It’s great to have a new tablet, but sometimes you just want to type on a keyboard rather than a touchscreen. Even though some of the best tablet devices (like those by Lenovo, Samsung, and BlackBerry) have improved on-screen keyboards, sometimes an external keyboard can be the solution you’ve been looking for. There’s an external keyboard out there that’s perfect for your needs. Here are five of the best external keyboards for tablets.
1. Cellulon magic cube (~£100 from Virtual Laser Devices)
More of a novelty than a thoroughly useful keyboard, the Cellulon magic cube uses its pico-laser to project a full keyboard on to any surface, and a camera to pick up your frenzied tapping. Though it may not be hugely practical – especially when compared to others on this list – it’s an unbeatable purchase for anyone with their head firmly in the future.
2. HiPPih ultra-foldable keyboard (~£30 from Amazon)
Pocket-sized keyboards make perfect tablet companions, and the HiPPih ultra-foldable bluetooth keyboard – which comes with a one-year warranty – is no exception. Typing surface is a little less solid than a non-foldable device (perhaps unsurprisingly), but key travel and spacing are perfectly acceptable. It’s also pretty cheap – and might make a good side partner for your smartphone, too.
3. Logitech wireless solar keyboard (~£35 from Amazon)
Running out of power for your tablet is frustrating enough, let alone your keyboard (mid-document, of course). Logitech’s solar-powered keyboard offers a humane way to avoid the awkwardness of begging or borrowing chargers. It’s equipped with slightly concave and spaced keys, which are pretty gorgeous to type on, and the battery will last for three months between charges.
4. Logitech easy-switch keyboard (~£65 from Logitech)
LED backlights and a USB charging port are two features heavily touted by Logitech on their keyboard home page, but the real magic of the easy-switch keyboard comes in its patented ability to switch between Bluetooth devices at the touch of a button. The easy-switch keyboard can be paired with multiple devices at the same time, and switched painlessly. It’s costly, but you’ll be hard-pushed to find a more feature-rich keyboard.
5. Apple wireless keyboard (£57 from Apple)
Thin, light and fashioned from tastefully brushed aluminium, the Apple wireless keyboard connects to your tablet via Bluetooth. Best used with an iPad – which can take advantage of the Command functions – the keys are notable for their excellent travel and click, elegant distancing and solid, rigid backing. The only let-down is the price – but, in this case, you get what you pay for.
