January 28, 2026
Apple is Allegedly Working on a New Magic Keyboard With E-Ink Display Keys

Apple is Allegedly Working on a New Magic Keyboard With E-Ink Display Keys

Posted October 12, 2016 at 7:19pm by
Apple is allegedly working on a new Magic Keyboard that will feature customizable e-ink display keys.

A source going by the name of Foxconninsider on reddit claims to have seen the new Macbook keyboard module design and Apple's 2018 E Ink Magic Keyboard at a Foxconn event held on the Tsinghua university campus (like the Chinese MIT). Reddit moderators have confirmed his/her identity.


The E-Ink Magic Keyboard seen is reportedly a DFT model (DFT is design for testing).

Foxconn hosted the demo day on campus at their Innoconn Incubator with startups they have invested in. It is the same science park as Apple's new 300m R&D center. They had an Australian startup which I recognised from a Wired Germany magazine from last year. The startup Sonder makes a smart keyboard module, it has a new magnetic mechanical mechanism and a lit E Ink display which allows for swapping shortcuts and languages etc. I saw it swap between a few programs and languages (English, Japanese, Taiwanese layouts etc).

A Foxconn executive said that Apple was closing an acquisition for Sonder and it would provide a big return of investment for Foxconn International Holdings and E Ink Holdings.

The source was unable to film the Apple DTF model at the event or MacBook keyboard but says the final design for Macbooks was similar but has every key as a screen and had a lighting panel. The MacBooks could be launched as early as this month.


Please follow iClarified on Twitter, Facebook, or RSS for updates.

Read More


Add Comment
Would you like to be notified when someone replies or adds a new comment?
Yes (All Threads)
Yes (This Thread Only)
No
iClarified Icon
Notifications
Would you like to be notified when we post a new Apple news article or tutorial?
Yes
No
Comments (3)
Comments are closed for this article.
Magickeyboardguy
Magickeyboardguy - October 13, 2016 at 1:51pm
What exactly is the 'magic' here? Is there anything truly new being delivered with this e-ink tech?
matrixmaniac
matrixmaniac - October 15, 2016 at 8:41am
Not new? A Keyboard that adapts to any language? Can I buy this already? Cool! Please provide a link! Thanks a lot!
Oldtech
Oldtech - October 15, 2016 at 9:10am
I remember similar keyboards from a few years ago where every key was a screen, such as the Art. Lebedev Studio Optimus Popularis and the Optimus-Maximus-OLED-keyboard. The concept is not entirely new, but Apple's implementation might be different.
Recent. Read the latest Apple News.
RECENT
Tutorials. Help is here.
TUTORIALS
Where to Download macOS Sequoia
Where to Download macOS Sonoma
AppleTV Firmware Download Locations
Where To Download iPad Firmware Files From
Where To Download iPhone Firmware Files From
Deals. Save on Apple devices and accessories.
DEALS