Review on Keyboard IPad 10 2 2019 Backlit by Suhas Payton

This is my 3rd review of this product, now increasing it to 4 stars. To make this make sense, you can read it in reverse order (original review to revised, to newest). ). In short, I liked the design of this case so much that I recently (after returning it) bought it again when the price dropped to $20 and I found it easier to justify. Anyway, after using this case for a while I think I know what caused the back flap to bend in my previous negative review. Basically I think it was user error on my part. I placed it on the metal surface of the table and the magnets stuck to the metal so tightly that it offered resistance when I tried to move it, but I pushed anyway. I suspect I bent and loosened the case material in the process, but didn't notice. The reason I found this is because when I recently bought this case again the same thing happened, but this time I didn't "force" it. Now I'm happy to use this case again and I think it's valuable (especially at the current price!). Good luck finding the best keyboard case. I think it's pretty reliable. *** 1st Review Review *** Unfortunately I have to update this review and change the product from 4.5 starting points to 1 star. After using the keyboard regularly for almost a month, I have two problems. First, when I took out my iPad to put on a new screen protector, one of the magnets came loose. This is identical to the issue another reviewer posted. I really like the keyboard though and I could see it was just the missing glue on the magnet so I just added some glue and put it back in place, problem solved. However, the second problem is the design flaw of the materials. I have added photos for illustration. Basically, the flap that flips up on the back of the iPad to hold it in place for typing isn't made of a material strong enough to support the weight of the iPad. Over time, it began to flex so much that when the flap is placed in the storage position on the back of the iPad, it sticks out and the iPad doesn't lay flat. I also suspect that the valve will loosen over time, further compromising its ability to hold the iPad at all. I am therefore returning the case and advise against buying it. Unfortunately, as you can see from my original review, I really liked this keyboard case, especially for the price, but in the end it's not worth it. Better choose another option. ***Original Review Below*** I've had this product for a few weeks now and think the design is well thought out. I would give it 4.5 stars if possible because it's the lightest and most functional detachable keyboard case I've found and it's working very well so far. The materials look decent, but not premium. However, I think it will last as long as I use this iPad (2-3 years or so). Overall I think this is a solid product at a reasonable price. Here are some of the strengths and weaknesses as I see them. Strengths: - Very light, even compared to cases without a keyboard. With the keyboard attached, the entire kit weighs just over 2 pounds (that weight includes the screen protector I added). - Without the keyboard but with an apple pencil in the slot, the weight is 1 lb 10 oz. - The keyboard alone weighs just over 6 ounces. All of the cutouts on the case provide full access to buttons, mics, etc. I found the magnetic snaps and kickstand to be solid enough. I had no issues with the stand sliding as some others have mentioned. As for the kickstand, note that the metal on the back of the case is covered with translucent blue protective films. They must be removed. Maybe they wouldn't stick as well if you left them on magnets? The ability to tilt the keyboard slightly is great. I haven't seen any other plug-in keyboards that offer this feature. I didn't think I would use it, but I actually find the tilt feature more convenient. The buttons are responsive and I didn't notice any lag. The sleep/wake function works perfectly. The pen holder fits perfectly so don't worry about losing the cap - The keyboard attaches to the base of the device, the pen is well protected in its slot - The battery life is good so far, I've been using it daily for 2 weeks without charging Weaknesses: - The buttons are smaller than I've seen on some other iPad models, and there's no dedicated row of buttons for adjusting the brightness, using playback controls, etc. These functions are available, but via the FN key. It might not be such a big deal, but with the help of these features, I prefer the dedicated row of keys. Also, it is difficult to determine which special key to use as the labels are very difficult to read (see below). The keys are not backlit. I really didn't expect this to be a downside, but the stickers used to label the keys, particularly the special keys accessed via the FN key, are very small, blue, and difficult to see in low-light tags (Bluetooth, Caps Lock, weak battery) can hardly be distinguished even in excellent lighting conditions - Narrow magnetic stand. It works great on a desk but isn't wide enough or stable enough to sit on your lap. If you keep your knees together you can make it work, but I wouldn't recommend it. This doesn't bother me at all as it allows unimpeded access to the charging port, is lighter and still offers some drop protection at all angles. The keys are definitely small and somewhat plasticky, but not obtrusive. They are great for the iPad keyboard. It seems to me that the number of adjustable angles for the stand is not as variable as advertised. You can probably get more angles if you don't want the magnetic part of the stand to rest entirely on the metal plates, but in terms of stability, I prefer the stand to be securely attached. I have to say that the angles available suited me - Since the pen holder fits perfectly, you probably cannot use sleeves or cap holders - The position of the pen holder is on the left side. When you're holding the iPad in tablet mode, which is when you're just holding the iPad without a keyboard, say to read a book, your left hand is holding the iPad by the stylus side. That's fine most of the time, but the way the notch is cut into the body (to allow you to remove the apple pencil) means you'll have to pull the pencil out of the holder from time to time. This can be circumvented by learning the best hand positions, but it can be a bit shaky at times. Due to the design, the keyboard cover protrudes slightly from the case when closed. I didn't find this a problem, but I wanted people to know (see the case was designed for several different iPad models, the cutouts for accessing the volume controls are large. When I press the volume down button, I often miss it because I aim for the bottom of the notch most, but for my iPad (6th gen) the volume buttons are smaller.. Not a big deal, but if you're trying to turn the volume down in a hurry (to avoid waking up e.g. your sleeping Spouse up), it can be frustrating to hit the buttons and miss. Final remarks: I really like this keyboard case, it's lightweight, detachable and has a pen holder, I'm sure it offers SOME drop protection (although I hope I won't test that) and covers the screen well, the material textures are decent and so far the battery life is good, it's not perfect but for the price I think it is is a good buy. (If you're interested in a literal keyboard cover from Tank (it's almost a ton, but it's a typist's dream), I'd recommend the Logitech Rugged Combo with Detachable Keyboard. I alternate between these two cases based on travel needs. It is really a brick (designed for school kids) and many will probably find it gross, but this and that are two of my favorite keyboard cases right now.