Apple Apple Wireless Keyboard (2009) vs Apple Magic Keyboard (2015, Lightning)
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| AppleApple Wireless Keyboard (2009) | AppleMagic Keyboard (2015, Lightning) | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | October 2009 | October 2015 |
| Typing | ||
| Layout | Compact | Compact |
| Switches | Scissor | Scissor |
| Backlight | None | None |
| Keys labelled for | Mac | Mac |
| Touch ID | No | No |
| Switches | Low-profile scissor-mounted keys; an A1314 key repair on iFixit identifies the scissor mechanism. | Revised scissor mechanism; Apple's launch announcement describes a lower profile and increased key stability |
| Special keys | Function-row controls for display brightness, Exposé, Dashboard, playback, volume and media eject, described in Apple's user guide. | Multimedia function keys; half-height up and down arrows beside full-height left and right arrows, described by AppleInsider |
| Connections and battery | ||
| Connects by | Bluetooth | Bluetooth |
| Devices it switches between | – | 1 |
| Power | AA battery | Rechargeable |
| Battery life detail | – | About a month or more between charges, according to Apple; tested in September 2015 with preproduction keyboards and shipping iMacs. Not an upper-bound battery-life claim. |
| Charging | – | Built-in rechargeable battery; Lightning-to-USB cable charges and automatically pairs with a Mac. Macworld confirms the keyboard can remain in use while plugged in. |
| Receiver | Bluetooth connection with no USB receiver. Apple's guide specifies two AA batteries and an on/off switch with a status light. | – |
| Works with | Mac OS X 10.5.8 or later with the latest keyboard software for the full set of features, according to Apple. | Bluetooth-enabled Mac with OS X 10.11 or later; iOS devices running iOS 9.1 or later, according to the retained original specification |
| Design | ||
| Weight | – | 231 g |
| Width × depth × height | – | 279 × 114.9 × 10.9 mm |
| Size | – | Height 0.41–1.09 cm, width 27.9 cm and depth 11.49 cm; Apple's 0.231 kg weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process |
| Materials | Aluminium body and white low-profile keys. | Aluminium body, plastic keys and underside, described by AppleInsider |
| Colours | Silver aluminium and white keys. | Silver body with white keys |
| In the box | Apple Wireless Keyboard and two installed AA alkaline batteries, according to the 2009 user guide; bundled with new iMac models from October 2009. | Magic Keyboard and Lightning-to-USB cable. This entry covers the original 2015 model, distinct from later Lock-key, Touch ID and USB-C models. |
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