Apple introduced a version of its Magic Keyboard for iPad Air in black on Wednesday. Previously, the premium keyboard/case came only in white.
The accessory is also available for iPad Pro, including the newly launched M5 version of the tablet.
Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad Air is now in black
Keyboards that turn a tablet into a notebook computer are a popular class of accessories. They let iPad users have the best of both worlds.
The Apple Magic Keyboard is the premium option for this. It sports a cool cantilever design, a slim form, trackpad, and even a USB-C port to charge the tablet.
There are versions for the iPad Pro and iPad Air. But — curiously — the iPad Air previously came only in white. That changed on Wednesday when Apple finally introduced a version in black. This is compatible with the M3 and earlier M2 versions of the tablet.
The keyboard/case can be ordered now either the 11-inch or 13-inch variants of the Air at either $269 or $319 depending on the size:
Buy 11-inch version from: Amazon | Apple
Buy 13-inch version from: Amazon | Apple
The incredibly thin and portable Magic Keyboard for iPad Air delivers an amazing typing experience, with a full 14-key function row, built-in trackpad, USB-C pass-through charging, and a floating cantilever design. No pairing or charging required.
- Brilliant design
- Keyboard, trackpad and case in one
- No Bluetooth or battery needed
Backward compatible but not between iPad models
Don’t overlook the important fact that the Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad Air is compatible with both the newer M3 version of the tablet released in 2025 as well as the M2 version released in 2024. The latest model of the tablet isn’t required.
The same holds true for Apple’s top-of-the-line model. The version of the Magic Keyboard introduced in 2024 for the M4 iPad Pro remains compatible with the newly announced M5 iPad Pro. But not earlier models.
And the iPad Pro and iPad Air versions of the keyboard/case are not cross compatible. The version for the Air can’t be used with a Pro and vice versa,
Ed Hardy has been writing full-time about tech for 25 years, and using it for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh Classic II (which he still has), but now he uses a 13-inch iPad Pro as his primary computer. He’s written for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview, and Brighthand, as well as other sites.
