After using the Magic Keyboard for several years now, the realization that there's no Smart Keyboard Folio for the newest M4 iPad pros hit me. Why isn't the option there? It was superior to the Magic Keyboard in so many ways for someone who uses their device for art / browsing

Smart Keyboard Folio:

can be folded behind iPad without removing

iPad screen > tiny trackpad for navigation

weighs way less

costs way less

I acknowledge the magic keyboard provides backlight and an extra charging port, but I am willing to trade both for all the positives the Smart Keyboard Folio provided

I really don't need an inferior laptop-like experience, the Magic Keyboard takes away from the iPad's greatest strength: you got a big touch screen / trackpad right in front of you

Long time Windows and Android user here. With all the hype around AI and the new m series chips, I wanted to give Apple a second chance with the new m2 air. I have no intentions to fully convert, but I thought having at least one device from Apple camp would grant me some capabilities that's not available in Windows/Android side

The ipad is nice. It's in the same ballpark with a comparable Android tablet. There is nothing you can do with one and can't do with the other. It's just different. But the keyboard is a whole different story. As per the title, it stands out from the rest of the ecosystem, it almost feels like it doesn't belong

To set the scene, consider how Apple designs and markets products. First, they create a hype by inventing a problem that that doesn't even exist. Then they create an elegant and expensive device to solve this problem with unique ways, which in turn creates its own problems that requires workarounds. When it comes to marketing/sales, they introduce many variants that practically do the same thing but somehow convince people to pay the top dollar and update very frequently to gain little to no improvements in real life use cases.

Now enter the folio keyboard. It's a basic keyboard that's introduced 5 years ago that looks and functions like how you would expect. You put it on, and it works. And since it's not trying to be something else, it's rugged and more importantly cheap in Apple terms.

Look at the magic keyboard in comparison. It tries "transform" the device to a so-called laptop replacement and adding a lot of bulk and weight while trying to do so. You lose too much, i.e. the practicality of the tablet to gain a little. And to make it worse, you have to pay a lot for that. Even the keyboards designed by Logitech follow this design philosophy. They make the device bulky and increase the footprint.

Back to the folio keyboard itself, apart from being very slim and light, the ability to fold the keyboard to the back, and the ease of putting it on/off helps keep the practicality of a tablet. And when it's attached, since the keyboard is sitting very close to the screen, you can lift your finger and interact with the elements without lifting your hand.

In conclusion, the folio keyboard elevates the capabilities of the ipad without getting in the way. Without it I would be hesitant to keep the ipad but thanks to this combo I'll stay

Small update : I forgot to mention the "lapability" factor. This keyboard stays relatively stable on the lap. Not as good as a laptop but again, it works when needed