FINE. The iPad Pro is a laptop. - Magic Keyboard Review

The video opens with a candid acknowledgment that the iPad Pro with the Magic Keyboard has crossed a line many assumed the tablet would never cross: it effectively becomes a laptop, though the verdict on whether that makes it a better tool is not straightforward. The host walks through the Magic Keyboard’s design, noting the two key upgrades that push it beyond the earlier Folio case: markedly improved range of motion and a built-in USB-C port that can charge the iPad Pro through the keyboard’s Smart Connector. They highlight the keyboard’s scissor switches, the tactile typing feel, and the surprisingly capable trackpad, which, despite its small size, enables multi-finger gestures and a more laptop-like workflow on a desk. The review then pivots to practical use cases, explaining how iPadOS gestures, split-window workflows, and external monitor support work in practice, while also pointing out the OS’s remaining gaps compared with macOS or Windows. The price discussion is frank: a 12.9 inch iPad Pro at $1,000 with 128GB, plus the Magic Keyboard, totals around $1,400, which to many traditional laptop users feels like a downgrade, even as some users embrace the new workflow. The host balances skepticism about Apple’s strategy with the observation that many iPad Pro users actually enjoy a blended approach, using touch and pencil at times and a keyboard/trackpad setup at others, suggesting a future where both formats coexist rather than compete. In closing, the reviewer remains intrigued but wary, recognizing the iPad Pro’s potential while acknowledging the same features that complicate its positioning in a professional computing landscape, all while leaving room for the device to evolve further in future updates and hardware iterations.

Topics · technology · gadgets · product_reviews · tablets · laptops