The Apple iPad is getting closer to becoming a viable laptop alternative, and with the right keyboard accessory, you may question if you need a laptop at all.
The Apple iPad is the best tablet you can buy, and finding the right one for you is easy as Apple has an extensive range at a variety of different prices. Typing on the touchscreen is surprisingly fluid and natural, but there’s nothing like a physical keyboard for getting work done quickly and efficiently. We know from experience, having typed more than 7,000 words on the iPad Pro 2020 and Apple’s Magic Keyboard during our review. But which iPad keyboard should you buy? Our recommendations take into account your budget and which iPad model you may own, to help smooth the transition between relaxing with Netflix to furiously working on a Word document when you’re seated at your desk. Stick around to the end of the article for information on alternative keyboards that aren’t part of a case, or directly related to the iPad. If you’re still deciding which iPad to buy, then maybe a good deal will help drive your decision. Here are the best iPad deals out there at the moment, and if you’ve already got one in your hand, maybe you want to find the best iPad case, and the best iPad drawing apps. Why you should buy this: It provides a superb typing experience, a trackpad with sturdy construction, and a passthrough USB-C port. Who it’s for: Anyone with an iPad Pro in either size or the 5th-generation iPad Air, who wants to turn the tablet into a very effective laptop alternative. Why we picked the Apple Magic Keyboard: The Magic Keyboard is the very best keyboard case we’ve used for the Apple iPad. When it launched it was only compatible with the Apple iPad Pro tablets released in 2018 and 2020, but Apple then made the 4th-generation iPad Air compatible with it too. Now that Apple has released the 2021 iPad Pro models there is a new version of the Magic Keyboard. There doesn’t seem to be any functional difference between the two models, but you can choose the latest Magic Keyboard in either a white or grey color. The keyboard is very comfortable to type on. Each key has 1mm of travel, and gives precise feedback with each press, making it easy to type at full speed without much practice. The entire keyboard is backlit for use in low light and the base doesn’t flex, so it’s suitable for use on both a desk and your lap. The trackpad looks small in the pictures, but it never feels like it, and the click is both precise and satisfying. Combined with iPadOS 14’s enhancements, the trackpad makes using the iPad Pro feel like a laptop. The angle of the iPad Pro’s screen can be adjusted easily, and the floating design looks fantastic, while the strong magnets ensure the tablet won’t accidentally come close. The case has a USB-C connector on the side which can be used to charge the iPad Pro while leaving the tablet’s USB-C port free for a USB hub or other accessory. Around 11 months into ownership and with daily use, the original Magic Keyboard still looks and operates the same as it did on day one, indicating the high purchase price does translate into quality and durability. This is one accessory that will really last. Sounds good, but what about compatibility with all the different iPad Pro and Air models? Things are a little confusing, but we still recommend it as the best choice, so here’s what you need to know. If you have a brand new 2021 iPad Pro 11-inch or 12.9-inch tablet, known as the 3rd- and 5th-generation models respectively, you should buy the new Magic Keyboard to go along with it. If you own a 2020 Magic Keyboard you purchased for the iPad Pro released in 2020 (the 2nd- and 4th-generation models), then Apple says it will work fine with the new tablets, but because the 2021 models are 0.5mm thicker than the old ones it may not be a perfect fit. However, there is no real need to upgrade if this doesn’t bother you. If you’re looking for a Magic Keyboard for your 2020 iPad Pro, the same applies if you buy the brand new version, it’ll work but the fit may not be absolutely perfect. The new Magic Keyboard works and fits the iPad Air 4th-generation, just like the 2020 Magic Keyboard, so it’s a lot more simple if you have one of these tablets. One thing to remember, if you have the 10.9-inch 4th-generation iPad Air, you should purchase the 11-inch Magic Keyboard. To sum up, Apple states the latest Magic Keyboard is compatible with the 3rd-,4th-, and 5th-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and the 1st,2nd, and 3rd generation 11.9-inch iPad Pro, plus the 4th generation iPad Air. The 2020 Magic Keyboard is no longer available from Apple. Apple’s Magic Keyboard is expensive but if you want to work on your iPad in any serious way, it’s a great investment. Read our in-depth Apple Magic Keyboard review Why you should buy this: A high-quality package offering a keyboard and a trackpad that costs a little less than the Magic Keyboard. Who it’s for: If you want to spend a little less on your iPad keyboard, but still want a cohesive and attractive design and a trackpad. Why we picked the Brydge Pro+: If you want your iPad to function more like a laptop, but don’t want to spend a ton, then the Brydge Pro+ keyboard accessory is for you. You need to choose carefully based on the iPad you own though. The company sells the Pro+ model, which works with the 2018 and 2020 versions of the iPad Pro in either size and with the 11.
