You've seen them in coffee shops. That floating cantilever design is hard to miss. When the Apple Magic Keyboard iPad Pro 11 first hit the scene, it basically redefined what people expected from a tablet accessory. It turned a thin slab of glass into a "computer." Sorta.
I've been using one daily for years now. Honestly, it’s a weird piece of tech. It is simultaneously the most overpriced accessory Apple sells and the one thing I absolutely refuse to travel without. If you’re looking at your 11-inch iPad Pro—whether it's the brand new M4 model or an older M2—and wondering if you should drop three hundred bucks on a keyboard, you’re asking the right question. Most people get it wrong. They think it's just a keyboard. It's not. It's a docking station that happens to have keys.
The cantilever design and why it actually matters
Apple’s engineering team, led at the time by folks like Evans Hankey, went all-in on this floating look. It uses magnets. A lot of them. The back of the Apple Magic Keyboard iPad Pro 11 is lined with precisely aligned magnetic points that snap the iPad into place with a satisfying thud.
Why does this matter? Ergonomics.
Most tablet cases have one or two viewing angles. They’re stiff. This one lets you tilt the screen smoothly. It doesn’t go back as far as a Microsoft Surface Pro kickstand—which is annoying if you’re tall—but for a lap, it’s surprisingly stable. Because the weight is concentrated in the base, it doesn't tip over easily.
Here is the thing though. It makes the iPad heavy. Really heavy. If you take an 11-inch iPad Pro and slap this keyboard on it, you’re looking at a total weight that rivals a MacBook Air. You've gotta ask yourself if you’re okay with that. If you wanted the iPad for its lightness, this accessory kills that vibe immediately. But if you want a machine that feels like a tank on a tray table at 35,000 feet, this is it.
The trackpad is the secret sauce
The keys are great—standard scissor mechanism, 1mm of travel, backlit—but the trackpad is why you buy this. It’s small. Smaller than what you’d find on a laptop. But because it’s a glass surface with haptic-like feedback (though technically a mechanical click on the older models), it feels premium.
Apple’s iPadOS is built for this. When you move your finger, the little circular cursor snaps to UI elements. It’s magnetic in its own way. You aren't just mousing around; you’re interacting with a system designed for precision. Trying to do this with a Bluetooth mouse feels clunky by comparison.
Hardware durability: What nobody tells you
I’ve seen these things age. They don't always age gracefully. The outer material is a polyurethane (basically a fancy plastic/rubber blend). It’s soft. It feels "premium" for about six months. Then, the edges start to smooth out. If you slide it in and out of a tight backpack, you might see some peeling at the corners.
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It’s a dirt magnet.
If you get the White version, godspeed. It looks stunning for a week. Then you’ll see every speck of dust, every coffee ring, and every bit of palm sweat. The Space Gray (or Black) version is better, but it still shows oils from your skin. You’ll find yourself wiping it down with a damp microfiber cloth more often than you’d like.
Also, let's talk about the pass-through charging. There’s a USB-C port in the hinge. This is huge. It means you can charge your iPad through the keyboard, leaving the iPad’s own port free for an SSD or a hub. It’s limited to charging only, though. You can't plug a thumb drive into the keyboard port. That’s a missed opportunity, but it keeps the cable management clean.
The M4 transition and compatibility headaches
Here is where it gets annoying. Apple updated the iPad Pro 11-inch with the M4 chip, and they changed the magnets.
If you have an older Apple Magic Keyboard iPad Pro 11 from the M1 or M2 era, it will not work with the 2024/2025/2026 M4 models. You have to buy the "New" Magic Keyboard. The new one has an aluminum palm rest and a row of function keys. Finally. We waited years for a Brightness and Volume row, and Apple finally delivered it—but only if you buy the latest hardware.
If you are on a budget, look for the older models on the used market. They still work perfectly with the 1st through 4th generation 11-inch Pros. You can often find them for half price, and frankly, the lack of a function row isn't a dealbreaker for most people.
Is it better than the Logitech Combo Touch?
This is the big rivalry. Logitech makes the Combo Touch. It’s cheaper. It has a detachable keyboard. It has a kickstand.
Honestly? The Logitech is more versatile. If you want to take the keyboard off and just draw with the Apple Pencil, the Logitech lets you do that while keeping the iPad protected. With the Apple Magic Keyboard, you have to rip the iPad off the magnets and leave it naked. It’s a binary choice: Keyboard Mode or Naked Mode.
But the Apple keyboard wins on "lapability." Because it doesn't rely on a kickstand that needs floor space behind the device, you can use it on a tiny airplane tray or your actual lap without it collapsing. The footprint is much smaller.
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Real-world productivity: The "Laptop Replacement" lie
We need to be real here. Adding an Apple Magic Keyboard iPad Pro 11 does not turn your iPad into a Mac.
iPadOS is still iPadOS. Multi-tasking with Stage Manager is better than it used to be, but it’s still quirky. If you’re a heavy Excel user or a coder, this setup will frustrate you. But if you’re a writer, a student, or someone who lives in Slack, Trello, and Safari? It’s a dream.
The typing experience is legitimately better than most 13-inch Windows laptops I’ve tested. The keys are stable. They don't wobble. There is no flex in the deck. It feels like a high-end tool.
I’ve written entire 5,000-word reports on this keyboard while sitting in a park. The backlighting is smart—it uses the iPad's ambient light sensor to dim or brighten. It just works. You don't have to pair it via Bluetooth. You don't have to charge it separately. You just snap it on and type. That "zero friction" factor is why people pay the Apple Tax.
Who should actually buy this?
- The Frequent Traveler: If you spend your life on planes or trains, the compact footprint is a lifesaver.
- The "Draft" Writer: If you find your Mac too distracting and want a focused environment to just get words down.
- The Minimalist: If you want one device that can be a tablet in bed and a workstation at a desk.
If you mostly use your iPad for Netflix and drawing, don't buy this. It’s too heavy and too expensive for a glorified stand. Get the Smart Folio instead.
What happens after two years of use?
I’ve had my current unit for exactly 26 months. The hinge is still stiff—it hasn't loosened up at all, which is impressive. The keys haven't developed any "shine" yet, which usually happens to ABS plastic keys.
However, the "Smart Connector" (the three little gold dots) sometimes gets a bit of oxidation. If your keyboard suddenly stops responding, don't panic. Just take a pencil eraser or a bit of rubbing alcohol and clean those gold pins on the back of the iPad. It fixes the connection issue 99% of the time.
Final verdict on the Apple Magic Keyboard iPad Pro 11
It is a luxury item. Let's not pretend otherwise. You can buy a $20 Bluetooth keyboard that does the same thing. But you won't. You're looking at this because you want the seamless integration.
The Apple Magic Keyboard iPad Pro 11 is the best version of a flawed concept. It tries to make a tablet act like a laptop, and it succeeds about 80% of the time. For that remaining 20%, you'll still be reaching for a MacBook. But for everything else, the convenience of having a world-class keyboard and trackpad attached to your iPad is hard to beat.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check your model number: Before buying, verify if you have the M4 iPad Pro or an older M1/M2/A12Z model. The keyboards are not cross-compatible between the M4 and older generations.
- Decide on the Function Row: If you find yourself constantly adjusting volume or brightness, prioritize the newer 2024+ Magic Keyboard (and the iPad that fits it). If not, save money on a refurbished older model.
- Evaluate your "Lap Use": If you plan to type on your lap frequently, avoid the Logitech or third-party kickstand cases. The Magic Keyboard's rigid base is the only one that works reliably in that scenario.
- Maintenance: Invest in a high-quality microfiber cloth. Clean the Smart Connector pins once a month to prevent "Keyboard Not Supported" errors that plague older units.
- Protection: Since the keyboard leaves the sides of the iPad exposed, consider a "Magic Keyboard compatible" thin skin or a very slim bumper if you’re worried about scratches on the aluminum edges.