

It’s a shame, though, that the options in the macOS for programming your own keyboard shortcuts are fairly limited, so power users might prefer to use a third-party utility such as USB OverDrive or HotKey App, to make full use of these extra Function keys. The larger keyboard layout also means that there’s room for some additional Function keys too, going right up to F19 (rather than F12 for the smaller Magic Keyboard). This keyboard also has a larger set of navigation keys, which is very useful for scrolling through long documents or web pages, and an additional set of navigation keys that allow you to quickly jump to the top or bottom of a document.

This is also quite expensive but adds a numeric keypad for people who need to do a bit of serious number crunching every now and then. Like all Apple keyboards it has a Lightning port for charging, but the latest version of the Magic Keyboard – also updated in Summer 2021 – now includes a USB-C-to-Lightning cable, so make sure you don’t buy an older model from other online stores, which might still have a USB-A cable instead (unless, of course, you’ve got an old Mac that only has USB-A connectors).Īnd, of course, there’s the larger version, called the Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad.
Older version of kindle for mac 10.6.8 Bluetooth#
The Magic Keyboard works as a standard Bluetooth keyboard, and Apple says that its rechargeable battery will last for about a month at a time. To be fair, though, the compact little keyboard does squeeze in quite a few useful features, with the top row of Function keys providing controls for brightness, volume and playing music. The Space Bar and the little set of navigation keys in the lower-right corner of the keyboard are also rather small and fiddly. The aluminium body does feel quite sturdy, but the slimline design means that the keys don’t ‘travel’ very well, so speedy typists might prefer a larger keyboard that is actually designed to do some proper work rather than just looking pretty. The smaller Magic Keyboard can be expensive, but its elegant slimline design started a trend for ‘low-profile’ keyboards that many other manufacturers now follow too. However, Touch ID and some of the other features of the new keyboards don’t work with Intel-based Macs, so if your Mac has an Intel processor then these older keyboards are the best options available from Apple – although, of course, there are plenty of other keyboards available from other manufacturers, which we review here as well. These older keyboards lack the Touch ID sensor that is available with the two new keyboards that Apple launched in the summer of 2021. The older generation of Magic Keyboards is still available, and is now intended primarily for use with older Macs that have Intel processors. $66.80 at Amazon | $99.00 at Apple | $99.00 at B & H PhotoĪpple’s keyboards are a bit confusing at the moment, with two generations of keyboards available, and each generation offering two different keyboards, with or without a numeric keypad. There’s also a larger version, simply called the MX Keys, which has a separate numeric keypad as well – and this has recently been on sale at the same price as the MX Keys Mini, although it’s not clear if that price cut will turn out to be permanent. Logitech’s Options app also allows you to program the Function keys to perform different tasks, such as opening Mail or Safari. The top row of Function keys works automatically with the Mac, allowing you to adjust the backlight, volume and other controls. However, turning the backlight off extends that time to a full five months – far longer than the single month provided by Apple’s Magic Keyboard. The backlight does drain the keyboard’s rechargeable battery, lasting only 10 days if you have the backlight on full brightness the whole time.


The keyboard has a backlight too, with a sensor that automatically activates the backlight as your hands approach the keyboard, and then turn it off after a few seconds when you move away. Available in a variety of colours, it’s heavier and sturdier than the Magic Keyboard, with firmer keys that feel more responsive when typing. The basic design of the MX Keys Mini is impressive. And, to be honest, Logitech’s years of experience with mice and keyboards really give it the edge. The latest model in the range is the new MX Keys Mini and has a compact, low-profile design that clearly pitches it as an alternative to Apple’s own Magic Keyboard. Logitech’s Craft and Ergo K860 keyboards are both designed for specific types of users, but if you’re just looking for a good general-purpose keyboard then its MX Keys range is hard to beat.
