Some of the best iPad Mini keyboards are entirely separate, whereas others can double as a case and cover for your expensive tablet. 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.
Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Mini review: A sleek iPad Mini keyboard with caveats
Keyboard cases for the iPad Mini have started to proliferate, with Belkin, Logitech, and others introducing new models. Logitech’s $79.99 Ultrathin Keyboard Mini is a smaller version of its popular $99.99 Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for the larger iPad, and is about as good as it gets for iPad Mini keyboard/case options, although a couple of shortcomings should give you reason to pause before buying one. The Bad The keyboard is a bit cramped and the case only protects the front of your iPad, not the back. Of course, many people don’t mind if their tech products get a nick or two, but some folks hate to see their iPads end up with a blemish. As it is, Logitech does include a small dust cloth because the top of the keyboard has a shiny finish and attracts fingerprints. Logitech says the keyboard offers “a traditional typing layout in a small 7-inch form factor, plus iPad Mini Function shortcut keys for the commands you use most often, such as copy and paste.” The keyboard has an instant on-off feature — your iPad Mini automatically wakes up when you open the cover and switches to standby when you close it — and Logitech says the keyboard has a three-month battery life based on usage of 2 hours per day. The few I’ve tried, including the Belkin Portable Keyboard Case for the iPad Mini, have felt a little cramped and had a few other shortcomings despite an otherwise good design.
True, you can find similar options from lesser-known brands like MiniSuit and Sharkk for significantly cheaper, but this model appears to be a step up.
On a more critical note, its small size doesn’t make for the greatest typing experience.
This iPad mini keyboard makes for a surprisingly great tiny laptop
Keyboard cases for other iPad models all have the same obvious problem: the tablet has to be propped up at a viewing angle somehow. Solutions range from Apple’s complicated origami folios to Brydge’s laptop-style hinges; Zagg’s own approach to the iPad Pro involves a bulky, kickstand-equipped case with a thin keyboard that attaches magnetically.
The tablet is small and light enough that it can be placed into a clamshell-style case and used at a variety of angles without tipping over, no kickstand required. The case makes it a little awkward to press the sleep/wake button, though opening the keyboard up wakes the iPad, and you will of course probably want to unlock it with Touch ID anyway.
The iPad’s slim side bezels also mean that the hinge gets in the way of the slide-up gesture for the dock — there’s a dedicated multitasking button on the function row, however, which I liked as a substitute. This isn’t a product I’d use every week or even every month, but I would happily take this along with me whenever I’m traveling light and when my iPad Pro would be overkill.
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.
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