Let’s be real for a second. You probably just spent a small fortune on the M4 iPad Pro, and now Apple wants another few hundred bucks for a keyboard. It feels like a shakedown. But if you’re looking at the iPad Pro 13 Magic Keyboard, you’ve gotta understand that Apple basically rebuilt this thing from the ground up to fix everything we hated about the previous versions. It isn't just a refresh.
It's a shift.
The first time you snap the tablet onto those magnets, you'll notice it. The balance is different. For years, the 12.9-inch setup was notoriously top-heavy. If you tried to use it on your lap while sitting on a bus or a couch, the whole thing would tip backward like a clumsy gymnast. With the new 13-inch model, they’ve shaved off enough weight from the tablet itself—thanks to that impossibly thin tandem OLED display—that the center of gravity finally feels sane.
What’s Actually New in the iPad Pro 13 Magic Keyboard?
Honestly, the biggest deal isn't the aluminum or the thinner profile. It’s the function row. Finally. We’ve been asking for this since the original Magic Keyboard dropped years ago, and Apple finally relented. You get 14 keys across the top. Screen brightness, volume, media playback, and even a dedicated escape key.
If you've ever tried to code or use professional remote desktop apps on an iPad, you know that the lack of an escape key was a literal nightmare.
The build quality has shifted, too. The palm rest is now a solid sheet of aluminum. It feels exactly like a MacBook Pro under your wrists. Cold to the touch, rigid, and premium. The outer shell is still that grippy, somewhat controversial silicone-ish material that attracts dust like a magnet, but once you open it up, it’s a different world.
That Haptic Trackpad is a Game Changer
Let's talk about the trackpad for a minute because it’s weirdly impressive. The old one used a physical "diving board" mechanism. You could click the bottom easily, but the top was stiff.
The new trackpad for the iPad Pro 13 Magic Keyboard uses haptic feedback. There are no moving parts. Just tiny magnets (the Taptic Engine) vibrating to trick your brain into thinking you pressed something. Because there’s no physical hinge, you can click anywhere—literally the very top edge—and get the exact same response. It’s also significantly larger.
I’ve found that using gestures like three-finger swipes to switch apps feels way more natural now that there's more "runway" for your fingers. It’s the closest an iPad has ever come to being a laptop without actually running macOS.
The Weight Math: iPad Pro 13 vs. MacBook Air
This is where things get spicy. One of the biggest complaints about the previous 12.9-inch setup was that it weighed more than a 13-inch MacBook Air.
It was ridiculous.
The M4 iPad Pro 13 is roughly 580 grams. The new Magic Keyboard is around 660 grams. Together? You’re looking at about 1.24 kg. For reference, a MacBook Air M3 is 1.24 kg. They are basically identical now.
You aren't saving weight anymore by choosing the tablet, which is a bit of a reality check. You’re choosing the iPad because you want the touch interface, the Apple Pencil Pro support, and that gorgeous OLED screen, not because it’s "lighter" in your bag.
Why the Hinge Still Matters
The cantilever design is still here. It still looks like your iPad is floating in mid-air.
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It’s iconic.
But it also limits the tilt angle. If you were hoping this new version would let you push the screen back 160 degrees like a Surface Pro, you're going to be disappointed. It’s still capped at a relatively narrow range. If you're tall and working at a low table, you might still find yourself hunching a bit to get the right viewing angle.
Is It Worth the Upgrade?
If you’re coming from an older 12.9-inch iPad Pro, you need to know that your old Magic Keyboard will not work with the new 13-inch M4 model. Apple moved the magnets and the charging pins. It’s annoying. I know.
But if you are buying the M4 model anyway, the keyboard is almost a mandatory tax. iPadOS is getting better at multitasking with Stage Manager, but doing that with just a finger is like trying to perform surgery with oven mitts. You need the precision of that trackpad.
Real World Use Cases
- Writing and Content Creation: The keys have 1mm of travel. It’s snappy. I can hit my full typing speed (about 85 wpm) without any adjustment period.
- Video Editing: Using LumaFusion or Final Cut Pro for iPad with the trackpad is significantly faster than using a Pencil for every single cut.
- Travel: The pass-through USB-C port in the hinge is still there. It’s great for charging so you can keep the main port on the iPad free for an external SSD or a camera.
One thing people don't talk about enough is the "lap-ability." Because the base is now aluminum, it feels much stiffer. It doesn't flex when you're typing on an uneven surface. That rigidity makes a massive difference if you're someone who works in the back of an Uber or at a crowded airport gate.
The Compromises Nobody Admits
It isn't perfect.
The white version still stains if you even look at it wrong. If you’re a coffee shop regular, get the Black (Space Grey) version. Trust me.
Also, the price is a massive pill to swallow. At $349, you're halfway to the price of a base-model iPad Air just for a keyboard. You have to really value the "pro" workflow to justify it.
There's also the "fold back" issue. You still can't fold the keyboard behind the iPad to use it as a tablet. If you want to draw with the Pencil, you have to rip the iPad off the magnets and set the keyboard aside. It’s a binary experience: you’re either in Laptop Mode or Tablet Mode. There is no in-between.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Setup
If you decide to pull the trigger on the iPad Pro 13 Magic Keyboard, do yourself a favor and dive into the Settings.
- Go to General > Trackpad: Turn on "Tap to Click." It makes the experience feel much more modern.
- Adjust the Backlight: The keys are backlit, but the iPad is aggressive about dimming them to save battery. You can manually override this in the Control Center.
- Learn the Shortcuts: Command + Tab works just like a Mac. Command + Space opens Spotlight. Once you memorize these, you'll rarely touch the screen.
The iPad Pro 13 Magic Keyboard represents the moment the iPad Pro finally grew up. It’s no longer a tablet with a keyboard accessory slapped on as an afterthought; it’s a modular computer. It’s expensive, it’s heavy, and it’s arguably overkill for most people. But for the person who wants to replace their laptop with the best mobile display on the planet, it’s the only way to fly.
Practical Next Steps
Before you buy, head to an Apple Store and check the weight for yourself. If you find the 13-inch combo too bulky, the 11-inch version is significantly more portable, though you lose that massive canvas. If you already own the M4 iPad, check your battery health regularly when using the keyboard's pass-through charging, as it can occasionally run a bit warmer than direct charging. Finally, invest in a dedicated microfiber cloth for that aluminum palm rest—it’s a fingerprint magnet, but it looks incredible when clean.