Apple has a problem. Not with the iPad itself, which remains one of the most capable devices on the market, especially considering the versatility of options it offers, but with its accessories, and more specifically, its keyboards.
With the recent introduction of the new iPad Air with M3 chip, starting at €699, the company also launched a new Magic Keyboard which, while adding some interesting new features such as function keys, brings up the question again: do we really need so many versions of the same thing?
How many Magic Keyboards are there?
This new Magic Keyboard, designed specifically for the iPad Air, starts at €329. At first glance, it might seem like a more affordable option than the iPad Pro model, which costs €349 and €399 for the larger model. The savings come from a reduction in some of its features, such as the backlighting, the haptic trackpad, and the aluminum casing. That’s a lot of cutbacks for just €20, and it’s only available in white.
The good news is that this keyboard is compatible with older iPad Air models, such as those with the M1 and M2 chips, as well as the fourth-generation iPad Air. But did you know Apple already had a Magic Keyboard that worked with these models? It’s still on sale and is fully compatible.
So why launch a new one? The answer seems to have to do with the function keys. As a result of this decision, we have four different keyboards, all in a virtually identical price range.
The Magic Keyboard Folio is particularly striking. It starts at €299, a price tag that’s hard to swallow considering the iPad 10 costs €399. Is anyone really going to spend almost as much on the keyboard as they do on the tablet itself? And if you’re looking for a more affordable and practical alternative, Logitech already has the Combo Touch for just $133, with similar features and comparable quality.
Alternatives to Magic Keyboard
The most worrying thing about all this is that this wealth of options not only creates confusion among users, but also among Apple employees themselves. Who can clearly explain the differences between the four keyboards available in the Apple Store? Apple’s catalog is starting to look dangerously like a restaurant menu.
The solution lies in simplification and abandoning the obsession with price. A standard keyboard and a Pro keyboard, and nothing else. Eliminate unnecessary models, unify compatibility, and adjust prices. Because one thing is quite obvious: an iPad Air with a keyboard shouldn’t cost more than a MacBook Air, and an iPad Pro with a keyboard shouldn’t cost more than a MacBook Pro. Apple has plenty of room to lower prices, simplify its catalog, and still continue to make the money they so desperately desire.
What doesn’t make sense is selling four different keyboards at similar prices for the same device. Because when the accessory becomes more of a problem than a solution, something isn’t working right.
