As Apple ’s legions of fans look ahead to the launching of theiPhone 16next Monday , one leaker has slipped out a surprising prevision about a dissimilar ( and potentially very popular ) product : the iPad Magic Keyboard .
Apple sells a range ofMagic Keyboardsfor the iPad Air and Pro , and while these are highly rated for their comfortableness , simplicity of use , and attractive and functional cantilever excogitation , they are also incredibly expensive : the 11 - in theoretical account are $ 299 , while the 13 - inch models cost a startling $ 349 , as much as the 10th - gen iPad . ( Thereisa cheaper alternative for the low - end iPad , theMagic Keyboard Folio , but this does n’t have the cantilever design and still costs $ 249 . )
In other words , even those who can open an iPad Air or Pro frequently balk at the further disbursement of a Magic Keyboard … which is a shame , because it ’s one of the skilful supplement for turning an iPad into an effective work simple machine .
“ I ’m order that Apple supplier are hard at work on a Modern iPad keyboard for next yr , ” he compose . “ This appurtenance will be a humbled - ending interpretation [ of the Magic Keyboard ] that may be plan for an entry - level iPad or the new iPad Airs . ”
The key factor here is that it sound like the new keyboard will get the cantilever design , or at least Gurman does n’t specialize otherwise . He note that it will differ from the higher - conclusion keyboard in its lack of “ pricier components like the metal palm eternal sleep ” but mentions nothing about a fundamentally different figure .
The other question this prompts , of course , is how “ miserable - ending ” are we talking ? Gurman does n’t offer a figure , but we can take an educated surmise by thinking in terms of upper and grim bounds . It will obviously cost less than the $ 299 of the current 11 - inch Magic Keyboard ; but likewise , it ’s hard to imagine that it will dramatically undersell the $ 249 currently charged for the Magic Keyboard Folio . My expectation is that Apple will be appear to deal the Magic Keyboard ‘ Lite ’ ( it in spades wo n’t be called that , by the way ) for somewhere between $ 219 and $ 249 , and simultaneously give the Folio a price cut , or discontinue it totally .
As for its release date , Gurman says to expect the Modern product by the middle of 2025 , “ if all goes to plan . ” So it ’s problematical whether prospective iPad emptor should take this into circumstance when ponder a purchase . And of course of instruction , like all “ budget ” Apple products , bear in mind that , as we ’ve talk over , it probably wo n’t beespeciallycheap .
