Most like a laptop computer
Brydge 12.9 Max Plus (replace: presently unavailable)
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Finest keyboard that additionally doubles as a traditional iPad case
Logitech Combo Contact for iPad Professional
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There is no doubt about it- the iPad Professional is a beast of a machine. It is a pill you may watch Netflix on and a powerhouse workstation, due to its M2 processor, attractive display and optional 5G. If you’d like the most effective expertise doable, taking full benefit of what the iPad Professional is able to, you want a superb keyboard case. A keyboard is crucial in making your iPad Professional really feel like an actual laptop computer, nice for each work and faculty. If you wish to know methods to choose the most effective keyboard case for the iPad Professional, learn on.
Keyboard instances for the iPad Professional add lots to the image, particularly with a trackpad. Circumstances which have each a keyboard and a trackpad assist the iPad rework into one thing like a laptop computer. Granted, the OS is totally different. However Apple’s help for keyboard shortcuts and multitouch trackpad gestures work effectively on iPadOS. In 2020, I compared options. This is the place we at the moment are.
iPad Professional keyboard choices (from left): Logitech Combo Contact, Magic Keyboard, Brydge Max Plus 12.9.
Apple has its personal fancy and costly Magic Keyboard case. Two different producers are additionally price noting: Logitech makes a keyboard-detachable case with a kickstand that is good for Zoom/FaceTime calls utilizing that new zoom-in Center Stage digital camera, whereas Brydge has a brand new case with a big trackpad and a design that feels closest to laptop-like.
All of them have their benefits, and all work effectively, however I nonetheless choose Apple’s Magic Keyboard for its measurement/efficiency over the others. I examined all of those on the 12.9-inch 2021 iPad Professional, which is not suitable with many older equipment due to its barely thicker measurement. The smaller 11-inch Professional works with any 11-inch iPad Professional equipment going again to the 2018 mannequin, and in addition instances for the 2020 iPad Air. The costs under are for the 12.9-inch keyboard model.
Execs: Compact design. Straightforward to connect and detach. Bonus passthrough USB-C cost port. Considerably lap-friendly.
Cons: Costly. Restricted viewing angles. Lacks devoted perform keys.
Apple’s keyboard, initially launched final yr, presents a cushty typing expertise. The keys, particularly on the 12.9-inch, are well-spaced and really feel similar to typing on a MacBook. It hasn’t modified a lot since final yr, however new 12.9-inch instances are sized up a tiny bit to suit the brand new Professional’s barely thicker dimensions.
I’ve gotten actually used to the design of this Magic Keyboard, and it is well-sized to suit on smaller desks or on a lap in a pinch, however there are drawbacks. The adjustable-angle magnetic prime cowl would not bend again as a lot as a traditional laptop computer. The case’s inflexible design additionally makes it practically ineffective as a pill case for sketching with a Pencil. The case would not supply a lot safety, exposing the pill sides and detaching simply on falls. There are no devoted perform keys just like the MacBook Air (and different iPad instances) have. The shortage of quantity/play/pause/display brightness adjustment keys is a letdown.
The aspect USB-C passthrough is useful as a result of it provides an additional cost port whereas utilizing the aspect Thunderbolt port for different dongles. The case runs off the iPad Professional’s energy. It is manufactured from a smooth materials that may get scuffed up and infrequently can get torn or dented relying on how you employ it.
Execs: Super-size trackpad. Devoted perform keys. Improved design has a magnetic again to simply connect to the iPad Professional. Very lap-friendly. Bends again for vast viewing angles.
Cons: Wants to attach through Bluetooth.
Brydge’s newest premium keyboard case for the 12.9-inch iPad Professional, coming in mid-June, makes an enormous leap over earlier Brydge keyboards. The redesigned Bluetooth keyboard has extra journey in its keys than Logitech’s or Apple’s keyboards (extra just like the 2015 MacBook Professional used to have approach again). There’s additionally an amazing multitouch trackpad that is greater than the one on the MacBook Air, which works very easily with multitouch gestures on iPadOS. This iPad keyboard can also be dearer than present Brydge equipment. Nonetheless, it prices $100 lower than the Magic Keyboard.
A snap-on magnetic again cowl offers somewhat extra safety than older Brydge keyboards, and it is also lots simpler to connect/take away the iPad, however that additionally signifies that the iPad cannot bend again at fairly as vast an angle as earlier than. That is simply essentially the most laptop-friendly iPad Professional keyboard case round, and actually makes the entire thing really feel shockingly like a MacBook Air.
The Bluetooth connectivity is less complicated and extra instantaneous than earlier than, however it’s not good. Generally I discovered the connection dropped out (as occurs with Bluetooth), and typically (not often) the trackpad gestures appeared somewhat skittish.
Execs: iPad case may be faraway from the keyboard and used by itself with a kickstand. Comes with an additional row of function-based keys that the Magic Keyboard lacks. This iPad keyboard is extra inexpensive than Apple or Brydge’s top-end new instances. Case presents strong safety.
Cons: Wants loads of desk house for the rear stand and keyboard base. Wants a steady flat floor to make use of (is not good for laps). Keyboard must be related to a case to make use of (runs off Sensible Connector energy).
Logitech’s newest iPad Professional keyboard case is a Professional-sized model of the corporate’s Combo Touch case accessible on smaller iPads. It really works simply as effectively: The removable keyboard and trackpad are beneficiant sufficient, though the trackpad is lots smaller than the large Brydge one. The additional row of perform keys for quantity, display brightness, play/pause and different useful shortcuts is absolutely helpful, very similar to it’s on the Brydge keyboard. Apple’s Magic Keyboard lacks them.
I discovered the responsiveness of Logitech’s keyboard to be actually good, however the design additionally means you will want to sit down at a desk. Very like Microsoft’s Floor pill keyboards, the bottom-connecting design will not actually work in a lap. The standalone case presents the most effective safety of any of those three: The rubberized sheath ought to assist defend towards bumps. The adjustable rear kickstand is useful as a viewing stand for household Zooms, too. The extra versatile design of the case means you may flip again (or take away) the keyboard for non-typing wants, like drawing with a Pencil or studying, with no need to pop it out of the case.
