If you are anything like me, you probably are a massive fan
of Apple's Magic Keyboard and that is for good reason.
Now debatably, the keyboard offers the best typing
experience compared to the sea of other iPad keyboards that
are on the market today and that trackpad effortlessly
allows you to navigate the iPad Pro along allowing you to take
your tablet experience to that next level.
From my side there are really just two glaring omissions here
when it comes to the Magic Keyboard. First, the side of
the Magic Keyboard are unprotected and your precious
iPad Pro gets bumps and bruises along the way. Second the Apple
Pencil is easily dislodged when it's on the charging location
depending on what you're doing.
Now if you have either one of these problems I think I found
the perfect solution for you. Say hello to the COVERBUDDY
from SWITCHEASY.
This is a product designed to fix both those problems while
working both with the new iPad Pro and the Magic Keyboard and
in today's video. I'm going to take a closer look at the
COVERBUDDY for the 2020 iPad Pro to find out how well it
works with the Magic Keyboard and really figure out if it's
worth buying. Let's get started.
What is going on guys it is Mike and welcome back to Tech
24/7 TV where we bring you the best in unboxing and product
reviews so you can make informed buying decisions.
So if you like product videos just like this one, make sure
you are subscribed with notifications to be alerted
when new content drops
COVERBUDDY isn't necessarily a new product and as a matter in
fact SWITCHEASY manufacturers the same product for almost
every iPad that is available today.
The product I'm reviewing today specifically is designed to
work the 2020 iPad Pro and that functionality should apply to
the 2018 iPad Pro CoverBuddy as well.
I put links down in the video description below if you want
to purchase this product and those links are affiliate links
which that means using the links will get you redirected
to Amazon who pays me a small commission if you
buy something.
That money gets reinvested back in the channel in terms of
purchasing new products to review and anything that you
can do to support the channel is very much appreciated.
The COVERBUDDY for the iPad Pro has two features that really
make it unique. First the case supports power pass through
using the Pogo pins on the back of the COVERBUDDY.
This allows power to pass from that iPad Pro to the magic
keyboard while maintaining normal functionality. Well at
least mostly as normal as possible, but I'll get more
into that in just a minute.
In addition to the MAGIC KEYBOARD, the COVERBUDDY
works with Apple Smart Folio Keyboard as well as the Smart
Folio.
Now second the COVERBUDDY has a dedicated space to store your
Apple Pencil allowing it to completely and securely charge
your apple pencil.
This means you should see an immediate decrease in the
number of times your apple pencil goes missing while it's
in your bag purse or otherwise during transport.
I reviewed the COVERBUDDY for the 2018 iPad Pro earlier this
year and to summarize I really had three problems that were
centered around the size of the USB-C cutout.
First I could not plug in many third party USB-C cables with
the COVERBUDDY because that cut out was just a little bit too
small.
Second many of the first party USB-C dangles like the SD card
reader and the HDMI break out box from Apple could not
securely plug into the iPad Pro became dislodged really with
the slightest movement and it was kind of annoying.
Third I couldn't use my new USB-C hub with the new iPad Pro
because you guessed it that slot was too small.
Now that said, I want to get a fresh look at the updated
COVERBUDDY to see if my results changed since I was exclusively
using the MAGIC KEYBOARD to type on with my iPad Pro.
Now those results were really a mixed bag.
As for the size of the USB-C cut out, that unfortunately is
the same even with the newest version of the COVERBUDDY.
The results are that many third party USB-C cables as well as
some of Apple's own USB-C cables like the cables that are
rated for higher wattage and support fast charging do not
security stay plugged into the iPad Pro while the COVERBUDDY
is on.
If you're only using those cables for power and not for
data you probably to be in the clear since you can charge your
iPad Pro via the USB-C port on the magic keyboard.
Since the size of the USB-C cut out hasn't changed. That means
my problems using Apple's first party dangles like the HDMI
breakout box or even the SD card reader remains the same.
The dongle so easily dislodged depending on what you're doing
and it is super frustrating. Let me tell you especially if
you rely on the dongle for say a video connection to an
external monitor or if you want to read data off an external
drive because it's just so inconsistent.
As for my you USB-C hub I moved on using a different model
which is still HYPER and this model has an easily removable
extension port.
So at the end of day you gotta ask yourself Is this worth for
you to buy.
Now COVERBUDDY does go ahead and squarely address the
concern of having your iPad Pro protecting the sides of it
while using the Magic Keyboard keyboard in it is a relatively
low cost.
You already have eight hundred dollars at least invested into
the iPad Pro about 300 hours into the magic keyboard so 40
bucks is really a good piece of mind if you're concerned about
that it relieves some anxiety.
Now the only nitpicky thing that I have about the cover
body is when you're using it with the magic keyboard the
smart folio or the smart folio keyboard is that it doesn't
completely close when the cover body is placed face up on a
flat surface.
Now really it's not that big of a deal for me. It doesn't
impede ain't of a functionality and there's really no impact to
how it's was be used. Now this may or may not be a showstopper
for you but let me know in the comments below.
If you're going to still pick up the cover body based on this
now let me know what other iPad related accessories I should be
checking out. I also bought this COVERBUDDY folio but I'm
not really sure if you want to see that. Let me know in the
comments below.
I have special WWDC coverage planned in addition to new
reviews hitting soon so click SUBSCRIBE button ring that bell
so you can be part of that notification squad. That wraps
it up for me folks.
I am Mike this is tech 24/7 TV. Let's continue this chat on
Twitter and Instagram.I am @Caputo hit like hit subscribe
and I will talk to the next one.
This video was produced without any considerations or
sponsorships meaning that all prices were directly purchased
by me.