Apple's crazy expensive Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro is now up for order

Apple’s Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro is now available for order. The ultra-expensive keyboard accessory starts at US$299 for the 11-inch model and goes up as much as US$349 for the 12.9-inch model. The new accessory is listed as shipping in 1-2 weeks in line with Apple’s original forecasts and brings a host of upgrades over its companion, the Smart Keyboard Folio.

Chief among the upgrades is the move from the fabric cover of the Smart Keyboard Folio to regular chiclet keys, but with Apple’s low-profile scissor-switch based Magic Keyboard mechanism – no butterfly mechanism to see here. The keyboard is also backlit while of course it adds for the first time a fully functional trackpad while a pass-through USB-C port keeps your iPad Pro charged.

To fit the both the keyboard and the trackpad into the same area as the Smart Keyboard Folio, Apple has had to create a floating cantilever to hold the iPad above the keyboard. Undoubtedly, this mechanism is what adds substantial to its cost. On the bright side, it does make the iPad Pro look a lot more futuristic and forward thinking than it has looked in some time. It is also very functional offering far more viewing angles as a result.