Logitech Tablet Keyboard for iPad Review

Introduction:

While not the svelte Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for the new iPad from Logitech, the cheaper Tablet Keyboard from the accessory maker aims to please road warriors on a budget, who need to do a lot of typing.

Logitech has combined it with a tablet stand that serves as a protective sleeve, in the hope to lure you with the 3-in-1, but has the renowned accessory maker managed to make the combo compelling enough in the sea of iPad paraphernalia? Read on out review to find out...

Design and Features:

The Logitech Tablet Keyboard for iPad slides in a plastic case, which can quickly be unfolded to a tablet stand if need be, making the whole 14oz (398g) setup a pretty useful travel tool, albeit weighing almost as much as a 7” slate.


The Bluetooth keyboard slides in an out of the case easily, yet the blue lining inside, and its curved shape provide a tight grip, so it wouldn't fall from the case even if you hold it upside down or toss it around in a hurry. The tablet keyboard sports a tubular upper end, where the batteries go, which makes it a snap to pull it out of the case. The AAA batteries that come with it are non-rechargeable, but Bluetooth keyboards usually last quite a long time, and Logitech provides a spare set for when the first duo runs out.

There is an on/off Bluetooth switch top right, and next to it we have two green indicators for the Bluetooth radio and the battery charge. At the bottom we have a recessed connectivity key, and the lid for the battery compartment that takes two AAAs.

The case halves snap together via their magnetic sides, not clips or other contraptions, so you can easily open it slightly and form a stand on which to lean the iPad. The tablet gets secured from sliding forward when leaning back on the stand by a folding sleigh that snaps at the bottom of the case. The plastic of the sleigh feels a bit flimsy when trying to latch it to the dedicated slit in the case, but you get used to it, and, once mastered, it makes the whole stand form a stable triangle, on which you can lean the iPad vertically or horizontally.

Typing Comfort:

While its raindrop top shape makes for a slight curve at the upper end visually, the keyboard lies mostly flat on its four rubber pads at the back side, so your wrists might be more strained than with the typical slightly elevated setup of full-size keyboards. The rubber pads at the bottom provide a very tight grip, so you can't just push around the keyboard while typing, which is important with such a small unit.


The keys are island-style, separated from one another and the whole typing area feels wider than we are used to with other such keyboards, due to the very thin bezel left on the sides. The QWERTY setup also provides some iPad specific keys, like a search button, or functions for locking its screen, or controlling the music/video playback.


Typing with the well-spaced keys is very easy, initial pairing is pretty straightforward with the connect button, and there is no Bluetooth lag we've experienced on some similar products. The keys have a very good amount of travel for such a thin keyboard and provide excellent feedback. Despite the deep travel, the buttons are also very quiet, so you and the people around don't feel like they are in the presence of a courtroom typist from the 60s.

Conclusion:

For $69.99, and even less from 3rd party retailers, the Logitech Tablet Keyboard for iPad costs on the low end of similar products, and comes with the renowned Logitech build quality. The sleeve protection that doubles as a stand when you snap it together with the flap inside is an added bonus. The place where the sleigh snaps to hold the stand together is the only weak point, as it takes a bit of pushing to do it, and the plastic feels a tad flimsy.

The actual key spacing, travel and feedback are excellent, so the set can indeed provide for an improvised office when out and about. Whether it is more comfortable than simply carrying a small notebook around – well, if you already got an iPad and need to type a lot on it, there is not much else to do, but get a good Bluetooth keyboard, and that's what the Logitech Tablet Keyboard for iPad provides.