The best iPad keyboards are a great way to improve your iPad even better. While iPads are a great investment by themselves, typing on a touch screen is a huge pain, especially when you have to type more than a few words at a time. This makes a keyboard the best iPad accessory for any type of blogger or anyone who needs to write a lot in their day-to-day workloads.
TL;DR – These are the Best iPad Keyboards:
- Logitech Pebble Keys 2 K380s – Best iPad keyboard
- Apple Magic Keyboard – Best keyboard for iPad Pro
- Omoton Ultra-Slim Bluetooth Keyboard – Best budget iPad keyboard
- Arteck HB030B Keyboard – Best backlit iPad keyboard
- iClever BK03 – Best folding iPad keyboard
- Logitech MX Mechanical – Best desktop iPad keyboard
- iClever BK06 – Best ergonomic iPad keyboard
- Logitech Folio Touch – Best iPad keyboard cover
- ZAGG Pro Keys Wireless Keyboard – Best detachable iPad keyboard
In some cases, you can even find an iPad keyboard that doubles up as a case, giving you more bang for your buck. If you bought the new iPad Air or iPad Pro that launched back in May, an iPad keyboard might just be the best way to protect your new gadget. But because these keyboards are made by hundreds of different manufacturers, we went ahead and gathered our favorites here. To help you find the best iPad keyboard to buy in 2024, we’ve picked some of the best ones available today.
1. Logitech Pebble Keys 2 K380s
Best iPad Keyboard
You don't have to look far into Logitech's portfolio of products to find a great keyboard for just about any setup, and that's the case for the iPad as well. Logitech's Pebble Keys 2 K380s, the follow-up to the K380, is the perfect portable companion to your iPad. With this model, you get an upgrade to the battery life—lasting a whopping three years—and there are a few additional handy shortcuts on the keyboard. Its Bluetooth improvements ensure a more reliable connection to your iPad, while a Logitech Bolt receiver support is great for pairing laptops and PCs. Easy-Switch buttons are still included to make swapping between three connected devices a breeze.
The Pebble Keys 2 K380s keeps a similar design to the original, offering a slim, compact, and lightweight build. It features low-profile scissor keys that are fluid and quiet for a typing experience similar to a laptop. They’re also a unique rounded shape, rather than the typical square, giving the keyboard a distinct aesthetic. And don’t worry, even though the keyboard is compact, it doesn't cramp together the keys too tight or skimp on useful controls.
2. Apple Magic Keyboard
Best keyboard for iPad Pro
The Magic Keyboard has been designed and created by Apple, meaning it’s the perfect keyboard to pair with the iPad, and by far the best keyboard for iPad Pro owners.One of the best features of the keyboard is its comfortable backlit keys, which have a short 1mm travel distance, meaning you get responsive typing, while hardly making any noise.
Not only is the Magic Keyboard great to type with, but it also has a glass trackpad with haptic feedback offering quality you can feel. It also comes with 14 key functions, making it easy to control media and adjust the volume with ease.
3. Omoton Ultra-Slim Bluetooth Keyboard
Best Budget iPad Keyboard
For an affordable and portable option, the Omoton Ultra-Slim Bluetooth Keyboard has you covered, costing just $20. This compact keyboard weighs 9.9 ounces, so it won’t bog you down when you toss it in your backpack alongside your iPad. It’s also wonderfully thin at 0.24 inches. Blending white and metallic silver with responsive low-profile scissor keys, the design even fits nicely with Apple’s aesthetic.
This Omoton keyboard uses Bluetooth to make pairing with your device simple. Once you’re connected, you’ll find the keyboard sits at an ergonomic angle, which feels good on your wrists. That angle is due to the pair of AAA batteries on the bottom, giving you about a month or so typing between battery changes.
4. Arteck HB030B Keyboard
Best Backlit iPad Keyboard
Backlighting on a portable keyboard isn’t the most common feature, as it does take a good deal of battery to keep it running. However, the Arteck HB030B gets it in, so you can do work from anywhere, including darker spaces. It’s also not just a simple white glow. There are seven different colors to cycle through and two brightness levels. An auto-sleep mode also turns off the lights due to inactivity to help you save on battery. Luckily, power comes from an integrated rechargeable battery, so you never need to worry about spending extra on batteries. With this rechargeable option, you get 10 days of runtime on a charge, and the battery can get juiced back up in about two hours. If you don’t use the keyboard often, the battery should hold the charge well between work sessions.
The Arteck HB030B is an impressively compact keyboard weighing 0.37 pounds and less than a quarter inch thick. It’s highly portable and small enough to slip in whatever carrying case you have for your iPad. But in addition to connecting it with your iPad over Bluetooth, you should be able to use this travel keyboard alongside your iPhone, Android phone, or a Windows PC. And once you connect, you’ll find the scissor keys are responsive and quiet. You can’t ask for much else from a keyboard that’s also insanely affordable.
5. iClever BK03
Best Folding iPad Keyboard
You don’t see too many unusual keyboards these days, so we welcome the more unique iClever BK03. This device is interesting because it folds up for travel, resembling something like a deck of cards, but then unfurls to 10 by 3.5 by 0.3 inches. Unlike most of the other travel keyboards you’ll find for the iPad, which are made mostly of plastic, this model is made almost entirely of aluminum. That shows in the weight — 6.3 ounces — but also in aesthetics, ruggedness, and durability.
Open it up, and it powers on automatically, and then the iClever BK03 goes to sleep automatically after 15 minutes of inactivity to conserve battery life. It’s equipped with a rechargeable battery that iClever claims runs for over 80 hours of continuous use and can hold a charge while asleep for over 200 days. And while compatibility is limited, it can connect to iOS, Android, and PCs. You can even switch among three paired devices with a keyboard shortcut. It does have an Achilles Heel — the unfolded keyboard doesn’t lock rigidly in place, meaning you can only really use it on a hard surface like a desktop. Most one-piece keyboards work perfectly fine on a mushy bed or in your lap, but not the iClever BK03.
6. Logitech MX Mechanical
Best Desktop iPad Keyboard
When you don’t plan on taking your keyboard on the go, you might as well grab a quality full-size keyboard that works nicely with your PC and laptop, too. The Logitech MX Mechanical is the perfect option with its responsive mechanical switches, a full number pad, arrow keys, and function keys— some with double labels for a Windows or Mac machine. The keys are also low profile and feature smart backlighting, making for a more enjoyable typing experience.
You’ll connect to your iPad using low-power Bluetooth, but this wireless keyboard also features a tiny 2.4GHz wireless dongle for low latency when on your laptop or PC. Three included keys make swapping between using three different saved devices a breeze. As for battery life, the Logitech MX Mechanical juices up using a USB-C. With a full charge, you get 15 days of power when the backlighting is on and 10 months with it off. If you're looking for a more compact keyboard, take a look at the mini version.
7. iClever BK06
Best Ergonomic iPad Keyboard
If you suffer from repetitive stress injury (RSI) or just prefer the feel of an ergonomic keyboard, you’re generally out of luck when it comes to portable keyboards for the iPad — most keyboards are as straight as a ruler. However, the iClever BK06 is a split keyboard with an angled ergonomic layout, which might be perfect for your needs. It is more or less a keyboard divided in half. If you’re not already a split keyboard user, it will definitely take some practice to get used to; you’ll need to retrain some of your fingers to know where to find certain keys. But once you hone your muscle memory, you might love the more comfortable angle.
It’s not just an ergo keyboard; it also folds for travel, sort of like the BK03, also from iClever. But while the BK03 is all aluminum with mechanical hinges, the BK06 is a rubberized affair with a flexible membrane serving as a floppy hinge. It’s only 6.2 x 4.0 x .5 inches when folded for travel. The keyboard also includes a rechargeable battery and can run for about 40 continuous hours or 30 days of standby. And the keyboard is compatible not just with the iPad, but with all iOS devices and Windows computers.
8. Logitech Folio Touch
Best iPad Keyboard Cover
Your iPad doesn't have to be just a simple tablet all the time. With a quality keyboard folio cover, it’ll act a lot more like a laptop when the need arises. The Logitech Folio Touch is an excellent option for this purpose. Smart Connector technology makes for seamless pairing with the device without the need for Bluetooth, and its power is sourced directly from the iPad, so battery life will never be an issue. Once it’s on, you'll get not only added protection but a healthy dose of extra functionality.
The Logitech Folio Touch cover includes a QWERTY backlit keyboard, so you can seriously step up your typing game over the touch keyboard of the iPad itself. And, below the keyboard, the case actually includes a trackpad, so you don't always have to reach up to touch the screen or figure out how to connect a wireless mouse. Making life even easier, a kickstand helps hold your tablet at a 40-degree angle in a laptop-like position. Your Apple Pencil isn't left out of the mix either, as a special slot at the top holds it in place for charging.
9. ZAGG Pro Keys Wireless Keyboard
Best Detachable iPad Keyboard
ZAGG can give your iPad a boost with a case and a keyboard at the same time. The keyboard portion of the case connects to the iPad via Bluetooth and even provides a trackpad if you prefer not to use touch-based navigation. While working in the dark, it totes multi-colored backlighting for the keys. And you can just detach the keyboard from the case when you don’t need it without having to take your iPad out of the case itself. The keyboard also acts as a screen protector if you’re not using the iPad, making it an ideal option for those who travel.
The ZAGG Pro Keys Wireless Keyboard is a two-in-one solution that provides a bunch of flexibility. Besides the keyboard, you also get a case that wraps around your iPad, providing considerable protection for even high falls. That protection doesn’t come at the cost of function, as all of the iPad’s ports will still be accessible, and there’s a holder for an Apple Pencil. You can also fold part of the case allowing it to act as a handy stand.
What to Look for in an iPad Keyboard
When Steve Jobs introduced the original iPhone, he envisioned a radical device that had neither a keyboard nor a swipe zone for entering text via Graffiti-like gestures. Instead, the iPhone relied entirely on a touch screen for input, and a virtual on-screen keyboard when typing was needed. The iPad inherited that design philosophy, and it works well enough for limited amounts of text entry. But if you have enough typing to warrant getting a standalone keyboard, you need to make sure it’s one that’s convenient and comfortable.
Start with size. Many iPad keyboards are well-short of a full-size desktop keyboard, which means the key spacing will be tighter. Can you type on it without introducing lots of typos? Also, consider how it’ll pack for travel. Some fold up and can literally fit in a pocket; others need to be slid into the same backpack or bag as the iPad itself. Whatever you choose, make sure it fits in with your lifestyle.
Since you’ll spend your time pounding on the keys, it’s important that you like how they feel. That’s generally determined by the kind of switch under the keycap. Mechanical switches generally are not an option in a portable keyboard, but you may be able to choose between membrane and scissor-style switches. Scissor switches usually have a much shorter travel than membrane-based keys, which means the keyboard can have a lower profile for portability; they’re also quieter and require little force to depress. The good news? Virtually all iPad keyboards rely on short-throw scissor switches.
Most iPad keyboards are Bluetooth devices, but some can pair with as many as three devices and you can fast-switch among them with just a key press. If the keyboard is somewhat universal or multi-platform, it'll work with your phone, tablet, and PC.
And don’t forget about the battery. Standalone keyboards can’t draw power from the iPad itself, so they’re going to rely on batteries — either built-in rechargeable battery or disposables that you’ll need to swap out occasionally.
iPad Keyboard FAQ
Do you need a keyboard for your iPad?
If you don’t foresee yourself doing tons of typing on your iPad—maybe just writing short messages and notes—then you can get by with just the touchscreen keyboard that appears on the device. But for those planning to write more than a couple of sentences, your typing experience will greatly improve when grabbing a keyboard instead. Keyboards deliver a satisfying response, allow you to type faster, and don’t take up a portion of the valuable screen real estate like the touchscreen keyboard on the iPad. Keyboards can even give you an advantage when playing some of the best iPad games.
Dave Johnson has been writing about gaming and tech since the days of the Palm Pilot. See him shout into the Twitter void @davejoh
