Apple's latest Magic Keyboard with built-in Touch ID sensor is now available for $149.

This is significant for those who love Apple's Magic Keyboard and have been waiting for the opportunity to try the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID. The pad in the upper right corner is essentially a small fingerprint reader that allows users to quickly lock and unlock their Mac with a simple tap of their finger. The keyboard can be seen on Apple's website.

In the course of reviewing the 24-inch iMac 2021, I had the opportunity to try out the Magic Keyboard.

There is an important caveat, however: since Touch ID requires Apple's new M1 chip to function, connecting this new Magic Keyboard to an Intel-based Mac (or any other PC without an M1 chip) will just be an old keyboard. If you want to take full advantage of the Touch ID sensor, you will need to connect it to an M1-based PC, such as an M1-based MacBook Pro, M1-based MacBook Air, M1-based Mac Mini, or 24-inch iMac 2021. [The M1-equipped Mac Mini, which supports the Touch ID feature but does not come with a keyboard, seems ideal for use with the Magic Keyboard.

Unfortunately, the standalone Magic Keyboard with Touch ID cannot be ordered in any color other than white, which is a major disappointment.

The same goes for the Magic Trackpad, which Apple has now also begun selling separately for $129. The Magic Trackpad does not have a Touch ID sensor, but it feels great to use, and in our M1 iMac review, we tapped and swiped the macOS and enjoyed its accuracy and responsiveness.