Thanks to an updated support page from Apple, it appears that the old Magic Keyboard accessory will work with the 2021 iPad Pro after all. Apple previously said that the accessory wasn’t compatible at all with its latest generation of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, but the company has now offered some much-needed clarification around it.
The Magic Keyboard launched last April for the 2020 variant of the iPad Pro, and overall, it’s the most impressive keyboard accessory Apple has ever created for the iPad. It features backlit scissor keys, a trackpad, and has a unique floating design that enables multiple viewing angles for the iPad. It’s the accessory to get for die-hard iPad users, but shortly after the 2021 iPad Pro’s announcement, Apple told people that it wouldn’t work with the newest 12.9-inch iPad Pro — despite the 2020 and 2021 iPad Pros being virtually identical. Instead, people that upgraded to the 2021 iPad Pro would need to buy a new version of the Magic Keyboard. For an accessory that costs $349, that didn’t sit right with a lot of folks.
Thankfully, Apple is now backtracking on that stance a bit. As first reported by The Verge, a new section of Apple’s support website clarifies that “The first generation of the Magic Keyboard (A1998) is functionally compatible with the new iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation) with Liquid Retina XDR display.” In other words, if someone buys the new 12.9-inch 2021 iPad Pro, they can keep using it with the 2020 Magic Keyboard if they’d like.
The New iPad Pro Doesn’t Fit Perfectly When The Case Is Closed
That’s certainly good news for iPad owners that may have been preparing to shell out another $349 for the same accessory they just bought a year ago, but there is a slight catch to this. While the old keyboard is “functionally compatible,” Apple goes on to say, “Due to the slightly thicker dimensions of this new iPad Pro, it’s possible that the Magic Keyboard may not precisely fit when closed, especially when screen protectors are applied.” While the 2021 iPad Pro does look a lot like the 2020 model, Apple had to slightly increase its width to accommodate the new Mini LED display technology — hence the old Magic Keyboard not being a perfect fit.
For some context, the 2020 12.9-inch iPad Pro is 0.23-inches wide, while the 2021 model is 0.25-inches. That could make things tricky when carrying the iPad Pro in the Magic Keyboard case, but when it’s open and used, there shouldn’t be any real difference. Apple will gladly sell its new version of the Magic Keyboard to anyone that wants it, but at least that upgrade isn’t necessary.
