#IPAD PRO SMART KEYBOARD FOLIO WEIGHT PLUS#

The case only bends to very specific angles, and on the iPad Air/11-inch Pro version it doesn't even angle up as far as I'd like. What the Magic Keyboard lacks is versatility. The Magic Keyboard also has an extra USB-C pass-through port for charging, which you could use while simultaneously accessing the USB-C on the side for other accessories or dongles. The Magic Keyboard adds an extra pass-through USB-C charge port that can be used while the iPad's USB-C port is connected to other things. The Magic Keyboard's footprint is pretty small, too, which could be a benefit for small desks or commuting. The trackpad's great for iPadOS 14 navigation and gesture-based shortcuts. Apple's key mechanism is just like its newest MacBooks, with backlighting and comfy travel. The keyboard and trackpad are, again, excellent. There are some benefits but also some drawbacks here.

The iPad Air snaps onto the keyboard case's back with magnets, just like the iPad Pro, and hovers above the keyboard when opened, looking elegant and minimal. The Air uses the 11-inch iPad Pro Magic Keyboard, which is similar with a smaller, slightly more compressed footprint. I loved the Magic Keyboard on the iPad Pro, but that was on the 12.9-inch version. The Magic Keyboard is compact, the keyboard is excellent, but it's expensive and lacks flexibility.Īpple Magic Keyboard ($299): Best for lap typingĪpple's very fancy and very expensive Magic Keyboard makes the iPad Air look like a futuristic MacBook. The keyboard can fold around if you're just drawing or playing games, which is something Apple's Magic Keyboard can't do either.

#IPAD PRO SMART KEYBOARD FOLIO WEIGHT PLUS#

There's a cutaway part of the side where the Pencil 2 can snap on, plus a loop to hold Logitech's lower-cost Crayon stylus. Still, the case's support for a wide range of angles means you can bend it back further than the Apple Magic Keyboard.įinally, the biggest benefit: The Folio Touch works for everyday nontyping use and Pencil work. You could try to balance this on your lap, but it gets weird. But this works best on a flat table or desk, like a Microsoft Surface. The Folio Touch's keyboard is attached to the case, flopping out to rest on a desk while a kickstand behind the iPad Air adjusts at multiple angles. The trackpad beneath works fine, and is large enough for gestures (it supports all the same multifinger gestures as Apple's own Magic Keyboard, and works as reliably).

The square, plastic keys are raised above a textured surface underneath and have solid travel: They feel like a regular laptop/Chromebook keyboard. The Folio Touch has an extra set of function keys that are extremely useful. Apple's Magic Keyboard doesn't have these, oddly. The Folio Touch has a fantastic keyboard, with a bonus row of function buttons that control screen brightness, keyboard brightness, play/pause, volume, Home Screen and search shortcuts. The case also works with the 11-inch iPad Pro, since they're identically sized with the same rear connectors. Logitech's bulky case isn't pretty, but the folio-style design has wraparound protection that Apple's Magic Keyboard lacks. Logitech Folio Touch ($159): Best for protection The Folio Touch is meant to use on a desk, but its keyboard is excellent. I've been trying both out, and each has its benefits and drawbacks. I looked at several options for the iPad Pro earlier this year, and now have done the same with the iPad Air's two best options. Now that iPads work with trackpads and mice, and many iPadOS apps like Apple's Pages, Google Docs and Office 365 support them, I recommend getting a keyboard case with a trackpad. Another from Logitech is nearly half the price. There are multiple sold-separately keyboard case options with trackpads.

But those accessories don't come included. The new iPad Air feels great, like an iPad Pro for less, and it works (like all current iPads) with trackpads and keyboards.

Ipad pro smart keyboard folio weight