As Apple’s legions of followers sit up for the launch of the iPhone 16 subsequent Monday, one leaker has slipped out a shocking prediction a couple of totally different (and doubtlessly extremely popular) product: the iPad Magic Keyboard.
Apple sells a spread of Magic Keyboards for the iPad Air and Professional, and whereas these are extremely rated for his or her consolation, ease of use, and engaging and useful cantilever design, they’re additionally extremely costly: the 11-inch fashions are $299, whereas the 13-inch fashions price a startling $349, as a lot because the Tenth-gen iPad. (There is a less expensive various for the low-end iPad, the Magic Keyboard Folio, however this doesn’t have the cantilever design and nonetheless prices $249.)
In different phrases, even those that can afford an iPad Air or Professional regularly balk on the additional expense of a Magic Keyboard… which is a disgrace, as a result of it’s top-of-the-line equipment for turning an iPad into an efficient work machine.
Properly, if that describes you, prepare for some (doable) excellent news. Within the newest version of his Energy On e-newsletter, Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman mentions virtually in passing that Apple is engaged on a less expensive model of the Magic Keyboard.
“I’m told that Apple suppliers are hard at work on a new iPad keyboard for next year,” he writes. “This accessory will be a low-end version [of the Magic Keyboard] that may be designed for an entry-level iPad or the new iPad Airs.”
The important thing issue right here is that it feels like the brand new keyboard will get the cantilever design, or no less than Gurman doesn’t specify in any other case. He notes that it’ll differ from the higher-end keyboard in its lack of “pricier components like the metal palm rest” however mentions nothing a couple of basically totally different design.
The opposite query this prompts, after all, is how “low-end” are we speaking? Gurman doesn’t provide a determine, however we will take an informed guess by considering by way of higher and decrease bounds. It’s going to clearly price lower than the $299 of the present 11-inch Magic Keyboard; however equally, it’s laborious to think about that it’ll dramatically undercut the $249 presently charged for the Magic Keyboard Folio. My expectation is that Apple can be trying to promote the Magic Keyboard ‘Lite’ (it undoubtedly received’t be known as that, by the best way) for someplace between $219 and $249, and concurrently give the Folio a worth reduce, or discontinue it completely.
As for its launch date, Gurman says to count on the brand new product by the center of 2025, “if all goes to plan.” So it’s debatable whether or not potential iPad patrons ought to take this into consideration when mulling a purchase order. And naturally, like all “budget” Apple merchandise, keep in mind that, as we’ve mentioned, it most likely received’t be particularly low-cost.