Portable Keyboards Enhance Typing Experience on Tablets, Smartphones

by Nathan Eddy

At just 1.5 ounces and a third of the size of an iPhone, the TextBlade includes a number of innovative features, including physical MultiTouch Keys, ultra-low-energy Bluetooth Smart and the first MultiLayer Keys, bringing symbols and editing to the home row. The keyboard also boasts great battery life—TextBlade runs for a month and charges on any USB port in just minutes, without cords.

Compatible with the Apple iPad Air 1 and 2, iPad Mini 1 and 2, Android devices, Microsoft Surface Pro 3 and Windows tablets, as well as the iPhone and Android smartphones, the keyboard’s operating system switch allows users to easily switch between devices, while the protective cover activates the easy-on/easy-off feature.

A computer keyboard that also works with a Bluetooth tablet and smartphone, the Logitech K480 boasts a single dial that enables users to switch between typing on three wireless Bluetooth devices. It also features shortcut keys for Windows, Mac or Chrome computers, as well as Android and iOS mobile devices.

The Bluetooth keyboard is compatible with a bevy of enabled tablets and smartphones, including iPads, iPhones and Samsung Galaxy S devices. The keyboard’s folding design allows for increased portability, and the protective shell functions as a stand that holds Android and iOS devices at an optimal angle for typing. The keyboard includes a rechargeable lithium battery and has a running time of 44 hours, while boasting a standby time of 30 days.

Expanding on the company’s Commander Series keyboards, this Bluetooth keyboard has 82 keys, a multitouch touchpad, multilanguage support and a scroll bar. It is also backlit and boasts Learning IR Remote Control, a new feature that allows users to program other electronics, A/V equipment and appliances to be controlled. The device is designed to work with Google TV, Mini Android PC and Android 4.0.

This pocket-size wireless folding keyboard sports a Broadcom BCM20730 chipset and is compatible with a wide range of Android mobile devices, including the Asus VivoTab 8. The built-in rechargeable lithium battery offers continuous working time of up to 20 hours and standby of 22 days, and the detachable travel stand allows users to hold the smartphones and tablets while typing.

A form-fitting shell is designed to snap securely onto the iPhone 6, while still providing access to all of the phone’s controls, features, camera and ports. The keyboard features a slide-out Bluetooth QWERTY keyboard that allows users to switch from the touch screen to a physical keyboard as desired, and includes four rows of individually spaced backlit keys for visibility when typing in dim areas.

Stylish, lightweight and super-slim, the keyboard doubles as a cover with a clip-and-go magnet. The durable smart cover features an auto sleep/wake mode for the iPad, triggered by opening and closing the lid, while a built-in groove and stand, constructed out of plastic and metal, hold the iPad in place.

The Epic projects a fixed keyboard pattern onto any flat and opaque surface in a safe form of laser, and an added mouse feature tracks your natural movements and may reduce stress on your hands. The Epic works with virtually any Bluetooth-enabled device through simplified pairing, and works with iOS 4.0 and later, Android 4.0 and later, Windows XP and later, and Blackberry 10.

The multi-touchpad and scroll bar allows for scrolling, screen flipping and mouse clicking, while a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery powers the device, which also features auto sleep/wake mode. Plus, it allows users to switch between Android, Mac and Window operating systems. A backlighting feature means users can use the keyboard in low-light situations.