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Apple now sells the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID without an iMac, but only for Apple Silicon hardware

The Magic Keyboard with Touch ID is available with and without a numeric keypad. (Image source: Apple)
The Magic Keyboard with Touch ID is available with and without a numeric keypad. (Image source: Apple)
Apple has finally started selling the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID separately, and with an optional numeric keypad. However, the new keyboard has limited compatibility, is expensive, and only comes in one colour.

When Apple announced the 24-inch iMac earlier this year, it also unveiled a new Magic Keyboard with Touch ID. Initially, the company only bundled the new Magic Keyboard with its 24-inch iMac, but it has now started selling the peripheral separately.

The Magic Keyboard with Touch ID allows you to log in to macOS using a registered fingerprint and authenticate payments via Apple Pay. Apple is selling two models, including one with a numeric keypad and arrow keys. The new Magic Keyboards are only available in silver though, rather than the seven colours that you can choose from if you buy an iMac.

Unfortunately, the limitations do not stop there. While the Magic Keyboard costs US$99 itself, the Touch ID variant is US$50 more expensive, which is rather steep. There is no backlighting either, and the keyboard recharges using a Lightning connection. The numeric keypad is a US$20 surcharge too, for reference.

Additionally, the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID is only compatible with devices running macOS 11.4 or later and Apple SoCs. Currently, this limits the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID to the 24-inch iMac, Mac mini, MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro.

(Image source: Apple)
(Image source: Apple)
(Image source: Apple)

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2021 08 > Apple now sells the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID without an iMac, but only for Apple Silicon hardware
Alex Alderson, 2021-08- 4 (Update: 2021-08- 4)