Hi,
I like to revisit this/hyperfixate on this every so often. How ideal is an iPad with a Magic Keyboard as a complementary or secondary device to my desktop PC in 2026?
I've had pretty bad experiences with 2 different iPads and 2 different keyboards, where VoiceOver would suddenly stop typing and typing H would bring me back to the homescreen for example. This occured on a 10.5" iPad Pro with its original Smart Keyboard and a Logitech keyboard, and an iPad 9th generation using the Smart Keyboard. I'm sure I played with the Full Keyboard Access settings but can't remember the results, I don't think it made a difference.
I do use my Lenovo ThinkBook as a secondary device, which still works pretty well. But I want something more portable, seeing as it's a 15.6" laptop, and the battery only lasts 4 hours. I'm just playing around with the idea for now.
My use case:
- TTRPG character sheet management - I use spreadsheets for these, I've struggled navigating spreadsheets on my phone with a keyboard before though (more that it's just... squished in and hard to navigate)
- Writing story chapters (not complex text editing because that could be done on my computer)
- Gaming (audio games on iOS, interactive fiction etc). I don't know why I don't like using my phone for this.
So... I'm just curious to hear your thoughts and experiences.
Comments
Not really useful
My current iPad is the iPad Mini A17 Pro, I use it mainly to listen to music and TV together with my Beats Pill speaker, browse and order stuff on Uber Eats, showcase ideas to the sighted, provide a screen to my usually headless Mac Studio, and soon it will also be my Internet router since I'm completely on 5G cellular except currently it's my iPhone that's providing Internet access. While I have no issues typing on the iPad from a Mac Magic Keyboard, I find that most applications are definitely not designed for keyboard navigation, so every once in a while I have to tap the screen to quickly move the focus to where I want, as otherwise I end up having to scroll over hundreds of messages on Signal, for example, before getting to the input field.
I have experienced the behavior that you mentioned at some point and do recall that I realized that it was actually not a bug, but can't remember details. I can connect a keyboard to the iPad and check that out if you wish though, but honestly I recommend just waiting for the cheap MacBook with an iPhone chip that's rumored to come out later this year as that's a lot more likely to work better as a sidekick computer than anything forked from iOS.
Consider holding off for a new macbook
There are a bunch of rumors that Apple will be releasing a low cost macbook air this year. This may be a portable alternative to your Windows machine. For a rumor roundup on what to expect see https://www.macrumors.com/2026/01/02/low-cost-macbook-pro-rumors/
I think iPads are pretty useless when you’re totally blind
I don’t think an iPad is a great experience when you’ve been totally blind since birth like me. But then again, I only used my iPad for music. I just did not get along with their whole interface of the split screen for every app I just having larger real estate to get lost on. But, I have never had a Bluetooth keyboard so I don’t know how that would’ve changed things for me. Just because I didn’t have a great experience. It doesn’t mean that you won’t though. So don’t let that determine your decision. You could wait for a possible MacBook that may be released or you can get something that’s already currently available. Maybe you can try it out before you get one just to see if you like it first. I only got my iPad because I couldn’t get an iPod. And I didn’t know anything about the split screen before I got my iPad. I ended up trading in my iPad in August of last year and got my iPhone 15 instead. That is a decision. I definitely do not regret.
Thanks
Sadly, I don't think I'd go with the Mac - I'd rather either stick with my Lenovo, as chonky as he is, or upgrade to a 14" Windows laptop (I'd love something the size of an iPad/iPad Air, something I can just chuck in my bag). I've had pretty bad experiences with Numbers and my D&D character sheet, where VoiceOver will stop reading the spreadsheet and just say "table" when trying to interact despite it visually appearing according to my sighted bf. I was more just curious if it would be possible and a viable option for something I can just chuck in my bag.
Not Ideal
Text editing on the iPad is fine as long as you do not work on something lengthy or with complex formatting. Tables are a big flaw, never you think you can navigate and edit and manipulate tables content efficiently on the iPad. The iPad for me is a great reading and media consumption device. Nothing more than this.
windows tablet?
I never get my hand on an IPad, mainly because people kept telling me that it is not worth it since it doesn't play well with voice over. You would probably spent your time struggling rather than getting any productivity done. I would instead recommend you those windows tablet from microsoft or other brand, though downside is that you can't play IOS games. If you have some money to invest, you can even try those GPD win mini computers, pick older models that comes with the sliding keyboard, it should be cheaper by now. they sound amazing.