Apple to update budget iPad ecosystem with cheaper Magic Keyboard with new features and budget-friendly materials
The original Magic Keyboard accessory for the Apple iPad Pro was something of a revolution for Apple, which likes to market the iPad Pro as a computer replacement — with the accessory, the iPad Pro now has nearly all the processing power and usability to call itself a laptop replacement. Now, according to a report from Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, Apple is working on a cheaper Magic Keyboard for its lower-end iPad models.
According to Gurman, it's not clear which iPad the new Magic Keyboard will be compatible with, but it will not be a one-to-one replacement for the current Magic Keyboard. For starters, the lower price point means Apple will use less premium materials for the new Magic Keyboard — the metal palm rest is mentioned specifically, but it's possible the premium hinge and the trackpad may also see some changes.
On the flip-side, the leaker's sources suggest that the new accessory will also add new features to the Magic Keyboard, although it's unclear what those features will be. It's possible that the new entry-level Magic Keyboard will get an update to a haptic trackpad. We shouldn't have to wait long to see what Apple has in store for entry-level iPad owners, though, since, the new entry-level Magic Keyboard will apparently make it to market by the middle of 2025.
Check out the 13-inch iPad Air with Apple M2 SoC (curr. $839 on Amazon) and read our review of it here.