One thing that is certain is that if you do any serious amount of typing on your iPad Pro, the on-screen keyboard just isn’t going to cut it, and you’ll definitely want to go with a hardware keyboard of some kind. While most iPad Pro keyboards come with attached cases that are designed to provide some level of protection for your iPad, others focus more on the keyboard and typing experience, leaving you to find other ways to protect your iPad. The best iPad Pro keyboards are great options for anybody who needs to do serious typing on their iPad, whether that’s at home, in the office, or on the go. Logitech has decades of experience in making keyboards, so you can count on a great typing experience from this one as well. Logitech’s solid scissor switch keyboard design offers keys that are nice and responsive, letting you type comfortably for hours without fatigue. It pairs up with your iPad Pro as a standard Bluetooth keyboard, and features a magnetic dock that holds it in an upright position while also doubling as a power switch. This automatically preserves battery life when it’s not in use so there’s no need to fuss with a power button. The Slim Folio Pro is also one of the most versatile keyboard cases we’ve used, allowing you to switch between typing, drawing, sketching, and reading with minimum hassle. The thoughtful space-saving design makes it a great pick for using on the go, since the front cover folds back to form the stand, minimizing its footprint so it sits comfortably in your lap while typing. However, you can just as easily fold the keyboard around and behind your iPad to place it flat on a desk or hold in your hand for reading or browsing the web. In addition to a full collection of iPad-specific keyboard shortcuts, the magnetic latch that holds the case closed also keeps your Apple Pencil in the proper position for magnetic charging so your stylus will always be powered up and ready to go. Type: Membrane | Connectivity: Bluetooth | RGB: No | Tenkeys: No | Palm Rest: No | Media Controls: Yes That said, Logitech has had to cut a few corners to produce a keyboard at this price. For instance, it lacks the rechargeable battery found on most pricier wireless keyboards, although Logitech promises that the included pair of AAA alkaline batteries will last up to two years before needing replacement. The modern round keys lean more toward form than function, which can take some getting used to, especially combined with the relatively narrow pitch. The multi device compatibility also has a downside. Since Logitech doesn’t want to make any assumptions about what you’ll be using the K380 with, many of the keys have multiple labels to represent their different functions on iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows, which makes it look a bit cluttered and potentially confusing. It’s also a standalone keyboard that doesn’t attach directly to your iPad, so while it’s fine if you’re planning to settle in and do some writing in a coffee shop, it’s less than ideal for using on the go. Type: Membrane | Connectivity: Bluetooth | RGB: No | Tenkeys: No | Palm Rest: No | Media Controls: Yes With this level of protection, it may surprise you to find it’s a surprisingly lightweight case, offering a well-designed keyboard that’s second only to Logitech’s—and it’s a very close second. The keys are full laptop-style with nice tactile feedback, so long typing sessions won’t be a problem. Not only is it backlit, but you get seven different colors of backlighting to choose from. There’s also a secure slot to hold the Apple Pencil in position against the magnetic charging port, so it’s always ready to go when you need it. The keyboard is also detachable, so it not only lets you use your iPad Pro in a more traditional tablet format, but since the kickstand is on the case and not the keyboard, you can also use the keyboard at a short distance from the iPad if you prefer. You can also pair the keyboard with a second device, letting it do double-duty as an iPhone or computer keyboard as well. Type: Membrane | Connectivity: Bluetooth | RGB: No | Tenkeys: No | Palm Rest: Yes | Media Controls: Yes The Magic Keyboard’s design actually differs quite a bit from Apple’s Smart Keyboard folio and most other iPad Pro keyboards. Strong hinges and magnets hold the iPad Pro suspended above the typing area while also letting it be easily removed when you want to pick it up to use as a tablet. It also Apple’s Smart Connector to connect with your iPad Pro rather than Bluetooth, so you’ll never need to worry about pairing or charging it. In fact, although the Magic Keyboard includes a USB-C connector, it’s there only to charge your iPad Pro so you can keep the main USB-C port free for other accessories. Beyond the design, however, the Magic Keyboard offers something that few other iPad Pro keyboards provide right now: a trackpad. Apple has always made consistently great trackpads, and it’s applied that expertise to the new iPad Pro keyboard, which is not only responsive and well designed, but also supports the usual gamut of multi-touch gestures, from two- and three-finger swipes to pinch-to-zoom. Apple has also finally done justice to a first-party iPad Pro keyboard with cleanly backlit keys that auto-adjust to ambient lighting, plus a great typing experience that’s surprisingly close to using a MacBook. Type: Membrane | Connectivity: Smart Connector | RGB: No | Tenkeys: No | Palm Rest: Yes | Media Controls: Yes With a solid aluminum construction, the Brydge Pro+ is the most durable iPad keyboard available, and the similarity to the MacBook design doesn’t end there. It feels almost exactly like typing on a laptop, with responsive keys that have just the right amount of tactile feedback, and it includes a generously sized multi-touch trackpad to round out the MacBook-like user experience. The aluminum design also gives it a nice heft that keeps the iPad Pro and keyboard securely in place while you’re typing without the need for a rear stand to prop up the iPad. This also means it’s one of the best keyboards for typing on your lap, since it minimizes the surface area needed to make it stand up. The iPad Pro slips into two hinges on the keyboard, effectively creating a laptop-style clamshell design that can be adjusted to any angle, including a tablet mode where the keyboard stays tucked behind the iPad, and it’s easily removed for those times you may want to use your iPad Pro without the encumbrance of a case. While prior Brydge keyboards left the rear of the iPad exposed, the new iPad Pro versions also includes a magnetic snap-on cover to protect the back of your iPad from scratches. Type: Membrane | Connectivity: Bluetooth | RGB: No | Tenkeys: No | Palm Rest: Yes | Media Controls: Yes At that point, even Logitech threw up its arms in defeat and just switched to Bluetooth keyboards, but Apple kept at it, releasing a new Smart Keyboard Folio that provides a physical connection to the Smart Connector by also adding a flap that doubles as protection for the rear of the iPad. Although most iPad Bluetooth keyboards provide great battery life, there’s still something to be said for a keyboard that doesn’t need to be charged or paired with the iPad—Apple’s Smart Keyboard Folio is literally “plug and play.” It draws its power from the iPad Pro itself and there’s no need to do anything other than plug it in. It’s a fairly minimalist keyboard design that doesn’t offer much protection, but since Apple doesn’t need to worry about batteries or Bluetooth radios, it’s able to make the keyboard thinner than most, and it’s slim enough to be used as a basic protective case without the bulk of most other iPad keyboards. Type: Membrane | Connectivity: Smart Connector | RGB: No | Tenkeys: No | Palm Rest: No | Media Controls: No The Slim Book Go, on the other hand, provides three different places to store your Apple Pencil: the standard spot on the top of the iPad Pro for charging, a storage slot at the base of the cover, and even a holder at the top of the keyboard for setting it down when you’re switching between typing and sketching. While the storage slot makes the case a little wider than most, the Apple Pencil is an expensive accessory, and we think this is the safest way to carry around your Apple Pencil on the go. The case and keyboard also feature a lightweight, portable design, although despite the name it’s not the slimmest case we’ve seen—merely the slimmest one Zagg offers. But it does provide nice laptop-style keys for a comfortable typing experience, even for long writing sessions, and it includes the same seven-color backlight and multi-device pairing as Zagg’s other keyboards. Plus it’s detachable so you can use the keyboard with your iPhone or use your iPad unencumbered by the keyboard. Type: Membrane | Connectivity: Bluetooth | RGB: No | Tenkeys: No | Palm Rest: Yes | Media Controls: Yes In theory this means you can use any Bluetooth keyboard with your iPad Pro, but Apple’s Magic Keyboard has the advantage of mapping all the special function keys directly to iPad features like brightness, media playback, and volume control. It’s also worth adding that a real keyboard gives you an ESC key—something that’s useful in many iOS apps but is omitted from many iPad keyboards due to the need to fit more specialized function keys into a smaller space. The downside to the Magic Keyboard 2 is that it’s not designed to travel with your iPad, but there are also several iPad cases available that are designed to work with the Magic Keyboard 2. However, these generally just provide room to store the keyboard and work as iPad stands rather than iPad cases, so while they’re a nice solution for use around the home or office, you’ll probably still want to spring for an iPad keyboard case if you plan to use your tablet on the go. Type: Membrane | Connectivity: Bluetooth | RGB: No | Tenkeys: No | Palm Rest: No | Media Controls: Yes There’s more to this keyboard than just cool lighting, however, as it also packs in a trackpad for iPadOS mouse input, and even a spot to store your Apple Pencil that keeps it aligned with the magnetic charging dock so it will always be juiced up and ready to go. It also offers a nice clamshell design that both elevates the keyboard for a more comfortable typing experience while letting you easily adjust it for an optimal viewing angle. The downside is that all of this top-notch RGB backlighting will cost you in battery life, cutting it back to around 2.5 hours of active use with the lighting on, which is a far cry from the weeks or months that come with many other Bluetooth keyboards. Type: Membrane | Connectivity: Bluetooth | RGB: Yes | Tenkeys: No | Palm Rest: Yes | Media Controls: Yes Adam Doud has been writing in this industry for almost a decade and considers himself something of a keyboard sommelier. He has strong feelings about keyboards, and as a writer, he should.
What to Look For in an iPad Pro Keyboard
iPad Size and Generation
When purchasing a keyboard for your iPad Pro, you need to take into consideration its size and what generation it’s from. Most keyboards have attachments that are custom designed for each size and generation, and a mismatch simply won’t work. Be sure you know your iPad Pro’s model number and the model number the keyboard was designed for.
Typing Experience
Let’s face it, if you’re investing in an iPad Pro keyboard, you’re doing it because the on-screen keyboard just isn’t cutting it, so you’ll want to make sure that the keyboard you pick is easy to type on. While it may not matter as much if you’re only planning to dash off the occasional email, if you plan to do any long-form writing, you’ll want to look to companies with established track records in designing great keyboards.
Trackpad
A trackpad isn’t necessary for the proper operation of an iPad, but iPadOS recently introduced mouse support for iPad which gets you even closer to a laptop experience. The precision of a trackpad/mouse can be very important to some, so a trackpad is a good thing to look for.
