REVIEW: The 11-Inch iPad Pro + Magic Keyboard Really Is That Good

I already wrote a review of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro plus the Magic Keyboard for my column at Inc.com, but it turns out that the 11-inch deserves its own. That’s because, as much as I enjoyed the Magic Keyboard on the larger version, on the smaller iPad Pro it’s a completely different experience all together. I mean, of course the keyboard is smaller, but that doesn’t quite get to why it’s so much different.

Credit: Apple Inc.

First Impressions

I’m currently writing this review with the iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard. I don’t know if that matters, but it seems like every review of an iPad keyboard starts with that acknowledgement.

After reviewing the larger model for a few weeks, I’m now testing the 11-inch version on my 2018 iPad Pro. (Quick aside: The fact that the keyboard is compatible with both recent versions of the iPad Pro is very cool. I feel like it’s worth giving Apple kudos for making that possible.)

One thing that’s interesting to me is that the reason I love the 11-inch iPad Pro so much more than the 12.9-inch version is that it’s a much better tablet. What I mean is that it’s more portable, and something you’d want to use to read a book, watch a video, or simply mess around with. The larger iPad Pro is probably better if it’s your only device—the extra screen real estate no doubt comes in handy, especially with multitasking—but the smaller Pro is my favorite.

The 11-inch version isn’t as good as a primary device, but in my opinion, it’s the best combination device. When I tested out the 12.9-inch version, I almost never took it off the Magic Keyboard case. For me, it’s just too large to really feel comfortable with it as a tablet in my hand or on my lap. The 11-inch, on the other hand, is what I use 80 percent of the time.

Keys

I’m pretty used to typing on the smaller keyboard size, since I’ve been using the 11-inch version with the Smart Folio Keyboard for almost a year and a half. Compared to that, this is inarguably a better experience. I didn’t even hate that keyboard, to be honest, but this is so much better, for all the reasons you might think.

The scissor-switch is back, and it’s what you’d expect from a keyboard that costs more than an entry-level iPad. It’s a little software than the Bluetooth Magic Keyboard that comes with an iMac, and it’s a little less firm than the updated version on the MacBook Pro. Still, it’s the best typing experience you can get on the iPad. The backlit keys are a nice feature as well.

That said, there are a few things I don’t love. For example, the “-“ key is smaller. I don’t know exactly how much smaller, I didn’t measure, but it appears to be about half size. It’s not the only one either. The “+”, “opt”, “]”, and “\” are all smaller than their neighbors. I get that in order to get a usable keyboard into this form factor, you’re going to have to make compromises. Maybe it’s just that I use the “-” a lot, that I actually care.

The other thing that I’ve heard a lot of people complain about is the lack of function keys along the top. I agree, it would be nice to have dedicated keys for volume, brightness, media controls, and such. Of course, if Apple had put them there, there’s no doubt that we’d be complaining that they were basically useless hidden under the floating iPad as a result of the nature of the overall keyboard design.

Trackpad

The trackpad is small, let’s start there. Compared to what you’re used to on a MacBook Pro, it’s maybe 40 percent the surface area. It’s also an actual button, and as many other reviewers have pointed out, it’s really quite good. It’s substantially better than the trackpad on the Surface Pro keyboard case, which suffers from the “diving board” effect, where the trackpad clicks really only at the bottom.

Despite its size, I found myself using the trackpad naturally without much thought. I really never ran out of space, whether I was scrolling through documents, moving the cursor to edit text, or swiping through gestures. It was large enough for my fingers, even when three-finger swiping through slide-over apps.

Hinge & Viewing Angles

Two main thoughts on this. The first is that the viewing angles, while better than the Smart Keyboard Folio, are still quite a bit less than I expected. That said, it’s an improvement, and it works fine for most uses. The one area it’s not great is if you actually want the iPad near flat, say for drawing. In that case, you’ll have to just take it off.

Which, leads to the other thought. The hinges (and for that matter, the magnets) are no joke. When you open the case up, it really becomes a stand with a keyboard attached. The iPad Pro stays exactly where you set it, and the hinges don’t give.

The hinge in the spine is what opens up and supports the iPad Pro. The upper hinge controls the viewing angle, and honestly, I’m not sure how Apple managed to create enough tension in such a small inline hinge to keep the angle intact.

Final Thoughts

My last real thought on this is that the Magic Keyboard shouldn’t really be thought of as a case. Technically it is, and you can definitely carry around your iPad with the Magic Keyboard on it. But, it’s not something that’s easy to just open up and pop your iPad out of. In that way, it’s more of a stand.

Almost every review has made a point of commenting on the overall weight of The Magic Keyboard. On the 11-inch model, the keyboard pretty much doubles the weight, but it doesn’t so much feel heavy as it does solid. It feels substantial in your hand in the way a hammer with a real wooden handle feels like it’s ready to get the job done.

It does take away from some of what is great about an iPad Pro, which is the feeling that this thin, lightweight device has as much power as most laptops, without the bulk or weight.

Instead, the Magic Keyboard is something you leave on your desk, and attach your iPad Pro when you want to do work that requires a keyboard and trackpad. It just happens to be very good at that, and it turns your iPad into something you can really use to get work done. Which has been my point all along.