After five years of drifting around with almost no changes, the iPad Pro is getting a huge update next year. And that includes the already near-perfect Magic Keyboard.

The current iPad Pro has been around in its current form for five years, with the occasional update to its system-on-a-chip, improved cameras, and – on the 12.9-inch model – an improved display. In short, it’s been neglected for half a decade, with one exception. In March 2020, Apple announced the Magic Keyboard, alongside an iOS update that added a brand new mouse cursor, trackpad gestures, and more. It completely transformed the iPad, making it a viable laptop replacement for many. Rumor has it that Apple is on the verge of updating both the iPad and the keyboard, but how could things get better?

"While the Magic Keyboard is a well-made accessory that enhances the laptop-like functionality of the iPad, there are areas for improvement. Adding a function row of keys above the number row and addressing the weight and thickness of the chassis would make it even better," Nikita Sherbina, co-founder and CEO of digital communications company AIScreen, told Lifewire via email.

The Magic Keyboard may be the best accessory Apple sells, period. The Apple Pencil is handy for drawing, but the Magic Keyboard and Trackpad transform the iPad Pro into a different kind of device altogether, effectively turning the tablet into a MacBook. To illustrate how radical this is, imagine being able to yank the keyboard and trackpad off a MacBook and use it as a tablet.