The iPad Pro is a beast of a machine, serving as both a tablet on which you can watch Netflix and a powerful workstation, thanks to its M2 processor, an offer And 5G is optional. If you want to have the best possible experience, and take full advantage of what the iPad Pro can do, then you definitely need a good keyboard case. The keyboard is essential to making your iPad Pro feel like a real laptop, and it’s great for both work and school. If you want to know how to choose the best keyboard case for your iPad Pro, read on.
Keyboard cases for the iPad Pro add a lot to the picture, especially with the trackpad. Cases with a keyboard and trackpad seem to help the iPad transform into a laptop. Granted, the OS is different. But Apple’s support for keyboard shortcuts and Multiple touchpad gestures Works fine on iPadOS. in 2020, I’ve compared the options. Now, I’m doing the same thing in 2023.
iPad Pro keyboard options: Logitech Combo Touch (left), Magic Keyboard (middle), Brydge Max Plus 12.9 (right).
Scott Stein/CNET
Apple has its own fancy and expensive Magic keyboard issue. Other manufacturers also worth noting: Logitech is making a keyboard detachable case with kickstand that’s perfect for Zoom/FaceTime calls with this new Zoom. Theater Center camera, while Brydge has a new case with an extra-large trackpad and laptop-like design.
They all have their advantages, and they all work well, but I still prefer Apple’s Magic Keyboard for its size/performance over the others. I tested all of these on the 12.9-inch 2021 iPad Pro, which isn’t compatible with many older accessories due to its slightly thicker size. The smaller 11-inch Pro works with any 11-inch iPad Pro accessories going back to the 2018 model, as well as cases for the 2020 iPad Air. Prices below are for the 12.9-inch keyboard version.
Scott Stein/CNET
Positives: compact design. Easy to install and detach. Additional USB-C charging port. Somewhat huggable.
cons: beloved. Limited viewing angles. It lacks dedicated function keys.
The Apple keyboard, which was originally released last year, provides a comfortable typing experience. The keys, especially on the 12.9-inch, are well spaced and feel just like typing on a MacBook. It hasn’t changed much since last year, but the new 12.9-inch cases have been enlarged slightly to fit the new Pro’s slightly thicker dimensions.
I really got used to the design of this Magic Keyboard, and it’s a good size to fit on smaller desks or on a lap when needed. But there are drawbacks. The angle-adjustable, magnetic top cover doesn’t tilt back like a regular laptop. And the case’s rugged design makes it almost useless as a drawing tablet case with a pencil. The case doesn’t provide much protection, exposing the sides of the tablet and making it easy to unscrew when dropped. There aren’t any dedicated function keys like on the MacBook Air (and other iPad cases). The lack of volume/play/pause/screen brightness adjustment keys is a disappointment.
The side USB-C passthrough is useful because it adds an additional charging port while using the side Thunderbolt port for other dongles. The case runs out of power for the iPad Pro. It’s made of a soft material that can crack, and can sometimes rip or dent depending on how you use it.
Scott Stein/CNET
Positives: Giant trackpad. Custom function keys. Improved design has a magnetic back to easily attach to your iPad Pro. Very friendly. Bends back for wide viewing angles.
cons: Needs to connect via bluetooth.
Brydge’s latest premium keyboard case for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, coming in mid-June, makes a huge leap over previous Brydge keyboards. The redesigned Bluetooth keyboard has more travel in its keys than Logitech or Apple keyboards (like the 2015 MacBook Pro used to come back). There’s also an enormous multi-touch trackpad that’s larger than the one on the MacBook Air, which works very smoothly with multi-touch gestures on iPadOS. But this iPad keyboard is also more expensive than current Brydge accessories. However, it costs $100 less than the Magic Keyboard.
The extra magnetic back cover provides more protection than older Brydge keyboards, and it’s also easier to attach/remove the iPad, but it also means the iPad can’t bend at quite as wide an angle as before. However, this is the most laptop-friendly iPad Pro keyboard case around, and it makes the whole thing feel like a MacBook Air.
Bluetooth connection is easier and more instant than before, but it’s not perfect. Sometimes I found the connection broken (as it does with Bluetooth), and sometimes, rarely, trackpad gestures seemed a bit choppy.
Scott Stein/CNET
Positives: The iPad case can be removed from the keyboard and used on its own with a kickstand. It comes with an extra row of keys based on functions that Magic Keyboard lacks. This iPad keyboard is more affordable than the new high-end cases from Apple or Brydge. The case provides solid protection.
cons: It needs plenty of table space for the back stand and keyboard base. Needs a flat, stable surface to use (not good for rolls). The keyboard must be connected to a case in order to use it (Smart Connector power is turned off).
Logitech’s latest iPad Pro keyboard case is a Pro-sized version of the company’s Combo Touch case that’s available on smaller iPads. It works, too: The detachable keyboard and trackpad are generous enough, though the trackpad is a lot smaller than a giant Brydge’s. The extra row of function keys for volume, screen brightness, play/pause, and other useful shortcuts is really useful, just as it is on the Brydge keyboard. Apple’s Magic Keyboard lacks it.
I found the Logitech keyboard’s responsiveness to be really good, but the design also means you’ll need to sit at a desk. Just like Microsoft’s Surface tablet keyboards, the bottom contact design won’t really work on a lap. The stand-alone case offers the best protection of any of these three: the rubber casing should help protect against bumps. The adjustable backrest is useful as a display stand for enlarging beds, too. The case’s more versatile design means you can flip (or remove) the keyboard for non-writing needs, like drawing with a pencil or reading, without having to take it out of the case.
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