Apple Smart Keyboard for 11-inch iPad Pro (Open Box)

If you’re combing through these reviews, you’re probably thinking the same thing I was: I love the laptop form factor of the magic keyboard case! But at the time of this review, a new iPad Gen 9 is only $50 more than the keyboard. 300 bucks is a bit rich for my blood. But an amazon refurbished version is very appealing at this price point. I felt safe knowing I had 3 months to guarantee my happiness with the device and I felt like I could trust Amazon to refurbish it properly. I will say the packaging was great (mine came in a generic white box with foam padding between the back and the keyboard) and it looked absolutely brand new. All the backlighting was working, it immediately began working as soon as I let my iPad snap into the frame, Everything appeared to be functioning as if It was brand new. They don’t really make mention of this, but the magic keyboard is surprisingly well padded and I feel confident that my device is adequately protected against everyday use when it is closed. Unfortunately: the key feature other than trackpad and laptop form factor that I purchased this for does not work. I purchased this with the understanding that it is one of the only ways that lets you charge the iPad through the keyboard and not the one USB-C port on the actual tablet, but rather allows you to charge through a USB-C passthrough on the left side of the hinge cylinder. For me, this was to free up the USB-C port to allow me to VNC into my Raspberry Pi 4 via a USB-C to USB-C cord directly to the iPad. This grants me a way to essentially have Linux on my iPad. Well, I have not been able to get charging via the keyboard to work. Which is disappointing. Now I have to decide to charge my iPad OR run my linux machine on the RPi. Going to try several charging blocks, but I will most likely be returning this one and biting the bullet on a $300 new one and get the functionality that I actually wanted.