Plugable Foldable Bluetooth Keyboard for iPad, iPhones, Android, and Windows, Full-Size Multi-Device Keyboard, Wireless and Portable with Included Stand (11.5 inches) Upgraded Version of BT-KEY3

The Search A few months ago I started a long search for an ideal portable keyboard that would work with tablets and other mobile devices. I needed something that would provide a good typing experience, would be solid in construction, and would be portable. All of my experience with portable keyboards came during this search in various stores and online, as previously I have only used desktop and laptop keyboards. My ideal imaginary keyboard would be like the Logitech Solar keyboards, but in a smaller form-factor (without the 10-key), with a way to protect the keys, and Bluetooth for maximum connectivity support (ie no need for a USB dongle taking up a spare port). And since I’m a touch-typist, the keys needed to be big enough and spaced enough that I wouldn’t have to hunt and peck. The Challengers There were several potential winners I narrowed my search down to, including the Microsoft Universal Mobile Keyboard, Logitech Bluetooth Illuminated Keyboard K810, and the myriad clones of the folding keyboard produced by such companies as Jorno, Plugable, EC Technology, iClever, 1byone, TOZO, Oldshark, etc (seriously, there are dozens of clones). The Microsoft one apparently was having a problem with the charger, so Amazon stopped selling them until it got fixed. And the Logitech one was hard to come by. But the clones of the foldable keyboard were plentiful. Unfortunately, the folding keyboard clones all had the same problems with their design as mentioned by reviewers: * The number keys were off-set from a standard keyboard, making touch-typing the numbers difficult. * The right Shift key was separated by the Up arrow key, making using it tricky. * The wings floated off the table, such that if you typed a key on one of the wings, the whole keyboard would rock up. * You can’t type with it on your lap because the wings will fold up on you. While hemming and hawing about pulling the trigger and buying one anyway (what could it hurt? They’re pretty inexpensive), I discovered an option in the listing for the one by Plugable that I hadn’t noticed before: a “Full-Size” version! It turns out that Plugable took the original cloned design and up-scaled it to be an uncompromising full-size keyboard (and who knows, other clone makers may clone this version too). So I decided to take the plunge! The Review First of all, I am very impressed with the quality of this keyboard. All of the physical components are solid, the folding mechanism works perfectly with the magnets providing just the right resistance to keep it closed without feeling I need to pry it apart to open, and even the cover is well built and functional (something I didn’t initially care about, but turned out to be more useful than I expected). When I said this keyboard is uncompromising, I wasn’t kidding. All the keys are exactly where they are supposed to be at 100% scale. In fact, the physical layout of the keys is identical to a Macbook Pro (even if they’re not labeled the same). It feels so much like typing on a laptop keyboard that I keep instinctively reaching for a mouse or track pad. The only difference is that typing on it is slightly louder just because it doesn’t have the mass of a laptop to absorb the impact of keystrokes, allowing the taps to echo down to the typing surface. While it doesn’t offer the *click-clack* of mechanical switches, it’s also no good for a spy to use to send secret messages back to base. Folded up, it’s roughly the size of 2 phones side-by-side. While I can technically fit it into my front pants pocket, it’s awkwardly large. It’s much more suitable to store in a coat pocket, or wherever you stash your tablet. Borrowing some devices from work, I was able to successfully pair it with an iPad mini, iPhone 6 Plus, Microsoft Surface Pro 4, Macbook Pro, Samsung Galaxy Tab 4, and my personal Galaxy Tab S2 9.7” and Galaxy Note 3. The pairing was quick and easy and all the unique dedicated keys worked across devices (like “Home”, “Select All”, “Cut”, “Copy”, “Paste”, etc). The range is also impressive, as when I started taking photos of the keyboard for this review across the room (over 15’ away) from the tablet it was paired with, I accidentally hit a key that launched something on the tablet. And I don’t think it was intentional, but there is a slight outward bowing of the wings when extended that gives the keyboard an almost ergonomic curve. For the tablet I went with (Galaxy Tab S2 9.7”) I got a cover that could be folded over to use as a 3-position stand. However, it only acts as a stand in landscape orientation; convenient for watching videos, but not as nice for writing. The included keyboard cover doesn’t care about orientation (or device), which means I can type in any orientation I want. It also has a little pull-out lip so you can lower the angle of the device you’re using. The cover is a nice addition that I didn’t really need, but is handy to have. I’m still in the first couple weeks of owning this keyboard and haven’t had much of a chance to really use it, so I can’t comment on its longevity, or its travel convenience. But my first impressions are very favorable. This review is probably the most I’ve written with it so far. With regards to the common complaints about the smaller version of this keyboard: * The number keys are exactly where they should be. * The right shift is exactly where it should be, with the possible detriment being that the arrow keys have been shrunk to make room, but that’s fairly common among all keyboards. * The keyboard is massive enough, and there’s enough flex in the wings, that the slight downward drop the wings experience when you type on an edge key doesn’t tip the whole keyboard. * The slightly larger size allows the keyboard to fit on your lap in a pinch, as long as you keep your knees together such that they support the hinges of the keyboard. Oh, and the box even has a “Thank You” in Klingon. :) Things to Improve The easiest thing Plugable could do to improve this keyboard is to print the alternate key designations for the various formats (Android vs iOS vs OSX). Right now only the Windows designations are printed and you have to guess the alternates for the other OSes. This should only affect a few keys that are different across platforms. This can help with the confusion as some of the keys don’t match the positioning you would expect, like on OSX. The next simple thing would be to allow the joints to relax just a tad bit more so that the wings of the keyboard actually do lay all the way down against the typing surface. Alternatively, add tiny foot pads to the edges so that they come into contact with the typing surface in order to eliminate the flex of the wings when typing.

Kjerstin here. This keyboard is amazing and the tech support is even better. I've gone through a few Bluetooth keyboards. Most of them are terrible. Flimsy, loud, the Shift key is in a weird place that makes the thing impossible to use without frustration... They're bad. But THIS ONE. Guys. This keyboard. It's genuinely full-sized. All the keys are where they're supposed to be. It's sturdy. It sounds like any other chiclet-style keyboard. It folds up to be smaller than your average thin paperback and doesn't weigh much, which means I can literally keep it in my purse and write on my phone whenever I have a second. (I just wrote a novel at three cafes, two parks, the car, an airplane, an Airbnb, and a couple of waiting rooms and I didn't have to lug around a laptop for any of it! Life. Changing.) It handles fast typing speeds without an issue, and it works great with my Android phone. I CANNOT GET ENOUGH OF THIS KEYBOARD. (And I have no idea how long the battery lasts, because I've had it for a month, charged it once, and it still hasn't run out. Which is great.) Also important: Plugable's customer support is incredible. The keyboard's been having an issue for a couple of weeks where the "O" key sometimes skips. (Like if I type "too," the second "o" would frequently not show up.) Any product can have the occasional lemon, and for all I knew it was just some weird Android compatibility issue, so I emailed tech support. David got back to me seven minutes later (LITERALLY SEVEN MINUTES) to say that it was probably an issue with the switch for that key and that they'd send me a replacement. You know how sometimes you have to contact tech support and you're full of dread because you know it's going to be a laborious process that makes you hate everything by the time you're done, assuming you can even find their email in the first place? And then you actually go through with contacting tech support and the experience is somehow even worse than you imagined? THIS WAS THE OPPOSITE OF THAT. It was great. It was quick, it was easy, it was stress-free, I had a pleasant conversation with David, I've got a replacement keyboard coming in the mail in a few days... My faith in humanity just experienced a boost. If you need a Bluetooth keyboard, spend your money with Plugable. The product is great and the company stands behind it. P.S. In the interest of fairness, I figured I should also include the cons. So here's the only one I've been able to come up with: The right side of the keyboard is a little bouncy when I have it on a hard surface, like it needs to be a fraction thicker to sit level. I just stick a napkin or folded piece of paper under it and the keyboard's back to being a magical unicorn of technology. I literally have more complaints about your average roll of paper towels. This keyboard is the best.

Absolutely love this keyboard. Very portable and very robust construction. I take it everywhere I go and use it for my phone and tablet. I also use it for my PS5 when I am at home.

Maybe better than typing on iPad glass but only just. Not recommended for touch typist