Looking for the best Magic Keyboard alternative? Then you're in luck. Because we've found a dozen options that offer a better typing experience and better value than Apple's own keyboards for Mac and iPad; yes, even the new Magic Keyboard the company launched this year alongside the iPad Pro M4.
And this is a subject we're well versed in here at Creative Bloq. After all, we use Apple kit and Magic Keyboards on a daily basis, and we've also spent decades reviewing the best keyboards from some of tech's biggest brands. So we're well placed to compile this list of the best Magic Keyboard alternatives and compare them in terms of build quality, ergonomics, features and overall value.
The best Magic Keyboard alternatives
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The best Magic Keyboard alternatives for Mac
All of our six choices here can be connected up to a maximum of three devices, and all but the Keychron K8 (number 3) feature full-size keyboard layouts.
Logitech is a trusted brand that knows exactly how to design devices for Mac users. And the company’s MX Keys for Mac keyboard is no exception. It comes with a full Mac layout so you’ll feel instantly at home. You can work seamlessly across devices using Logitech’s Flow software. Battery life is up to 10 days with backlighting on and five months with backlighting off.
Satechi’s Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard looks and feels great, and there are several Apple-like colours available. There’s no equivalent to Logitech’s Flow software and the battery duration of 80 hours (three and a bit days) is a little on the low side. However, for this affordable price, we reckon this Magic Keyboard alternative offers superb value.
If you spend a lot of time typing, this could be the perfect Magic Keyboard alternative thanks to the super-comfortable key switch mechanism. The Keychron K8 comes with a proper Mac layout, and you can also convert it to a Windows layout at the flick of a switch. It has several LED lighting options and battery life is an epic 240 hours with backlighting off.
The Logitech Craft takes everything that’s good about the Logitech MX Keys for Mac and dials it up – literally. The Craft comes with a special dial that is pre-loaded with shortcuts for your favourite apps, so it's ideal for making quick refinements during creative work. Battery life is an incredible one week with backlighting on and three months with backlighting off.
We think the Logitech POP keyboard is super fun. It's amazing to look at, with multiple colour combos to choose from, and has a pleasant bouncy type feel. It can connect via Bluetooth or a Logi Bolt USB receiver, comes included with eight swappable emoji keys, and while you need to buy AAA batteries to power it, you'll get three years' battery life for your money.
The weird-looking design of the Logitech Wave Keys may look offputting to some, and that included our reviewer. In practice, though, she loved this ergonomic design and was instantly converted, saying "I get the satisfaction of a good button press [...] and it's lightweight enough to travel with comfortably." Note, though there's no backlighting or rechargeable battery.
The best Magic Keyboard alternatives for iPad
Logitech is the trusted brand behind our pick for the best Magic Keyboard alternative for iPad. We found the backlit keyboard spacious and comfortable to use, as is the large trackpad, while the case offers solid protection. There’s a cut-out to magnetically charge an Apple Pencil on the side. The keyboard can be detached from the case and it weighs a manageable 780g.
If you’re not too fussed about trackpad gestures, the Brydge Pro+ is a good option. This affordable keyboard features instant-on connection and adjustable backlit keys with plenty of travel. It has a solid construction and there’s also a magnetic back cover to protect your tablet. And the multitouch trackpad works with all the iPadOS gestures you would expect.
The ZAGG Pro Keys with Trackpad has a lot going for it. Like the Logitech Combo Touch, you can detach the case from the keyboard and it has a built-in slot to protect an Apple Pencil. However, do note that this backlit keyboard made of plastic instead of something more solid like aluminium, and the multitouch trackpad is only available for some iPads.
This ultra-rugged Urban Armor Gear Bluetooth keyboard case boasts a sturdy tactical grip, 8ft of drop protection, storage for your iPad stylus, and a built-in kickstand. This backlit keyboard with multitouch trackpad is supposedly near-indestructible (and spill-resistant) with a rechargeable battery, making it an excellent choice for working on your iPad outdoors.
The K480 keyboard from Logitech offers an excellent typing experience, easy design, and connectivity for up to three devices at once, allowing you to switch between them using a handy dial. The keyboard is cross-platform, too, with up to a year of battery life before needing a replacement, but note that there's no backlighting or multitouch trackpad.
Logitech’s Slim Folio case is another Magic Keyboard alternative that offers the functionality of a typical iPad keyboard. It’s also one of the few iPad keyboard cases that provides all-over protection for your device, and has a slot for an Apple Pencil too. There's no trackpad or backlighting, but the keyboard is sturdy and great for typing on.
How to choose the best Magic Keyboard alternative
To choose the best Magic keyboard alternative for you, you'll want to consider comfort, build, price, performance and also aesthetics (Apple's Macs and iPads look pretty sleek, so it's hard not to want to consider looks as well). With all of this in mind, consider how much you want to spend.
In the guides above, we've considered different priorities. Some people prefer mechanical key switches since they provide a satisfying typing experience with audible clicks. Others may want a simple economical accessory. In the case of the iPad, you may want a Magic Keyboard alternative that doubles as a protective case for your device.
How we test Magic Keyboard alternatives
We have been reviewing hardware for creatives since Creative Bloq began in 2012, and we've reviewed almost every Mac and iPad that Apple has produced since then. Our reviewers, many of them working creatives, have built up a huge amount of experience in testing and reviewing Mac accessories, including Magic keyboards and Magic Keyboard alternatives.
To choose the best Magic keyboard alternatives for this guide, we compared our reviewers' evaluations on build quality, features, ergonomics and overall typing experience. We considered whether the keyboard provided extra benefits, such as serving as adding protection when it comes to the iPad, and we also considered price in order to recommend options for different budgets.
FAQs
What is the Magic Keyboard?
Magic Keyboard is a term used by Apple across all its official keyboards, including its wireless keyboard for Macs, wireless keyboard with trackpad for iPads, and the built-in keyboard on some MacBook Pro and MacBook Air laptops.
What's changed in the new Magic Keyboard for iPad 2024?
The bigger changes to the Magic Keyboard in the iPad Pro 2024 is that it now has a dedicated row of function keys for things like brightness, volume, media playback, and more. The trackpad is also now bigger and made of glass, offering a smoother and more responsive experience. The kickstand hinge has been redesigned with a flat, exposed chrome ridge and overall, in the words of our reviewer, "its design feels significantly more premium and, dare I say, reminiscent of a MacBook".
Why buy a Magic Keyboard Alternative?
The official Apple Magic Keyboard is a great accessory for most Apple-users, but not everyone is a fan of the design layout (and the high price!) of this keyboard, with plenty of other brands and manufacturers out there making keyboards that are just as great and within budget.
If you're used to the Windows or PC keyboard format, then you might prefer an external keyboard with this layout as opposed to one with the command key instead of control. There are some keyboards that can be totally customized to suit your preferences, style of typing, and comfort levels – which is why a lot of creatives have been ditching the Apple Magic keyboard in favour of mechanical keyboards, especially for the clicky-clack ASMR sounds they make.
