entranceRussian keyboard for ipad pro. Seven smartest keyboard cases for iPad Pro
The unique Smart Keyboard combines many modern technologies... It is portable yet full-sized. And instantly connects to iPad Pro thanks to the Smart Connector. Connect the Smart Keyboard to it in one flick and you can start typing right away. And when you're done, just fold it and it will turn into a light and elegant cover.
Apple Smart Keyboard for iPad Pro 10.5 "
The full-size Smart Keyboard, specially designed for iPad Pro, connects to the tablet through a dedicated Smart Connector interface, which provides bi-directional communication and power, as well as interactions with the conductive material inside the keyboard itself. Working with the keyboard has not yet been so accessible and easy. The keyboard is perhaps the best tool for writing down your ideas, deeds, or goals. By connecting the keyboard to iPad Pro, you no longer need to worry about charging the gadget, turning it on or off. Just unfold it and use it.
Multifunctional
Apple Smart Keyboard has 64 keys and no spaces. This is a distinctive feature of this keyboard over conventional ones. What's more, a special coating protects the buttons from dirt and moisture. The keyboard surface for iPad Pro is composed of three materials. The Smart Keyboard's top layer is laser cut from durable fabric to match the shape of the keys and provides spring-loaded tension on the buttons. This made it possible to achieve a minimum thickness, as well as the possibility of abandoning the traditional pressing mechanism. What's more, the keyboard can serve as a comfortable tablet stand while watching videos or photos.
Durable and functional, the keyboard is ready to withstand the daily demands. Microfiber keyboard bottom layer is designed to protect the surface iPad display Pro and keep it clean when the keyboard is folded. The middle layer of the Smart Keyboard is unique! It is composed of a new conductive material designed to provide superior interaction between the Smart Keyboard and iPad Pro. It is worth noting that the iOS operating system works perfectly and harmoniously with the Smart Keyboard, allowing iPad Pro to use many useful functions QuickType.
Peculiarities
- 64 keys and no space;
- New Smart Connector interface;
- Serves as a keyboard, cover and stand;
- Durable three-layer construction;
- Unique conductive material;
- The minimum thickness is only 3.2 mm;
- Doesn't require charging;
- Support for many useful QuickType features from iOS.
) could just be very large tablet Don't make Apple special accessories for it. Of course, the 12-inch display is very convenient to read, watch movies and TV shows or play, but a tablet costing from 65 to 87 thousand rubles should clearly have more functionality compared to other representatives lineup... Two best friends for iPad Pro owners are the Apple Pencil and the Smart Keyboard case. The first allows for creativity, taking notes, sketches and sketches, while the second is useful for more pragmatic users who work a lot with documents and need an alternative virtual keyboard tablet. By the way, among the owners of the iPad Pro, the Smart Keyboard case turned out to be more popular than the "pencil" - the delivery time of the accessory was invariably long after the start of sales, and the tablet keyboard reached Russia only on January 13th.
The cost of the accessory in the Apple Online Store is 13,290 rubles. An acceptable amount if we are talking at the same time about protecting the device from damage, as well as a working tool that will significantly increase productivity and ensure comfortable typing. But there is one very, very annoying nuance. Apple has not localized the keyboard for different markets. The Smart Keyboard is sold worldwide only with a QWERTY layout - you won't find a model with French AZERTY, German QWERTZ or Russian QWERTZ. Due to the soft polyurethane coating, laser engraving cannot be done. Buyer Smart Keyboard for iPad Pro will either have to use touch typing skills, or look for tiny stickers with Russian letters, or come up with a way to apply Cyrillic alphabet at hand, such as acrylic paint. Needless to say, the second and third options sound extremely dubious? In this situation, the prospect of spending 13,290 rubles no longer looks attractive. However, there are actually not very many options.
It's worth starting a conversation with the fact that there are practically no tablet alternatives to the Smart Keyboard for iPad Pro. The Logitech Keys-To-Go, as well as the Apple Magic Keyboard and any other wireless keyboard, are inconvenient to carry separately from the tablet. The slot-stand in the Logitech Bluetooth Multi-Device Keyboard K480 is small for a device with a 12-inch screen, and the Logitech CREATE Backlit Keyboard Case, designed specifically for the iPad Pro, is not yet shipped to Russia and also has no localization. As a result, the choice is very small: either use the Smart Keyboard without the Cyrillic alphabet, or wear the keyboard separately from the tablet with a stand case. In addition, in terms of technology, Smart Keyboard significantly surpasses any competitors, so you involuntarily want to leave the choice on it.
Unlike conventional keyboards, there are no gaps between Smart Keyboard keys. In addition, it is protected by a special coating, so it is not afraid of dirt and liquids. The top layer of the keyboard is made of durable polyurethane, and the bottom is made of soft microwave. This combination of materials, on the one hand, provides protection, on the other, it serves to passively clean the display from contamination.
What makes the Smart Keyboard unique is the middle layer. When creating the Smart Keyboard, it was impossible to use traditional wires and components. That's why Apple combined nylon and metal into a single layer, creating a unique conductive material for two-way data and power transmission. That's why the Smart Keyboard doesn't need a built-in battery; you just plug it into the dedicated iPad Pro connector.
The principle of operation of the buttons deserves a separate discussion. A special fabric cover, laser cut with high precision, allows for a spring-like tension effect on the buttons, which made it possible to abandon traditional mechanisms without losing the tactile sensation when typing. At just 4mm thin, the Smart Keyboard works smoothly and stably, and your fingers feel the buttons you press.
Don't forget about optimizing iOS 9 to work with external keyboards. Smart Keyboard allows you to use a variety of keyboard shortcuts to speed up various actions and improve productivity. The set of them depends on the application in which you are working, and to see the list available options just press and hold the Command, Option, or Control key.
If we talk directly about the impression of using the Apple Smart Keyboard for iPad Pro, the feeling is very similar to working with the MacBook (), which uses the butterfly mechanism on the keys. The button travel on the tablet keyboard is very small, but it doesn't take a lot of getting used to. More precisely, getting used to it, maybe it will require, but this will hardly affect the quality and speed of typing. Thanks to the well-chosen distance between the keys, a tangible relief and a very clear stroke, it is convenient to work with it. Unless at some moments, even with the skill of touch typing, I really want to spy on the Russian layout so that the mechanical memory can check the unusual keys. Alas, you will not be able to do this. It is also important to note that the Apple Smart Keyboard is not very heavy, which allows you not to wonder whether to take your keyboard with you before leaving the house, or if you prefer the lightweight Smart Cover. By the way, Smart Keyboard can also be used with two tilt angles: large when typing and smaller as a stand.
We will share with you the experience of using the Apple Smart Keyboard and the advantages and disadvantages found over time. And in conclusion of the review, a few thoughts on why there is such a sad situation with the localization of keyboards for markets using a layout other than QWERTY. I would bet the iPad Pro is hardly a hotcake. This tablet is great, but its use cases are somewhat specific, which affects sales. Some will choose the more compact Air 2, others will add some money and buy a MacBook. As a result, the sales of tablet devices in each individual market are relatively small, and the sales of accessories for the iPad Pro are even smaller. Apple could hardly place an order on the assembly lines for tiny batches of Smart Keyboard with different localizations, and if this did happen, the accessory's cost and retail price would have increased. That is why iPad Pro owners in Russia will have a hard time choosing a keyboard for their devices - everyone possible variant combines advantages and disadvantages.
Where, among other things, he mentions the proprietary Smart Keyboard accessory. The iPad keyboard turned out to be interesting and controversial at the same time. Individual consumers see the tablet as a replacement for a laptop, and it is in typing that it competes on an equal footing with gadgets running on "large" OS. We figure out what good is in a branded expensive accessory and what you have to sacrifice when buying it in comparison with alternatives.
Appearance and design
Apple Smart Keyboard resembles a Smart Cover: polyurethane on the outside, velvet microfiber on the inside, three segments for folding the cover into a stand. Only next is another block with a width of two segments, on which the buttons are located.
The keys are covered with a tough embossed fabric that resembles jeans. The material is interesting for its resistance to moisture (you can pour a smoothie on the keyboard, and then rinse it - nothing will happen) and the fact that after several days of active use (10-15 thousand characters each), visible fingerprints or some kind of other traces of exploitation.
The upper base of the keyboard has small slots, which are necessary for air to escape when you press the keys, this same space is the most unprotected in the device, it is advisable not to pour water there. Contact with liquids should also be avoided because although the keys are protected, the bottom of the keyboard is covered with the same microfiber (because when folded it touches the display), which, in turn, can become hard or get dirty.
The coating on the bottom of the keyboard is constantly in contact with surfaces of varying degrees of cleanliness, which is why it can grab grease marks, coffee residues, crumbs and any other debris, and then touch the iPad Pro display with the same soiled side. Before opening the keyboard, you have to constantly check whether the tabletop in the cafe is clean, and also look through the keyboard before folding it back.
The presence of a physical keyboard changed the flexibility of the Smart Cover, making it impossible for the user to position the device at a 30% angle to type on the on-screen keyboard. This is not a big problem since there are physical buttons. In this case, in the "TV" position, the tablet is installed with a keyboard.
Edge use cases
Notebook iPad setup is limited to a single tilt angle, which in the case of the 12.9-inch model can be considered the most successful (among other "fixes"): the screen is clearly visible when placed on a table, and when you place the structure on your lap. It is inconvenient to use the device only lying down, when the keyboard is placed on the chest - in this position, the screen would like to be placed at an angle of 60-70 degrees.
The single tilt angle also jeopardizes the tablet when you sit on a high bench and put the device on your lap: it can unfasten and fall. The device is fixed with magnets on the block where the keyboard is located, but if you click too actively on the screen, the connection can be broken.
IN normal conditions This will not happen, but when you try to write something as soon as possible, you do not always control the force - during testing, the unintentional disconnection happened once, the tablet was caught before it hit the asphalt, but these half-second of flight were really frightening.
Such inconveniences arose due to objective reasons, namely the design of the keyboard and Apple's desire to make both a cover and a stand out of it, and the ability to fix the device at different angles would make the system too bulky.
Keys
Almost all keyboards for the 12.9-inch iPad remain close to laptop keyboards in size, especially the letter block. The differences from keyboard to keyboard relate to two aspects: button travel and palm space. Everything is bad with the latter in the Smart Keyboard - it is not there, which means that it is difficult to hold the device with your palms when you sit on a bench: your wrists quickly become numb, because you have to bend your arms unnaturally.
The key travel for the Smart Keyboard is between the first generation (MacBook 12) and second generation (newer) butterfly mechanisms. The depth of pressing is also small, but the buttons have a well-audible click, which partially compensates for the small stroke. The sound is less loud than in the second generation "Butterfly", but it is already sufficient to distinguish well between pressing the buttons.
Convenience of typing, in comparison with the usual keyboards, is average, since you need to get used to pressing the buttons less strongly. The first few thousand characters feel like hitting the surface on which the keyboard is installed, but the longer you use it, the more your fingers get used to it, and the easier it becomes to type.
The typing speed remains exactly the same as when typing on a laptop keyboard, the number of typos initially increases, but this happens every time you change one keyboard to another with slightly changed keys. The best part is that the response speed remains perfectly high, there are no micro-delays.
The disadvantage is the lack of backlighting: at night, the brightness of the screen cannot be unscrewed, and at the marks that are comfortable for the eyes, the glow from the display is not enough to highlight the inscriptions on the buttons
The layout in the tested sample is traditional ANSI, which is fine, but with the Up and Down half cursor buttons stacked one above the other and aligned with Left and Right. A similar scheme is used in the latest MacBooks, it is inconvenient because you constantly confuse them blindly.
A much more successful system from the old laptops of the company, it seems, will not return in the near future:
There is no row on the branded keyboard function keys, so for many actions you will have to interact with the touch interface. Perhaps this is a deliberate limitation to support sales of alternative solutions - most third-party keyboards contain useful buttons, including volume control and player control, exit to the desktop and a screen lock.
Several languages
When connecting an external keyboard, the main inconvenience is working with the layout, since Apple has not provided any identifiers for which language is currently enabled. At the same time, a panel with some hotkeys is displayed in a number of places where you can call the keyboard; it would be logical to show the active layout language on it (for example, with a flag, as implemented in macOS).
Start typing - always a lottery if more than one letter layout is active in the system
Now, to find out which layout is active, you need to click Ctrl Space or a separate language switch key, if such is provided (on the Smart Keyboard, this is a planet icon), after which a cloud with all active layouts is displayed over the program window. You can switch between them by repeatedly pressing the spacebar (without releasing Ctrl) or when the list of layouts appears, use the “Up” and “Down” arrows.
iOS remembers the last two layouts used, so that one click to switch between them, but this partly solves the problem, only at the moments when the user is already writing something and has already checked which language is currently active.
An alternative solution would be functionality from the MLSwitcher application, in which the user assigns shortcuts for each layout. This method of work allows you to always activate the desired language - before you start typing, you click the desired layout and start typing, which simplifies life, since you do not need to check whether the desired language is active or is it worth switching.
Implementation as in MLSwitcher is needed by a small number of users even on Mac, on iPad it would be used even less, therefore it is logical not to add such features to the OS, but third-party software will not solve this problem, because the developers do not have such deep access to iOS. , not to mention the parallel work of several utilities.
There is still one way to cope with this limitation - to come to terms. But in the settings you can change the layout, all the necessary options are available, including the usual Windows users("Russian-PC", "Ukrainian-PC").
Smart Connector
The keyboard connects to the tablet via a proprietary three-pin connector, which serves to connect various accessories and allows data and power transmission. Its use is still limited to a small selection of accessories, but already now some advantages are noticeable from it.
The keyboard works more responsive than when you connect a third-party accessory via Bluetooth, which is noticeable not so much by the speed at which letters appear, but by the response to keyboard shortcuts.
In addition, the device does not need to go into sleep mode, which means there is no need to restore the connection after activation. The keyboard always waits for a command from the user, which pleases me after using other solutions, which, after even a short break, need to be given 3-5 seconds to switch to operating mode.
The main consequence of using the Smart Connector is that since it is a direct connection with the ability to transfer energy, there is no battery in the keyboard, which means that it never needs to be charged, any physical damage will not lead to ignition (at least break it in half), and thanks to this, the mass of the device turned out to be not so big - only 340 grams.
Hotkeys
Any external keyboard paired with an iPad retains the same operating principles borrowed directly from the Mac, making familiar keyboard shortcuts work exactly the same, be it selecting all text (Cmd + A), copying (Cmd + C), pasting (Cmd + V ) or cut (Cmd + X), as well as bold (Cmd + B), italic (Cmd + I), and underlined text (Cmd + U). Even screenshots can be created as in macOS (Cmd + Shift + 3).
Many computer users limit themselves to these combinations, and use arrows and a touchpad or mouse to move through the text. The last two are not supported in iOS, which could slow down movement through the text, but other hotkeys make this process almost as efficient as when paired with the usual manipulators:
Option + Left and Right arrows allow you to quickly jump through words, and if you additionally hold down Shift, words will be highlighted
Option + Up and Down Arrows - Move through paragraphs
Cmd + arrows "Up" and "Down" - analogs of Home and End, respectively
In any application, if you hold down Cmd, a list of program-specific abbreviations will appear. Standard combinations are not displayed here, only navigation keyboard shortcuts, whether the transition to different sections, create a new tab, or switch display.
Tweetbot
The branded accessory cannot control videos in the browser, for example, pause by pressing the spacebar. This will change with the arrival of iOS 11, but for now you have to touch the tablet display.
Alternatives
Third-party solutions are inferior to Smart Keyboard in the complex, despite the fact that they win in some aspects. If the accessory has a palm rest, it will certainly be heavier and cannot fold to fit the tablet like a TV, longer key travel guarantees an increase in thickness, and the backlight deprives the keyboard of full protection from moisture.
The main alternatives to the Smart Keyboard (worth) are conventional Bluetooth keyboards that can be comfortably used in one workplace, for example, the native Magic Keyboard.
Choosing these options makes it impossible to print out, but if the iPad is mainly used in the workplace, and you only need to take it with you to consume content or showcase projects, this will be more convenient. So the buttons will be pressed as usual, there is no need to retrain, you can also pair the iPad with a less heavy Smart Cover, which will act as a stand in the workplace and sewn up for the screen outside the home.
Optimal keyboards for iPad are made by Logitech, here you can choose a bulky CREATE with backlit keys or a massive Slim Combo with a fold-down display stand like the Surface, a detachable keyboard and additional palm area, as well as a clip for Apple Pencil. Both start at $ 150.
conclusions
The Smart Keyboard for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is an interesting accessory that isn't so much attractive as a display protection, but a physical keyboard. A trade-off has been made between the convenience of the form factor, weight, thickness, and a laptop keyboard-like experience. There is no letter highlighting, yes, but this is not a problem for those who have mastered touch typing.
The typing process is spoiled only by the lack of space under the palm and the only angle of inclination of the display - these factors do not allow you to comfortably and for a long time to type when the iPad is on your knees (because of the first, palms get numb, the second endangers an expensive tablet when the knees are much lower than the pelvis) ...
If there is a surface where you can put a tablet with a connected keyboard, there will be no problems, and the absence of an area under the palm will force you to put your hands closer to the screen, which at the level of motor skills makes it comfortable to combine touch navigation through the OS and typing letters on a physical keyboard.
The design is not perfect, but considering that the Smart Keyboard folded protects the screen without making the tablet too thick, and when fully opened it remains rigid enough to hold it well, the decisions made by the engineers seem to be successful.
If you take into account the not very humane price, buying a keyboard for iPad Pro is worth only for those users who really type a lot. If the text remains a side process, it is better to answer short letters and communicate in instant messengers using on-screen buttons, and buy useful programs with the money saved.
3 reasons to buy Smart Keyboard:
- perfect responsiveness
- small thickness and weight
- moisture protection
3 reasons not to buy Smart Keyboard:
- a number of function keys are missing
- no palm rest
- no need to write a lot of text on the tablet
Thanks the online store for the review.
This is my personal accessory, which I have been using for more than a month and a half, respectively, the story is about the living experience of operation, and not an essay on the topic “ how I fiddled with the test device for three days". The thing is unusual and there is something to compare with. It will be interesting.
Delivery Adventure
The keyboard was ordered before the new year in the most rush of time, when the accessory was available in limited quantities only in the USA. Moreover, even in the Apple Store it was problematic to buy it through the efforts of brisk resellers. In general, I found myself a copy on Amazon from those same dealers who sent only to the United States. Given the fact that I myself am from Ukraine, sending directly from Amazon in any case was not suitable, even if there was one. It's all about the duty-free limit in my country €150 ... Anything that is more expensive is, at best, subject to a 30 percent tax, at worst - sent back, often even without the knowledge of the addressee. For example, DHL does this - there have been precedents.
In the past, I had a positive experience with Qwintry, when, in addition to delivering the goods, I needed Additional services... Then I made a large groupage parcel (the duty-free limit was also higher), which, among other things, included a road ordered from Amazon. But in the end it was not needed, since it was submitted for review by the customer and ultimately came out cheaper than the one purchased from the USA. Through Qwintry, we managed to return the backpack back to Amazon without any problems and get our money back.
This time a different problem arose. It was necessary to remove the Amazon invoice and insert a new one. The amount indicated in the first one exceeded the duty-free limit (the reseller did his best). Even Apple's real US price is a couple of euros higher. In general, in order to get a keyboard without any extra hassle, it was necessary to estimate it a little cheaper. That is what Qwintry did, having invested an invoice with the amount of $ 159.
It's not even that I'm sorry to pay extra 30% of the cost. Apple Smart Keyboard in conjunction with is a small personal dream from the moment of the announcement (yes, I'm such a pervert and a lover of big and strange gadgets), so I was ready for financial expenses. But in addition to them, it is quite possible that you would have to spend a lot of time and effort on a trip to Kiev in order to arrange everything and pay on the spot. This is how strange it happens that our mail works. And this is the best case. At worst, the package would simply come back, and I would be left without the coveted gadget.
Buy from local mates without all the adventures and complications? A dream, a dream, but I was still not ready to shell out $ 350 for a keyboard.
Whatever it was, but everything worked out. The customs officials cheerfully gutted the parcel, satisfied with the Qwintry invoice, and the accessory arrived to me without any hassle.
Customs officers did not bother repacking the keyboard with bubble wrap, but simply stuffed it into a white bag. Fortunately, on the way from Kiev to Chernihiv, the accessory was not damaged, even the Apple branded box was without a single dent. Either the post office began to work neatly with the parcels, or the thick Qwintry box with air packages helped.
I would also like to draw your attention to the packaging: a mighty box, a solid layer of bubble wrap, air seals - the package will withstand the attack of any vandal loader. There is also a bonus in the form of jelly candies :).
Why does a tablet need a hardware keyboard?
Before proceeding directly to the review of the accessory and impressions of it, I want to philosophize a little on the topic. Moreover, I have a lot of experience with this kind of devices and I have something to tell you about.
Good question, especially when it comes to the huge iPad Pro. It is even more interesting for the owner, which I am. In the past - in the case of - for me, a bundle of a tablet with a keyboard was used as a typewriter on the road - a kind of ultra-compact laptop replacement:
A lot of articles were typed in this mode on trains, planes, at a party, and at home too, when it was necessary to isolate oneself from everything. The tablet disposes of this - you turn on the mode " Do not disturb"And you are left alone with the text. The latter point is also relevant for the iPad Pro. And specifically, the Apple Smart Keyboard is perfect tablet stand when it is used in the mode of consumption of content on the table and on the lap. I'll tell you more about this below.
Finally, it should be noted that it is much more convenient to consume content on a tablet than on a laptop, even if the device is on the table. It's about tablet software, which is great on iOS. , applications for work in in social networks surfing the web using touch display, reading of books, . Nice and comfortable - you quickly get used to all this.
In the process of a fascinating interaction with the tablet, you answer letters, publish different things on social networks, which is much more effective to do with a hardware keyboard than with an on-screen keyboard. Although I got used to working with the latter, holding the tablet in portrait orientation and typing with my thumbs. But that's a completely different story. Let's go back to the Smart Keyboard.
Do not like everyone else
I'm sure some of the readers had an idea, they say, Roma is again fanning out and ascribes some kind of space innovation to Apple, while everything was invented before her. If we are talking about Microsoft Touch Cover and Type Cover presented together with the Surface tablet, the Cupertino company really borrowed one detail - the way of connecting the accessory through the contact pad. The rest of the Smart Keyboard is unique.
So, the Microsoft Touch Cover keyboard is actually a touch pad, there is no mechanism and tactile feedback from pressing the buttons. Microsoft Type Cover, on the other hand, is an almost standard mobile keyboard, made in the same way as the scissor key mechanism. And the thickness is similar - 7 mm versus 4 mm for the Smart Keyboard. The latter, by the way, is only 1 mm thicker than the touch-sensitive Touch Cover, but in terms of response it is very close to the devices with the above-mentioned scissor key mechanism. Which is actually not in the Apple keyboard.
In the design of a branded accessory, in principle, everything is different from others. As a spring (that is, instead of a scissor mechanism or "butterfly") is used special fabric laser cut for each key. This made it possible to "kill" three birds with one stone: to save on thickness, to simplify the structure and make it more reliable. She also speaks outer cover and protects the keyboard from water splashes.
Among other advantages, it is worth noting the rough surface of the keyboard, pleasant to the touch: it is not easily soiled, does not collect grease and dust, and is very easy to clean. In general, in terms of tactile sensations, this is the most pleasant keyboard of all that I have dealt with. Even better than the MacBook 12 and other Apple laptops. There, the plastic keys quickly become covered with grease, become slippery, and you have to wipe them from time to time.
Another innovation is the use instead of wires conductive tissue... That is, you can not be afraid to push through some buttons, passing the contact, or break the wires during the frequent bends of the cover. Thus, the latter consists of three layers:
- Outer polyurethane- it is exactly the same as in Smart Cover, no frills. This material has proven its usefulness in Apple accessories back in 2011. Yes, it gets dirty, but it is also easy to clean from excess.
- Microfiber inner layer- soft, pleasant to the touch, protects the display from various bad things.
- And between these layers is conductive fabric.
Origami
At first glance, the design of the Apple Smart Keyboard is not much different from the Smart Cover, except that a module with a keyboard has been added. All the same two options for installing the tablet: as a photo frame and for printing. But there are nuances.
It was important to make the structure stable and monolithic. After all, the cover keyboard weighs only 335 g with a 13-inch tablet weighing more than 700 g and very impressive dimensions. Try to hold such a "sail" in the right position. For example, Microsoft's design of keyboard covers is not very stable in any environment, except for their use on a desk. In the case of the Smart Keyboard, everything is exactly the opposite.
In print mode, the tablet is almost in the center of the structure. Its tilt and balance are designed so that the device remains stable even when used on your lap.
The second option - photo album or TV mode - turned out to be no less stable. Not for the knees, of course, but on the table the tablet is much more reliable than the 10-inch counterparts in the same position with the Smart Cover.
When folded, Smart Keyboard turns into a cover. In this mode, the keyboard folds inward and only a microfiber surface adjoins the display. Outside, the keyboard part protrudes a little, but it is completely uncritical.
The keyboard can be folded or put into working position in just one movement within a couple of seconds. You get used to it very quickly and in the future you do it automatically.
Operating experience
This is where I'll start philosophizing about why Apple Smart Keyboard is the best keyboard for iPad Pro.
When I was planning to buy such an accessory, I was tormented by the choice: whether to take or a branded piece. Yes, I originally dreamed of Smart Keyboard, but when there is a choice, doubts begin. For less money, the new product from Logitech offered both backlighting of the keys, and a more convenient cursor control unit, and a number of additional buttons for iOS control(player, brightness, Home, etc.).
But do I need another compact laptop if I have it? No, it is not needed. Because I often use the tablet lying on the couch and in this case the keyboard is superfluous. And Logitech CREATE turns iPad Pro into a laptop, and you can't immediately remove a gadget from an accessory. You can't put it back in just as quickly. With Smart Keyboard, there are no such problems - you can detach and attach the cover in one motion, just like Smart Cover.
In addition, the Smart Keyboard practically does not affect the dimensions of the tablet - it adds a little to the thickness, but not as much as the Logitech CREATE. In general, after savoring the thoughts described above, I took a branded accessory and do not regret it at all.
Logitech CREATE in all its monstrous glory. Yes, Retina MacBook Pro 13 "thinner than iPad Pro with Logitech CREATE included
I'll go directly to operating experience.
The design is held in place by magnets, and very firmly - the keyboard hangs on the iPad and does not fall off if it is lifted into the air. It is important to pay attention to the pad that is magnetized to the tablet. It is made of soft, but still plastic. That is, if a hard grain of sand gets between the tablet and the pad, you can scratch the edge of the iPad Pro. I somehow managed to put a little "kotska". So keep an eye on the contact pad and wipe it down from time to time.
The buttons are slightly smaller than the MacBook 12 and still have slightly more travel. But not as big as other MacBook models. It turns out to be something average in terms of printing experience. A distinct click is felt, but the sound is more dull than in laptops. By the way, the keyboard is pretty quiet. Not silent, but quieter than Logitech laptop and keyboard covers.
Apple Smart Keyboard vs. Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover
The firmness of pressing is calculated perfectly, it resembles that of keyboards with a scissor mechanism. It’s hard to believe that this was done only with the help of the upper fabric layer and without any additional springs and tweaks. The only caveat is that the up and down arrows are pressed rather tightly. Apparently, due to the fact that the buttons themselves are too small and the rigidity of the fabric for such a small area of pressing turned out to be too big.
And, yes, the cursor buttons will take some getting used to. Due to the fact that the side arrows are located a little further from the pair of keys in the center than on the keyboard of the MacBook 12, this block is a little more comfortable, but it would be better if the side arrows are the same size as the up / down. That is, the classic format, like in the keyboard MacBook Air and Pro.
Tilting the tablet in printing mode is ideal for working at the desk or on your lap. The same mode is the most convenient for content consumption under the mentioned conditions. I often watch videos and browse social networks while sitting in a chair - the iPad Pro is monolithic:
IN iOS settings (« General → Keyboard») There is a separate item for the physical keyboard, where you can select the layout. I use " Russian PC", As in OS X. I got used to this from the first days of working with the Mac.
Just a good reason to remember the absence of Russian letters on the Apple Smart Keyboard. Even in the Russian Federation, it is sold in the American layout. As far as I know, our Kulibins have already learned how to accurately apply Russian letters, but, as in the case of the engraving of American MacBooks, the result does not look very good. So to work with the gadget you will have to master 10-finger blind typing... A very useful skill, believe me. I can type quickly enough with two fingers (about 300 characters per minute) and hardly look at the keyboard, which was an obstacle to mastering the 10-finger method. But the purchase of Smart Keyboard was a good reason to do self-development in this direction.
By the way, this is one of my ways - to put myself in conditions where you just have to do everything, no options. At the moment, I have completed 65 exercises from the "" course and typed this entire article on the Smart Keyboard using a blind 10-finger method.
Another big plus of using a hardware keyboard is the support for hot keys... On this topic was - I recommend to study and I will not focus on this issue. I will only point out the most important points.
To view the hotkeys for a specific application, just hold down on the keyboard cmd.
To take this screenshot, I had to press on cmd with my nose, otherwise I could not reach Home and the tablet's power button :)
All OS X cursor control and text selection commands work. The hotkey for switching between applications is similar - through cmd + tab(a feature of iOS 9). And after that you can choose desired application with the cursor keys. And the switch option itself began to work more stable, previously it was often simply turned off - you press cmd + tab and nothing happens. Now this also happened a couple of times, but it happens at times less often. It is treated by disconnecting and connecting the keyboard.
Language switches by pressing the extreme button at the bottom left. The one with the globe icon. Also, the standard combination from OS X El Capitan works - ctrl + space... And Apple also "fixed" it with the aforementioned keyboard update - the layout itself does not jump back to Russian anymore, if after pressing the key combination you immediately start typing.
Another useful iOS-only hotkey is cmd + shift + H... It duplicates a single button press Home, that is, it returns to the desktop from any application. But double-clicking on "H" while holding cmd + shift does not work anymore, and you cannot get into the multitasking menu in this way. I hope this moment will be implemented in the future, it is logical.
I really like the ability to scroll through web pages with the up and down arrow keys - it is often more comfortable than pulling your finger to the screen.
I would like to note my enthusiasm for Smart Connector- it is much more convenient to work with it than with Bluetooth, which I can judge from my past experience with keyboards covers. It happened that they were lost or for no reason the on-screen keyboard popped up. And the most painful thing is when you take a tablet without a keyboard to lie on the couch, trying to reply to a tweet, but the on-screen keyboard does not appear. I have to turn off Bluetooth in the tablet - unnecessary body movement. And with it, the music is cut off, broadcast to the BT-column.
Another option is to physically turn off the external keyboard with the power lever. But then he forgot to do it, then he simply didn’t want to, because sometimes the accessory started to be naughty after that, and it was necessary to create a Bluetooth pair again.
Well, food is another item of expenditure of time or money (Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for iPad Air 2 runs on a pair of coin-cell batteries). Let not often, but nevertheless. Smart Keyboard, on the other hand, is powered by an iPad and, judging by experience, does not really drain the tablet. This Smart Connector seems to be a trifle, but during operation such a trifle is very clearly felt in a positive light.
Best keyboard for iPad Pro
I do not impose my opinion on anyone, but from the experience of using the Apple Smart Keyboard I can safely name it better keyboard for iPad Pro. Does not particularly increase the dimensions of the tablet, instantly unfastened and fastened, very stable in any conditions, an ideal stand for content consumption, and even protected from water.
Smart Keyboard does not try to make a laptop out of iPad Pro, but only expands the capabilities of a tablet into a full-fledged typewriter. More is not necessary. A tablet is a tablet, a laptop is a laptop.
Microsoft has two experience in turning a tablet into a laptop. This and. Good devices, great for a very small user base, but completely niche products. Not fish or meat. Too much adaptation to the touch-interface in Windows is weak and little suitable "tiled" software.
Hopefully in the future there will be decent hybrids that work equally well in tablet and laptop modes, but for now, specialized devices rule. And in the case of the iPad, it is important to understand that a laptop will not work out of it with all the desire. I understand this and Apple understands this, which is clearly demonstrated by the Smart Keyboard with its original features.
(5.00 out of 5, rated: 1 )
Can i turn my tablet into a laptop?
At the presentation of the iPad Pro, along with the tablet itself, two key accessories for it were also presented: the Apple Pencil stylus and the Smart Keyboard cover. We told you about the Apple Pencil in our iPad Pro review. Now we have the opportunity to get acquainted with the keyboard. For some unknown reason, it went on official sale in Russia much later than the tablet itself - only in the new year (while the tablet was available back in November). In addition, both in Russia and in other countries, the keyboard is sold without the letters of the national language. That is, in the case of Russia, we are talking about the absence of the Cyrillic alphabet. Nevertheless, the product is affordable and interesting. Therefore, it's time to study it in detail.
To be honest, the very idea of a keyboard for the iPad Pro caused some skepticism. It seemed, well, what is so unusual Apple can come up with here and how does it generally fit with the philosophy of the Cupertino company, which prefers to very clearly define the functionality of the device and almost never releases "crutches" for them?
It's no secret that there are many third-party accessories for the regular iPad, including keyboards. different types... Apple has never released this kind of thing. And the second doubt was connected with this fact: how necessary, in principle, is a keyboard for the iPad Pro. Third-party manufacturers, of course, strive to satisfy even the very specific needs of iPad users, offering accessories for all tastes. But in the case of the Apple branded accessory, we are clearly talking about a much wider audience.
We will try to figure out how successful this solution was and how justified its considerable price is ($ 170 in the USA and 13,290 rubles in our country).
Equipment
The keyboard comes in a traditionally white box with a picture of the accessory.
In addition to the device itself, the kit includes only a set of information leaflets.
As a matter of fact, the keyboard does not require any chargers or other auxiliary things, so it's even hard to imagine what else could be here.
Design
When closed, the Smart Keyboard looks like a twin of the Smart Cover. We also told you about Smart Cover for iPad Pro, and in general it is one of the most famous accessories for the iPad line. The idea behind the Smart Keyboard is that it replaces the Smart Cover and, of course, also offers features that the cover does not have.
The material of the outer and inner surfaces of the closed Smart Keyboard is identical to the Smart Cover. It is a very pleasant to the touch polyurethane and velvety microfiber.
The Smart Keyboard connects to the iPad Pro using a proprietary three-pin connector made on the iPad Pro specifically for the Smart keyboard.
In the photo below - Smart Cover (left) and Smart Keyboard (right). Here you can see the visual difference between Smart Keyboard and Smart Cover: because of the keyboard, the part of the Smart Keyboard is thicker than the Smart Cover.
But, of course, the main difference becomes obvious when you flip the Smart Keyboard and open it completely. Here we see the keyboard itself, and above it there is a magnetic groove for installing the tablet.
You can see that the keyboard itself takes up about a quarter of the Smart Keyboard's area. At first glance, this is not much, but in fact we have an almost full-fledged Mac keyboard.
Keyboard layout
Layout - as close as possible to the familiar layout of MacBook or iMac / Mac Pro / Mac mini (Apple Keyboard) keyboards. Below are photos of Apple Keyboard and Smart Keyboard (ignore the proportions - the Smart Keyboard is actually slightly longer than the Keyboard, so the keys aren't that much smaller).
As we can see, in terms of layout, the five rows of Smart Keyboard keys are absolutely identical to the five lower rows of the Keyboard. There is no top row of function keys on the Smart Keyboard, but it is not needed in iOS. Otherwise, the only difference is the layout switch key in the lower left corner instead of the Fn key. This gets in the way of habit, because in OS X we are used to switching the layout by pressing Command + Space, but here you just need to press the key with the globe icon (it is most convenient to do this with the little finger of your left hand).
It is very important that many familiar combinations work: for example, Cmd + C - copy, Command + V - paste, Ctrl + Shift + hyphen - em dash ... But Command + Shift + 3 does not work for taking a screenshot and some other commands, not related to typing.
Ergonomics of the keyboard
The weakest point of most of these devices is the insufficiently tangible key travel, their too small size and insufficient distance between the keys. Often, because of these three features, it is almost impossible to type on such a keyboard blindly, even if the layout is completely identical to the usual one.
Fortunately, the Smart Keyboard has all these parameters in perfect order. Of course, the size of the keys is slightly smaller than that of a full-fledged keyboard: 14 mm horizontally against the usual 16 mm. But this is compensated by the sufficient spacing between the keys, so that there are almost no mistakes when typing blindly. Great result!
As for the key travel, it is clear, moderately elastic and, as far as possible in such conditions, even quite high. There is even a click sound when typing quickly (not particularly annoying). In general, the keyboard is really pleasant to type on (despite the objective shortcomings compared to full-fledged desktop keyboards).
Let's note one more detail: the surface of the keys and their surrounding surface is rough, grainy. And in this case, it seems to be a very correct decision, since such a surface does not collect fingerprints at all, is not damaged in any way (well, only if you scratch it on purpose) and does not slip.
On top of that, the keyboard is waterproof, so you can safely spill coffee or tea on it and then wash it under water. There are simply no cracks through which water could penetrate inside. Unless the interaction with moisture will not be very useful for microfiber. But if you spill coffee on the keyboard while typing, moisture won't get to the microfiber coating anyway.
Using Smart Keyboard as Cover
As we have already noted, the design of the Smart Keyboard has deliberately been as close as possible to the design of the Smart Cover. Indeed, Smart Keyboard can replace Smart Cover in almost everything. WITH with Smart Keyboard the tablet can be installed in one of two positions. The first is for printing.
In this position, the bottom of the tablet, to which the Smart Keyboard spine is connected, is inserted into the magnetic groove, firmly seated in it. And at the back, the design is supported by three free sections of the Smart Keyboard.
The second position is ideal for reading or viewing content.
In this case, the keyboard unit is at the back, being pressed with the back side to the "back" of the tablet.
Of course, all sections can be bent back, completely closing the "back" of the tablet, or you can close the screen with them. It will look like this.
Of course, the design turns out to be thicker than in the case of the Smart Cover, but in practice it almost never gets in the way and does not take up much more space in the bag than the iPad Pro in the Smart Cover. At the same time, when we open the Smart Keyboard on the screen, the tablet wakes up from sleep mode, just like when working with Smart Cover.
The only option for using Smart Cover, which is not available in the case of the Smart Keyboard, is the one in the photo below.
But in fact, he is not needed here. After all, in the absence of a keyboard, such an installation of the iPad is useful just by the possibility of convenient typing on the virtual keyboard. And if we have a physical keyboard, why type on a virtual one?
Settings and additional features
Considering the fact that Smart Keyboard turns iPad Pro into a kind of laptop, it would be logical to expect some special settings for this accessory. But here Apple has remained true to its minimalism.
Everything related to Smart Keyboard settings is located at Settings / General / Keyboards / Physical keyboard... And this is just simply a selection of available layouts. Moreover, this subsection of the menu appears only when the tablet is installed on the Smart Keyboard in the print position. If Smart Keyboard simply covers the tablet as a cover, then there is no subsection.
Another thing is that for the physical keyboard, of course, the settings that exist for the virtual keyboard also work. And here it is highly recommended to go to the "Keyboards" subsection and delete the emoji keyboard, which, it turns out, is the third (after Russian and English). In general, iPad owners should do this in any case (well, unless you love texting with emoticons :)), but when using Smart Keyboard, the presence of a third keyboard (no matter, emoji or any other) significantly slows down typing. Because then when you press the language switch key, we see this picture.
Therefore, to switch from Russian to English, you also need to click on the screen, choosing the desired keyboard out of three. Obviously, this is terribly inconvenient (at least if you regularly need to switch between Russian and English layout). If there are only two keyboards, then this miniature menu does not even appear, but immediately switches languages, similar to what is done in iOS by pressing Command + Space.
So, this completes the Smart Keyboard settings. In fact, to work with the keyboard, you just need to connect it to the iPad Pro and set the tablet in print mode (that is, with the keyboard facing you). And that's all. But there is still hidden opportunities... And these are various keyboard shortcuts that we can learn about for a specific application by pressing and holding Command. For example, this is what opens in the browser.
But - on the home screen.
Curiously, this option works even in some third party applications... For example, in Microsoft Word.
We were, of course, interested in how correctly the Smart Keyboard will work in Parallels Access, with which you can remotely connect to your MacBook and work on the iPad Pro in OS X. As it turned out, there are no obstacles here, except for the fact that Parallels Access is still not properly optimized for iPad Pro (this shows up in screen resolution and some glitches). That is, if the program is correctly launched through Parallels Access, then the physical keyboard will work normally. Up to the fact that using Command + Shift + 4 you can take a screenshot (and it will be saved on the MacBook), and the layout can be switched with the key with the globe.
Impressions of use and conclusions
We've been using Smart Keyboard with iPad Pro for about two weeks. At first glance, this is an optional accessory, especially if you have a MacBook Pro. And it is clear that even with a physical keyboard, it is better to do serious work in OS X than in iOS. But still, I don't want to part with the Smart Keyboard, and, as it turns out, this device can really be useful.
However, the result exceeded expectations. First of all, the accessory itself turned out to be very successful. Typing on the keyboard is almost as pleasant and comfortable as typing on regular keyboard Apple is incomparably more comfortable than the iPad Pro virtual keyboard. But at the same time, the Smart Keyboard takes up almost no space - with it, the iPad Pro becomes only slightly thicker than with the proprietary Smart Cover, and a little heavier. To be precise, then Smart mass The Keyboard is 335 grams and the Smart Cover is 164 grams. But in the case of home use, and in the case of some kind of travel, this almost does not entail any inconvenience. True, the mass of the tablet still becomes more than the psychological threshold of 1 kg, and it is no longer so easy to casually take it from the window sill or shelf with one hand. However, it would be unfair to argue that this somehow limits the use cases for the tablet.
But the opposite is obvious: Smart Keyboard significantly expands the possibilities of using the iPad Pro, turning it into a full-fledged laptop replacement when it comes to typing, working with mail, communicating on social networks and instant messengers ... That is, if you have a laptop and iPad Pro with Smart Keyboard, there will be much less cases when you need to take a laptop with you, and not an iPad. Do you like to write text in transport? Please. Do you want to work outdoors or in a cafe, raking mail and chatting with colleagues over the Internet? You can, too. Let's say more: if you have iPad version Pro with a cellular module, then the iPad Pro becomes an even more preferable option, because you will not be tied to Wi-Fi hotspots.
Perhaps the main thing that does not allow when working with the iPad Pro and Smart Keyboard to forget that this is still not a full-fledged laptop is the lack of a mouse, which can be very useful even in a text editor, not to mention other professional tasks. For example, it is still not as convenient to select large chunks of text with your finger as with the mouse. But this remark is not directly related to Smart Keyboard.
As for home use, the Smart Keyboard turns out to be an unexpectedly useful accessory here too. Imagine lying on your couch surfing the internet or watching YouTube using your iPad Pro. And now you have received a letter to which it is desirable to answer in detail. Or a friend started chatting in a messenger. Or I wanted to comment on a post on a social network. It seems that I don’t want to get up for this, turn on the computer and change for it, but typing any expanded phrases on the virtual keyboard is not pleasant enough. This is where Smart Keyboard comes in handy. By the way, the Smart Keyboard tablet is quite stable even on its knees or other uneven surface (which, by the way, not all external keyboards can boast of).
In general, this, of course, is not a basic necessity. But it is a very nice and in many cases useful addition to the iPad Pro, which in many ways exceeded our expectations and allayed concerns. Three things can keep you from buying Smart Keyboard: firstly, the high price (although Apple accessories have never been cheap), secondly, the absence of Russian letters on the keys, and thirdly, the mass - with all the success of the keyboard, the tablet becomes harder, of course. And whether these moments outweigh or not - depends primarily on how and where you use the iPad Pro, whether you are typing blindly and whether you are ready to spend 13,290 rubles for such a thing.
As a conclusion, we offer you our Smart Keyboard video review, which clearly shows the possibilities of its use.
P. S. For its decent appearance, water resistance and excellent functionality, we present the Smart Keyboard with our Original Design editorial award: