed typist who likes to hammer away, your fingertips will feel it by 5:00 PM.
On the flip side, the low height means your wrists aren't cocked upward like they are on a thick mechanical board. You don't necessarily need a wrist rest, which keeps the desk looking clean. Minimalists adore this thing for a reason. It looks like it was carved out of a single block of silver (or Space Gray if you can find the older stock).
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Multi-Device Switching: The Missing Feature
One major gripe that persists: you can’t easily switch between a Mac and an iPad.
Logitech’s MX Keys (the primary competitor here) has those three "Easy-Switch" buttons. You tap 1 for your Mac, 2 for your iPad, and 3 for your work laptop. The Apple Magic Keyboard doesn't do that. It is married to one device at a time. To move it, you usually have to plug it into the new device via cable to "pair" it instantly, or go through the Bluetooth dance.
It’s a strange omission for a company that preaches "Universal Control." You can use your Mac's mouse and keyboard to control your iPad if they are sitting next to each other, but the keyboard itself isn't jumping between Bluetooth profiles independently.
Real World Durability
These things are built like tanks, despite being thin. The aluminum chassis doesn't flex. The keycaps are stable and don't wobble. But—and this is a big "but"—they are hard to clean.
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The gap between the key and the frame is minuscule. If you drop a crumb in there, it’s a surgical operation to get it out. And whatever you do, do not spill coffee on this. Unlike a mechanical keyboard where you can pop the switches out or wash the plate, the Magic Keyboard is a sealed unit. A spill is usually a $179 death sentence.
Who is this actually for?
It isn't for gamers. The polling rate is fine for Bluetooth, but it's not "pro-gamer" fast, and the lack of backlight is a dealbreaker for late-night sessions.
It isn't for the "thocc" hunters who want deep, clicky sounds.
The Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad is for the professional who values friction-less entry. It’s for the person who wants their desk to look like an architectural render. It’s for the creative who wants the keyboard to disappear into the background so they can focus on the screen.
Actionable Setup Tips
- Check your Chip: Open the Apple Menu > About This Mac. If it says "Intel," do not buy the Touch ID version. Get the older, cheaper Magic Keyboard instead.
- Pairing Shortcut: If the Bluetooth is being finicky during initial setup, just plug the keyboard into your Mac using the included cable. It pairs instantly. You can unplug it two seconds later.
- Clean with Caution: Use a slightly damp (not wet) microfiber cloth. Do not use canned air too aggressively, as it can actually push debris further under the scissor mechanism.
- Manage your Battery: You don't need to keep it plugged in. In fact, keeping it at 100% on the cable 24/7 can degrade the lithium-ion battery over several years. Let it breathe.
- Accessibility Tweaks: Go into System Settings > Keyboard. Turn on "Full Keyboard Access" if you want to navigate macOS entirely without a mouse. The numeric keypad makes this much easier.
This keyboard is a commitment to a specific aesthetic and a specific workflow. It’s expensive, yes. It’s missing a backlight, true. But the moment you touch that sensor and your Mac unlocks instantly, the price tag starts to hurt a lot less. It’s the ultimate "set it and forget it" peripheral for the Apple ecosystem.