Tablets make great consumption devices for video, books, magazines, and pictures, but they’re also good for productivity with a little help. A Bluetooth keyboard is a must if you want to get some work done that involves a lot of typing – just know that not all keys are made equal.
Tablet keyboards often lack key features that make “real” keyboard so easy to use, like good travel (how hard you have to press) and tactile feedback (the springiness or responsiveness of keys), well-sized and spaced keys that won’t have you mashing two or three at once, and access to often used functions. Good keyboard designers can incorporate all of these even into small devices. Here are some examples of the best:
Best Bluetooth Keyboard for iPad and Android Tablets
The Executive’s cover is also the tablet/phone stand and keeps the device close so you don’t have to reach far for taps. The kickstand allows for a few different angles, though the range isn’t wide. For something so light it lasts a long time on one charge. Even though the faux-leather look isn’t as classy as the MiniSuit for the Nexus 7, the overall aesthetics are above average for Bluetooth keyboards in this price range.
Best Keyboard Case for iPad Air and iPad Mini
The keys themselves are well-sized with only a few shrunken ones and none in odd/awkward places. They offer good travel for a case so thin and are backlit in blue to boot. We also really like the control key row above the number row that give you one-touch access to media controls, lock screen, even Back and Forward.
There’s a similar case for iPad generations 2, 3 and 4 with the same keyboard but a different folio design.
Best Keyboard Case for Nexus 7
The case itself is made of a leather-like material that looks good and offers moderate protection. Your Nexus will stay snug in the upper pocket whether you’re using it or just carrying around. Bonus: opening and closing the folio turns the screen on and off. The kickstand on the back only offers one position which is ideal for typing, just not always for watching video. You can fold the keyboard under the tablet for touch-only use, but if you’re going to use it this way for a while it’s still better to slip the tablet out.
Best Keyboard Cover for the iPad, iPad Mini, and iPad Air
As a cover, the Ultrathin protects the screen but not the back of the iPad and turns the display on and off. The metal back looks enough like the iPad’s own aluminum finish that they blend aesthetically, keeping things classy even when you’re getting work done.
Best Clamshell Case for the iPad
The aesthetics here might fool you into thinking it’s an Apple product since the package looks very close to a MacBook Air with the iPad inside. One big difference: the 360 degree hinge makes the whole thing work like the Lenovo Yoga. Fold it back completely for tablet use, or use the base to prop the iPad up for viewing mode. Compared to the iPad alone, the ClamCase is relatively heavy at 3 pounds, though that solidity means it’s tough and durable; an acceptable trade-off.
Best Bluetooth Keyboard for Android and Windows 8 Tablets
This is not the thinnest or lightest keyboard we’ve used, but if you’re going to do a lot of typing you will appreciate not only the size of the keys but the travel and tactile feedback. The keyboard is light for it’s size and slim enough that it won’t take up too much room in your bag. The cover does double duty as a tablet stand and will hold screen sup to 13 inches.
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