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  1. Table of Contents
  2. Top
  3. Main Differences
  4. Design
    1. Dimensions
    2. Build Quality
    3. Ergonomics
    4. Hardware Customizability
    5. Backlight Features
    6. Backlight Clarity
    7. Cable & Connector
    8. Wireless Versatility
    9. Macro Keys And Programming
    10. Extra Features
    11. In The Box
  5. Typing Experience
    1. Typing Quality
    2. Typing Noise
    3. Switches
    4. Keystrokes
  6. Performance
    1. Single-Key Latency
    2. Multi-Key Latency
    3. Data Transmission
    4. Chord Split
  7. Software and Operating System
    1. Configuration Software
    2. Computer Compatibility
    3. Wireless Mobile Compatibility
  8. Comments

Apple Magic Keyboard 2017 vs Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Apple Magic Keyboard 2017
Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Nov 27, 2023 05:17 PM

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Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Sep 13, 2024 04:24 PM

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Amazon.com
Apple Magic Keyboard 2017 Picture
Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Picture
  1. Recommended in 1 article:
  2. iPad

Variants

  • Magic Keyboard (Silver)
  • Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 11" (Black)
  • Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 11" (White)

Our Verdict

Apple Magic Keyboard 2017

Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021

The Apple Magic Keyboard 2017 and the Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 are designed for different purposes. The Magic Keyboard for iPad is made for use with iPads only, so it uses a Smart Connector to directly connect to the iPad it's being used with. It doesn't have Bluetooth, so you can't use it with any other device. On the other hand, the Magic Keyboard connects wirelessly via Bluetooth, so it's fully compatible with macOS, iOS, and iPadOS. Sadly, it lacks the white backlighting that the Magic Keyboard for iPad has. Otherwise, they both use the same scissor switches, offering a very similar typing quality.

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Silver
Magic Keyboard
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Black
Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 11"
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White
Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 11"
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Main Differences for

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

5.6
3.1

Backlight Features 
 

0.0
6.0

Backlight Clarity 
 

0.0
9.0

Computer Compatibility 
 

8.6
0.0

Data Transmission 
 

3.4
0.0

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

Apple Magic Keyboard 2017 Top Picture
Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Top Picture

Size 
 

Compact (75%)
Compact (65%)

Height 
 

0.4" (1.1 cm)
0.2" (0.5 cm)

Width  

11.0" (27.9 cm)
9.8" (24.9 cm)

Depth 
 

4.5" (11.5 cm)
7.7" (19.5 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

N/A
N/A

Weight 
 

0.51 lbs (0.230 kg)
1.32 lbs (0.600 kg)

Show text

Build Quality 
 

9.0
8.5

Build Quality Close Up  

Apple Magic Keyboard 2017 Build Quality Close Up
Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

ABS
ABS

Show text

Ergonomics 
 

7.0
7.0

Side Picture  

Apple Magic Keyboard 2017 Side Picture
Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Side Picture

Curved/Angled 
 

No
No

Split Keyboard 
 

No
No

Key Alignment 
 

Staggered
Staggered

Minimum Incline 
 

2.8°

Medium Incline 
 

N/A
N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

N/A
N/A

Home Row Height 
 

7.2 mm (0.3")
6.3 mm (0.2")

Show text

Hardware Customizability 
 

0.0
0.0

Customizability Overview  

Apple Magic Keyboard 2017 Customizability Overview
Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Customizability Overview

Replaceable Cherry Stabilizers 
 

No
No

Stabilizer Fixation 
 

Non-Customizable Design
Non-Customizable Design

Spacebar Stabilizer Size 
 

Non-Customizable Design
Non-Customizable Design

Size Of Right Mod Keys 
 

Non-Standard
Non-Standard

Hot-Swappable Switches 
 

No
No

Switch Stem Shape 
 

Non-Customizable Design
Non-Customizable Design

Switch PCB Socket 
 

Non-Customizable Design
Non-Customizable Design

North-Facing Cherry MX Interference 
 

Non-Customizable Design
Non-Customizable Design

Backlight Features 
 

0.0
6.0

Backlighting Picture  

Apple Magic Keyboard 2017 Backlighting Picture
Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Backlighting Picture

Brightness Max  

Apple Magic Keyboard 2017 Brightness Max
Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Brightness Max

Backlighting  

No
Yes

Brightness Min  

Apple Magic Keyboard 2017 Brightness Min
Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Brightness Min

RGB 
 

No
No

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

No
Yes

Effects 
 

No
No

Software Controllable 
 

No
No

Show text

Backlight Clarity 
 

0.0
9.0

White Shot  

Apple Magic Keyboard 2017 White Shot
Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 White Shot

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wireless
Wired

Detachable 
 

Yes (Wired Mode and Charge)
Yes (Wired Only Keyboard)

Length  

3.3 ft (1.0 m)
N/A

Connector (Keyboard side) 
 

Lightning
Apple Smart Connector

Show text

Wireless Versatility 
 

7.5
0.0

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
No

Bluetooth Multi-Device Pairing 
 

No
No

Proprietary Receiver 
 

No
No

Battery Type 
 

Rechargeable
No Batteries

Show text

Macro Keys And Programming 
 

0.0
0.0

Dedicated Macro Keys Count  

0
0

Onboard Macro Programming 
 

No
No

Macro Programming With Software 
 

No
No

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

Apple Magic Keyboard 2017 Extra Features
Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Extra Features

Media Keys 
 

Non-Dedicated
No Media Keys

Trackpad / Trackball  

No
Yes

Scroll Wheel 
 

No
No

Control Knob 
 

No
No

USB Passthrough 
 

No
No

Numpad  

No
No

Windows Key Lock 
 

No
No

Lock Indicator  

Caps Lock
Caps Lock

Show text

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

Apple Magic Keyboard 2017 Bundle Picture
Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Bundle Picture

Show text

Typing Experience

Typing Quality 
 

7.5
7.5

Key Spacing 
 

19.0 mm (0.748")
18.0 mm (0.709")

Show text

Typing Noise 
 

9.9
10

Typing Sample  

Average Loudness 
 

36.8 dBA
33.3 dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

No
No

Show text

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Switch Name 
 

No Marketed Name
No Marketed Name

Switch Type 
 

Scissor
Scissor

Feel 
 

Tactile
Tactile

Analog 
 

No
No

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Operating Force 
 

64 gf
60 gf

Actuation Force 
 

35 gf
36 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

0.9 mm
0.8 mm

Total Travel 
 

1.0 mm
0.7 mm

Show text

Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

6.9
0.0

Single-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool
Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Single-Key Latency Graph

Best Connection 
 

23.4 ms
N/A

Best Connection Std Dev  

±2.2 ms
N/A

Wired 
 

23.4 ms
N/A

Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

37.0 ms
N/A

PCB (Estimated) 
 

23.1 ms
N/A

Show text

Multi-Key Latency 
 

5.5
0.0

Latency Video  

Multi-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool
Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Multi-Key Latency Graph

Connection Evaluated  

Bluetooth
N/A

Key Press 
 

33.4 ms
N/A

Key Release 
 

27.3 ms
N/A

Data Transmission 
 

3.4
0.0

Multi-Key Raw USB  

Apple Magic Keyboard 2017 Multi-Key Raw USB
Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Multi-Key Raw USB

Connection Evaluated  

Bluetooth
N/A

USB Polling Rate 
 

1,000 Hz
N/A

Effective Update Rate 
 

N/A
N/A

N-Key Rollover (NKRO) 
 

No
No

Multiple Keys Per USB Report 
 

No
N/A

Chord Split 
 

5.7
0.0

Chord Split Graph  

See details on graph tool
Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Chord Split Graph

4 Chord Split Delay 
 

11.8 ms
N/A

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

N/A
N/A
Software and Operating System

Configuration Software 
 

Software Tour  

Software Name  

No Software
No Software

Software Windows Compatible 
 

No
No

Software macOS Compatible 
 

No
No

Onboard Memory 
 

No
No

Profiles 
 

No Profile
No Profile

Show text

Computer Compatibility 
 

8.6
0.0

Windows 
 

Partially Compatible
Not Compatible

macOS 
 

Fully Compatible
Not Compatible

Linux (Ubuntu 22) 
 

Fully Compatible
Not Compatible

Media Key Compatibility 
 

MacOS & Linux
Not Compatible

Show text

Wireless Mobile Compatibility 
 

9.2
3.3

Android 
 

Partially Compatible
Not Compatible

iOS 
 

Fully Compatible
Not Compatible

iPadOS 
 

Fully Compatible
Fully Compatible

Media Key Compatibility 
 

iPhone & iPad
iPad

Show text

Check Price

Silver
Magic Keyboard
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 11"
Searching
Finding store
 
White
Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 11"
Searching
Finding store

Apple Magic Keyboard 2017

Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021

Comments

  1. Comparison

Apple Magic Keyboard 2017 vs Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021: Main Discussion

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