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How to Buy an iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard

How to · Tech

How to Buy an iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard

Get the right setup for school and work that lasts for years without overpaying.

VoAtlas editorial Updated · 3 min read
Typical cost $1,400 before anything else
Across the 0% window $93.33/mo 15 months, no interest

How we got that: $1,400 spread evenly across the 15-month introductory window on the Discover it® Cash Back. Checked · at the bank Carry a balance past the window and the standard APR applies to what is left.

You want an iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard bundle that handles heavy note-taking, sketching, and typing without lagging out in two years. Buying the right setup means you get hardware powerful enough to stick around for your entire degree or workflow, rather than replacing a cheaper tablet next year.

Timing matters just as much as the specs. Wait for back-to-school sales or holiday shopping events when retailers bundle accessories or discount the current lineup. If a new chip drops, look at last year's model instead—you get nearly identical performance for a much better price.

That 0% intro window is a firm deadline, not free money, and any leftover balance when the 15 months end will get hit with standard interest.

The steps

  1. 01

    Target the sales windows

    Prices on Apple gear rarely drop without a major shopping event attached. Aim for back-to-school season in late summer or holiday events in November and December. Retailers often bundle gift cards or accessories during these windows.

  2. 02

    Check last year's model

    Apple makes incremental updates that rarely change daily usability for most students and creators. Buying the previous generation right after a new release saves you hundreds of dollars on the exact same build quality.

  3. 03

    Set up your payment plan

    If you are using the Discover it® Cash Back card, you have a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers. Spreading the typical $1400 cost evenly across that 15-month intro window on purchases comes out to about $93.33 per month.

  4. 04

    Skip unnecessary storage upgrades

    Apple charges a steep markup for extra gigabytes that you can easily supplement with cloud storage or an external drive. Stick to the base storage tier unless you work with massive 4K video files locally every day.

  5. 05

    Test the keyboard in store

    The Magic Keyboard turns your tablet into a laptop substitute, but the heavy hinge and fixed typing angle are not for everyone. Spend ten minutes typing on one in person before you commit to the bundle.

  6. 06

    Check the card terms before you commit

    Every figure we publish for the Discover it® Cash Back carries the date a person verified it against Discover and a link to where they checked. Intro windows and APRs change without notice, so confirm the current terms before applying.

    See Discover it® Cash Back terms →

Common questions

Do I need the Pro model or will the Air work?

The Air handles note-taking and typing just as well for most people. Get the Pro only if you specifically want the OLED screen or need the extra graphics power for heavy creative work.

Should I buy AppleCare+?

If you plan to carry this naked in a backpack every day, the repair costs without insurance are brutal. If you use a solid case and sleeve, you can usually skip it and self-insure.

Is 8GB of RAM enough on an iPad?

iPadOS manages memory efficiently, so 8GB handles multitasking and heavy apps just fine for most users. If you edit multiple layers of high-res video, look for a configuration with more RAM.

Can the iPad Pro truly replace a laptop?

It replaces a laptop for writing, web tasks, and media, but falls short if your workflow requires desktop software like full Xcode or legacy file structures.