Apple is working on a new Magic Keyboard accessory for the entry-level iPad, allowing the cheapest tablet to become a true small laptop, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has learned.
Finally a nice accessory for the basic iPad
In the latest Power On Sunday newsletter, in addition to the upcoming M4 Mac lineup, Mark Gurman reports that Apple suppliers are developing a new iPad keyboard that’s slated to launch next year. The accessory is reportedly designed for the iPad 11 or iPad Air 6, rather than the iPad Pro. It won’t have an aluminum enclosure like the new Magic Keyboard for the M4 iPad Pro, but it could feature a feature row. It’s expected to ship by mid-2025.
iPad Air 6 with Magic Keyboard 2020 (older model)
A new low-end Magic Keyboard for the iPad is in the works.
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Today I’m told that Apple’s suppliers are hard at work on a new iPad keyboard for next year. This accessory will be a low-end version that could be designed for an entry-level iPad or the new iPad Airs. I’m told it will be stripped of more expensive components, like the metal palm rest, but will have new features, perhaps including a function row.
For the record, last spring Apple introduced a completely redesigned Magic Keyboard for the M4 iPad Pro, with an aluminum top case, a function row, and a larger trackpad. Apple continues to sell the previous-generation Magic Keyboard for the iPad Air, as well as the Magic Keyboard Folio for the 10th-generation iPad.
For us, this is clearly the essential accessory to transform the iPad into a work device. Although iPadOS is still not as flexible as macOS, Apple’s operating system improves every year.