You finally did it. You dropped a small fortune on that massive 12.9-inch screen. It's beautiful. It's fast. And honestly, it’s a bit of a nightmare to hold for more than twenty minutes without a stand. So, you start looking for an iPad Pro 12.9 case and keyboard. You probably think you just need something that clicks and protects the corners.
Not quite.
I’ve spent hundreds of hours—and way too much money—testing these setups. If you treat this like a standard tablet accessory, you’re going to hate using it within a week. The 12.9-inch Pro is a "laptop-first" tablet. That changes the math on everything from weight distribution to how much desk space you actually need.
The "Floating" Lie: Apple’s Magic Keyboard Reality
Most people see the Apple Magic Keyboard and fall in love with the floating cantilever design. It looks like it’s from the future. It’s the sleekest way to mount an iPad, period.
But here’s the thing nobody tells you until you’re sitting on a plane trying to type: it’s incredibly top-heavy. Because the iPad itself weighs about 1.5 pounds, and the keyboard has to be heavy enough to keep it from tipping over, the whole setup ends up weighing more than a MacBook Air.
You’re carrying a "laptop" that has a smaller trackpad and a weirdly limited tilt angle.
Don't get me wrong. The typing experience is 10/10. The keys have that perfect "thwack" that makes you feel productive. But if you’re a digital artist who wants to quickly flip the iPad over to draw? You can’t. You have to rip the iPad off the magnets and lay it flat on the table, completely naked. No protection. No grip.
It’s a specialized tool. It's for people who write emails for four hours then snap the iPad off to read on the couch. If that’s not you, $349 is a lot to pay for a stand that doesn't even have a function row on the older models.
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Why the Logitech Combo Touch is Kinda Winning
If you’re actually using your iPad like a tablet half the time, the Logitech Combo Touch is basically the only logical choice.
I know, it’s not as "cool" as the Apple version. It has a kickstand. Kickstands take up a lot of room. If you’re trying to work on one of those tiny Starbucks tables, the kickstand is going to be hanging off the edge.
However, the keyboard detaches.
This is the "aha!" moment for most users. You can pull the keyboard off, flip it around, and still have a protective shell on the iPad. The kickstand lets you prop it up at a low angle for drawing with the Apple Pencil. You can’t do that with the Magic Keyboard.
Plus, Logitech actually remembered that humans like to change their screen brightness and volume without diving into the Control Center. They included a full row of function keys. It sounds like a small thing, but when you’re in a flow, not having to reach up and touch the screen to pause a video is a massive win.
The Weight Problem
Let’s be real for a second. The 12.9-inch iPad Pro is already a beast. When you add a heavy keyboard case, you are looking at nearly 3 pounds of gear.
- iPad Pro 12.9 (M2): ~1.5 lbs
- Magic Keyboard: ~1.6 lbs
- Total: Over 3 lbs
That's heavier than a 13-inch MacBook Air. If portability is your only goal, you might be over-engineering your setup. Sometimes a simple Smart Folio and a separate Bluetooth keyboard like the Logitech Keys-To-Go 2 is actually a better "commuter" setup. You only bring the keyboard when you know you're going to type.
Third-Party Wildcards: ESR and Zagg
If you don't want to spend $200+, the market gets a bit messy.
The ESR Rebound Magnetic Keyboard is the best "clone" of the Magic Keyboard. It uses magnets. It floats. It has a trackpad. It’s usually about half the price. The catch? It connects via Bluetooth.
Apple’s official cases and the Logitech Combo Touch use the Smart Connector—those three little dots on the back of your iPad. This means they don't have batteries. They don't need charging. They don't have lag.
Bluetooth cases like the ESR or the Zagg Pro Keys need to be charged separately. There’s nothing more annoying than sitting down to work and realizing your keyboard is dead while your iPad is at 90%. Zagg makes up for this by offering 6.6 feet of drop protection. It’s chunky. It’s built like a tank. If you’re a construction foreman or a clumsy student, that bulk is a feature, not a bug.
The Professional Verdict
Most "pros" I know end up with one of two setups.
First, the Lifer. They buy the Magic Keyboard and never take the iPad out of it. It stays on their desk or their lap. They’ve accepted it’s a laptop that happens to run mobile apps.
Second, the Hybrid. They use the Logitech Combo Touch. They want the protection. They want the kickstand for watching movies in bed. They want to be able to rip the keyboard off and sketch in Procreate without feeling like they’re going to scratch the $1,200 glass.
Honestly, the "best" case depends on your hands. If you have big hands, the 12.9-inch keyboard layouts are a godsend compared to the cramped 11-inch versions.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check your model: Make sure you aren't buying a 2024 M4 case for a 2022 M2 iPad. The camera bumps and thicknesses are just different enough to ruin the fit.
- Test the lapability: If you work on the couch, skip the kickstands. You need the rigid hinge of the Magic Keyboard or a Brydge-style setup.
- Think about the Pencil: If you use the Apple Pencil daily, avoid the Magic Keyboard. The ergonomics for drawing are non-existent.
- Prioritize the Smart Connector: If your budget allows, always choose a case that uses the Smart Connector (Apple or Logitech). Charging a keyboard is a chore you don't need in 2026.
Stop looking for the "perfect" case. It doesn't exist. You’re choosing which compromise you can live with. For most, the Logitech Combo Touch is the most versatile compromise on the market right now.