It’s been more than a few years since my last iPad purchase, and I’m not going to lie: The amount of times I’ve taken it on travels far exceeds those with my MacBook Pro.
Once you connect a Bluetooth keyboard to your iPad, it becomes a very portable writing tool, made even easier with Apple’s AirDrop functionality. When connecting the keyboard for the first time, a pop-up window appears, asking whether you’ve installed Logitech Control, which works in the background as a firmware tool, rather than an interactive iPhone app. The only option is to turn on update notifications when a new firmware version becomes available.
Logitech sells several iPad Bluetooth keyboard cases in their lineup. For this feature, we chose their Combo Touch Keyboard Case for our 11” M2 iPad Air, which connects via iPad’s Smart Connector technology. This eliminates yet another cable to charge up the keyboard as well as the need to pair it.
The responsive keys have a nice tactile feel to them, and are automatically back-lit in darker environments. Adding a trackpad saves on screen smudges, and also more closely mimics a laptop environment.
The Combo Touch wraps around all the iPad’s edges with its shock-resistant rubber bumper. The rear camera sits below the cutout, so it doesn’t scratch or scrape on surfaces.
As mentioned above, I enjoy a more compact way to surf the web, check on emails, and get my writing done (and saved into the Cloud using Notes) vs. a standard laptop.
Logitech Combo Touch includes a dedicated row of iPad iOS shortcuts on the top row, starting with a home key, then screen brightness, Siri, screenshot, rewind, pause/play, forward, and Focus toggle (Do Not Disturb mode).
Key Features
– Compatible with iPad Air 11-inch (M2), iPad Air (4th and 5th gen)
– Measures 28.5 cm H, 22.58 cm W, 1.51 cm D (11.22” H, 8.9” W, 0.59” D)
– Weighs 685.9 g (1.51 lb.)
The Combo Touch Keyboard’s design incorporates four viewing modes within angles ranging from 10 to 60 degrees: Typing, Viewing, Sketching, Reading.
Another excellent feature of this keyboard case is the ability to detach it and still have the kickstand portion attached, so you can view movies while on a plane or train, with the option to adjust the angle to your desired position.
Pro Tip
With the kickstand in place, you can keep the iPad next to a Mac and use Apple’s Side Car feature to turn the iPad into an extended screen. It’s simple to set up: Connect the Mac to the iPad using a USB-C cable. On the Mac, go into System Settings, select Displays, then the plus to add the iPad.
[Enabling extended screen (Mirror Mode) on Mac Mini M1]
[Combo Touch Keyboard case in open position]
A word of caution: The iPad’s Smart Connector isn’t strong enough to hold onto the keyboard and has a tendency to detach from the iPad (while in its case) if you suspend the iPad in the air while the keyboard is in open position (I’ve had the keyboard fall off the iPad twice while testing it).
Available in Midnight Black and Oxford Grey, Logitech’s Combo Touch Keyboard Case is priced at CAD $269.99/USD $199.99. There’s also a 13” model available (CAD $299.99/USD $229.99). Also sold separately is the Logitech USB-C-powered Crayon (CAD $99.99/USD $69.99) that uses Apple Pencil technology and promises up to seven hours of active writing/drawing time.
Visit Logitech online for the complete assortment of iPad cases, mice, keyboards and consoles, webcams, audio headsets/earbuds, speakers, and mobile solutions.
