These days, many people use an iPad as a primary device for everyday browsing and getting work done, both while at home and on the road.
Use your Smart Keyboard Folio or Smart Keyboard with your iPad
The Smart Connector is on the back of your iPad and has three small, magnetic contacts.
The Best iPad Keyboards for 2023
And if you’re worried about running out of power, you can charge your iPad while you use it with a built-in USB-C port. A Multi-Touch trackpad contributes to the laptop-like experience, and an Apple Pencil holder on top really rounds out the functionality. A trackpad really gives your iPad a laptop feel, and backlit keys with 16 levels of brightness let you type in any lighting. The keyboard detaches, so you can comfortably stream, sketch, or read using the built-in adjustable kickstand. An Apple Pencil holder at the top leaves space to let you charge your iPad while it’s not in use. The K380’s versatility isn’t just in its functionality; it also comes in five colors: dark gray, lavender lemonade, off-white, rose, and sand.
Keyed Up Logitech Slim Folio $94.99 at Amazon See It Works With: iPad (5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th, and 10th generations) and iPad Air (3rd generation) The Logitech Slim Folio is perfect for those who place a premium on comfortable keys and an easy-to-carry case. A row of keys on top lets you easily control media playback and adjust iPad settings such as brightness and volume.
The Best iPad Keyboards of 2023
Without physical feedback, it can be difficult for touch typists to do their thing at full speed, with few mistakes. What’s more, typing on the tablet’s display means laying flat in your lap, on a table, or pecking away with one hand as you hold it with the other.
It’s both a standalone case as well as a keyboard and trackpad combo that together turn the iPad Air or Pro into a Surface-like device that’s great for getting work done. The Combo Touch’s keys are just as big as Apple’s on the Magic Keyboard, and they’re just as comfortable to type on, too. There are also function keys for things like going back to the Home Screen, changing the display’s brightness, triggering Spotlight search, media playback, and volume control, as well as locking the device. Scrolling through web pages is easy and smooth, and the trackpad is precise enough for you to click your cursor between two lower-case L’s without straining your fingers. Just like the Surface Pro 8, the back of the Logitech Combo Touch keyboard has a kickstand that props the iPad up at a variety of angles. It isn’t as easy to balance on your lap as something like Apple’s Magic Keyboard, but it makes up for that in viewing angles. That’s true when the keyboard isn’t attached, too, which makes it a great case if you plan on using your iPad with your Mac via Universal Control, or want to use your tablet to watch a movie. Credit: Reviewed / Jordan McMahon While it’s more expensive than other cases we tested, Apple’s Magic Keyboard is easier to use in your lap than the Combo Touch, and it has better viewing angles than Zagg’s Pro Keys with Trackpad.
There’s a hinge about two-thirds of the way down the Magic Keyboard’s back panel, and though it doesn’t offer as many viewing angles as a traditional laptop, there’s still plenty of range for most positions. The story’s better with the trackpad, which is consistently responsive and precise in both motion and selection, even when doing things like editing text and dragging files around.
There’s also gesture support for things like returning to the Home Screen and quickly switching between apps. Three things keep the Magic Keyboard from claiming the top spot: It’s expensive, it’s heavy, and it isn’t very protective as a case. If you opt for the iPad Pro, the cheapest model starts at $750, so you’re looking at a total of at least $1,150 ($150 more than the entry-level MacBook Air).
If you can get over the hurdle of the cost, the Magic Keyboard won’t disappoint as a way to turn your iPad into a laptop, but getting over that hurdle won’t be worth it for most people when the Combo Touch and Pro Keys with Trackpad cost significantly less.
I also write a newsletter focused on user empowerment through technology, and use that mindset in my reviews to make sure every product I recommend gives readers everything they need to accomplish the task at hand. Whether you’re planning on using your iPad mostly from your home office or intend for it to be your mobile workstation, above all else your keyboard case should be comfortable and enjoyable to type on.
While most cases won’t offer the same versatility as a good laptop hinge, some can get close, and you’ll want one with enough variety to avoid glare from bright lights and adjust for your posture. It’s significantly cheaper than the Magic Keyboard but offers more protection, and its keys are comfortable enough to type out an essay without much strain.
It doesn’t have as many viewing angles as the Combo Touch or Magic Keyboard, and it requires a Bluetooth connection (plus a charged battery), but it still gets the fundamentals right while saving you some cash. It’s not bad enough to tarnish the experience, but it lacks the polish of the Combo Touch and Magic Keyboard. Unlike the Magic Keyboard and the Combo Touch, the Pro Keys with Trackpad offers some additional protection for the Apple Pencil. It’s the thinnest keyboard we tested and adds barely any noticeable bulk to the iPad when connected.
That said, it’s significantly lighter than both, and it’s easy to fold back and get out of the way when you’re ready to use your iPad in tablet mode. It lacks a trackpad, and it’s significantly bulkier than any other case we tested, but the keys are spacious and comfortable to type on. Unlike the Pro Keys with Trackpad, it has a hinge, and it’s more adjustable so you can get more viewing angles out of the Rugged Book. The hinge means it works better on your lap than the Combo Touch, but it’s not as easy to close shut, and it isn’t as comfortable to hold in tablet mode.
However, it lacks a trackpad, and you can’t separate the tablet and case from the keyboard, so its versatility is limited. While its keys are comfortable to type on and the premium feel adds a nice touch, it’s heavier than other cases and it’s not as protective. You can’t detach the iPad from the keyboard without removing it entirely from the case (which is more difficult than on the Brydge), but the TypeCase Touch does have a nifty rotating hinge that’ll let you spin the iPad around into either a sort of tablet mode or a viewing mode if you want to watch a movie.
The Best iPad Pro Keyboard Cases
If you type for any length of time on an iPad Pro, or hope to ditch a second computer entirely, a great keyboard case can turn your tablet into a true laptop replacement. In addition to a great typing experience, the Zagg Pro Keys offers some benefits that other keyboard cases don’t. Dedicated iPadOS function keys provide quick access to commonly used features, and an Apple Pencil holder lets you easily carry the stylus around.
The 4.4-by-2.3-inch glass trackpad set beneath the keyboard is as smooth as anything else we’ve tested and provides full support for Apple’s multitouch gestures.
It combines fantastic keys, an excellent glass trackpad, and a highly adjustable screen in a slim package.
Best iPad keyboards
When the iPad was first launched, it was primarily intended as a device for entertainment–for tasks such as web browsing, streaming video and gaming. The big drawback here, of course, is the iPad’s lack of a physical keyboard – but, of course, Apple never misses the chance to sell some expensive peripherals and accessories, and it has been quick to release a number of keyboards designed specifically for the iPad.
The Best iPad Keyboards for 2023
And if you’re worried about running out of power, you can charge your iPad while you use it with a built-in USB-C port. A Multi-Touch trackpad contributes to the laptop-like experience, and an Apple Pencil holder on top really rounds out the functionality. A trackpad really gives your iPad a laptop feel, and backlit keys with 16 levels of brightness let you type in any lighting. The keyboard detaches, so you can comfortably stream, sketch, or read using the built-in adjustable kickstand.
An Apple Pencil holder at the top leaves space to let you charge your iPad while it’s not in use. The K380’s versatility isn’t just in its functionality; it also comes in five colors: dark gray, lavender lemonade, off-white, rose, and sand.
Keyed Up Logitech Slim Folio $94.99 at Amazon See It Works With: iPad (5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th, and 10th generations) and iPad Air (3rd generation) The Logitech Slim Folio is perfect for those who place a premium on comfortable keys and an easy-to-carry case. A row of keys on top lets you easily control media playback and adjust iPad settings such as brightness and volume.
The Best iPad Keyboard Cases
The Slim Folio provides decent protection, is pleasant to type on, and feels like a typical laptop keyboard. Logitech equipped the Slim Folio with a built-in stand designed to provide two fixed viewing angles that won’t take up extra space on your desk or workstation.
In addition to providing a great typing experience, the Zagg Pro Keys offers some benefits that other keyboard cases don’t. Dedicated iPadOS function keys provide quick access to commonly used features, and an Apple Pencil holder lets you easily carry the stylus around. The Logitech Combo Touch matches the performance of Apple’s Magic Keyboard and adds more protection, an iPadOS shortcut row with new dictation and screenshot buttons, and a case that can detach from the keyboard—all without commanding an Apple-accessory price.
The 6 Very Best iPad Keyboards
Dan Seifert, deputy editor at the Verge, says the Magic Keyboard is the one he’s been using for travel with his 11-inch iPad Pro for the last couple of years. “Despite the fact that it costs a fortune and isn’t as versatile as Logitech’s Combo Touch,” he says, “the typing experience is best, it’s easiest to use on my lap, the trackpad works the best, and it’s the slimmest when all closed up (albeit kinda heavy).”
The best iPad keyboards in November 2023
Packed full of powerful hardware, the iPad can double up as a lightweight laptop that is perfect for creatives on the go. Why you can trust Creative Bloq Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. With all of this in mind, consider how much you want to spend, and then using your budget you could research some popular brands such as Logitech, ZAGG, and others to find out what features you admire.
How to Pick the Best Keyboard Case for the iPad Pro
CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise. The iPad Pro is a beast of a machine, working as both a tablet you can watch Netflix on and a power-horse workstation, thanks to its M2 processor, gorgeous display and optional 5G. If you want the best experience possible, taking full advantage of what the iPad Pro is capable of, you definitely need a good keyboard case.
A keyboard is essential in making your iPad Pro feel like a real laptop, great for both work and school. Two other manufacturers are also worth noting: Logitech makes a keyboard-detachable case with a kickstand that’s perfect for Zoom/FaceTime calls using that new zoom-in Center Stage camera, while Brydge has a new case with an extremely large trackpad and a design that feels closest to laptop-like. I tested all of these on the 12.9-inch 2021 iPad Pro, which isn’t compatible with many older accessories because of its slightly thicker size. Apple’s keyboard, originally released last year, offers a comfortable typing experience. It hasn’t changed much since last year, but new 12.9-inch cases are sized up a tiny bit to fit the new Pro’s slightly thicker dimensions. I’ve gotten really used to the design of this Magic Keyboard, and it’s well-sized to fit on smaller desks or on a lap in a pinch. The adjustable-angle magnetic top cover doesn’t bend back as much as a normal laptop.
The case doesn’t offer much protection, exposing the tablet sides and detaching easily on falls. Still, this is easily the most laptop-friendly iPad Pro keyboard case around, and really makes the whole thing feel shockingly like a MacBook Air.
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