Back in June 2019, I did a piece on how the more the iPad Pro becomes like the Surface Pro, the bigger the threat it is to Microsoft's 2-in-1 PC paradigm. At the time, I remarked that mouse and cursor support was just the beginning, but once iPadOS gets a trackpad, the situation will become more significant.

Today, Apple announced refreshes to the iPad Pro line, and they're due to ship in the coming weeks. The more important news is what comes in May, which is the new $350 Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro. That keyboard brings a new hinge for multi-angle support and, yes, a trackpad.

Will Magic Keyboard be as good as the Surface Pro's Type Cover? It's unlikely. Microsoft's keyboard has angled typing, and the Surface Pro's built-in kickstand and hinge still set the bar. But that doesn't matter much, as Apple's is likely good enough (and yes, it's backlit and even works with the last-gen iPad Pro, too).

Putting aside how wrong Apple was about the 2-in-1 form factor, which it is now ironically fully embracing, this move by Apple is likely to harm sales of the Surface Pro line. Apple's iPad has long bucked the trend of the failing tablet market because it has the best hardware and an OS that people relish.

I'd argue – and many of you would too – that Windows 10 is still a more "serious" OS built for doing "real" work. But for many, those lines are blurring. For the last few years there have been many attempts by people trying to make do with just an iPad, and today's announcement will only make that easier.