Zagg Pro Keys 2 for iPad Pro: thick keyboard case

Test Various cases of iPad. When I’m done, I always go back to Combo Touch Logitech. With an adjustable leg stand and a dismantling keyboard, she has everything I need. Zagg Pro Keys 2 imitates many of the capabilities of the Logitech accessory, but at a smaller price, so I was excited to try it, thinking that I may have found a new favorite. Unfortunately, it does not reach.

It is not completely identical to the case of Logitech – it is much more protective, with a foil coating that doubles as a stand (with adjustable angles) and a disassembled keyboard that sits between them. There is no trackpad – which means I have to pack a mouse or constantly lift my finger to the screen – and the whole setting is heavy and cumbersome. At $ 150, this is one of the more accessible case for iPad Pro keyboards. But its disadvantages are annoying enough that a shorter price may not matter.

Protected but chonky

Pro Keys 2 I test is specially designed for the 13-inch iPad Pro (M4, 2024), although you can also buy it for the 11-inch iPad Pro (M4) as well as for the 13-, and 11-inch iPad Air (M2). It consists of two pieces: the case and the keyboard.

Click on the keyboard in place using the magnets and you can use an iPad Pro as a laptop. The setting looks more modern than Pro keys than the first generation, with a square, instead of round keys (which I prefer) and with a backlight-with the cycle option between colors such as green, blue and red. There are bulbs under each key, so it is bright enough to introduce into a darker environment. But the parts of the keyboard (such as the side keys and the keyboard keys) shine more than the QWERTY keys, so the lighting feels uneven. Adjusting brightness with the backlight key does not seem to make a big difference. Zagg also added more surface under the keyboard to rest your palms while writing.

Photography: Brenda Storyar

It is convenient to write for long periods (I used it to enter this review), although the trackpad would be the cherry on top, especially since there is a lot of space (the first -generation model has a trackpad version). Although I have been using the opportunity for a few weeks now, I am still accidentally reaching the middle to spend the imaginary trackpad in habit. The keyboard is connected to Bluetooth, so you will need to pair it with an iPad (you can connect to two devices) and load it. Zagg claims for a year’s battery life, so you don’t have to worry about constantly turning it on.

The second generation version has a slot on the side of the apple pencil, not a valve to keep it in place. This is much more aesthetically pleasing, but I wish Zagg would compare it in this case. Instead, it is made of the same clear tire as the armor around the iPad and looks cheap. The armor also works under the slot, but will not interfere with wireless charging.

This case feels super protected, so much that feels like a lot of sturdy Cases I’ve tested. In addition to the rubber edges, the rest of the case is made of plastic with a soft, matte feeling. The foil coating can be folded back into a stand and adjusted under two angles. It was good for watching TV (she was healthy enough to stay upright on the couch without crashing) and for use as a laptop. But it does not offer as many angles as steel.