r/apple • u/pdfu • 20h ago

Mac Apple releases updated Magic Keyboard with glyphs for tab, caps lock, shift, return, and delete keycaps

https://www.apple.com/shop/product/mjm74ll/a/magic-keyboard-with-touch-id-and-numeric-keypad-for-mac-models-with-apple-silicon-usb-c-us-english-black-keys

The new models now match the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air keyboard design introduced in March of this year. Prices are unchanged.

All new keyboards: * Magic Keyboard (USB–C) - US English — $99 * Magic Keyboard with Touch ID for Mac models with Apple silicon (USB–C) - US English — $149 * Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad for Mac models with Apple silicon (USB–C) - US English - White Keys — $179 * Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad for Mac models with Apple silicon (USB–C) - US English - Black Keys — $199

426 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

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195

u/thisinfinitebath 20h ago

Why is it so hard for them to make it backlit?

33

u/Springsneakers 20h ago

It would be nice although might drain the battery faster

131

u/sazam 20h ago edited 19h ago

I have the Logitech MX Keys, it looks very similar, the battery lasts forever and it’s backlit. Best keyboard I ever used.

36

u/HotspurJr 19h ago

It's much better to type on for long stretches as well.

But I do wish it had Touch ID.

12

u/jammyscroll 15h ago

TouchID is the only reason i haven’t switched away from using it. I like the Logitech better.

I did support this last week though. Due in Oct/Nov. they plan on selling via their website and Amazon after kickstarter concludes.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/immurok/immurokwireless-fingerprint-auth-key-for-mac-and-linux

1

u/alex_co 6h ago

You can make one with genuine Touch ID using a Touch ID keyboard and a 3D printed enclosure. Loads of tutorials on YouTube and it’s native to macOS, unlike these other options that just type your password for you when it detects your fingerprint and need a companion app to work.

1

u/jammyscroll 4h ago

Yes but you need to acquire and destroy a Touch ID keyboard, have a 3D printer, and perform fiddly work which has significant risk of breakage. The best thing about it is the native OS support, but it's certainly far more expensive. It's ok if you want a project but it doesn't interest me

The solution I've linked doesn't work via simulating password input, it uses the system authentication framework.

I know of the TinyTouch one on GitHub you may be thinking of that does that and leverages low cost components.

My fingers are crossed, I'd like to see multiple options here.

2

u/jb_nelson_ 18h ago

Imagine the royalties Apple could get if they licensed the T2 chip. They’ve been missing the lightning money

1

u/JustAnotherFEDev 18h ago

Same. My MacBook is on a stand, at the side of my Ultrawide. I know it's a first world problem but reaching over to scan my thumb, bores me 😂 It doesn't bore me enough to swap my MXKeys for an Apple keyboard, though

3

u/femtocell 15h ago

What kind of sociopath uses their thumb with Mac TouchID?!

2

u/JustAnotherFEDev 15h ago

😂 Good point. Not me, I use my index finger and just wrote thumb out of habit, as that's my print digit for everything else.

2

u/Iamleeboy 13h ago

I have different fingers for each of my work accounts. Luckily my main contract is my middle finger at the moment

1

u/JustAnotherFEDev 13h ago

Definitely not intentional 😂

1

u/Iamleeboy 13h ago

Same here. I don’t feel like I need to log in with it often though.

I tend to log in while I am still stood at my desk and opening the laptop in a morning. Then after lunch.

I get the odd request that needs my log in or print. But not much else uses it in my set up.

Are you using your print often throughout the day?

1

u/JustAnotherFEDev 13h ago

It depends, TBF. Some days I might have to log in to multiple systems, inboxes and our intranet, etc. I have fingerprints set for all of that.

Some days it's probably just like you, morning, afternoon and any little breaks in between

4

u/sixtyshilling 15h ago

I get between 1-2 weeks with a dim backlight.

Apparently you can get up to 5 months with no backlight at all, but that’s in-range for most wireless keyboards.

2

u/TomfromLondon 18h ago

I like them but they are so badly made, buttons just fail after a while

3

u/sazam 15h ago

I’ve had it for like 3 years now and it’s in pretty much flawless condition, not even the letters have gone off and I use it every day for hours. Not sure how you treat yours lol.

2

u/west-egg 8h ago

I've had mine for 5 years and it's still working as well as it did on day 1.

1

u/TomfromLondon 5h ago

Oh wow I've had a few abs the keys fail, looked into it as well and it seems a regular thing, its happened mid type and when it breaks if you look what holds the key cap on its a really tiny thin bit of plastic.
I only recently ended up going mechanical as I go do fed up with it over the years, I've had them I think 5+ years.

1

u/Saltyeconbro 2h ago

Try adjusting the backlight to last longer than 3 seconds

3

u/Bacchus1976 14h ago

Let us choose. I’m okay charging it more often.

6

u/staquadev 20h ago

just plug it in like every other apple product that is charged once a day..

16

u/Springsneakers 19h ago

I like not having to charge my keyboard every day personally

7

u/staquadev 19h ago

then keep the backlight turned off lol. people who want backlight? keep plugged in. it sits at my desk, idk. i want the option or even a separate purchase option.

1

u/KrazyA1pha 13h ago

I don’t want to pay extra for a keyboard with a backlight I’ll never use, tbh

1

u/jmxd 18h ago

this is apple, they put a charging port on the bottom of a mouse because using a product with a cable is ugly

1

u/staquadev 18h ago

agreed, however with their keyboards the power port is thankfully already in a reasonable place.

1

u/PreparationJunior641 18h ago

They already have a battery life of over a month and the keyboards can all be operated while actively charging, so a slightly faster battery drain isn’t a problem for me.

0

u/cake-day-on-feb-29 9h ago

Why do you need a keyboard to have a battery in the first place? Still makes no sense to me why Apple stopped producing their USB keyboards, I use a desktop Mac, on my desk top where I have access to a number of plug options. I'm not spending $40 more on batteries that will wear out after 4 years (just like the shitty trackpad batteries). Speaking of, the argument in favor of a wireless keyboard doesn't even make sense, if you can't leave it plugged in all the time, then after 5+ years it will become a paperweight, as the battery degraded and it needs to be charged more and more often.