Magic Keyboard New Version

[Ahmend Studioz]

TheMagic Keyboard is a family of wireless computer keyboards manufactured by Foxconn under contract for Apple Inc. The keyboards are bundled with the iMac and Mac Pro, and also sold as standalone accessories. They replaced the Apple Wireless Keyboard product line. Each Magic Keyboard model combination has a compact or full-size key layout for a specific region, a function key or Touch ID sensor next to F12, and color scheme variant.

This keyboard's design was similar to its predecessor, but had a lower profile. Apple re-engineered the scissor mechanism to increase key stability by 33 percent and reduce key travel. Typeface on the keys was also changed, from VAG Rounded to San Francisco (SF Compact).

It had a sealed non-replaceable rechargeable Lithium-ion battery which is charged via a Lightning port on the rear of the keyboard. The rechargeable battery can generally last up-to one month between charges. It used an ST Microelectronics STM32F103VB 72 MHz 32-bit RISC ARM Cortex-M3 processor and included the Broadcom BCM20733 Enhanced Data Rate Bluetooth 3.0 Single-Chip Solution.

On June 5, 2017, Apple released the Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad (A1843) to replace the wired Apple Keyboard which was discontinued that day. It was longer, and had an extended key layout with a numeric keypad and a different arrow key arrangement. At the same time, the Magic Keyboard without the numeric keypad (A1644) received a minor visual update with new Control and Option key symbols.

An updated Magic Keyboard design introduced in 2021 includes aluminum casing on the bottom side, asymmetric corner keys, eject key assigned to Sleep, fn key assigned to Input Source, and F4-F6 function keys reassigned to Spotlight, Dictation/Siri, and Do Not Disturb. Using this new design, two additional model options also include Touch ID sensors in place of the eject key. This update also discontinued the space gray Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad. The updated keyboard models include:

The keyboards that have Touch ID sensors can scan the user's fingerprint to unlock Mac models that use Apple M-series chips.[9][10] Keyboards that come bundled with the iMac M1 also have a color-matched aluminum finish.

The Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad (A2520) was available initially only in silver with white keys. On March 8, 2022, a version with black keys was introduced alongside the launch of the Mac Studio.[11]

In March 2020, Apple announced a Magic Keyboard with integrated trackpad for 2018 and newer iPad Pros with trackpad support which connects through Smart Connector.[12] It also supports the iPad Air released later that year.[13]

Hi there!

As there are a wide variety of Apple Magic keyboards (ranging from compact to full size with numpad), does know if they're all supported? I'd prefer to pick up a full size one, however all demonstrations I've seen only have the compact version, and there doesn't seem to be any literature covering this.

Thanks!

I don't know about the Apple keyboards, but I have a Logitech MX Keys keyboard paired. Using either Bluetooth to pair it to the device, or the USB receiver (through a dock), the Numpad does not work. Even the Enter key on the Numpad doesn't work as an Enter key should, instead it wipes out a highlighted URL or something instead... kinda strange.

I hope this might help answer a few questions for some users. I have tried both an Apple Wireless Magic Keyboard A1314 and an Apple Wired Extended Keyboard A1243 (both UK layout). Both keyboards showed an tracked image in Workrooms and both keyboards worked. However, the extended keyboard only actually shows the as the compact keyboard so none of the function keys show or work and none of the extended section of the keyboard show or work either. With the differences in the bottom row of the keyboards having a slightly different layout (due to the cursors being separated on the extended version) it could lead to a little confusion if users aren't prepared for it. I have also noticed that the both keyboards actually display as the Magic Keyboard Version 2 layout (slightly different cursor arrangement to the version 1 keyboards I own) but it's close enough that for basic use, it makes very little difference.

@Dr.Cecil The cutting off of the extended portion of the keyboard, I thought this may be the reason that the MX keys numeric keypad section doesn't work. Although I don't intend to use it in VR, after reading your post, I thought I may as well try and help out, so I tried my Logi Craft keyboard which is basically the same as the MX keyboard (with the exception of the smart dial). Although visual tracking does not work with the keyboard and so far isn't claimed as functional, the keyboard usage was the same as the Apple keyboards with none of the extended section appearing to function at all.

With regard to the two enter keys having different functionality, the physical keypress and label doesn't necessarily indicate the output to the operating system, the keys are essentially an interface. Each key has a reference and the easiest way to explain it (although not strictly accurate, the principle works the same way). The microprocessor in the keyboard basically translates the signal of the keypress to an output code for interpretation by the OS. Hence, in Windows an app like HID MACRO can remap the keys for different uses etc. With the MX keys, some windows users had an issue with the NumPad Enter key acting as the Windows key when used, the Options software can be used to setup and reset the MX keys if you are experiencing issues. Recently the option to lock the keyboard to a Windows layout has also been made available in the Logitech Options program.

Please note that these are only my findings from a few quick tests with the keyboards I own personally and any opinions are my own based upon the findings and may not necessarily indicate the production or development intent.

SO my findings are:

- It can track a variety of Apple Magic Keyboards, but not all of them. For the one with Numeric Keypad, It tracks only the US Layout (mine is European ISO - UK). And Also, It just tracks the White colour. Mine is black. And I gotta tell you that gets in the way of orienting yourself while typing... while you can see the keyboard as white, if your keyboard is the black one (Space Gray), when your hands get close to the keyboard it creates a dark halo that really gets in your way of typing properly, because this halo is a halo of passthrough to your black keyboard, making It really disorienting with the White render.

Changing to the Macbook Pro tracking. It worked fine, and I could select the european layout (so why couldnt I have the one with Numeric Keypad?). So to sue It with my Macbook pro, It worked really well, but to use It with my Desktop Setup, It sucked. Meta needs to add the Space Gray Magic Keyboard (with Numeric Keypad) with European Layout.

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Hi. I merged your two posts - please don't keep posting the same query; this is a mainly user-supported Forum, and as soon as anyone with some relevant experience sees your comment they may be able to respond. But you didn't ask for help anyway - are you just noting that the 'magic' keyboard doesn't work reliably with Evernote? It would be quicker and more effective to contact Support on this - they may be able to look into a fix...

The best thing about Apple's keyboard case is the feel of its keys. For me, the key travel is perfect, and it mirrors the feel of Apple's most recent MacBooks. I write fast and instinctually, and the positioning of the keys is pretty good for my muscle memory. The trackpad beneath is just the right size. Sure, it could be bigger, but it's big enough.

I'm talking about the 12-inch version of the Magic Keyboard -- the 11-inch model is a little more compressed. It works, but I also get that "typing on a Netbook" old-fashioned feeling I had years ago on 10-inch laptops. The side keys (Tab) and the edge-oriented keys (Return, some symbol keys) suffer the most. All the keyboard cases made for the 11-inch iPads have some sort of key compression like this, though.

The backlit keys are subtle and work well in low light or darkness, although sometimes the lights take too long to automatically turn off. And Apple has no key backlighting adjustment controls on the keyboard (which other keyboard cases often have).

The Magic Keyboard has one little bonus that's been super handy -- there's a pass-through charge port for USB-C on the side of the hinge. It's on the left side, while the USB-C port on the iPad is on the right. This means I can charge from either side at a desk, which is really important to prevent the iPad from becoming incredibly annoying. That port can't output to things like monitors (you need to use the iPad's own USB-C/Thunderbolt port for that), but it's a useful charge-up aid.

The Magic Keyboard folds smaller than most other keyboard cases, wrapping tightly around the iPad. But it lacks protection for the iPad sides, and the magnets can detach when inside a bag or if you drop the iPad, knocking the entire case loose.

Some iPad keyboard cases have extra rows of dedicated function keys, including volume control and play/pause buttons. I love these, and Apple oddly left them out on the Magic Keyboard. Apple has a lot of keyboard shortcuts in iOS, but dedicated function keys would be a great addition.

The Magic Keyboard's odd design means it can't fold all the way back, with the keyboard parked behind the screen. You either use it as a laptop-thing, or fold it shut. iPads are sketchpads and readers, too, and you can't use the iPad easily for those purposes with the Magic Keyboard on. That means popping the case off (it attaches with magnets), and then you're left holding a naked iPad. Surely Apple can figure this out? The old Smart Keyboard cover isn't as good for work, yet was more flexible as a folio case solution. But it doesn't work with the Magic Keyboard-compatible iPads (Air, Pro).

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