Pros
-Great typing experience
-Doesn't slip around on flat surfaces
-Comfortable angle for typing
-Clips on and off easily
Cons
-Only covers screen
-Large hinge is unsightly
Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for iPad Air review
What is the Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for iPad Air?
Logitech's reputation for great accessories is
well-established, and it has long held the title of 'best keyboard cover for
iPad' thanks to the Ultrathin Keyboard Cover. This is the latest version,
adapted and tweaked to fit with new narrower, lighter iPad Air. Surely Logitech
can't have broken a winning formula? Clearly not.
Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover: Design
We'll deal with the obvious questions first. Making the
Ultrathin Keyboard Cover smaller to fit the iPad Air has had no meaningful
impact on the quality of the keyboard. Most keys are the exact same size, with
only the Tab and Caps Lock keys being slightly smaller than before.
That's good news, though we were a little surprised to
discover that iPad Air version is no lighter or thinner than the original. It
weighs 330g on its own, or just under 800g when combined with an iPad Air. It's
still impressively thin and light compared to the alternatives, but perhaps not
as much as original compared to the iPad Air.
This fact isn't helped by the fact the hinge is a little
chunkier and more obtrusive, a necessary evil due to the slightly curvier frame
of the iPad Air compared to the steeply tapered edges of preceding iPads. You
just notice it more than on the original. It's not a deal breaker by any means,
but the fussiest of owners may take offense. Likewise, the slightly jarring gap
along the front edge when closed is a little ugly.
Logitech has made some subtle improvements too, though. The
old Ultrathin had a habit of slip sliding around on some surfaces, so Logitech
has added a couple of small rubber feet at the front and a rubber strip at the
back that runs nearly the whole length of the hinge. We're not sure the feet at
the front are much use, but the strip at the rear does a great job preventing
the keyboard from sliding as you type.
New version in black, old in red
As before the iPad sits in a narrow ridge when in typing
mode, and you must detach the iPad from the magnetic hinge to
place it in. It
sits at a very comfortable angle for typing, though it's sometimes a little too
shallow an angle for comfortable video viewing. One of the beauties of this
design, however, is you can easily dispense with the keyboard entirely when you
just want to read or play games.
This isn't a luxury you normally have with a folio case,
like with Logitech's own FabricSkin Keyboard Folio -- it's easy enough to
remove an iPad from the Folio, but you're far less likely to actually do it.
This flexibility is a vital part of the Ultrathin Keyboard Cover's appeal.
Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for iPad Air: Keyboard
The other is simply how nice it is to type with. We've used
quite a few keyboards with iPads, but the Ultrathin remains the best. Each key
has a nice, crisp action and they're just large enough to make typing almost as
seamless an experience as on a full-size keyboard.
This prowess as a keyboard simply outranks any niggles over
the aesthetic design, or how little actually protection it offers. We still
feel enmoured with the idea of a Microsoft Surface-style Touch Cover for the
iPad, but in the absence of something as thin, light and effective as that the
Ultrathin Keyboard Cover remains the best iPad keyboard out there.
Should I buy the Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for iPad
Air?
If all you want is the best possible typing experience for
your iPad, definitely. As a cover and keyboard in one it is unrivalled -- only
a full-size Apple Wireless Keyboard could beat it and it's nothing like as
convenient.
That's why we recommend it, but it's not quite as
unqualified an recommendation as before. In some ways we actually prefer the
Logitech FabricSkin Keyboard Folio, but the kicker in the Ultrathin's favour is
it's at least £30 cheaper in most stockists.
Verdict
It's a great keyboard and an imperfect cover, but the price
is right for this particular keyboard case.
No comments:
Post a Comment