Reviews
These are the best iPad Air 2 keyboard cases money can buy. Ideal for those looking to get more productive with their iPads.
iPads are great devices: thin, light, portable. But the problem is they aren’t true laptop replacements due to the lack of a physical keyboard. This means that most of the time we still end up lugging our laptops around in addition to our iPads when we need to get productivity work done on the go.
Thankfully a lot of companies have jumped into the game of making keyboard cases for the iPad. These are cases with built-in keyboards, which allow you to use your iPad more as a traditional laptop. But with the glut of keyboard cases out there it’s often hard to choose what’s best. That’s why we’ve rounded up our top five choices for the best iPad keyboard cases for Apple’s latest iPad Air--though the companies that make these cases often make similar ones for older iPads as well.
ClamCase Pro (£129)
Hands down the ClamCase Pro is my favourite iPad Air cover keyboard combo. It takes the form of what is known as a laptop case (versus a cover or folio case). The top part snaps onto your iPad and on the bottom you have a built-in keyboard. Simply put, the ClamCase Pro is sexy as hell. It’s bottom where the keyboard is housed is made of aluminium, which makes you iPad Air looks like that MacBook/iPad hybrid we all wish Apple would come out with.
The top shell is made of a beautiful white polycarbonate that looks stunning in its own right. The ClamCase Pro also features a patented 360-degree hinge so your iPad can be swivelled around and used in either laptop or tablet mode. As with most iPad cover keyboards the ClamCase Pro connects seamlessly via Bluetooth and has a 100-hour continuous use battery life.
Belkin QODE Slim Style Keyboard (£79)
If a laptop case isn't your thing, might I suggest the Belkin QODE Slim Style Keyboard cover for iPad? The QODE line is Belkin’s latest line of iPad keyboard accessories and their material design is top notch.
The QODE Slim Style Keyboard takes the form of a folio case, which means it basically turns your iPad into a book form factor. Clamp your iPad in and then fold back the cover to prop your iPad up at an angle. The back cover folds evenly to hold the iPad in place. Below it you have a full-sized laptop keyboard with hard plastic keys that are just as responsive as those on most laptops. Additionally, the QODE Slim Style Keyboard’s material is water resistant, so you can wipe away spills. The QODE Slim Style Keyboard comes in two colour options: grey/plum or black. It features six months of battery life.
Belkin QODE Ultimate Pro Keyboard Case (£149)
If you’re looking for something a little more advanced than the QODE Slim Style Keyboard Belkin also makes the QODE Ultimate Pro Keyboard Case for iPad Air 2. This case has a two-part system. It comes with a cover that completely seals the iPad Air. This cover attaches to the bottom portion of the QODE Ultimate Pro Keyboard Case, which houses the keyboard.
The idea is if you just want to use your iPad without the keyboard you can quickly detach it from its base. But what I really like about this case--and one of the reason’s it’s called the “Ultimate”--is because it features a backlit keyboard system. Just as with a MacBook, the keys on the QODE Ultimate Pro Keyboard Case light up in low light.
Matter of fact, they have three levels of brightness. Another nice feature about the QODE Ultimate Pro Keyboard Case is that it allows you to position the iPad in both portrait or landscape mode when using it with the keyboard. And to top it all off the QODE Ultimate Pro Keyboard Case is made of aircraft-grade aluminium alloy and features a whopping one year battery life.
Zagg Folio (£99)
When it comes to iPad accessories, Zagg isn’t as well known as Belkin, but I still love their iPad keyboard cases. The Zagg Folio, as its name suggest, is a folio-style keyboard cover. Matter of fact it resembles Apple’s own Smart Case for the iPad--if the Smart Case had a keyboard at the bottom end. Because of this the Zagg Folio completely encapsulates your iPad, making it feel very secure.
Zagg says the Folio is the thinnest iPad keyboard case on the market, measuring only 7.6mm thick. A really nice feature is the dedicated function keys. And speaking of the keys...like the Belkin QODE Ultimate Pro Keyboard Case, the Zagg Folio’s keys also light up with the ability to set three different brightness levels, but the Zagg Folio allows you to choose the colour the backlighting as well. It offers seven options you can cycle through (blue, green, red, and more).
The only let down about the Zagg Folio is its relatively short battery life of three months. Still, needing to charge any device only four times a year is pretty great. The Zagg Folio comes in white or black.
Logitech Type+ (£85)
Last but not least is the Logitech Type+ keyboard case. The Logitech Type+ is another folio-style design, which means you snap your iPad in and the Type+ fits it like Apple’s Smart Cover. Bend the Logitech Type+ back to prop the iPad up. It connects to the bottom keyboard portion and stays held in place by the iPad’s built-in magnets.
There are a few things that differentiate the Logitech Type+ keyboard case from others. The first is that it features iOS shortcut keys. This is a godsend. It has physical keys allowing quick access to the home button, the multitasking window, Siri, Spotlight search, and Safari. It’s a great feature and makes using a keyboard with an iPad so much easier.
The second feature I love is that the keys on the keyboard are concave, so they curve to the tips on your fingers. It’s a small feature, but a welcome one. The Logitech Type+ also features a three-month battery life. It comes in black/grey or red/grey.
13:51, 11 Dec 2014
Tablets
Apple
Apple iPad Air 2
Apple iPad Mini 3
Apple iOS 8
Best iPad Cases