Can You Use The 2020 Magic Keyboard With The M1 iPad?

Apple just introduced the new M1 iPad Pro, and naturally, this iPad comes with its line of accessories.

The most eye-catching accessory is the white Magic Keyboard that you can attach to the 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

But what if you still have the Magic Keyboard of 2020. Can you still use it for the new M1 iPad Pro that’s just been released by Apple?

Well, the short answer is Yes, but there is a complication that might bother some people.

The 2021 M1 iPad Pro Range

By the way, Apple didn’t change all accessories. Except for the white-colored Magic Keyboard, all other accessories, like the Apple Pencil, remain the same.

The Apple Pencil, the first and second generation, works fine with this new M1 iPad Pro. It Pairs very quickly, and it snaps on the same spot as the previous generations.

But that can’t be said for the Magic Keyboard. Yes, you can attach the new M1 iPad Pro to the 2020 Magic Keyboard, but there will be a slight difference in measurements.

But don’t get me wrong. It’s not like last year’s iPad is bigger or smaller than this year’s iPad. Both versions have the exact measurements. They are both 11.04 by 8.46-inch.

In fact, even the ports and other device features of both models are at the same spot.

It’s more about the thickness of this year’s model. As you may know (or not know), the new M1 iPad Pro has a mini liquid Retina XDR display.

I know, a mouth full. But basically, it comes down to new technology at which Apple houses 10,000 mini LEDs behind the screen. But note that this only applies to the 12.9-inch model.

In comparison, the previous model contained just 72 LEDs, which is clearly a lot less than this year’s 12.9-inch M1 iPad Pro.

And that goes with a price. Which is that Apple had to make the display of this model slightly thicker than its counterpart. The screen of this year’s model is 0.25 inches (6.4 mm) thick, whereas the 2020 version is 0.23 inches (5.9 mm) thick, which is not a lot.

I mean, for the human eyes, these measurements aren’t noticeable, but it can feel different if you wrap your new 12.9-inch M1 iPad Pro with a 2020 Magic Keyboard.

But How is that a Problem?

You might think by now, okay, that is fine. The new iPad is slightly thicker than its predecessor, but why is it a problem to pair it with last year’s Magic Keyboard?

Well, it’s actually not a problem, because you can pair it with last year’s Magic Keyboard. What might feel unnatural when attaching both devices is the fact that the Magic Keyboard will feel tight when it’s closed.

You see, Apple deliberately leaves a tiny space between the screen and the cover when the Keyboard is closed. They do so to give the screen some breathing room.

But Apple didn’t calculate this extra space when designing last year’s Magic Keyboard. And therefore, closing the Magic Keyboard with the M1 iPad Pro attached to it may look a bit weird.

Will it damage the screen of the 12.9″ M1 iPad Pro?

The answer is no. Last year’s Magic Keyboard will work just fine with the M1 iPad Pro. In fact, my advice is not to buy this year’s Magic Keyboard if you have one lying around. It’s just a waste of money. Money that you can use for something more meaningful.

The only thing that you should avoid is putting an even thicker screen protector on your M1 iPad Pro. That will make the screen size even thicker, and pairing last year’s Magic Keyboard to the 12.9″ iPad Pro might not work. At least when you try to close the Keyboard.

A normal-sized screen protector should work fine, though.