Apple’s new Magic Keyboard has arrived, and customers have noted that the 12.9-inch model is actually heavier than the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which comes in at 641 grams.
To put it differently: a 12.9-inch iPad Pro with a Magic Keyboard (1,351 grams) is heavier than a 13-inch MacBook Air (1,290 grams), and close to the 13-inch MacBook Pro (1,370 grams).
MacRumors has the story:
Apple hasn’t specified the weight of its new Magic Keyboard, but a MacRumors reader who received their unit early has weighed the larger model for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro and found it to be 710 grams. That makes the Magic Keyboard heavier than the iPad Pro, which weighs 641 grams.
Those looking for a lighter combination versus using their laptop on the go should opt for the eleven-inch Magic Keyboard paired (601 grams) with an eleven-inch iPad Pro (471 grams), resulting in a combined weight of 1,072 grams, according to 9to5Mac.
As MacRumors notes, that’s lighter than any MacBook that Apple currently sells.
Don’t read too much into this because you’d be hard pressed to actually feel the 69-gram difference between the weight of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro and the 12.9-inch Magic Keyboard.
Finally, the Magic Keyboard + iPad Pro combo offers much faster performance, a longer-lasting battery, better screen, nicer-sounding speakers and better portability than the MacBook Air. On the downside, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro base model along with a Magic Keyboard costs $1,349, a significant premium over the base model of the MacBook Air, which now starts at $999.
The device features an integrated trackpad, a USB‑C port for passthrough charging, scissor-switch backlit keys for easy typing in complete darkness, and a floating cantilever design which allows customers to attach their tablet magnetically and smoothly adjust its viewing angle. Like Apple’s Smart Folio keyboard cover, the new Magic Keyboard folds into a case to provide front and back protection for traveling with your iPad Pro.
The new Magic Keyboard is compatible with iPad Pro models manufactured in 2018 or later.
The accessory is covered by AppleCare+.
It’s priced at $299 for the 11-inch iPad Pro and $349 for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. College students in the United States can pick up an 11-inch version for $279 and its 12.9-inch counterpart for $329 via Apple’s online store for education customers.