Apple’s recently announced Magic Keyboard for Mac, which features a Touch ID sensor, is compatible with all macOS machines with an M1 chip. For now, it is only available with iMac.
Unveiled Tuesday alongside a revamped 24-inch iMac, the Magic Keyboard is Apple’s first wireless Mac peripheral to include Touch ID authentication for logging into macOS, buying items with Apple Pay, working with apps from third parties and more.
As noted by blogger Rene Ritchie, the keyboard can be used by other M1 Macs, enabling Touch ID security for Mac mini and expanding the capabilities of MacBook Air and the 13-inch MacBook Pro. While the two Apple Silicon laptop models have integrated Touch ID into their respective power buttons, there has yet to be a similar replacement for the clamshell mode feature.
It should be noted that the implementation is tied to the secure enclave of M1, which means that Magic Keyboard will function like a normal Bluetooth keyboard when connected to an Intel Mac or PC.
Currently Magic Keyboard is limited to the new 24-inch iMac, but that could change in the future as Apple typically expands the availability of its peripherals. As it stands, iMac buyers can choose from three different Magic Keyboard options, including a model with a numeric keypad and a standard version without Touch ID.