Apple's low-profile Magic Keyboard gained a new trick when the M1 iMac debuted in April 2021 — biometric unlock with Touch ID — but which Macs can be paired with the keyboard? The Magic Keyboard with Touch ID was included with the purchase of an M1 iMac and featured accent colors that matched the all-in-one computers perfectly. At first, that was the only way users could get their hands on the keyboard. However, it soon made its way to the Apple Store as a standalone accessory.
Transmitting biometric authentication with Touch ID wirelessly isn't easy, and it must be used with certain Macs for full functionality. It can be used as a standard Bluetooth keyboard with any device, but specific requirements must be met to make use of Touch ID. Apple says the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID can be used with any Apple Silicon-toting Mac running macOS Bug Sur version 11.4 or later. That's only a handful of desktops right now, but moving forward, the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID will work with all new Macs released. People still daily driving Intel Macs should look for the original Magic Keyboard, which is available for $99 and doesn't have Touch ID support.
The Full List Of Supported Apple Silicon Macs
Apple has transitioned the base-model iMac and the base-model Mac mini to Apple Silicon with the M1 variant, so both versions work with the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID. The company also created a new desktop, the Mac Studio, which is also compatible with the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID.
The Magic Keyboard with Touch ID will be more useful with desktop Macs since MacBooks already have a built-in Touch ID sensor. But the accessory still works with Apple Silicon MacBooks. That includes the M1 and M2 13" MacBook Pro, the 14" MacBook Pro, the 16" MacBook Pro, and the M1 and M2 MacBooks Air.
Two versions of the keyboard are available: the standard Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keyboard. The standard Magic Keyboard with Touch ID is only available with white keys and is sold for $149. The Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keyboard can be configured with white or black keys but costs $20 more. The white-key version retails for $179, while the black-key version retails for $199.
Apple's line of Magic Keyboards is designed to mimic the thin and low-profile keyboards found on the company's MacBooks. For users familiar and pleased with their MacBook keyboard, they won't be disappointed with the Magic Keyboard. The addition of Touch ID comes at an additional cost, but users are paying for convenience when they purchase the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID.
Source: Apple