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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 for iPad 2021 vs Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021
Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Sep 13, 2024 04:24 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Feb 09, 2024 02:00 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Picture
Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad Picture
  1. Recommended in 1 article:
  2. iPad
  1. Recommended in 1 article:
  2. Mac

Variants

  • Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 11" (Black)
  • Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 11" (White)
  • Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad (Silver)
  • Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad (Silver W/ Black Keys)

Our Verdict

Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021

Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad

Although both under the same Magic Keyboard name, the Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 and the Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad are very different. The one for the iPad is a folio case designed to protect the iPad, it can only connect to it via the Smart Connector, and it has a trackpad so that it's like a MacBook laptop. On the other hand, the keyboard is meant for Mac computers, and it has Touch ID for compatible devices. It's also bigger, but there's a more compact variant if you need to carry it around.

0

Check Price

Black
Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 11"
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Silver
Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
White
Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 11"
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Silver W/ Black Keys
Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Main Differences for

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

3.1
5.2

Backlight Features 
 

6.0
0.0

Backlight Clarity 
 

9.0
0.0

Computer Compatibility 
 

0.0
8.6

Data Transmission 
 

0.0
3.0

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Top Picture
Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad Top Picture

Size 
 

Compact (65%)
Full-size (100%)

Height 
 

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

Width  

9.8" (24.9 cm)
16.5" (41.8 cm)

Depth 
 

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

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

N/A
N/A

Weight 
 

1.32 lbs (0.600 kg)
0.80 lbs (0.364 kg)

Show text

Build Quality 
 

8.5
8.5

Build Quality Close Up  

Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Build Quality Close Up
Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

ABS
ABS

Show text

Ergonomics 
 

7.0
7.0

Side Picture  

Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Side Picture
Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad 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 
 

6.3 mm (0.2")
7.3 mm (0.3")

Show text

Hardware Customizability 
 

0.0
0.0

Customizability Overview  

Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Customizability Overview
Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad 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 
 

6.0
0.0

Backlighting Picture  

Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Backlighting Picture
Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad Backlighting Picture

Brightness Max  

Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Brightness Max
Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad Brightness Max

Backlighting  

Yes
No

Brightness Min  

Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Brightness Min
Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad Brightness Min

RGB 
 

No
No

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

Yes
No

Effects 
 

No
No

Software Controllable 
 

No
No

Show text

Backlight Clarity 
 

9.0
0.0

White Shot  

Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 White Shot
Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad White Shot

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wired
Wireless

Detachable 
 

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

Length  

N/A
3.4 ft (1.0 m)

Connector (Keyboard side) 
 

Apple Smart Connector
Lightning

Show text

Wireless Versatility 
 

0.0
7.5

Bluetooth 
 

No
Yes

Bluetooth Multi-Device Pairing 
 

No
No

Proprietary Receiver 
 

No
No

Battery Type 
 

No Batteries
Rechargeable

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 for iPad 2021 Extra Features
Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad Extra Features

Media Keys 
 

No Media Keys
Non-Dedicated

Trackpad / Trackball  

Yes
No

Scroll Wheel 
 

No
No

Control Knob 
 

No
No

USB Passthrough 
 

No
No

Numpad  

No
Yes

Windows Key Lock 
 

No
No

Lock Indicator  

Caps Lock
Caps Lock

Show text

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Bundle Picture
Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad Bundle Picture

Show text

Typing Experience

Typing Quality 
 

7.5
8.0

Key Spacing 
 

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

Show text

Typing Noise 
 

10
9.8

Typing Sample  

Average Loudness 
 

33.3 dBA
37.8 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 
 

60 gf
64 gf

Actuation Force 
 

36 gf
32 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

0.8 mm
0.9 mm

Total Travel 
 

0.7 mm
1.3 mm

Show text

Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

0.0
7.4

Single-Key Latency Graph  

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

Best Connection 
 

N/A
17.4 ms

Best Connection Std Dev  

N/A
±2.3 ms

Wired 
 

N/A
17.4 ms

Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

N/A
38.4 ms

PCB (Estimated) 
 

N/A
38.0 ms

Show text

Multi-Key Latency 
 

0.0
4.0

Latency Video  

Multi-Key Latency Graph  

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

Connection Evaluated  

N/A
Bluetooth

Key Press 
 

N/A
46.3 ms

Key Release 
 

N/A
41.0 ms

Show text

Data Transmission 
 

0.0
3.0

Multi-Key Raw USB  

Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Multi-Key Raw USB
Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad Multi-Key Raw USB

Connection Evaluated  

N/A
Bluetooth

USB Polling Rate 
 

N/A
N/A

Effective Update Rate 
 

N/A
67 Hz

N-Key Rollover (NKRO) 
 

No
No

Multiple Keys Per USB Report 
 

N/A
Yes

Show text

Chord Split 
 

0.0
3.3

Chord Split Graph  

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

4 Chord Split Delay 
 

N/A
30.0 ms

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

N/A
N/A

Show text

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 
 

0.0
8.6

Windows 
 

Not Compatible
Partially Compatible

macOS 
 

Not Compatible
Fully Compatible

Linux (Ubuntu 22) 
 

Not Compatible
Fully Compatible

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Not Compatible
MacOS & Linux

Show text

Wireless Mobile Compatibility 
 

3.3
9.2

Android 
 

Not Compatible
Partially Compatible

iOS 
 

Not Compatible
Fully Compatible

iPadOS 
 

Fully Compatible
Fully Compatible

Media Key Compatibility 
 

iPad
iPhone & iPad

Show text

Check Price

Black
Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 11"
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Silver
Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
White
Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 11"
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Silver W/ Black Keys
Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021

Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad

Comments

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Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 vs Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad: Main Discussion

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