Apple’s Magic Keyboard for Macs stands no chance against the competition.
Magic Keyboard on a desk with crying emoji under it
Peter Kotoff/Shutterstock
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The Magic Keyboard Has No Backlight
The Keyboard Is Far From Ergonomic
Poor Tactile Response
Zero Customizability
Expensive for What It Offers
Key Takeaways
The Magic Keyboard doesn’t have backlit keys, which is absurd considering its price.
The keyboard isn’t ergonomic; you can’t adjust the tilt, and Apple doesn’t include a wrist rest for comfort.
It pales in comparison to mechanical keyboards due to its poor tactile response and lack of customizability.
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If you’re planning to buy Apple’s Magic Keyboard for your Mac, thinking it’s your best option, hold your horses. I’ve used one for years with my MacBook and monitor setup, but besides its sleek profile and Touch ID, I really wish I got something else.
The Magic Keyboard Has No Backlight
An Apple Magic Keyboard next to a lamp and mirror
Dreamchild Obari/MakeUseOf
When I switched to an M1 MacBook Air and a monitor for my work setup, I also bought a Magic Keyboard to fit it all together. Considering the built-in keyboard had backlit keys, it seemed safe to assume that Apple’s Magic Keyboard would be backlit too. In fact, most modern keyboards have this functionality, as it’s the industry standard.
Imagine my surprise when I realized that it doesn’t have backlit keys. The only explanation I can think of for why Apple went this route is battery life. It’s nice that I only need to charge the Magic Keyboard once a week, and Apple may have built it for that kind of longevity.
However, a good compromise is letting the user choose if they want to sacrifice some of that battery life for backlit keys (just like how you can with the Magic Keyboard for iPad). Or, better yet, allow backlighting when the keyboard is plugged into a power source.
The Keyboard Is Far From Ergonomic
Hands on an Apple Magic Keyboard on a wooden desk
Dreamchild Obari/MakeUseOf
Most modern keyboards let you adjust the tilt to make them more suitable for long typing sessions. As someone who spends several hours daily behind a keyboard, I really appreciate that functionality.
Unfortunately, Apple’s Magic Keyboard for Mac doesn’t allow me to choose the height and tilt I prefer. I’m limited to the subtle (almost flat) incline, which sometimes puts strain on my wrist. It’s not so much that I can’t use it at all, but it’s a mildly annoying problem that crops up after long typing sessions.
On top of that, the keyboard is “compact.” That’s a great word to hear if you’re on the move. But if you plan to use it on your desk and have basketball-worthy hands, you’ll definitely make typos from the cramped arrangement of the keys. It’s even worse if you have the Magic Keyboard without a numeric keypad—the arrow keys are all mashed together.
Since Apple is more dedicated to uniformity and its core, simple design language, I can’t enjoy the advanced ergonomics that other keyboards offer. The Magic Keyboard has no wrist rest, no contoured and split design; it just sits there like a good-looking aluminum slab.
Poor Tactile Response
Finger pushing a key on Magic Keyboard
Dreamchild Obari/MakeUseOf
As much as I like Apple’s move from butterfly switches to the scissor-switch mechanism, there’s still plenty of room for improvement in the tactile feedback department.
Admittedly, it’s because I find myself gaming on my Mac more often than I’d like to admit. I need to feel the actuation point when I press a key so that I don’t have to push it all the way down. Even though the Magic Keyboard has a really short travel distance (about 1mm), the actuation point and the absolute bottom travel distance are indistinguishable.
This can make typing or inputting information slower and generally more strenuous, especially if you’re already used to the best mechanical keyboards with better travel distances. Those keyboards give that audibly satisfying click or bump when you actuate a key without having to push it all the way down.
Zero Customizability
Black Apple Magic Keyboard
Apple
The Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and a numeric keyboard comes only in silver with the option for white or black keys. You can’t change how it looks once you purchase it.
When I first bought it, I thought I didn’t care, but after using it for a few months, I began to feel like the keyboard made my setup too robotic. There were no fun colors or keycaps with cool art on my keyboard, and my work setup looked lifeless and boring.
Overall, the Magic Keyboard pales in comparison to the sheer breadth of possibilities you could have with a custom—or even a pre-built mechanical keyboard. So, if you’re someone who likes to make their keyboard stand out, stay far away from Apple’s offering.
Expensive for What It Offers
Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad product listing on Apple’s website
I bought Apple’s Magic Keyboard for $179. If you want the one with black keys, it will cost you an extra $20 ($199). That’s pretty expensive for a membrane keyboard, considering I can buy the Epomaker TH80-X we reviewed for $100. That’s a mechanical keyboard with a built-in color LCD screen and a control knob.
Apple doesn’t build Macs to be picky about what keyboards it can use. With the Magic Keyboard, you’re mostly paying for the convenience of having Touch ID. However, I could just use my MacBook’s built-in Touch ID button when I start my session. Of course, it makes more sense if you have a Mac desktop, though.
I’m not saying the Magic Keyboard should be cheap; it has a great build and a firm feel. Apple never makes anything flimsy, which may have added to its cost. But with all the reasons I listed above and the sheer number of options you can get for under $200, I regret choosing this aluminum slab of a keyboard.
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