As brilliant as the iPad can be in many ways, it's hard to say that a giant touchscreen keyboard is anything beyond simply functional. It almost doesn't matter how much you use your iPad, building muscle memory for a keyboard that offers no real tactile experience is all but impossible, and that makes the iPad on its own hard to use for anything that requires any significant amount of typing. That's why an iPad keyboard is going to be a must-have accessory for many, particularly if the iPad is meant to replace a laptop.
Some iPad cases perform double duty by serving both to protect the iPad and integrating a keyboard that'll go everywhere your iPad goes. And, you can even pair some of the best keyboards with your iPad. But, if you don't want to go the case route and want a keyboard that puts an emphasis on portability, you'll be looking for something a bit more specific.
We've rounded up some sleek keyboards that will make for a big improvement over your iPad's touchscreen keyboard, and unlike integrated case keyboards, many will also function with a wide variety of other devices, like your iPhone or gadgets running different operating systems. Have a look at our top picks and stay tuned to the end for details on what you should ensure your getting from an iPad keyboard.
TL;DR – These are the Best iPad Keyboards:
- Logitech K380
- Sparin Bluetooth Keyboard
- Arteck HB030B Keyboard
- iClever BK03
- Omoton Ultra-Slim Bluetooth Keyboard
- iClever BK06
- Logitech Folio Touch
- ZAGG Pro Keys Wireless Keyboard
1. Logitech K380
Best iPad Keyboard
You don't have to look too far into Logitech's portfolio of products to find a great keyboard for just about any setup, and that's the case for the iPad as well. Logitech's K380 is an excellent, portable companion to your iPad. It's fairly light at 14.9 ounces (though not the lightest), and doesn't cramp together its keys too tight or skimp on useful keys. It's worth noting that Logitech uses rounded keys here, giving it a distinct aesthetic but a feel that might not be for everyone.You get the controls you need for Windows, Mac, and mobile devices, and the Logitech K380 can quickly switch between three connected devices using its clearly labeled shortcut keys. Another big part of what makes this keyboard a great portability companion is its battery. With up to 2 years of battery life available from a pair of AAA batteries, this keyboard might last as long as your iPad upgrade cycle.
2. Sparin Bluetooth Keyboard
Best Budget iPad Keyboard
If you don’t plan to type eight hours a day, five days a week, you may not need the most lavish keyboard to go along with your iPad. For an affordable, portable option, the Sparin Bluetooth Keyboard will get you covered. This compact keyboard weighs just 11 ounces, so it won’t bog you down when you toss it in your backpack alongside your iPad. It’s also wonderfully thin. And, it comes with the keys you’ll need for working on an iPad, though not for a MacBook or Windows laptop.
The Sparin Bluetooth Keyboard may be shaving some of its price by not including a rechargeable battery, but you can run the keyboard for up to 30 days using two AAA batteries. You’ll also be missing out on keyboard backlighting, so this won’t be ideal if you’re working in the dark. That said, the design of the Sparin Bluetooth Keyboard fits nicely with Apple’s aesthetic, blending white and metallic silver.
3. Arteck HB030B Keyboard
Best Backlit iPad Keyboard
The Arteck HB030B is one of the more eye-catching keyboards made for the iPad. It’s got a strong LED backlight that can be switched among any of seven different colors and varying levels of brightness. And the color isn’t just for aesthetics; you can easily use this keyboard in a dark room.Power comes from an integrated rechargeable battery. You get about 10 days of runtime on a charge, and the battery can be fully recharged in about two hours. If you don’t use it often, the battery should hold a charge between work sessions – it will run for up to six months if with two hours of daily use. And while the keyboard does have a power switch, it will automatically go to sleep when inactive.
This somewhat-compact keyboard is highly portable and small enough to slip in whatever carrying case you have for your iPad. But in addition to using it with your iPad, you should be able to connect this travel keyboard to any of your Android phones or a Windows PC; there are a set of keyboard shortcuts that let you switch among them.
4. iClever BK03
Best Folding iPad Keyboard
There was a time, when mobile devices were newer, that unusual portable keyboard designs like the iClever BK03 were much more common. Keyboards folded, collapsed, and rolled up. Some would strap to your wrist like a sci-fi gadget. There was even a line of laser projector keyboards that displayed a keyboard on the tabletop. These days, most of those exotic keyboards are extinct and we need to get by with the iClever BK03.This device is interesting because it folds up for travel to something resembling a deck of cards (5.75 by 3.5 by 0.75 inches), but then unfurls to 10 by 3.5 by 0.3 inches. Unlike most of the other keyboards you’re going to find for the iPad which are made mostly of plastic, this model is made almost entirely of aluminum. That shows in the weight – 6.3 ounces – but also in aesthetics, ruggedness and durability.
Open it up and it powers on automatically, and it goes to sleep automatically after 15 minutes of inactivity to conserve battery life. It’s equipped with a rechargeable battery that iClever claims runs for over 80 hours of continuous use and can hold a charge while asleep for over 200 days. And while compatibility is limited, it can connect to iOS, Android, and PCs, and you can switch among three paired devices with a keyboard shortcut.
In actual use, it has one Achilles Heel – since the unfolded keyboard doesn’t lock rigidly in place, you can only really use it on a hard surface like a desktop. Most one-piece keyboards will work perfectly fine on a mushy bed or even in your laptop, but not the iClever BK03.
5. Omoton Ultra-Slim Bluetooth Keyboard
Best Desktop iPad Keyboard
Another low cost keyboard, this model from Omoton does everything you need a keyboard to do – as long as your needs are limited to typing on your iPad. That said, it also has limited compatibility with other devices as well. While Omoton doesn’t certify that it’ll work with Windows, it actually does connect to Windows-based PCs just fine. Don’t count on compatibility with Macs, though.You get a full-size keyboard in the Omoton that feels comfortable on a desktop, and yet is still thin enough to pack easily in a travel bag. It sits at an ergonomic angle, as well, which is good on your wrists. That angle comes from the fact that the bottom holds a pair of AAA batteries which give you about a month or so typing between battery changes.
And despite the very affordable pricing, the keyboard looks pretty snazzy as well, mimicking the standard Apple white aesthetics. It may scratch and scuff easily, through, so you’ll want to be careful with how you pack and care for the keyboard.
6. iClever BK06
Best Ergonomic iPad Keyboard
If you suffer from repetitive stress injury (RSI) or just prefer the feel of an ergonomic keyboard, you’re generally out of luck when it comes to portable keyboards for the iPad — most keyboards are as straight as a ruler. The iClever BK06 is a split keyboard with an angled ergonomic layout, though – which might be perfect for your needs.The BK06 divides the keyboard more or less in half, with 1-6 and Q-T on one side, and 7-Delete and Y-\ on the other. If you’re not already a split keyboard user, it will definitely take some practice to get used to; you’ll need to retrain some of your fingers to know where to find certain keys. But once you hone your muscle memory, you might love the more comfortable angle.
It’s not just an ergo keyboard; it also folds for travel, sort of like the BK03, also from iClever. But while the BK03 is all aluminum with mechanical hinges, the BK06 is a rubberized affair with a flexible membrane serving as a floppy hinge. It’s not as elegant, but it’s essentially unbreakable. It goes from 12.9 x 4.0 x.23 inches when unfurled for business to 6.2 x 4.0 x .5 inches when folded for travel. The keyboard also includes a rechargeable battery, and can run for about 40 continuous hours, or 30 days of standby.
And the keyboard is compatible not just with the iPad, but all iOS devices as well as Windows computers. You can connect to up to three devices at once and switch quickly among them with a keyboard shortcut.
7. Logitech Folio Touch
Best iPad Keyboard Cover
Your iPad doesn't have to be just a simple tablet all the time. With a quality keyboard folio cover, it can start to act a lot more like a laptop as the need arises. The Logitech Folio Touch is an excellent option for this purpose. Once you pop your iPad into this case, you'll get not only added protection but also a healthy dose of extra functionality.The Logitech Folio Touch cover includes a QWERTY keyboard so you can seriously step up your typing game over the touch keyboard of the iPad itself. And, below the keyboard, the case actually includes a trackpad so you don't always have to reach up to touch the screen. The case also includes a kickstand to help hold your tablet up in a laptop-like position. Your Apple Pencil isn't left out of the mix either, as there's a special slot at the top that can hold it in place for charging.
8. ZAGG Pro Keys Wireless Keyboard
Best Detachable iPad Keyboard
ZAGG can give your iPad a boost with a case and a keyboard at the same time. The ZAGG Pro Keys Wireless Keyboard is a two-in-one solution that provides a bunch of flexibility for how you use your iPad. The case that wraps around your iPad provides some considerable protection for even high falls. That protection doesn’t come at the cost of function as all of the iPad’s ports will still be accessible, and there’s a holder for an Apple Pencil.
The keyboard portion of the case connects to the iPad via Bluetooth and even provides a trackpad if you prefer not to use touch-based navigation. If you’re working in the dark, the keyboard also provides multi-colored backlighting for the keys. And, if you ever need to use your tablet but don’t need the keyboard, you can just detach the keyboard from the case without having to take your iPad out of the case itself. When you’re not using your iPad, the keyboard also acts as a screen cover.
What to Look for in an iPad Keyboard
When Steve Jobs introduced the original iPhone, he envisioned a radical device that had neither a keyboard nor a swipe zone for entering text via Graffiti-like gestures. Instead, the iPhone relied entirely on a touch screen for input, and a virtual on-screen keyboard when typing was needed. The iPad inherited that design philosophy, and it works well enough for limited amounts of text entry. But if you have enough typing to warrant getting a standalone keyboard, you need to make sure it’s one that’s convenient and comfortable.
Start with size. Many iPad keyboards are well-short of a full-size desktop keyboard, which means the key spacing will be tighter. Can you type on it without introducing lots of typos? Also consider how it’ll pack for travel. Some fold up and can literally fit in a pocket; others need to be slid into the same backpack or bag as the iPad itself. Whatever you choose, make sure it fits in with your lifestyle.
Since you’ll spend your time pounding on the keys, it’s important that you like how they feel. That’s generally determined by the kind of switch under the keycap. Mechanical switches generally are not an option in a portable keyboard, but you may be able to choose between membrane and scissor-style switches. Scissor switches usually have a much shorter travel than membrane-based keys, which means the keyboard can have a lower profile for portability; they’re also quieter and require little force to depress. The good news? Virtually all iPad keyboards rely on short-throw scissor switches.
All iPad keyboards are Bluetooth devices, but some can pair with as many as three devices and you can fast-switch among them with just a key press. If the keyboard is somewhat universal or multi-platform – able to work with your phone, tablet, and PC, that extra convenience might be important.
And don’t forget about the battery. Standalone keyboards can’t draw power from the iPad itself, so they’re going to rely on batteries — either built-in rechargeable battery, or disposables that you’ll need to swap out occasionally.
Dave Johnson has been writing about gaming and tech since the days of the Palm Pilot. See him shout into the Twitter void @davejoh
