Updated 11 November 2026
Buying the wrong Apple Pencil or keyboard for an iPad is an expensive mistake. Apple’s accessories are model-specific, and the current line-up — iPad (A16), iPad Air (M4), iPad Pro (M5) and iPad mini (A20 Pro) — does not all share the same pencil or keyboard. This guide sets out which official Apple Pencil and Apple keyboard works with which current and recent iPads, with Australian prices. Apple’s Pencil compatibility document was updated on 6 November 2026.
For help choosing the tablet itself, see how to choose an iPad.
Apple Pencil models and prices
Apple currently sells three pencils in Australia, plus an adapter:
- Apple Pencil Pro: $219
- Apple Pencil (USB-C): $139
- Apple Pencil (1st generation): $159
- USB-C to Apple Pencil Adapter: $15 (required to pair and charge the 1st-generation pencil on iPad (A16) and iPad (10th generation))
Apple Pencil (2nd generation) is listed in Apple’s compatibility document for older iPads, but it is not the pencil to buy for the current Air, Pro or mini. If you already own one, it still works on the models below.
Pencil compatibility
| iPad | Pencil Pro $219 | Pencil (USB-C) $139 | Pencil (2nd gen) | Pencil (1st gen) $159 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPad Pro 13-inch and 11-inch (M4 and M5) | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| iPad Air 13-inch and 11-inch (M2, M3 and M4) | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| iPad mini (A17 Pro and A20 Pro) | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| iPad (A16) and iPad (10th generation) | No | Yes | No | Yes, with USB-C to Apple Pencil Adapter |
| iPad Air (4th and 5th generation) | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| iPad mini (6th generation) | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| iPad Pro 11-inch (1st–4th gen) and 12.9-inch (3rd–6th gen) | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| iPad (6th–9th gen), iPad Air (3rd gen), iPad mini (5th gen), older 10.5-inch, 9.7-inch and 12.9-inch (1st and 2nd gen) Pro | No | No | No | Yes |
| iPhone Duo | No | Yes (with iOS 27.2) | No | No |
Pencil Pro requires iPadOS 17.5 or later on a supported iPad. Pencil (USB-C) requires iPadOS 17.1.1 or later, and it also works with iPhone Duo on iOS 27.2. If you are buying a current iPad Air, iPad Pro or iPad mini and you want hover, squeeze and the rest of the Pro features, Pencil Pro is the one to get. If you mainly jot notes and want to spend less, Pencil (USB-C) works on all of those current models as well as the entry-level iPad (A16).
On iPad (A16), you cannot use Pencil Pro. Your official choices are Pencil (USB-C), or the 1st-generation pencil with the $15 adapter.
Apple’s compatibility document: support.apple.com/en-au/108937. Pencil site: https://www.apple.com/au/apple-pencil/.
Keyboards
Apple currently sells three first-party iPad keyboards in Australia. They attach magnetically and include a trackpad. Official compatibility and prices:
| Keyboard | Official AU price | Works with |
|---|---|---|
| Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro | $499 (11-inch); $579 (13-inch) | iPad Pro 11-inch and 13-inch (M4 and M5) |
| Magic Keyboard for iPad Air | $449 (as listed on Apple’s select-keyboards page for the current Air range, including 11- and 13-inch M2, M3 and M4, plus Air 4th and 5th generation) | iPad Air 11-inch and 13-inch (M2, M3 and M4); iPad Air (4th and 5th generation) |
| Magic Keyboard Folio | $399 | iPad (A16) and iPad (10th generation) |
The Pro and Air Magic Keyboards are not interchangeable. A keyboard sold for iPad Pro (M4 and M5) will not be listed for iPad Air, and the Air keyboard is not listed for iPad Pro. The Folio is the two-piece design for the entry-level 11-inch iPad only.
Apple does not list a Magic Keyboard for iPad mini. The official iPad keyboards page says iPad is compatible with Bluetooth keyboards from Apple and third parties, which is the practical option for mini owners. Apple also sells a TechWoven Smart Folio for the new iPad mini; that is a cover, not a keyboard.
Older iPad Pro 12.9-inch and 11-inch models from before the M4 redesign used earlier Magic Keyboard versions. If you have one of those iPads, do not assume a current M5 keyboard will fit; identify your iPad first (Settings > General > About > Model Name) and then use Apple’s selector on apple.com/au/ipad-keyboards.
A simple buying rule
Match the accessory to the iPad, not to the marketing name. ‘Magic Keyboard’ and ‘Apple Pencil’ each refer to several products. If you are buying a current iPad Pro or iPad Air, the usual official pairing is Apple Pencil Pro and the Magic Keyboard made for that line. If you are buying the $749 iPad (A16), it is Pencil (USB-C) or the 1st-generation pencil with an adapter, plus the Magic Keyboard Folio. If you are buying an iPad mini, it is Pencil Pro or Pencil (USB-C), and a Bluetooth keyboard if you really need keys.
Cases are simpler than keyboards. Apple sells Smart Folio covers for several current iPads; the iPad and iPad Air Smart Folio were listed at $129 in Apple’s iPad accessories shop at the time of writing, and the new iPad mini has a TechWoven Smart Folio (Apple’s October 2026 Newsroom price was $129). Always confirm the folio is specified for your exact iPad size and generation before you buy. Accessories have the same consumer-guarantee rights as the iPad itself; see Apple products and Australian Consumer Law if something arrives faulty or fails too soon.