The Best iPad Pro Keyboard Cases

Wirecutter staffers have reviewed iPad cases for more than a decade. Staff writer Roderick Scott has reviewed smartphones, tablets, and accessories—including those for iPhones and iPads—since 2010. Nick Guy, the previous author of this guide, reviewed keyboard cases for more than 10 years for various websites, including Wirecutter.

Wirecutter staff writer Roderick Scott has reviewed smartphones, tablets, and accessories—including those for iPhones and iPads—since 2010.

For this guide:

• I researched more than a dozen iPad Pro keyboard cases, mostly from well-known and a few from lesser-known case manufacturers. I spent at least two weeks typing and drawing on iPads housed in each of the most promising cases.
• In 2024, I tested a total of six cases. Some I received directly from companies, while Wirecutter purchased others.
• Like all Wirecutter journalists, I review and test products with complete editorial independence. I’m never made aware of any business implications of my editorial recommendations. Read more about our editorial standards.

The iPad Pro has never had many keyboard cases, and the situation is no different for the latest models. But based on our experience covering iPad keyboards since the first iPad was released in 2010, here are the things an iPad Pro keyboard case should get right:

• Good typing experience: The most important part of any iPad keyboard case is the keyboard itself. If typing on the keyboard isn’t dramatically better than typing on the iPad’s screen, there’s no point to the extra weight and expense.
• The usual key layout: The keyboard should have a standard key layout with all the expected keys in all the correct locations.
• Good-quality keys: The keys shouldn’t be so small or so cramped that you regularly press adjacent keys by accident. They should have a decent amount of travel (the distance you press the key to activate it) and should offer a good tactile feel.
• Dedicated iPadOS keys: We like having iPadOS-specific keys for functions such as Spotlight search, brightness adjustment, and Home. We prefer, but don’t require, dedicated keys, as opposed to overlays in which you must press the Fn key to access these functions.
• Solid protection: A good keyboard case should protect your iPad well, covering the device’s back and sides in such a way as to prevent scratches and mitigate damage from drops.
• Reasonable size and weight: A keyboard case makes an iPad bulkier and heavier, but it shouldn’t do so to an unreasonable extent. It also shouldn’t take up too deep a space on your desk.
• Easy-to-use, on-off design: We appreciate keyboard cases that make it simple to leave the keyboard behind when you don’t need it so you aren’t forced to carry extra bulk and weight.
• Multiple angle options: Multiple angles for propping up your iPad give you more flexibility in terms of ergonomics, comfort, and avoiding screen glare—but at the very least, a case should offer an angle that lets you comfortably view the screen but isn’t easy to tip over.
• Apple Pencil holder: All current iPads support the Apple Pencil, so having a way to securely carry your stylus with you—often in the form of a flap that holds the Pencil in place while it’s magnetically attached to the side of the iPad—is a small but appreciated feature.
• Reputable brand: Keyboards have lots of moving parts, and cheaply made ones tend to have reliability problems. We primarily consider models from known brands offering solid customer support and a good warranty, but we don’t entirely exclude popular models from less-established companies.
• Long battery life: The less you have to worry about your keyboard’s battery dying, the better. Luckily, this is rarely an issue with current iPad keyboards.

While testing, we use each keyboard case for both extended typing sessions and short typing tasks over a minimum of two weeks. The longer sessions give us a feel for how good the overall typing experience is. Just as important are quick hits to determine how convenient each keyboard case is for the “Pull out your iPad, do something, and put it away” tasks that many iPad owners find themselves repeatedly doing over the course of a day. Sometimes a great overall case design is ruined by a bad typing experience; other times a fantastic keyboard is hampered by a poorly designed case or stand that makes it a hassle to use.

Also available for these iPads:

• ESR Rebound Magnetic Keyboard Case 360 for iPad Pro (13-inch, M4)
• ESR Rebound Magnetic Keyboard Case 360 for iPad Air (11-inch, M2)
• ESR Rebound Magnetic Keyboard Case 360 for iPad Air (13-inch, M2)

While there aren’t many competitors, we found the ESR Rebound Magnetic Keyboard Case 360 for the 11-inch M4 iPad Pro, 13-inch M4 iPad Pro, 11-inch M2 iPad Air, and 13-inch M2 iPad Air to be the best iPad Pro keyboard case for most people. It’s a cheaper, thicker version of Apple’s Magic Keyboard for the M4 iPad Pro that adds full protection, stylus storage, multicolored backlit keys, a detachable inner case, and three viewing angles. It’s the best value and the best jack-of-all-trades keyboard case for the iPad Pro.

The case’s magnets and design allow for a wider range of positions. This ESR model consists of two pieces: a protective case and a keyboard with a magnetic stand. Once you tuck your iPad Pro into the case, you can snap it to the stand and use your iPad Pro in portrait mode or in either of two landscape viewing angles. Notably, the landscape orientation gives you a raised-screen-view option that brings the iPad Pro a few inches closer to your face, so you don’t have to lean over to use your tablet.

The case leaves no part of your iPad Pro unprotected. ESR’s Rebound case is mostly made of TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane, a rubber-like, flexible plastic), and it completely covers your tablet; on the rear it offers a hard plastic shell. This design adds some bulk to Apple’s thinnest tablet, but we appreciated the extra protection from drops and spills. The right side of the case gives you room to slide in a stylus, and you’ll also find cutouts for the tablet’s USB-C port, mics, speakers, and buttons.

The backlit keyboard offers a familiar, MacBook-like function row. This ESR keyboard case resembles Apple’s MacBook Pro keyboard in size and layout. However, ESR swaps out the Search, Do Not Disturb, and Mute buttons for dedicated buttons to cycle through four levels of keyboard brightness, select from 12 color options for the keys, and prompt the on-screen keyboard. It’s also more of a standard-profile keyboard, with keys that are not as low or ergonomic as Apple’s scissor-switch keys; the physical keys are comfortable to type on, but they’re not quite as good as Logitech’s or Apple’s keyboard accessories.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

It turns your slim iPad Pro into a thicker and heavier device. Apple’s new 11-inch M4 iPad Pro weighs 0.98 pound and measures 0.21 inch thick, while the 13-inch model weighs 1.28 pounds and measures 0.2 inch thick. This ESR keyboard case pushes the 11-inch M4 iPad Pro to nearly 2 pounds and the 13-inch M4 iPad Pro to just under 3 pounds, and it makes both tablet models 1 inch thick.

The case uses Bluetooth to connect instead of the iPad’s built-in Smart Connector. Unfortunately, this makes the initial pairing process slightly slower. Instead of pairing instantly, as you can using the Smart Connector, you have to connect the keyboard as you would any other Bluetooth device. Waking up the accessory from standby mode also takes an extra second or two. In addition, this also means you have to charge the case and your iPad Pro separately, but ESR claims up to three months of battery life on a single charge with daily use of the keyboard case.

Also available for these iPads:

• Logitech Combo Touch for iPad Pro (13-inch, M4)
• Logitech Combo Touch for iPad Air (11-inch, M2)
• Logitech Combo Touch for iPad Air (13-inch, M2)
• Logitech Combo Touch for iPad Pro (12.9-inch, 6th generation)
• Logitech Combo Touch for iPad Air (5th generation)

The Logitech Combo Touch for the 11-inch iPad Pro (M4) or the 13-inch iPad Pro (M4) is the best option if you want a large trackpad and a truly protective case but don’t want to pay Apple Magic Keyboard prices. The Combo Touch is actually a bit slimmer than the ESR Rebound Magnetic Keyboard 360 despite its added hardware, and it takes advantage of the iPad’s Smart Connector for power, so you never have to worry about charging the keyboard. It isn’t great for typing on your lap, though.

The typing experience is great. The Combo Touch’s square keys are large and properly laid out, and they offer a satisfying travel distance. The 11-inch iPad Pro (M4 and 4th gen) and iPad Air (M2 and 5th gen) versions certainly aren’t cramped, and the keyboard on the 13-inch (M4) and 12.9-inch (6th gen) versions is almost exactly the same size as Apple’s regular Magic Keyboards for computers. The Combo Touch feels particularly luxurious for a tablet accessory, even though it costs much less than Apple’s Magic Keyboard iPad case. Three-level backlighting and iPadOS function keys across the top row are bonuses that make the keyboard even more pleasant to use.

The trackpad is comparable to that of Apple’s Magic Keyboard. Both of the M4 sizes of the Combo Touch have, beneath the keyboard, a 4.5-inch-wide, 3-inch-tall glass touch surface, which is larger and wider than the one on Apple’s Magic Keyboard. The trackpad also works just as well as the Magic Keyboard’s: Scrolling is smooth and responsive, and all the multitouch gestures work without issue. The Combo Touch trackpad lets you press anywhere to click, whereas others often operate on a hinge and require you to press on the lower two-thirds of their surface. Depending on the model, fabric or a TPU coating surrounds the trackpad, and both feel comfortable against the wrists during extended use.

It’s lightweight but still offers an ideal amount of coverage. The Logitech Combo Touch’s rubber and plastic case isn’t as protective as the ESR Rebound design, but it comes close. It covers three of the iPad’s edges, leaving the right side exposed to allow for syncing and charging an Apple Pencil. Each version of the case has the correct button coverage and cutouts for its respective tablet; while the 11-inch (4th gen) and iPad Air (5th gen) versions are nearly identical, the speaker and camera cutouts are sized appropriately on each. All sizes of the Combo Touch measure about two-thirds of an inch thick, slightly thinner than the Rebound. The smaller cases weigh from 1 to 1.3 pounds, and the larger cases weigh from 1.4 to 1.7 pounds. They all weigh a bit less than the ESR case, and they’re lighter than almost any other trackpad case.

It’s powered by your iPad Pro. The Combo Touch doesn’t require a battery or a Bluetooth connection because it uses Apple’s Smart Connector: Contacts inside the removable case pass power and a data signal to and from the keyboard. This means you never have to worry about charging the keyboard or going through the pairing process—it all just works, instantly. However, because the keyboard requires a physical connection, you can’t use it if it’s separated from the case.

It requires more room to use effectively. Our biggest gripe with the Combo Touch is its stand mechanism, a horizontal, Microsoft Surface–style kickstand that runs the length of the case. Although this design allows for a wide range of viewing and typing angles, it makes the keyboard case hard to use on your lap, and you can’t use the keyboard with your iPad when it’s separated from the case. Because of this design, the Combo Touch requires at least 2 inches of additional desk depth in comparison with the Rebound.

Also available for these iPads:

• Zagg Pro Keys for iPad Pro (12.9-inch, 6th generation)
• Zagg Pro Keys for iPad Air (5th generation)

The Zagg Pro Keys for the 11-inch iPad Pro, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and the iPad Air (5th generation) is the best iPad Pro keyboard for anyone who doesn’t plan on upgrading to an M4 iPad Pro or M2 iPad Air model. On top of a great typing experience, it offers backlit keys, a removable inner case, two viewing angles, and the ability to pair with two devices.

The keys are a joy to type on. We found that the physical keys were large enough to be comfortable and easy to press, with good tactile feedback. Key travel was shallow compared with that of a high-quality laptop keyboard, but using the Pro Keys felt more like typing on a “real” keyboard than on an afterthought accessory.

The keyboard has a familiar layout for iPadOS and macOS users. Unlike many cheaper iPad keyboards, this keyboard has all the keys you’d find on a laptop, in the correct location. The 11-inch iPad Pro (4th gen) and iPad Air (5th gen) versions are smaller than most laptop keyboards, while the 12.9-inch version is about the same size as Apple’s desktop keyboard. The keys are rounded instead of square, but we found the adjustment easy. Unlike Apple’s older keyboards, the Pro Keys offers a nice array of iPadOS-specific special-function keys, including those for screen lock, volume, and brightness control, in a half-height row across the top. Each key is backlit, with seven color options and four brightness levels.

It can separate into a case and a keyboard. In addition to its great typing experience, the Pro Keys offers a removable-case-and-keyboard design that is executed just as well as on our top pick. The case isn’t the slimmest or the most attractive, but it does offer full button protection, the appropriate cutouts for the ports, speaker redirection, and a stylus holder on the right side.

It pairs easily and connects automatically. The initial Bluetooth pairing process takes seconds. But this Zagg keyboard also uses a clever system to reconnect whenever you’re ready to type: The iPad’s left edge—the bottom edge, when you have it in typing orientation—magnetically connects to one of the two strips above the top row of keys. When that happens, the keyboard wakes up and is ready for you to type after just a moment. (In contrast, other models may require you to press a button to wake up the keyboard.) And when you lift the iPad off the base, the keyboard automatically disconnects. This setup also makes the Pro Keys stable on your lap.

It offers great protection. The Pro Keys provides full protective coverage around the iPad’s right edge, where the rubber is molded to fit the Apple Pencil, but it’s still thin enough for the stylus to magnetically connect and charge. A magnetic flap snaps into place over that section, helping to hold the Pencil in place and keep the keyboard case’s front cover shut. Zagg claims that the battery in the Pro Keys will last for a year on a charge, but you can easily recharge the battery via a USB-C connector. That’s longer than the battery life of other battery-powered keyboard cases we tested, but models that draw power from the Smart Connector, including the Logitech Combo Touch and the Apple Magic Keyboard, never need to be charged.

It’s heavy and a little bulky. Keyboard cases are generally heavy, and most add noticeable thickness. The Zagg Pro Keys is no exception: The 11-inch and iPad Air versions each weigh 1.4 pounds—or about 40% more than the respective iPads weigh—and the 12.9-inch size weighs 1.9 pounds. All three versions are about 0.9 inch thick, in contrast to the iPad’s roughly 0.25-inch body.

Also available for this iPad:

• Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro (13-inch, M4)
• Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad Air (13-inch, M2)
• Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro (11-inch M2/4th generation) and iPad Air (11-inch M2/5th generation)
• Apple Magic Keyboard for 12.9-inch iPad Pro (6th-generation)

Apple’s newest Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro (11-inch, M4) is slimmer and lighter than its predecessor and adds a 14-key function row for macOS-like shortcuts. (We also still recommend Apple’s Magic Keyboard for the 4th-generation 11-inch iPad Pro and the 5th-generation iPad Air and the Magic Keyboard for the 6th-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which are compatible with the 2018, 2020, and 2021 versions of the respective tablets. Make sure to check which model you have before choosing a Magic Keyboard to buy.)

The Magic Keyboard features a great keyboard, a trackpad, and a sturdy, floating, adjustable way of angling the iPad. But the Magic Keyboard is expensive—the 13-inch version of the case costs the same as an entry-level iPad. You should choose this keyboard case only if you especially value the slim design or if you encounter a particularly good sale.

The keys are MacBook-level good. The scissor-switch keys and plastic caps offer a pleasant click without feeling mushy, and for the first time on an Apple keyboard case, they’re backlit, with brightness controls in the tablet’s settings menu. The M4 version of this keyboard case adds the keys that Apple omitted on previous models, such as shortcuts for volume, brightness, dictation, and media controls.

The trackpad is also MacBook-level good. The Magic Keyboard for the M4 iPad Pro has a wider glass trackpad that feels smooth and responsive. It also adds haptic feedback, which was previously found only on MacBooks. Since this is an Apple-made accessory, all of iPadOS’s trackpad features and multi-finger gestures work flawlessly with the hardware.

It provides zero drop protection. Rather than being a proper protective case, the Magic Keyboard leaves the sides of your tablet exposed because its back panel adheres to your tablet using magnets.

The case offers multiple viewing angles. When you open the case, the magnetic panel stops at about 70 degrees and then folds back so that the iPad can rest at anywhere from 90 degrees to 125 degrees. We’re impressed with how well the angle holds, keeping the iPad floating above the keyboard. The whole setup even works well on a lap, though your fingers may bump up against the iPad’s lower edge when you’re using the number-key row.

You can charge your iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard at the same time. The Magic Keyboard draws power from the iPad through its Smart Connector, so you don’t need to worry about replacing batteries or charging it separately. A USB-C port sits on the left side of the case’s barrel-shaped spine, but it only provides pass-through charging to the iPad; it doesn’t support data or video. Because the iPad’s USB-C port also remains available, you can charge through the case and plug in other accessories at the same time if you don’t have a hub with pass-through power. It’s also nice to be able to choose on which side to plug in the charging cable. No other iPad keyboard case supports pass-through charging like this.

It’s expensive. Along with all the good the Magic Keyboard offers, it has some serious downsides. The first is its price: The 11-inch version costs $300, and the 13-inch version costs $350. Logitech’s Combo Touch typically costs at least $100 less. The Magic Keyboard’s price might be easier to stomach if you intend to use your iPad Pro as a laptop replacement: A base-model 13-inch iPad Pro with 256 GB of storage, combined with a Magic Keyboard, costs about $1,650. But that’s nearly as much as our recommended configuration for the MacBook Air (which has double the storage).

It’s heavy. Both sizes of the Magic Keyboard weigh more than the respective iPads themselves, and combined, the keyboard and the 13-inch tablet weigh a few ounces more than a MacBook Air.

If you don’t need a detachable case: Logitech’s Folio Touch for the 11-inch iPad Air (M2, 4th generation, 5th generation) and the older 11-inch iPad Pro (4th generation) is the Combo Touch with a permanently attached case and a magnetic flap to hold it shut. The keyboard and trackpad are identical to those of the Combo Touch, and this model costs $40 less at full retail price. We think the Combo Touch’s removable case is worth the extra cost, but if you don’t need that feature, the Folio Touch is a good choice. At this writing, Logitech doesn’t offer this model for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

If you want just a keyboard, not a case: The Logitech Pebble Keys 2 K380s Multi-Device Bluetooth Keyboard is an affordable option that’s comfortable, compact, and versatile. It’s a standalone keyboard (one of our favorite Bluetooth keyboards, in fact), but it isn’t housed inside a case, so it doesn’t offer any protection. That means you still have to buy an iPad case if you want to safeguard your device from drops, and that also means you don’t have a keyboard on you at all times. The Pebble Keys 2 is great to type on, it can pair with up to three devices (including a phone or computer), and two AAA batteries can power it for up to three years.

Last year, one of our favorite iPad case manufacturers, Brydge, went out of business but shortly after was acquired and began making cases again. We look forward to testing the Brydge Air Max+ against our picks in the near future.

Cases for M4 iPad Pros

ESR’s Ascend Keyboard Case, like the company’s Rebound Magnetic Keyboard Case 360, our top pick, consists of an iPad case and a keyboard-and-stand combo that magnetically attach to each other. But the Ascend case is a hard plastic shell that protects only the iPad Pro’s corners. We preferred the keyboard performance of the Ascend over that of the Rebound, but we had some latency issues with the trackpad on our unit.

The affordable Fintie Keyboard Case offers a TPU case that covers your iPad entirely while providing three viewing angles and Apple Pencil storage. Accompanying it is a Bluetooth keyboard with backlit keys that magnetically attaches to the case. However, when the case is closed, it lacks a dedicated place to store the keyboard, so you have to carry that portion separately.

Cases for older iPad Pros

No trackpad

Apple’s Smart Keyboard Folio for the 11-inch iPad Pro (4th generation) and iPad Air (5th generation) and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro (6th generation) is a former top pick, but third-party options offer better typing experiences and more protection at lower prices. The Smart Keyboard Folio magnetically attaches to the iPad like the Magic Keyboard does, with the tablet providing power through the Smart Connector. The keys feel rather squishy—although the continuous membrane across the surface prevents worries about crumbs or water getting in—and the case doesn’t offer any protection for three of the iPad’s edges. The Smart Keyboard Folio costs only a little less than our trackpad-equipped recommendation, the Logitech Combo Touch. If you’re already prepared to spend this much, we suggest choosing the Combo Touch instead unless thinness is your main concern.

Logitech’s Slim Folio Pro for the 11-inch iPad Pro and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro (3rd and 4th generation) is worth considering if you don’t need a trackpad but want to type on your tablet in your lap, and if you have one of the specific supported iPad models (the 5th-gen 12.9-inch iPad Pro and the 4th-gen iPad Air aren’t currently supported). The Slim Folio Pro activates the keyboard only when the iPad is magnetically locked into the single typing position inside its front cover, creating a sturdy, flat base that you can use on your lap. Its large keys feel great to type on, it has iPadOS function keys, backlighting, smart battery management, room for the Apple Pencil, and adequate protection, and it’s just slightly smaller than the Zagg Pro Keys. But you can’t separate the case from the keyboard.

Zagg’s Slim Book Go for the 11-inch iPad Pro and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro (3rd generation) is simply too huge, especially the 12.9-inch version, which requires 10 by 11.5 inches of desk space.

Zagg’s Rugged Book Go for the 11-inch iPad Pro has the same good keys as the Slim Book Go does, but it’s even wider and taller, and it’s heavier than all of the 11-inch cases and even some of the 12.9-inch keyboard cases we tested.

Trackpad

As much as we like Zagg’s standard Pro Keys keyboard case, the company’s Pro Keys with Trackpad for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is disappointing. The trackpad-equipped case is almost identical to the model without one; its dimensions are the same, the removable case is the same, and the keyboards are the same size and layout. The keys on the model with the trackpad, however, are shifted up by a few inches to accommodate the very small, 3.2-by-1.8-inch touch surface, and their positioning eliminates one of the two viewing angles. The trackpad doesn’t scroll as smoothly as those on competing models, and it’s “sticky”—when we scrolled up and down in Safari, for example, the page kept moving for a second even after we lifted our fingers. Additionally, we found that the gestures didn’t work as reliably as on better models.

This article was edited by Signe Brewster and Caitlin McGarry.