Thanks to the new keyboard from Apple, owners of current Macs will no longer have to enter many passwords. Before you buy, however, you should pay attention to the requirements for the Mac in order to avoid an expensive decision.
Originally, the new accessories from Apple were only available in conjunction with the new 24-inch iMac with an M1 chip . The keyboard with the Touch ID fingerprint sensor is also available there in the matching color. So far, owners of other M1 Macs have had to forego using their computers as far as possible without a password. This is now changing.
As a glance at the Apple Store shows, the wireless “ Magic Keyboard with Touch ID for Mac with Apple Chip ” is now also available separately. In addition to the model without a numeric keypad, there is also an extended version with the additional buttons to choose from .
MAGIC KEYBOARD WITH TOUCH ID: NEW ACCESSORIES FROM APPLE
The two new versions of the Magic Keyboard are only available in silver, but feature the integrated fingerprint sensor as an innovation. Many users already know this from the iPhone, iPad or various MacBook models. Since the introduction of the 24 ″ iMac with M1 chip, Touch ID was no longer reserved for portable devices from Apple.
The restriction so far was that the keyboard was only offered in conjunction with the new iMac. From now on, owners of a Mac mini, for example, can also benefit from Touch ID. The same applies to those who use their MacBook Pro or MacBook Air at home when closed with an external display and still do not want to do without Touch ID.
With the fingerprint scanner you can not only unlock the Mac, but also skip entering a password manually in many other cases. It is also possible to approve payments using Apple Pay .
NEW TOUCH ID KEYBOARD IS ONLY COMPATIBLE WITH M1 MACS
However, there are a few important details to consider before buying. For example, macOS Big Sur 11.4 or higher is required. However, the major limitation of Apple’s accessories is the Mac hardware that it supports.
If you have a Mac with an Intel chip, you cannot use the fingerprint sensor. The security feature requires Macs with Apple’s own processors. These are currently MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac mini and the aforementioned 24 ″ iMac, all of which are available with the M1 chip.
THAT COSTS THE NEW KEYBOARD
The “Magic Keyboard with Touch ID for Mac with Apple Chip” is available from Apple for 159 euros. The model with a number pad costs 185 euros. In addition to the keyboard,
the scope of delivery includes a USB- C to Lightning cable for charging the integrated batteries. The Magic Keyboard without Touch ID has also been renewed. In addition to the new keyboards, revised models of the Magic Trackpad and Magic Mouse are also available.
Another alternative to using a Mac with almost no password is the Apple Watch . This can also unlock many older Intel Macs are used .
