🥇 ULTIMATE Comparison - Magic Keyboard vs. Smart Keyboard for the iPad Pro 2020

So, you’ve got an iPad Pro and need a keyboard. Do you go with the $180 Smart Keyboard Folio or the $300 dollar Magic Keyboard?

Here’s my guidelines when it comes to choosing these products:

If you own a desktop, the Magic Keyboard is going to be more useful.

If you own a laptop, the Smart Keyboard is going to be handier.

If you use the Apple Pencil a lot, I think the you’re going to be better off with the Smart Keyboard. If you type alot, then go with the Magic Keyboard.

What's in this video:
00:00 - Intro
01:03 - Design Differences
03:25 - Functionality Differences
04:30 - Typing Differences
05:32 - KEY DIFFERENCE
06:58 - Which keyboard is more versatile?
08:30 - Buyer’s Guidelines
10:30 - Can the Magic Keyboard replace a laptop?

DESIGN DIFFERENCES
Alright, let’s start off with the design differences. Your basically doubling the weight of the iPad by going with the Magic Keyboard. That weight difference is noticeable.

The iPad attaches similarly to both keyboards, through a series of magnets which is nice. A lot of other keyboard products require you to use a case or a hinge system which gets annoying after a while.

Next up are the keys. On the Smart keyboard, you have these softer keys that don’t have the satisfying click as the actual keyboard keys on the Magic Keyboard.

If you’re looking for a screen protector for your iPad, check out the reviews that I’ve done for both the iPhone’s and iPads in that playlist.

FUNCTIONALITY DIFFERENCES
Let’s start with the viewing angles. On the smart keyboard, you get two angles. I call one the slouch angle and the other the working angle.

On the Smart Keyboard, the angles are either 110-ish or 130-ish. On the Magic Keyboard it’s from 70-130-ish.

You may not think going less than 90 degrees is useful but that entirely depends on who you’re going to be facetime. 80 degrees is the best angle for Monty to FaceTime his grandparents. Or if you slouch. A lot.

The last thing about viewing angles is that the Magic Keyboard elevates the iPad about an inch which means your head maintains a slightly more neutral gaze over the iPad in a Smart Keyboard.

TYPING DIFFERENCES
On to actual typing. I’ll be honest with you, it feels weird on the Smart Keyboard. The only way I can describe is “mushy”. It doesn’t have that same sound and response like the Magic Keyboard which feels like an actual keyboard.

The Magic Keyboard also has backlit keys so that maybe handy for people who do the two finger poke style of typing.

I will note that Apple’s keyboards do not have the plethora of shortcuts you would find on other products.

I am doing a deep dive on iPad Keyboards so if you’re interested, check out that playlist as I’ll be reviewing products from Brydge, Zagg, Logitech and other brands as I get them.

KEY DIFFERENCE
The tiny, credit-card sized trackpad is the biggest difference between the two. It is the biggest reason why I say the Magic Keyboard is going to be a better buy for a desktop user over a laptop user.

If you’ve use or have used an Apple trackpad recently, you’ll feel right at home. If you can squish your fingers together. All the gestures on the trackpad is going to work on the Magic Keyboard.

There is actually a lot of travel on the trackpad which is different. It was mildly annoying to use at first BUT I realized that you could turn on tap to select which made my experience much better. It felt more consistent across between my laptop and Magic Keyboard.

Can the Magic Keyboard replace a laptop outright? For me? No. My full answer is at the end of the video.

VERSATILITY?
In short, I think the Magic Keyboard is going to be. I honestly felt that iPad was easier to use with the Magic Keyboard because swapping from using the iPad as a touch device to a typing device was seamless. Because of the rigid design of the hinge, I was able to pull the device on and off the keyboard without any hassle.

To do the same with the Smart Keyboard requires a couple extra more steps as the stand just flops down. You can circumvent that by just keeping the case on BUT remember that extra weight of the case is going to annoy you over time.
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