Hello everyone,
I've had my iPad pro since late last year, but haven't used it much since then, but am really trying to do so now. I bought a keyboard case for it, which is like a fake magic keyboard. However, I'm having tons of problems with it. Ctrl and function are switched, making a lot of the keyboard commands not nearly as intuitive. So, I thought it would be worth reaching out and seeing if anyone here has any recommendations. This case is magnetic, like the Magic Keyboard, but unlike that one, it apparently has functions assigned to the number row, which would be okay, but I haven’t been able to figure out what does what. It’s rather frustrating. I will say straight off the bat, I can't afford the real magic keyboard. I like the design, where it has an actual hinge, not just a foldable case like what I’ve seen before. Also, I like that it uses USB C, rather than old school micro usb. The hinge is more of a preference, but USB C is an absolute must, so it can charge with the same cable as the iPad.
Or, if you don’t know of any better keyboards, do you know of any app that would let you remap keys like on the Mac or on Windows?
Thanks in advance for your help and suggestions.
By Justin Harris, 1 August, 2023
Forum
Apple Hardware and Compatible Accessories
Comments
Nothing really beats the iPads first party keyboard
If there are any apps, I’m personally not aware of them. And unfortunately, when it comes to third-party keyboards, you kind of get what you pay for. There’s a lot of trade-offs. The best option would probably be to go to eBay or Amazon marketplace or any website that auctions or sells used stuff. You might be able to get a deal on a used or refurbished iPad keyboard. Sometimes Apple also sells refurbished items at a decent discount on their own website. You can call Apple itself, and they might be able to help you see if there’s any refurbished keyboards. Please note that refurbished usually means like new.
I buy renewed or refurbished…
I buy renewed or refurbished all the time, so no problem there, but when I looked on Amazon, I couldn't find any. I didn't do ebay. Should have probably looked there, but I know there are some decent third party ones out there. I haven't entirely given up on that just yet. Apple stuff, even at refurb prices isn't all that affordable on social security.
Found something better, and still a good price.
Hello, just wanted to post this here in case anyone else ever has need of it. As previously stated, the first case I got was a no go, as it had the ctrl and fn keys in the wrong order, making most VO commands just not as easy to use. The one I just got today actually works as expected, and while the first one had a decent enough build quality, the quality of this second case is even better.
I also got it on Amazon, and it is called the Typecase Edge magnetic keyboard compatible with iPad pro 11 inch.
Like the first keyboard case, it has functions also assigned to the number row of the keyboard, which can be accessed by hitting fn + the number. Unfortunately these won’t work in an app like NVDA Remote, for using function keys in Windows, as they are ipad specific, but at least they won’t get triggered by accident. So, all around I’m really happy with this case. Highly recommend for anyone who wants an experience comparable to the magic keyboard but at a much lower price.