Recommend a bluetooth keyboard for an iPad/iPhone
March 30, 2020 10:21 AM Subscribe
Do you like your relatively portable bluetooth keyboard? Tell me about it.
Trying to search for a good recommendation leads me to product review sites of questionable objectivity.
My kid is stuck at home and does a lot of writing and needs a bluetooth keyboard to use my iPad and Google Docs. It doesn't have to be the type that docks to an iPad because they'll also occasionally use it for their phone. Also, I'd like to possibly travel light with it so it would be nice if it rolls up or is otherwise super portable, although this is an afterthought.
I had one of these in the past and it sucked because it was a little too small to be comfortable and also it just completely stopped working after a couple months. It was given to me so I have no idea how much it costs and I don't remember the brand. I just don't want to repeat that situation. I'm willing to pay more for quality if it means the thing will be reliable and will last a while before it's added to a landfill.
Trying to search for a good recommendation leads me to product review sites of questionable objectivity.
My kid is stuck at home and does a lot of writing and needs a bluetooth keyboard to use my iPad and Google Docs. It doesn't have to be the type that docks to an iPad because they'll also occasionally use it for their phone. Also, I'd like to possibly travel light with it so it would be nice if it rolls up or is otherwise super portable, although this is an afterthought.
I had one of these in the past and it sucked because it was a little too small to be comfortable and also it just completely stopped working after a couple months. It was given to me so I have no idea how much it costs and I don't remember the brand. I just don't want to repeat that situation. I'm willing to pay more for quality if it means the thing will be reliable and will last a while before it's added to a landfill.
Anker has an inexpensive one that’s worked great for me (mine is ~4-5 yrs old and looks a little different).
posted by SaltySalticid at 10:32 AM on March 30, 2020
posted by SaltySalticid at 10:32 AM on March 30, 2020
I did this for my son and found a used Apple Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard A1314. Released in 2011 and later it is the last generation before they came out with the fancier Magic Keyboard. Designed to work with mac, it works great and is fully supported in iPad.
They can be found on eBay for about $25, I have found these older Apple keyboards to have excellent reliability and battery life. I am used to a Mac keyboard layout so anything that is even slightly different in terms of location of modifier keys is frustrating to me.
It will only work with one device. I have heard very good things about the Logitech keyboards that can connect to three devices, but do not have experience with them. I'm not a fan of the round keys.
posted by sol at 10:45 AM on March 30, 2020
They can be found on eBay for about $25, I have found these older Apple keyboards to have excellent reliability and battery life. I am used to a Mac keyboard layout so anything that is even slightly different in terms of location of modifier keys is frustrating to me.
It will only work with one device. I have heard very good things about the Logitech keyboards that can connect to three devices, but do not have experience with them. I'm not a fan of the round keys.
posted by sol at 10:45 AM on March 30, 2020
Warning: Check the keyboard layouts and make sure it's what you expect. We used this Anker bluetooth keyboard with our living room PC and it drove me up the wall because it is designed for Macs. Any shortcuts involving the Alt or Windows buttons required ridiculous hand contortions. We still used it for three years, it's small and lightweight, but held up well. Aside from the layout, I didn't find any harder to type on than a standard laptop keyboard.
posted by yeahlikethat at 1:19 PM on March 30, 2020
posted by yeahlikethat at 1:19 PM on March 30, 2020
Love, love, love my "plugable Full Size Bluetooth Keyboard" Expensive, but I'm worth it. (Well, sorta ...)
posted by Chitownfats at 2:45 PM on March 30, 2020
posted by Chitownfats at 2:45 PM on March 30, 2020
I have both a solid, straight keyboard and a folding, ergonomic one. I like them both; I use them for different scenarios. The folding one is much more convenient to take with me, and the straight one sits on my lap or table well. It's pretty much impossible for me to choose a favorite between the two.
posted by stormyteal at 3:10 PM on March 30, 2020
posted by stormyteal at 3:10 PM on March 30, 2020
I have a Logitech K380 keyboard, and it lives in my bag. My Apple keyboard got a little beat up, is not quite as robust as the Logitech, and it has a tendency to turn on on its own when packed in with a bunch of other stuff, thereby draining the battery somewhat faster.
The Logitech has a toggle power switch rather than a push-button, so it is somewhat less prone to accidental switchon, but not completely protected from that.
The round keys don’t really bother me. Even though it’s a bit thicker than the Apple one, it costs less than half as much, weighs about the same, and connects to my phone or ipad easily. Sometimes I have to switch it off and on a few times or dismiss (“forget,” maybe?) it from the bluetooth menu to get it to connect, but other than that it’s a great keyboard. I got an orange one, but it looks like they don’t sell them in orange or pink anymore, just gray and navy.
posted by Mister Moofoo at 2:37 AM on March 31, 2020
The Logitech has a toggle power switch rather than a push-button, so it is somewhat less prone to accidental switchon, but not completely protected from that.
The round keys don’t really bother me. Even though it’s a bit thicker than the Apple one, it costs less than half as much, weighs about the same, and connects to my phone or ipad easily. Sometimes I have to switch it off and on a few times or dismiss (“forget,” maybe?) it from the bluetooth menu to get it to connect, but other than that it’s a great keyboard. I got an orange one, but it looks like they don’t sell them in orange or pink anymore, just gray and navy.
posted by Mister Moofoo at 2:37 AM on March 31, 2020
I got the Keychron K1 keyboard (sans numberpad).
Small (due to not having the numpad ... but the keys are normal sized so it types great), nice keys (kinda faux-mechanical, but really nice action), thin due to the type of switches used, so great for portability, solidly built (metal frame, so not the lightest but light enough and will stand up to a kid). USB-C plug if you don't want to use the Bluetooth. Also is configurable for mac/windows (comes with seperate keycaps).
I don't like multicolour LEDs but do like key backlighting so I got the monochrome one.
They also have them with numpads and multicolour LEDs.
Works with iOS/android/windows. Can turn the lights off.
posted by MacD at 2:46 AM on March 31, 2020
Small (due to not having the numpad ... but the keys are normal sized so it types great), nice keys (kinda faux-mechanical, but really nice action), thin due to the type of switches used, so great for portability, solidly built (metal frame, so not the lightest but light enough and will stand up to a kid). USB-C plug if you don't want to use the Bluetooth. Also is configurable for mac/windows (comes with seperate keycaps).
I don't like multicolour LEDs but do like key backlighting so I got the monochrome one.
They also have them with numpads and multicolour LEDs.
Works with iOS/android/windows. Can turn the lights off.
posted by MacD at 2:46 AM on March 31, 2020
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Gaz Errant at 10:28 AM on March 30, 2020