Apple Magic Keyboard (USB-C) vs Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID (USB-C)
The Apple Magic Keyboard (USB-C) and the Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID (USB-C) are close alternatives. The main differences: the Apple Magic Keyboard (USB-C) is the cheaper of the two at $99 versus $149.
- Lower priceApple Magic Keyboard (USB-C)$99 versus $149
Choose the Apple Magic Keyboard (USB-C) if
- you mainly want it for travel.
- you want to spend less ($99).
Choose the Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID (USB-C) if
- its overall balance fits you: the apple magic keyboard with touch id (usb-c) is a 78-key compact scissor-switch keyboard, not mechanical, adding a touch id fingerprint sensor for unlocking and apple pay on apple silicon macs (touch id does not work on intel macs), with an aluminum body and bluetooth or wired usb-c connectivity.
Apple Magic Keyboard (USB-C) vs Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID (USB-C), spec by spec
| Apple Magic Keyboard (USB-C) | Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID (USB-C) | |
|---|---|---|
| Layout | numpadless-other | numpadless-other |
| Height | Low profile | Low profile |
| Connectivity | Wired, Bluetooth | Wired, Bluetooth |
| Hot-swap | No | No |
| Keycaps | n/a | n/a |
| Case | aluminum | aluminum |
| Mount | n/a | n/a |
| Backlight | White / none | White / none |
| QMK / VIA | No | No |
| Battery | n/a | n/a |
| Typical price | $99 (stronger spec) | $149 |
| Sound (stock) | Quiet, low-travel scissor-switch action with no audible click or tactile bump. | Quiet, low-travel scissor-switch action with no audible click or tactile bump. |
| Released | 2024 | 2024 |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ; a check marks the objectively stronger spec (price, battery, modability). Feel and preference rows never get a check. Fields marked n/a are unpublished by the maker; we list only verifiable numbers.
Where they sit among all 509 boards we track
32% of the 509 boards tracked here cost less than the Apple Magic Keyboard (USB-C); 59% of the 509 boards tracked here cost less than the Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID (USB-C).
Where to buy the Apple Magic Keyboard (USB-C)
Where to buy the Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID (USB-C)
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