The 5 Best iPad Keyboard Cases of 2023

Apple accessory manufacturer Brydge has gone out of business, so we no longer recommend the Brydge 10.2 Max+ for iPad as an upgrade pick.

An iPad can handle many of the same tasks a laptop can, but for it to truly replace a computer, you need a great physical keyboard, too. We’ve tested several iPad keyboard cases for Apple’s 2022 10.9-inch iPad, and we’ve found that the Logitech Slim Folio is the one to get for the 10th-generation iPad. The Slim Folio provides decent protection, is pleasant to type on, and feels like a typical laptop keyboard.

The Slim Folio is the best iPad keyboard case without a trackpad. It offers solid protection, a good keyboard to type on, a stand, and an Apple Pencil holder.

The Logitech Slim Folio keyboard case provides a great typing experience and iPadOS shortcut keys along with a home button, and it offers protection for your iPad without blocking access to the iPad’s home button and port. Logitech equipped the Slim Folio with a built-in stand designed to provide two fixed viewing angles that won’t take up extra space on your desk or workstation. And last but not least, the case has a dedicated holder for an Apple Pencil.

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With comfortable, responsive, and backlit keys, as well as a removable inner case, two viewing angles, and the ability to pair with two devices, the Zagg Pro Keys is the keyboard case to beat for 2021 and earlier iPads.

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In addition to providing a great typing experience, the Zagg Pro Keys offers some benefits that other keyboard cases don’t. Its keys are backlit, and they allow you to cycle through colors and brightness levels. The case itself is separable from the keyboard setup, so you can use just the protector when you don’t need to type. Thanks to the keyboard case’s two viewing angles, you don’t have to settle for a fixed position in every situation. And you can pair it with two devices, such as your iPad and your phone, toggling between them as needed. Dedicated iPadOS function keys provide quick access to commonly used features, and an Apple Pencil holder lets you easily carry the stylus around. Although the Pro Keys is wider and heavier than some competitors, that extra bulk isn’t severe, and it brings extra functionality.

The Combo Touch is a better, but more expensive, keyboard case for a 10th-gen iPad. You get a great backlit keyboard, a kickstand, and a place to store your 1st-gen Apple Pencil, plus more coverage, a trackpad, and the option to detach the case from the keyboard.

The addition of a trackpad, especially one that supports multi-finger gestures, is essential to give your iPad a more laptop-like feel. The Logitech Combo Touch matches the performance of Apple’s Magic Keyboard and adds more protection, an iPadOS shortcut row with new dictation and screenshot buttons, and a case that can detach from the keyboard—all without commanding an Apple-accessory price.

Logitech’s K380 Bluetooth keyboard is the best budget keyboard choice despite being an unconventional choice for an iPad.

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It may seem like an unorthodox pick, but the Logitech K380 Multi-Device Bluetooth Keyboard for Mac is the best iPad keyboard choice for those who want to type on an iPad while keeping the cost under $50. This standalone Bluetooth keyboard isn’t massive and doesn’t take up too much space on a desk or any other work surface. It supports up to three devices and is a complete joy to type on.

With the right keyboard, your iPad can be a workable laptop replacement, and we’ve picked some great options built into a protective case.

The Slim Folio is the best iPad keyboard case without a trackpad. It offers solid protection, a good keyboard to type on, a stand, and an Apple Pencil holder.

With comfortable, responsive, and backlit keys, as well as a removable inner case, two viewing angles, and the ability to pair with two devices, the Zagg Pro Keys is the keyboard case to beat for 2021 and earlier iPads.

May be out of stock

The Combo Touch is a better, but more expensive, keyboard case for a 10th-gen iPad. You get a great backlit keyboard, a kickstand, and a place to store your 1st-gen Apple Pencil, plus more coverage, a trackpad, and the option to detach the case from the keyboard.

Logitech’s K380 Bluetooth keyboard is the best budget keyboard choice despite being an unconventional choice for an iPad.

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Staff writer Roderick Scott has been reviewing consumer tech devices and accessories since 2010 and has been using iPad cases from 2017’s 9.7-inch iPad all the way through the present models. For the latest update to this guide, Roderick tested several keyboard cases from multiple companies, narrowing the group down to the current picks discussed here. Nick Guy contributed previous-generation iPad keyboard-case picks to this guide.

If you’ve ever thought, “I don’t like typing on this iPad screen—I wish I had a real keyboard,” odds are, you’ll benefit from a keyboard case. You can dramatically increase your iPad productivity with real, tactile keys that let you type (almost) as quickly and with (almost) as few errors as you can on your computer.

A keyboard case combines the advantages of a physical keyboard with a protective case—instead of having to carry a separate keyboard, you have a keyboard built right into a case that’s similar to the one you’re likely already using (though a keyboard case can be a bit bulkier since it has to accommodate the keyboard). And because most keyboard cases are specifically designed to let you type on your lap, as you would with a laptop, a keyboard case is better for portable use than an iPad with a separate keyboard and stand.

An iPad keyboard case is worth getting if you need to use a physical keyboard regularly and you want one with you most of the time. Even then, you should at least consider a standalone Bluetooth keyboard instead.

But before you rush out and buy a keyboard case, consider the drawbacks and temper your expectations. Adding a keyboard case to your iPad is all about making compromises. You get the superior productivity and typing experience of a physical keyboard, but you also add noticeable bulk and weight. And many keyboard cases are designed to stay on your iPad, so you can’t easily leave the keyboard behind when you don’t need it—which eliminates one of the big advantages of using a tablet over a laptop.

An iPad keyboard case is worth getting if you need to use a physical keyboard regularly and you want one with you most of the time. Even then, you should at least consider a standalone Bluetooth keyboard instead. If you’ll be doing much of your typing on a desk, a table, or another flat surface, a separate keyboard is larger and gives you better keys. In addition, you can create a much more ergonomic setup by elevating the iPad and putting the keyboard in the ideal typing position; when you don’t need the keyboard, you can leave it behind to travel light. You can also keep using your favorite iPad case, and if you ever upgrade your iPad, you won’t have to buy a new keyboard case to fit it. (The biggest downside to a separate keyboard is that you can’t easily type on your lap.)

If you prefer separate options, we have recommendations for compact standalone keyboards and iPad stands.

We’ve covered iPad keyboards since not long after the first iPad came out in 2010, and since then we’ve tried pretty much every offering from every major brand, as well as dozens from brands you’ve likely never heard of. Here are the things an iPad keyboard case should offer:

Testing keyboards involves extended use because switching to a new keyboard requires a period of adjustment—we need to be sure that a keyboard that doesn’t feel good at first truly is a bad keyboard and not just different from what we’re used to. Of the models that met our criteria, we tested each for a minimum of two weeks of regular use, and we used each of the top contenders for much longer. We tested the keyboard cases both for longer sessions (which were important for getting a feel for how good the overall experience was) and for quick hits (to see how convenient a keyboard case was for “pull out your iPad, do something, and put it away” tasks). Sometimes a great overall design is ruined by a bad typing experience; sometimes a fantastic keyboard is hampered by a poorly designed case or stand.

The Slim Folio is the best iPad keyboard case without a trackpad. It offers solid protection, a good keyboard to type on, a stand, and an Apple Pencil holder.

After testing the currently small number of keyboard cases available for Apple’s newest 10.9-inch iPad, we found that the Logitech Slim Folio is the best non-trackpad keyboard case for most people. It gives you a great keyboard, two stand positions for typing and viewing, and a holder for your stylus.

The Slim Folio case almost matches the thickness of the iPad itself, at nearly 0.79 inch thick when closed while attached to an iPad and 0.38 inch while the case is open. The Slim Folio itself weighs just shy of 1 pound; inserting the iPad adds another pound.

Logitech’s case provides some protection for your iPad. The Slim Folio has thick TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane, a mix of plastic and rubber) along the edge where the volume buttons are housed, above the FaceTime camera lens. It offers thinner coverage along the sides housing the power and Touch ID button, the speakers, the mics, and the USB-C port. It has no coverage where your iPad magnetically connects to the stand.

The Slim Folio’s stand can adjust to two fixed viewing angles: Type mode, which sits at a 58-degree angle, and View mode, which sits at a 10-degree angle. Since Logitech uses a built-in stand on this case, it doesn’t take up any additional space on the rear when you switch between the two viewing angles. The Slim Folio uses water-repellent plastic on the keyboard side; the stand is a thin TPU flap, while the case itself is made of solid TPU. The holder for your stylus is a rubber loop that sits above the iPad’s FaceTime camera.

The most important part of a keyboard case is the keyboard, and the Slim Folio nails it with excellent key spacing, responsiveness, and versatility. The keys have rounded corners and use a scissor-key mechanism, where two pieces close together like scissors when you press a key; it feels great, even if the keys don’t have a lot of travel.

At the top of the Slim Folio’s keyboard is a row designated for iPadOS shortcuts, similar to the layout on a MacBook. This row gives you a home button, brightness controls, an on-screen keyboard hotkey, search, media controls, volume controls, a lock button, Bluetooth controls, and keyboard battery check buttons. Together, these shortcuts make the typing experience on the Slim Folio similar to that of Apple’s MacBook keyboards and provide good tactile feedback for working on your iPad.

The Slim Folio doesn’t offer the same level of protection along all four corners of an iPad. The top area near the FaceTime camera consists of thicker TPU than the sides, but at the bottom, where your iPad connects to the stand, there’s zero protection. Of course, that area is covered when you’re using your iPad on the stand or when it’s closed. But when you have the Slim Folio at its lower, 10-degree angle for drawing, try not to eat or drink anything messy near your iPad.

The Slim Folio runs on a small, coin-style battery, as opposed to the iPad Smart Connector. Logitech claims the battery lasts for up to three years, which is in the ballpark of what we’ve gotten from previous Logitech iPad keyboard cases. Since the Slim Folio doesn’t support the iPad’s Smart Connector, you have to connect it to your iPad via Bluetooth for initial setup.

Our upgrade pick, the Logitech Combo Touch, is slimmer than the Slim Folio, at just under 0.75 inch thick while closed.

With comfortable, responsive, and backlit keys, as well as a removable inner case, two viewing angles, and the ability to pair with two devices, the Zagg Pro Keys is the keyboard case to beat for 2021 and earlier iPads.

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The Zagg Pro Keys is the best iPad keyboard for people who type a lot on a 7th-, 8th-, or 9th-generation iPad. In a relatively small field of trustworthy competitors, the Pro Keys is one of the best keyboard cases to type on thanks to great keyboard hardware and a proper key layout. What sets it apart are the extra features on top of the great typing experience: backlit keys, a removable inner case, two viewing angles, and the ability to pair with two devices. It does everything that the next-best option for 2021 and earlier iPads, the Logitech Slim Folio, does just as well, and it does many things better—but it’s not available for 10th-gen iPads.

The keyboard has all the keys you’d find on a laptop, and they’re all in the correct location, something that many other iPad keyboards get wrong. The entire keyboard is smaller compared with a laptop’s, but the difference is more noticeable on the miniature modifier keys than on the letters. Tab, Caps Lock, Shift, and Command, for example, are still wider than the letter keys, but not by as much as they are on a full-size keyboard. Even so, getting used to slightly smaller keys and their rounded-square shape is easier than having to relearn where a bunch of keys are every time you switch from your computer to your iPad. The Pro Keys also offers a nice array of iPadOS-specific special-function keys in a half-height row across the top. And each key is backlit, with seven available colors and four brightness levels.

We enjoyed typing on the Pro Keys, and we found that the physical keys were large enough to be comfortable and easy to press; they provided good tactile feedback, too. Key travel was shallow compared with that of a high-quality laptop keyboard, though it was better than on an older 13-inch or 15-inch MacBook Pro with the butterfly-style keyboard. And using the Pro Keys felt more like typing on a “real” keyboard than on an afterthought accessory. The whole thing is sturdier than its competition: Whereas other iPad keyboards we tested flexed under the pressure of our fingers pushing the keys, the Pro Keys did not.

Although other keyboard cases, including the Logitech Slim Folio, offer a great typing experience, none combine that with a removable design like the Pro Keys does. The segment that holds and protects the iPad magnetically attaches to the rear panel of the Pro Keys, and the keyboard is easy to pull off when you don’t need it. The case isn’t the slimmest or most attractive one around, but it does offer full button protection, the appropriate cutouts for the ports, speaker redirection, and a stylus holder on the right side.

The Pro Keys’s automatic connection is one of its best features. The initial Bluetooth pairing process is identical to that of any other wireless keyboard and takes seconds. But this Zagg keyboard uses a clever system to reconnect whenever you’re ready to type: The iPad’s left edge—the bottom edge, when you have it in typing orientation—magnetically connects to one of the two strips above the top row of keys (at 30-degree and 37-degree angles, respectively). When that happens, the keyboard wakes up and is ready for you to type after a moment. Other models may require you to press a button to wake up the keyboard, whereas this one is ready when you are. And when you lift the iPad off the base, the keyboard automatically disconnects.

This keyboard’s battery life is rated to last for a year, and you can easily recharge it via a USB-C connector. In contrast, Logitech’s Slim Folio offers a three-year battery, but that’s with a user-replaceable coin-cell battery. Either way, you don’t have to worry about charging often.

As we noted, all iPad keyboard cases require you to make some compromises, and that holds true for the Zagg Pro Keys, as well. Its keys are smaller than standard keys, and they don’t feel as nice to type on as good laptop keys, so this keyboard isn’t as pleasant to use as the best standalone Bluetooth keyboards, especially for extended typing sessions. And though the Pro Keys has one of the best key layouts we’ve seen on an iPad keyboard case, the sizing is just a bit different from that of a regular keyboard, so you may end up making some errors. To be fair, this will happen with pretty much any iPad keyboard case due to universally cramped keys, and we’ve found ourselves making far fewer mistakes with this keyboard than with models that put commonly used keys in unfamiliar locations.

The Pro Keys doesn’t have an Esc key—we often miss having it. But that particular trade-off is very common, as few iPad keyboards include an Esc key.

At about 0.9 inch, the Pro Keys isn’t the thinnest keyboard case, but it’s not thicker by much. At 1.5 pounds, it is, however, noticeably heavier than Logitech’s Slim Folio. The Pro Keys is also not available for Apple’s latest, 10th-gen iPad.

The Combo Touch is a better, but more expensive, keyboard case for a 10th-gen iPad. You get a great backlit keyboard, a kickstand, and a place to store your 1st-gen Apple Pencil, plus more coverage, a trackpad, and the option to detach the case from the keyboard.

If you're willing to spend a little more money to type on your 10th-generation iPad, you can get a trackpad, a detachable keyboard, and more protection with the Logitech Combo Touch keyboard case. Although Apple’s new Magic Keyboard Folio is excellent, you get more for less money with the Combo Touch.

Unlike the Magic Keyboard Folio, the Combo Touch provides actual protection for your tablet against drops and dings. It provides good coverage along the bezel—save for the cutout for the power and Touch ID button—protecting the corners while providing clear access to the microphones, speakers, and USB-C port. The case draws power from the iPad's Smart Connector, so it doesn’t need a battery and doesn’t need to be charged.

Logitech also includes a rubber loop above the FaceTime camera to for you to place a 1st-generation Apple Pencil, a Logitech Crayon stylus, or another option, something that even Apple neglected to do on its Magic Keyboard Folio. The Combo Touch’s kickstand, which supports up to 50 degrees of travel, can go as low as 20 degrees for Write/Sketch mode, though many people are likely to keep it in the 60-degree Type/View position. The keyboard can also detach from the case, and you can carry your iPad around in what Logitech calls Read mode, as well.

The Combo Touch’s keyboard is great to type on, with adequate spacing between the scissor-mechanism keys. These keys offer up to 16 levels of backlight brightness to type in daytime or under dim lighting with ease. You’ll also find a top row of iPadOS shortcut keys; on this model, Logitech has added two new buttons for the 10th-gen iPad—a dedicated Dictation button for taking voice notes, and a dedicated Screenshot button for, well, capturing screenshots. These functions replace the Search and Screen Lock buttons of previous generations.

The glass trackpad on the Combo Touch is smooth, responsive, and comparable to that of the Apple Magic Keyboard. Evaluating the two side by side, we found no differences between them in extended use; the Combo Touch matched the Magic Keyboard in travel speed, multi-finger gestures, right-clicks, and pinch-to-zoom. This Logitech model is just as versatile as the Apple option as a keyboard case for a 10th-gen iPad.

Logitech’s K380 Bluetooth keyboard is the best budget keyboard choice despite being an unconventional choice for an iPad.

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While this may seem like an unorthodox pick, the Logitech K380 for Mac Multi-Device Bluetooth Keyboard is the best iPad keyboard choice for those who are trying to keep their cost under $50. This standalone keyboard isn’t massive and won’t take up too much space on a desk or wherever you work. It supports up to three devices over Bluetooth, so if you have any combination of an iPad, an iPhone, or a Mac—or all three devices—you can use it with them. It’s also a complete joy to type on.

On the K380, Logitech provides a full Mac-style keyboard layout with a function row for media and shortcuts, so you won’t miss a beat when typing or navigating your iPad. It sports rounded keys with a slightly concave design, and it provides good spacing between the keys for fast and accurate typing.

Note that the K380 runs on two AAA batteries, though Logitech says it will last up to two years on them. And keep in mind that using a standalone keyboard requires you to carry around another object with your iPad if you’re using it on the go—plus, you have to buy an iPad case. But at just over 14 ounces, at least the K380 won’t weigh your bag down.

We have a dedicated guide to the best keyboard cases for the iPad Pro if you’d like to learn more.

We’ve tested other iPad keyboard cases for the 10th-generation iPad, and some of those models are worth mentioning.

The Zagg Messenger Folio 2 is a great case, with a compelling $70 price tag. But it isn’t the best keyboard to type on, and it makes the power and Touch ID button hard to access for a proper fingerprint scan. It’s a step down from the amazing Zagg Pro Keys, which doesn’t support the 10th-generation iPad.

Offering a flat, spillproof keyboard, the Logitech Rugged Folio also provides what Logitech says is military-grade protection for drops as long as 6 feet. We would have made this keyboard case one of our picks if it had offered a trackpad beneath the keys instead of just a Logitech logo.

The Apple Magic Keyboard Folio for the new iPad is your only keyboard option available directly from Apple. It’s great to type on, and its trackpad is excellent. But for its $250 price, it doesn’t offer any meaningful protection from falls, and it doesn’t have a designated holder for the (1st-generation) Apple Pencil. And did we mention that it comes only in white? Good luck keeping that clean.

We’ve tested more than 100 iPad keyboard cases over the years, so we can’t mention every option we’ve dismissed, but we’ve included some of the more notable models below.

Apple’s Smart Keyboard is available for the iPad (7th, 8th, and 9th generation), the iPad Air (3rd generation), and the 10.5-inch iPad Pro, and it provides a solid, comfortable typing surface. It’s much more expensive than other cases but offers enough to justify its price. Thanks to Apple’s Smart Connector, it automatically connects to the iPad without any pairing process, and it doesn’t need its own battery (so you have nothing to charge). But these factors are merely inconveniences on other keyboard cases. The Smart Keyboard’s folding options allow for only one typing angle, and this model doesn’t protect the back of the iPad. We recommend this keyboard case only if you’re concerned about thinness over everything else and you don’t mind paying a premium for it.

The Brydge 10.2 Max+ was our previous upgrade pick for 7th, 8th, & 9th-gen iPads. In May, Brydge confirmed it was shutting down and its products are no longer available to buy in stores.

Logitech’s Combo Touch for the 7th-, 8th-, and 9th-generation iPad is our former favorite trackpad case. It takes up more space on a desk than the Brydge 10.2 Max+, and its detachable case isn’t as nice, but we found the larger keys a bit more comfortable to type on. If you prefer the Combo Touch’s design, or if it’s on sale, it’s still a good choice.

The Logitech Rugged Folio for the 7th-, 8th-, and 9th-generation iPad is the only keyboard case other than Apple’s that uses the iPad’s Smart Connector, so no pairing process is necessary and it doesn’t need its own battery. But we found the keys to be rather soft and mushy feeling, and the Rugged Folio requires 10 to 16 inches of desk space to unfurl, compared with only about 8 inches for the Logitech Slim Folio. However, the Rugged Folio is spillproof and rated to survive drops, according to Logitech, so it’s a good choice if you use your iPad in a rough environment (or around kids).

If you need a keyboard case that can position the iPad in a variety of angles and directions, go with the Yekbee 360 Rotatable. For about the same price as you’d pay for the Logitech Slim Folio, you get a case that you can arrange in many more ways, in a similarly sized package. It has two major downsides, though: The keys don’t feel quite as nice, and the maker isn’t as established, so you may be out of luck if you require customer service.

The keys on the Yekbee Folio feel as cheap and hollow as those on the 360 Rotatable. And its keyboard presses right up against the iPad’s screen, which might damage the screen over time. Plus, it doesn’t automatically lock the tablet’s screen when closed, so you might come back to a dead battery if you don’t manually turn off the iPad.

This article was edited by Arthur Gies and Caitlin McGarry.

Roderick Scott

Roderick Scott is Wirecutter's staff writer reporting on smartphones, tablets, and accessories. He is the former publisher of TechGuySmartBuy, where he reviewed everything from phones to headphones to smart speakers to cars. He is also a former aspiring songwriter, music producer, and A&R working with local talent.

Nick Guy

Nick Guy is a former senior staff writer covering Apple and accessories at Wirecutter. He has been reviewing iPhones, iPads, and related tech since 2011—and stopped counting after he tested his 1,000th case. It’s impossible for him not to mentally catalog any case he sees. He once had the bright idea to build and burn down a room to test fireproof safes.

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