Apple Smart Keyboard for iPad Pro Review

There's something a little tricky about reviewing the first product in a new category. It's often good, but once things get rolling, there's a good chance it'll get topped. That's likely the case with Apple's Smart Keyboard for iPad Pro ($169), which I suspect will find a serious challenger in the Logitech Create and other Apple iPad Pro ( at Amazon) keyboard cases on the immediate horizon. As the first one out of the gate, the Smart Keyboard justifies its somewhat high price with a slim, attractive design and a Smart Connector that allows you to do away pairing, plugs, and switches.

Design and Performance
The Smart Keyboard is unusually slim and easily detached. It's basically like an iPad Smart Cover with an extra layer inside containing a chiclet-style keyboard. It weighs just 11.84 ounces and adds minimal bulk to your iPad Pro.

The case clips on to the Smart Connector on the left edge of the iPad Pro and covers the front of the tablet, but not the metal back. It doesn't offer much in the way of protection, aside from shielding the display from scratching against anything else in your bag. On the plus side, the case has no battery and no pairing process—it's all taken care of automatically by the Smart Connector.

You can either flip the case away from the display like a traditional Smart Cover, keeping the keyboard hidden, or fold it so that the iPad sits on a stand with the keyboard in front of it. It only has one position, propped up at a slight angle to type. The magnetic connection makes the keyboard setup sit relatively steady on your lap, but it's still a touch top-heavy, and thus less sturdy than a dedicated laptop PC. 

The keyboard has five rows, including roomy number keys, small arrow keys, and Control, Option and Command keys. The keys aren't entirely flat—they have a surprisingly satisfying little thunk for chiclets— and I was able to write several hundred words at a time without finger fatigue.

Holding down the Command key shows keyboard shortcuts, which is very important because they vary from app to app, and are never even the slightest bit obvious. What you're missing is an extra row of system control keys you'll find on some other keyboards, including options like Volume, Brightness, and media controls.

Apple says that the keyboard is made of a water- and stain-resistant fabric, and that the fabric supplies the bounce in the keys. This makes me a bit concerned about durability over the long term.

Conclusions
I'm not going to criticize the Smart Keyboard for iOS's frustrating approach to peripherals. The whole OS relies on touch input, which means you'll frequently have to reach up to touch the screen, whether it's to give focus to a search box or to press a formatting button. That's going to happen with all iOS keyboards, though.

The Apple Smart Cover does what it needs to, and the Smart Connector makes pairing simple and battery life worries a thing of the past. But I can't help but look at the Logitech Create, which we haven't yet tested. Yes, it's a full case, which means it's bulkier and covers the whole iPad Pro. But it has six rows of backlit keys, two folding positions, and costs $20 less than the Smart Keyboard, which may make it a better option for hardcore typists.