As a writer, I’ve never found a keyboardless tablet to be very useful as I have a hard time separating work and play. And the original Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover turned me into iPad owner (for a time). So it was with high expectations that I picked up the redesigned Ultrathin Keyboard Cover ($100) for the new iPad Air. With many past Apple product releases and revisions, accessory makers were in the dark. Yet these days, it appears product dimensions are getting fed to them in a timely fashion as we’ve seen quite a few covers, cases, and keyboards hit within just a week or so of the iPad Air’s launch (with many sporting “iPad 5” branding). However, I wonder if Logitech would have been better served by having waited a bit for retail hardware to arrive, as I have a few concerns with their new keyboard. But let’s start on a positive note…
One of my main concerns with the prior gen was that the keyboard cover might get scuffed up. As you can watch above, boy has it. Also, the original back/base is somewhat slick and will shift around a bit more than one would like on some surfaces. Logitech appears to have improved the situation with their new hardware given a somewhat rubberized strip near the magnetic hinge and two plastic nubs near the front and slightly raise the keyboard cover above your working surface. And speaking of that hinge, it’s slightly bulkier this time around, but it’s matte finish is an improvement and the magnetic closure seems significantly stronger than my original in keeping the keyboard cover in place when closed and the iPad is being put away. As far as typing goes, while I haven’t spent a whole lot of time banging away, I’m satisfied with the feel and key placement as a part-time composition device. The iPad angle is comfortable for both viewing and typing, and didn’t actually notice the angle is slightly different this time around until I sat the two devices side-by-side. Logitech advertises the same 3 months of battery life based on two hours of typing per day (and is charged via any micro USB cable, with one included).
What has me worried is the new groove that the iPad sits in when used as a stand and keyboard. It feels a bit flimsier than the 2012 model. Some of this is probably psychological as I don’t hear the same solid, reassuring magnetic click as the iPad settles in the groove. But the iPad also makes a creaking sound with every screen touch, something unheard via the original, and the keyboard exhibits some flex near the groove. Lastly, the magnetic element associated with the groove appears to be slightly off as the iPad seems most secure when it’s positioned about half a millimeter off center towards the right. Taken together, I’m not left with a warm, fuzzy feeling entrusting my $500 purchase to this accessory. I assume these are initial manufacturing kinks that’ll get sorted now that Logitech has real iPads to work with and we’ll find ourselves in a better place a few months down the line. However, I’m moving on and am looking forward to checking out the backlit, multi-positionable Zagg Air Cover ($100) as soon as it’s released in the next week or so.
Update: While the Ultrathin was purchased at Best Buy, Logitech PR worked out a trade so they could examine my unit. Given my description, they feel something isn’t right and it shouldn’t have made it through the review process. The newly received Keyboard Cover exhibits no creaking and the groove seems more secure. However, Amazon reviews are mixed and it remains possible Logitech may be experiencing early design or quality control issues. I intend to test this (better) unit for a few days and ultimately compare it to the competing Zagg Keyboard Cover, so stay tuned. In the interim, I took down our video review while I percolate how to best represent the varying build qualities.