Apple Magic Keyboard

Don’t get me wrong, I have a lot of Apple stuff and most of it works pretty well. This keyboard, though, isn’t the best. I’ve been on a little bit of a keyboard quest and have tried a number of different keyboards lately. I’ve read a lot of reviews, both the 10 best lists and user reviews on Amazon and other sites. Two things came out in most reviews. Keyboards are a very personal choice and people have strong opinions about what they like to type on. There’s a lot of personal preference in most reviews. Second, the consensus seems to be that Apple keyboards are the best. So, after trying several different types and brands of keyboards with varying degrees of success, I thought I’d try the Apple keyboard. I tried to be objective and if I had a preference, I’ve said that. Out of the box * Some reviewers have said they’ve gotten used or repackaged keyboards from Amazon. This one was completely new. * The keyboard itself is a little bent or warped out of the box—not badly but it’s not completely flat. * When you tap the keyboard or move it, it has a tinny sound and has kind of cheap feel. * Lays flat with no option for risers. I added three 3/8” self-adhesive silicone feet and now I feel like it’s perfect. (I know it’s ergonomically better to type on a flat keyboard, but a little rise really helps me with accurate typing.) * The on/off switch is really small and difficult to move * The keyboard is very light which is ok for portability, but it has a really insubstantial feel for a main desk keyboard. Bluetooth * The Bluetooth works well. It connected with my Mac automatically. I was able to switch to my iPad pretty easily, too. * This keyboard doesn’t have multiple Bluetooth channels. It would be nice to select the device you want to use it with without disconnecting and reconnecting. * Only works in Bluetooth mode. If you connect the charging cable it still works through Bluetooth and charges but you can’t turn off the Bluetooth. Typing * There’s no backlight and the color of the letters and numbers on the keys isn’t great for low light * Not all of the shortcut keys work with iPad—it seems like they could have adapted the functionally to all Apple products you might be typing on. * The keys are quiet and the space bar, return, and delete keys all have a good consistent feel * The key action is pretty good. Typing is easy and feels good, but the overall layout is a little tight, maybe—I have bigger hands so that is definitely a preference. * The key action is very light—probably lighter than any other keyboard I have. I would like a little more resistance to the keypress, but it’s not a major issue. Overall, this is a good keyboard for typing but lacks some features that would make it the best. I don’t think it’s a great value. I probably wouldn’t buy it again. * If you only want to use Apple products then I would definitely recommend. * If you want a better keyboard, then I would recommend the Satechi X1/W1; it is a more solid build with better key action. * If you want a cheaper keyboard, the Cherry KC6000 is pretty good but makes some noise when you type. The rattle is a little louder than the Magic keyboard. The one thing I did like about this keyboard is that the key spacing seems a little looser and it was the easiest to type on (i.e., better for bigger hands). * If you want a good mechanical keyboard, the Keychron C2 with blue switches was really nice—but it was too loud to use for work. I really prefer a quieter keyboard.