© 2021 Wirecutter, Inc., A New York Times Company, Zagg Pro Keys for iPad (7th and 8th generation), Best for the 2019 and 2020 10.2-inch iPads, Logitech Slim Folio for iPad (7th and 8th generation), A great alternative for the 2019 and 2020 10.2-inch iPads, Logitech Slim Folio for iPad (5th and 6th generation), A great alternative for the 2017 and 2018 9.7-inch iPads, Logitech Combo Touch for iPad (7th and 8th generation), Best with a trackpad for the 2019 and 2020 10.2-inch iPads, Logitech’s Combo Touch for iPad (7th and 8th generation), Logitech K380 Multi-Device Bluetooth Keyboard for Mac, Logitech K380 for Mac Multi-Device Bluetooth Keyboard, Budget pick: Logitech K380 for Mac Multi-Device Bluetooth Keyboard. Alpatronix KX130 is right on the money when it comes to being handy keyboard case for the iPad. Get an iPhone 12 mini + Unlimited Data for $60/mo, Fintie Keyboard Case for New iPad 8th Gen, Up your productivity game with the best iPad Air 3 keyboard cases, Find the perfect pair for your iPad Air 2 keyboard with these great cases, Turn your iPad into a productivity machine with a trackpad keyboard case, Rugged case exceeds military drop-test standards. Karen S. Freeman is a teacher, writer, and family woman. The iPad Mini 4's small size means it's not quite as well suited to typing, but that hasn't stopped companies making keyboards for it. We’d recommend this keyboard case only if you’re concerned about thinness over everything else and you don’t mind paying a premium for it. It also provides thorough protection. This allows users to perform most functions on their iPads just like they would on laptops and PCs. The trackpad, Smart Connector, full-sized backlit keys, and iPadOS shortcut keys make this easily one of the best iPad keyboard cases. There are a wealth of cases, cables, adapters, styli, keyboards, … A simple loop on the right edge securely holds the first-generation Apple Pencil, offering a handy way to keep the Pencil from getting lost at the bottom of your bag. Although we don’t think a trackpad is a necessary part of the iPad experience, we can easily recommend the Combo Touch for anyone looking to take advantage of a trackpad on the entry-level iPad. This is on the slightly bulky size, but it is a fully protective case, front and back. Therefore, you won’t have trouble while writing a … Did you know that you can now use a mouse or trackpad with your iPad? This is one of the best iPad keyboard cases you can get for such a low price point. Using a cursor in iPadOS feels natural, and the iPad supports the same kind of intuitive multi-finger gestures found on a Mac. 2021. January 11, 2021 November 18, 2020 by Jignesh. Using one of the best iPad keyboard cases goes a long way toward streamlining your workflow on the iPad. It has all of the features I look for, especially the trackpad. Instead of being housed inside the front cover of a case, it’s a standalone keyboard (our favorite Bluetooth keyboard, in fact). The Combo Touch has the same physical dimensions as the Slim Folio (it’s 0.9 inch thick when on your iPad) but weighs around a half pound more. You can also keep using your favorite iPad case, and if you ever upgrade your iPad, you won’t have to buy a new keyboard case to fit it. This rugged keyboard case is both protective and functional with a Smart Connector for easy connection and charging. A keyboard case combines the advantages of a physical keyboard with a protective case—instead of having to carry a separate keyboard, you have a keyboard built right into a case that’s similar to the one you’re likely already using (though a keyboard case can be a bit bulkier since it has to accommodate the keyboard). Here's the best cases that include everything you need to get productive. This lightweight iPad companion is a good keyboard case for not a lot of money. With comfortable, responsive, and backlit keys, as well as a removable inner case, two viewing angles, and the ability to pair with two devices, the Zagg Pro Keys is the keyboard case to beat. And if protection matters more than anything else to you, a heavy-duty case might be on top of your mind. There's a slot for your Apple Pencil, so you don't have to worry about it rolling away. Apple. Scott Stein. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. It’s impossible for him not to mentally catalog any case he sees. I’ve been covering Apple products and accessories professionally since 2011, and in that time I’ve reviewed more than 2,000 products, including keyboard cases for every model of the iPad. Learn more. However, the Brydge doesn’t protect the back of the iPad on its own—the company offers a Slimline Protective Case if you need full protection. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or in-store pick-up If you’ll be doing much of your typing on a desk, table, or other flat surface, a separate keyboard will give you a larger keyboard with better keys. The keyboard being full-sized makes it comfortable for typing, and backlighting allows you to work in low light. But to make the most of the update, you should try to get the best iPad trackpad keyboard cases that you can. The best keyboard cases for older iPad Pro 12.9 models (2017/2015) Apple Smart Keyboard. As for the iPad mini, there are no great keyboard cases for that tablet, given that all the drawbacks of most keyboard cases for the iPad—cramped keys, odd key layouts, additional bulk, and the like—are even worse on keyboards for Apple’s smallest tablet. Once you connect the Bluetooth keyboard to your iPad, the keyboard will turn on automatically when you set it up. The iPad Pro 9.7 is one of Apple's greatest slates, and you can make it even better with one of these keyboard cases. If you're looking for a sleek and elegant keyboard case that also protects your iPad's screen, check out the slim and trim Smart Keyboard from Apple. 10 best keyboards with trackpad for iPad 1. (The same OEM design is available from many different brands on Amazon.) Apple’s Smart Keyboard is available for the iPad (7th generation) and 10.5-inch iPad Pro, and it provides a solid, comfortable typing surface. If you prefer separate options, we have recommendations for compact standalone keyboards and iPad stands. Sometimes a great overall design is ruined by a bad typing experience; sometimes a fantastic keyboard is hampered by a poorly designed case or stand. Plus, you have to press the power button to activate the keyboard after it has fallen asleep, as opposed to the automatic re-pairing on our pick. If you picked up a new eighth-generation iPad… The beautiful cantilever design, scissor mechanism backlit keyboard, and trackpad for multi-touch gestures and cursor control make it the best overall pick. These are currently the best you can buy! We’ve covered iPad keyboards since not long after the first iPad came out in 2010, and since then, we’ve tried pretty much every offering from every major brand, as well as dozens from brands you’ve likely never heard of. And using the Pro Keys felt more like typing on a “real” keyboard than on an afterthought accessory. Trackpad support is here, as are new cases from Apple, Logitech and Brydge. Let's not pretend like the look of your case doesn't matter. The whole thing is sturdier than its competition: Whereas other iPad keyboards we tested flexed under the pressure of our fingers pressing on the keys, the Pro Keys did not. Even though the trackpad is small compared with a laptop’s, it offers enough room for you to scroll and swipe without feeling cramped. This keyboard’s battery life is rated to last for a year, and you can easily recharge it via a USB-C connector. The right kind of case … Apple never fails to take a potshot at PC makers, especially when introducing a new iPad. Looking for a good keyboard case to go with your iPad Air 3? This is a flexible-use case with a 360-degree hinge that can be configured for seven different modes: laptop, tent, corner, tablet, stand, share, and protect. For about the same price as the Slim Folio, you get a case that you can arrange in many more ways, in a similarly sized package. The K380 for Mac is bulkier than an all-in-one keyboard case, and it may be less convenient, but this combo costs much less, and it’s great to type on. For my money, the best overall keyboard case for the 8th-generation iPad is the Logitech Combo Touch for iPad with its trackpad, Smart Connector, iPadOS shortcut keys, and full-sized backlit keyboard. But that particular trade-off is very common; few iPad keyboards include an Esc key. To be fair, this will happen with pretty much any iPad keyboard case due to universally cramped keys, and we’ve found ourselves making far fewer mistakes with this keyboard than with models that put commonly used keys in unfamiliar locations. You can trust Apple to make one of the best iPad keyboard cases. An iPad can do almost everything a laptop can, but to truly replace a computer, you need a great physical keyboard, too. The best iPad keyboard case should be easy to use and feel like a typical laptop keyboard. $290 at Amazon He once had the bright idea to build and burn down a room to test fireproof safes. Overall, it just looks and feels cheap, and it takes up far too much room in a bag. If you want an all-in-one option, the Combo Touch is worth the price premium. You know it "just works," and it looks and feels amazing to use. The Slim Folio provides only one typing angle for the iPad, with the tablet securely held in place by a magnetic strip much as with the Pro Keys. Logitech’s Combo Touch for iPad (7th and 8th generation) is the only non-Pro iPad keyboard case to feature a trackpad right now, but it’s a solid upgrade in its own right. When you use the folio without the keyboard, it has sleep/wake functionality. In addition to the high-quality trackpad, Logitech made the Combo Touch feel more premium with its material choices. This one is also compatible with the iPad Pro 10.5-inch, iPad Air (3rd generation), and the 2019 iPad (7th generation.). And most keyboard cases are specifically designed to let you type on your lap, as you would with a laptop, making a keyboard case better for portable use than an iPad with a separate keyboard and stand. If you want to use an iPad in … And many keyboard cases are designed to stay on your iPad, so you can’t easily leave the keyboard behind when you don’t need it—which eliminates one of the big advantages of using a tablet over a laptop. The 10.2- and 10.5-inch models are wrapped in polyurethane, and the 9.7-inch version is covered in a fabric panel stacked on top of the shell. It takes up more space than the Slim Folio when open, but it is a good alternative if you value being able to detach the keyboard. That said, if you’re willing to put up with this weight and bulk, you get an exceptionally durable and protective keyboard case that’s great for families with kids, for classroom use, or for work in rough environments. If you’ve ever thought, “I don’t like typing on this iPad screen—I wish I had a real keyboard,” odds are, you’ll benefit from a keyboard case. Logitech uses roughly the same key layout here, although the function row on the Combo Touch adds backlight controls and lacks the battery-life and Bluetooth-pairing buttons, which are unnecessary because the keyboard connects and draws power via the Smart Connector. Apple devices tend to feel a bit magical, and this keyboard case is no exception. We have a dedicated guide to the best keyboard cases for the iPad Pro. Key travel was shallow compared with that of a high-quality laptop keyboard, though it was better than on an older 13-inch or 15-inch MacBook Pro with the butterfly-style keyboard. 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