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  1. Home
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Apple Magic Keyboard 2017 vs Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021

Which Keyboard Is Better?

    Top
    Main Differences
    Design
      DimensionsBuild QualityErgonomicsHardware CustomizabilityBacklight FeaturesBacklight ClarityCable & ConnectorWireless VersatilityMacro Keys And ProgrammingExtra FeaturesIn The Box
    Typing Experience
      Typing QualityTyping NoiseSwitchesKeystrokes
    Performance
      Single-Key LatencyMulti-Key LatencyData TransmissionChord Split
    Software and Operating System
      Configuration SoftwareComputer CompatibilityWireless Mobile Compatibility
    Comments

Products

Apple Magic Keyboard 2017
Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Nov 27, 2023 05:17 PM

SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Mar 14, 2025 05:34 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Apple Magic Keyboard 2017 Picture

Track

Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Picture

Track

ConnectivityWireless
Size
Compact (75%)
Switch Type
Scissor
N-Key Rollover (NKRO)
No
Hot-Swappable Switches
No
ConnectivityWired
Size
Compact (65%)
Switch Type
Scissor
N-Key Rollover (NKRO)
No
Hot-Swappable Switches
No
  1. Recommended in 1 article:
  2. iPad

Our Verdict

Apple Magic Keyboard 2017

Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021

The Apple Magic Keyboard 2017 and the Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 are designed for different purposes. The Magic Keyboard for iPad is made for use with iPads only, so it uses a Smart Connector to directly connect to the iPad it's being used with. It doesn't have Bluetooth, so you can't use it with any other device. On the other hand, the Magic Keyboard connects wirelessly via Bluetooth, so it's fully compatible with macOS, iOS, and iPadOS. Sadly, it lacks the white backlighting that the Magic Keyboard for iPad has. Otherwise, they both use the same scissor switches, offering a very similar typing quality.

0 

Variants

  • Magic Keyboard (Silver)
  • Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad (Silver)
  • Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 11" (Black)
  • Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 11" (White)

Review

See Apple Magic Keyboard 2017 Review
See Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Review
1 
2 

Check Price

Silver
Magic Keyboard
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 11"
SEE PRICE
Apple.com
Silver
Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
White
Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 11"
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 
 

0.0
0.0
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Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

Apple Magic Keyboard 2017 Top Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Top Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Size 
 

Locked
Locked

Height 
 

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock" (Lock cm)

Width  

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock" (Lock cm)

Depth 
 

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock" (Lock cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

N/A
N/A

Weight 
 

Lock lbs (Lock kg)
Lock lbs (Lock kg)
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

N/A
N/A

Build Quality Close Up  

Apple Magic Keyboard 2017 Build Quality Close Up Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Build Quality Close Up Sample

SAMPLE

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Keycap Material  

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Ergonomics 
 

N/A
N/A

Side Picture  

Apple Magic Keyboard 2017 Side Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Side Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Curved/Angled 
 

Locked
Locked

Split Keyboard 
 

Locked
Locked

Key Alignment 
 

Locked
Locked

Minimum Incline 
 

Lock°
Lock°

Medium Incline 
 

N/A
N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

N/A
N/A

Home Row Height 
 

Lock mm (Lock")
Lock mm (Lock")
Show Text 

Hardware Customizability 
 

N/A
N/A

Customizability Overview  

Apple Magic Keyboard 2017 Customizability Overview Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Customizability Overview Sample

SAMPLE

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Replaceable Cherry Stabilizers 
 

Locked
Locked

Stabilizer Fixation 
 

Locked
Locked

Spacebar Stabilizer Size 
 

Locked
Locked

Size Of Right Mod Keys 
 

Locked
Locked

Hot-Swappable Switches 
 

Locked
Locked

Switch Stem Shape 
 

Locked
Locked

Switch PCB Socket 
 

Locked
Locked

North-Facing Cherry MX Interference 
 

Locked
Locked

Backlight Features 
 

N/A
N/A

Backlighting Picture  

Apple Magic Keyboard 2017 Backlighting Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Backlighting Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Brightness Max  

Apple Magic Keyboard 2017 Brightness Max Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Brightness Max Sample

SAMPLE

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Backlighting  

Locked
Locked

Brightness Min  

Apple Magic Keyboard 2017 Brightness Min Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Brightness Min Sample

SAMPLE

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RGB 
 

Locked
Locked

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

Locked
Locked

Effects 
 

Locked
Locked

Software Controllable 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Backlight Clarity 
 

N/A
N/A

White Shot  

Apple Magic Keyboard 2017 White Shot Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 White Shot Sample

SAMPLE

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Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Locked
Locked

Detachable 
 

Locked
Locked

Length  

Lock ft (Lock m)
N/A

Connector (Keyboard side) 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Wireless Versatility 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

Locked
Locked

Bluetooth Multi-Device Pairing 
 

Locked
Locked

Proprietary Receiver 
 

Locked
Locked

Battery Type 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Macro Keys And Programming 
 

N/A
N/A

Dedicated Macro Keys Count  

Lock
Lock

Onboard Macro Programming 
 

Locked
Locked

Macro Programming With Software 
 

Locked
Locked

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

Apple Magic Keyboard 2017 Extra Features Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Extra Features Sample

SAMPLE

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Media Keys 
 

Locked
Locked

Trackpad / Trackball  

Locked
Locked

Scroll Wheel 
 

Locked
Locked

Control Knob 
 

Locked
Locked

USB Passthrough 
 

Locked
Locked

Numpad  

Locked
Locked

Windows Key Lock 
 

Locked
Locked

Lock Indicator  

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

Apple Magic Keyboard 2017 Bundle Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Bundle Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Show Text 
Typing Experience

Typing Quality 
 

N/A
N/A

Key Spacing 
 

Lock mm (Lock")
Lock mm (Lock")
Show Text 

Typing Noise 
 

N/A
N/A

Typing Sample  

Apple Magic Keyboard 2017 Typing Sample Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Typing Sample Sample

SAMPLE

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Average Loudness 
 

Lock dBA
Lock dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Apple Magic Keyboard 2017 Wobble Video Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Wobble Video Sample

SAMPLE

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Switch Name 
 

Locked
Locked

Switch Type 
 

Locked
Locked

Feel 
 

Locked
Locked

Analog 
 

Locked
Locked

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

Apple Magic Keyboard 2017 Key Switch Actuation Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Key Switch Actuation Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Operating Force 
 

Lock gf
Lock gf

Actuation Force 
 

Lock gf
Lock gf

Pre-Travel 
 

Lock mm
Lock mm

Total Travel 
 

Lock mm
Lock mm
Show Text 
Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

N/A
N/A

Single-Key Latency Graph  

Apple Magic Keyboard 2017 Single-Key Latency Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Single-Key Latency Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Best Connection 
 

Lock ms
N/A

Best Connection Std Dev  

±Lock ms
N/A

Wired 
 

Lock ms
N/A

Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

Lock ms
N/A

PCB (Estimated) 
 

Lock ms
N/A
Show Text 

Multi-Key Latency 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency Video  

Apple Magic Keyboard 2017 Latency Video Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Latency Video Sample

SAMPLE

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Multi-Key Latency Graph  

Apple Magic Keyboard 2017 Multi-Key Latency Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Multi-Key Latency Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Connection Evaluated  

Locked
N/A

Key Press 
 

Lock ms
N/A

Key Release 
 

Lock ms
N/A

Data Transmission 
 

N/A
N/A

Multi-Key Raw USB  

Apple Magic Keyboard 2017 Multi-Key Raw USB Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Multi-Key Raw USB Sample

SAMPLE

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Connection Evaluated  

Locked
N/A

USB Polling Rate 
 

Lock Hz
N/A

Effective Update Rate 
 

N/A
N/A

N-Key Rollover (NKRO) 
 

Locked
Locked

Multiple Keys Per USB Report 
 

Locked
N/A

Chord Split 
 

N/A
N/A

Chord Split Graph  

Apple Magic Keyboard 2017 Chord Split Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Chord Split Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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4 Chord Split Delay 
 

Lock ms
N/A

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

N/A
N/A
Software and Operating System

Configuration Software 
 

Software Tour  

Apple Magic Keyboard 2017 Software Tour Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Software Tour Sample

SAMPLE

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Software Name  

Locked
Locked

Software Windows Compatible 
 

Locked
Locked

Software macOS Compatible 
 

Locked
Locked

Onboard Memory 
 

Locked
Locked

Profiles 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Computer Compatibility 
 

N/A
N/A

Windows 
 

Locked
Locked

macOS 
 

Locked
Locked

Linux (Ubuntu 22) 
 

Locked
Locked

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Wireless Mobile Compatibility 
 

N/A
N/A

Android 
 

Locked
Locked

iOS 
 

Locked
Locked

iPadOS 
 

Locked
Locked

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Check Price

Silver
Magic Keyboard
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 11"
SEE PRICE
Apple.com
Silver
Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
White
Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 11"
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Back to Top

Apple Magic Keyboard 2017

Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 2 years ago

Apple Magic Keyboard 2017 vs Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021: Main Discussion

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