Being constantly on the go can leave you stuck with a tech setup that's less than ideal. You may not always get a full desk to work on, and odds are good that you won't be bringing along your best keyboard, mouse, and monitor. If you're lucky, you'll at least have a laptop that can give you decent input options, but even that might not be comfortable for long work sessions. Fortunately, a good travel keyboard can help in these situations.
Since the way you travel and what you travel with can vary, finding the right keyboard to work for you may be tricky. It could be that the most portable option proves best for you, especially if you're constantly looking for extra room in your luggage for long trips. It may be that you just need something a bit smaller than your full-size keyboard and want to avoid cables that can snag and tangle in your backpack. Whether you want a travel keyboard that folds up or just stays low profile or you need one that can connect to your computer, tablet, and smartphone, we've found a capable option to fit your needs.
TL;DR – These are the Best Travel Keyboards:
- Logitech K780
- Omoton Ultra-Slim Bluetooth Keyboard
- iClever BK03 Bluetooth Keyboard
- Nulaxy Rechargeable Bluetooth Keyboard
- Happy Hacking HHKB Professional Hybrid
- Logitech K400 Plus Wireless Touch TV Keyboard
- Microsoft Designer Compact Keyboard
- Microsoft Surface Keyboard
- Logitech MX Keys Mini
- Seenda Ultra Thin Low Profile Rechargeable Keyboard and Mouse
1. Logitech K780
Best Travel Keyboard
Logitech's keyboards are almost all sure to be a worthy accessory, as the company has been in the game for a long time. The Logitech K780 is no exception. With it, you're getting the best travel keyboard thanks to an impressively compact design that still manages to fit in a full number pad. It even has a unique look with its rounded keycaps.
The Logitech K780 is ready for use with a wide variety of devices, as it includes both a Logitech Unifying Receiver USB dongle and the necessary hardware to connect over Bluetooth. You can even pair it with three Bluetooth devices to easily switch from typing on your laptop to your tablet to your phone and back. This keyboard will also make it easy to get set up for typing when you're on the move, as it includes a slot to hold up your smartphone or even a large tablet in a more laptop-like arrangement.
2. Omoton Ultra-Slim Bluetooth Keyboard
Best Budget Travel Keyboard
Thin, light, and fantastically affordable, The Omoton Ultra-Slim Bluetooth Keyboard is an easy option for the traveler on a budget. This keyboard costs $20 but is often available for less. It provides most of the keys you’ll need, though it skips some of the extras (like a number pad) in order to stay compact.
The Omoton Ultra-Slim Bluetooth Keyboard doesn’t need any wires to pair with your devices, and you can get 30 days of battery life out of a pair of AAA batteries. Omoton also provides a number of different color options, so you can travel in style even when you’re traveling light.
3. iClever BK03 Bluetooth Keyboard
Best Foldable Travel Keyboard
Foldability really plays into portability, and the iClever BK03 Bluetooth Keyboard shows a clear understanding of that idea. This compact Bluetooth keyboard sticks to the basics with a QWERTY layout, a number row above with integrated alternate functions, and arrow keys.
The limited selection of keys helps keep the footprint small, but the left and right sides both fold up into the middle section to cut the keyboard's footprint in half when not in use. iClever built the keyboard onto an aluminum case to keep it intact when you travel. And, it can keep up with you through the week thanks to a 90-hour runtime on its rechargeable battery, which won’t accidentally deplete while it’s stored in your bag as the keyboard automatically turns off and on when it’s closed and opened.
4. Nulaxy Rechargeable Bluetooth Keyboard
Best Travel Keyboard for Tablets
Yes, this keyboard looks weird, with a cover that folds up like origami – but that’s this model’s secret weapon. The keyboard comes with a protective cover that, when opened, folds into a shape that serves as a stand for a phone or tablet of virtually any size. It’s kind of genius, and makes this keyboard seem worth a lot more than its modest retail price. It even has a loop to hold a stylus, if your tablet can use one.
Otherwise, it’s exactly what you’d expect from a portable keyboard. It includes an integrated rechargeable battery and gives you a full-sized keyboard in a small form factor, albeit with narrow key spacing that might lead to typos.
5. Happy Hacking HHKB Professional Hybrid
Best Mechanical Travel Keyboard
Mechanical keyboards may not be for everyone, as they’re not going to be as portable as other types of keyboards. And, the Happy Hacking HHKB Professional Hybrid delivers a unique typing and navigating experience that may attract even fewer people. But, for those that find the benefit of a minimalist mechanical keyboard with a very special focus and customization, the HHKB Professional Hybrid will be a trusty partner in computing wherever you go.
The HHKB Professional Hybrid offers up Topre keyswitches, which are praised as some of the very best you can get. The keys offer a lot more travel than typical portable keyboards, but they also aren’t so flat, giving you a bit more ergonomics in that regard. This keyboard has also shifted a number of keys around and swapped the positions to make more frequently used keys easier to press, which can help you speed up while also helping you avoid strains. Where the HHKB Professional Hybrid does step up its portability game is in its connectivity options, as it supports both a USB-C wired connection as well as a Bluetooth connection with up to four devices.
6. Logitech K400 Plus Wireless Touch TV Keyboard
Best Touchpad Keyboard
This isn’t just a portable keyboard –it’s just as comfortable on the sofa as it is on the road. That’s because the K400 Plus has an integrated touchpad and media controls, which makes it great for controlling your media PC. The touchpad is 3-by-2 inches and is a solid substitute for a mouse when the keyboard is resting in your lap.
Like many Logitech keyboards, this model uses a unified USB controller. Lacking Bluetooth, you can’t control iOS or Android phones. But it does work with other Windows, Mac, Android, and Chrome devices—plus the Xbox One and PS4 too.
7. Microsoft Designer Compact Keyboard
Best Compact Travel Keyboard
When you're traveling, sometimes you just want the slimmest, most compact option and don't want to fuss with any extra little doodads like USB dongles that can easily get lost and turn your travel keyboard into a lump of extra baggage. The Microsoft Designer Compact Keyboard will make sure those woes are avoided. It's a sleek package, measuring less than an inch thick, and most of the keyboard is even thinner than that, as there's only a small raised section at the back to give the keyboard a little tilt.
The Microsoft Designer Compact Keyboard uses Bluetooth LE 5.0 to pair with up to three devices, and it can get up to three years of battery life using just a set of four watch-style CR2032 batteries. The experience is even better on Windows 10 devices, as they support Swift Pair for the keyboard, letting you get set up quickly. Plus, the keyboard includes handy shortcuts for inserting emoji as well as capturing screen snippets. And, as simple as it may seem, having an actual power switch on a keyboard that's likely to go in and out of a lot of bags can make a big difference in stretching the battery life.
8. Microsoft Surface Keyboard
Best Full-Size Travel Keyboard
As the name suggests, the Microsoft Surface Keyboard is intended to let you turn a Surface tablet into a full PC through the addition of a portable keyboard. On that front, it’s likely everything you could ask for; it is a full-size keyboard that offers a desktop-like feel, yet runs on a single set of AAA batteries for about a year.
You can use this keyboard with Windows, Mac, and Android tablets, and even the Windows 10 phone, if you happen to have stolen one of those from a museum.9. Logitech MX Keys Mini
Best Multi-Device Travel Keyboard
The Logitech MX Keys Mini provides a capable little keyboard with a sturdy build. The compact typing tool is built with a metal frame, so you don’t have to worry too much about it in your backpack or luggage. It’s thin design also makes it simple to slip into and out of bags.
The keyboard itself is compatible with a wide array of devices using Bluetooth or a wired USB connection. It can even pair with three devices and quickly cycle between them — handy if you’re working on a laptop and tablet at the same time. There’s backlighting on board for easy visibility in the dark, and the keyboard can run for 10 days with backlighting enabled or 20 weeks with the lights off. You won’t need to carry around fresh batteries, either, as the battery is rechargeable over a USB connection.
10. Seenda Ultra Thin Low Profile Rechargeable Keyboard and Mouse
Best Portable Mouse and Keyboard Combo
When you’re on the go with a mouse and a keyboard, you don’t want to have to fuss with multiple dongles or cables to get your connection. The Seenda combo package here makes connecting your keyboard and a mouse extra simple.
Both Seenda’s thin keyboard and low-profile mouse can connect wirelessly using the same USB receiver. When not in use, that USB receiver can handily store away in a compartment on the underside of the mouse, helping you avoid losing it while you’re on the go. The keyboard provides handy scissor switches and even includes a number pad despite its compact size. It’s aluminum construction can also help it hold up during rougher travels. The batteries on each are made for weeks of operation and can be recharged using a micro USB cable.
What to Look for in a Travel Keyboard
Keyboards are very personal devices; you want a keyboard that’s comfortable and ergonomic to minimize injuries like repetitive stress and are laid out in a way that keeps your typing errors to a minimum. Travel keyboards can be especially challenging, because a lot of the ergonomics important on the desktop – like angled keyboards, sculpted keys, and generous intra-key spacing – often goes out the window in an effort to make them as portable as possible. It’s always a good idea to try out a keyboard before you commit to it, if that’s possible.
All travel keyboards are wireless, but not all wireless is the same. Some keyboards rely on 2.4GHz USB adapters, which means that phones and tablets won’t work with those models. But for more universal Bluetooth models, you may want to look for models that can pair with up to three devices. That lets you quickly switch among your PC, phone, and tablet.
Then there’s the battery. You’ll find an enormous range of battery performance among keyboards. More convenient models will turn on and off automatically; if you need to remember to slide a power switch manually, you’ll inevitably forget and drain the battery between trips.
I could write an entire article about the keys themselves, but I’ll keep this brief: most keyboards use some variety of membrane keys, but even so, the feel and travel of the keys can make a big difference. A few travel keyboards are mechanical, and these are great for gamers and touch typists. But they’re noisy and make the keyboard both bigger and heavier.
Finally, the single most obvious differentiator: form factor. Some keyboards fold in half or into thirds. Others come with integrated covers for protection, or are built into a folio cover to protect your tablet screen. There are compact 60% keyboards and some that are close to full size. Choose the one that suits how you travel, what kind of travel bag you use, and how you plan to use your keyboard. If you need a larger keyboard with media controls or programmable function keys, you probably won’t want a tiny fold-up keyboard.
Dave Johnson has been writing about gaming and tech since the days of the Palm Pilot. See him shout into the Twitter void @davejoh
