The ZAGG Pro Keys wireless keyboard is a folio case for the 10.9-inch iPad Air, 10.2-inch iPad, 11-inch iPad Pro, or 12.9-inch iPad Pro, depending on the size you get. It has a removable case that magnetically attaches to the rest of the folio keyboard, and it covers all sides of the iPad to protect it. The case has two ridges that let you place the iPad in two different positions, meaning you can adjust it to your needs. It has a built-in battery that charges with a USB-C cable, but some variants don't come with the charging cable. Also, you can pair it with your iPad and a second device via Bluetooth and easily switch between them using the dedicated keys. There are seven backlighting colors to choose from, but unfortunately, the lighting doesn't get very bright, which isn't ideal in a dark room.
Our Verdict
The ZAGG Pro Keys isn't designed for gaming since it's intended for use with an iPad. Its latency is high compared to dedicated gaming keyboards, and the scissor switches require a bit of force to actuate a key, so they feel a bit heavy. Also, you can't set macros to reprogram any of the keys.
- Can pair with two devices at once.
- Feels well-built.
- High and inconsistent latency.
- Can't set macros.
The ZAGG Pro Keys is decent for office use if you use your iPad for work. While it doesn't have a wrist rest or incline settings, it's very low profile, so you should feel comfortable typing for long periods. Its scissor switches are very quiet to type on, which is perfect if you're in an environment where you need to be silent. Unfortunately, the keys are small and close together, which might cause you to type slow and make a lot of typos at first.
- Quiet scissor switches.
- Can pair with two devices at once.
- Feels well-built.
- Has a slot for Apple Pencil.
- Backlighting doesn't get very bright.
- Doesn't come with its charging cable.
- Compact size might cause more typos.
The ZAGG Pro Keys is great for use with mobile devices, especially if you have an iPad. It's great for traveling since it acts as both a keyboard and a protective case for your iPad, and it feels well-built. You can pair it with two devices and easily switch between them with dedicated keys. Unfortunately, it feels only okay to type on, and the small and close keys might cause you to make a lot of typos at first.
- Quiet scissor switches.
- Can pair with two devices at once.
- Feels well-built.
- Has a slot for Apple Pencil.
- Backlighting doesn't get very bright.
- Doesn't come with its charging cable.
The ZAGG Pro Keys is okay for programming. It might not be the best option as your main keyboard, but it's good if you want a second workstation for testing with an iPad. You can also pair it with one other device, and it's compatible with all operating systems, though some keys don't work. Unfortunately, you can't set macros or reprogram any of the keys.
- Can pair with two devices at once.
- Feels well-built.
- Has a slot for Apple Pencil.
- Can't set macros.
- Backlighting doesn't get very bright.
- Doesn't come with its charging cable.
The ZAGG Pro Keys is inadequate for use with a home theater PC setup. It's designed for the iPad, so some keys don't work on other operating systems. The variant we got doesn't have a trackpad, but there's a version that does. On the bright side, you can pair it with two devices at once. If you tend to use your iPad while using your TV, this means you can use the same keyboard for both devices and easily switch between them. Also, it has dedicated media keys and backlighting, though it doesn't get very bright.
- Can pair with two devices at once.
- No trackpad.
- Backlighting doesn't get very bright.
- Doesn't come with its charging cable.
While suitable for everyday browsing and office work, The ZAGG Pro Keys has sub-par raw performance for gaming, with poor single-key and only mediocre multi-key latency. It also lacks n-key rollover and has a very low effective update rate of only 90Hz via Bluetooth.
- Can pair with two devices at once.
Changelog
- Updated Aug 30, 2024: We've added a note about non-compatibility with the new Apple iPad Pro (M4) models and a link-out to the newly reviewed Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro (M4)Differences Between Variants section.
- Updated Nov 29, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.3.1, which adds a new estimated PCB latency test to the Single-Key Latency section and a new Analog test to the Switches section of this review. You can see the full changelog here.
- Updated Aug 30, 2023: We've added text to this review for the new tests added in TBU 1.3.
- Updated Aug 30, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.3, which overhauls how key input is evaluated. We've added new tests for Single Key Latency, Multi Key Latency, Data Transmission, and Chord Split. We've also introduced a new Raw Performance usage and adjusted how the Gaming and Office usage scores are calculated. You can see the full changelog here.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the ZAGG Pro Keys wireless keyboard for the 11-inch iPad Pro; there are different sizes available for other iPads. Some variants include a trackpad. You can see the variants in the table below:
| Product Name | iPad Models Compatible | Includes Charging Cable |
|---|---|---|
| Pro Keys | iPad Air (10.9-in) | No |
| Pro Keys | iPad Pro (11-in) | No |
| Pro Keys | iPad Pro (12.9-in) | No |
| Pro Keys | iPad (10.2-in) | Yes |
| Pro Keys with Trackpad | iPad Air (10.9-in) iPad Pro (11-in) |
No |
| Pro Keys with Trackpad | iPad (10.2-in) | Yes |
We expect our results to apply to all variants without the trackpad. You can see our unit's label here.
None of the ZAGG Pro Keys variants are currently compatible with Apple iPad Pro (M4) models. If you're interested in a keyboard for the iPad Pro (M4), see our review of the Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro (M4 and M5).
Popular Keyboard Comparisons
The ZAGG Pro Keys wireless keyboard is a folio made for the iPad Pro, iPad Air, or iPad, depending on the variant you get. It's similar to other folio boards, like the Logitech Slim Folio Pro, but you can pair it with multiple devices at once via Bluetooth. Also, unlike the other folios we've tested, this one comes with a removable iPad case, so you can use it without the keyboard if you need to. There's a slot at the top to hold your Apple Pencil, and the magnetic flap helps keep it in place when the case is closed. Unfortunately, our unit doesn't have a trackpad, but some variants do.
See our recommendations for the best keyboards for iPad, the best wireless keyboards, and the best quiet keyboards.
The ZAGG Pro Keys and the Logitech Combo Touch are similar folio keyboards with low-profile scissor switches made for iPads. However, the ZAGG is much more versatile. The ZAGG connects wirelessly and can pair up to two devices over Bluetooth. It needs a USB-C charging cable to charge, though some versions don't come with one. It also has multicolored backlighting, while the Logitech only has white backlighting. On the other hand, The Logitech is only compatible with specific iPad models and relies on them for power.
The Brydge Pro and the ZAGG Pro Keys are both boards made for iPads. The ZAGG is a folio case that wraps around the front and back of the iPad, and it comes with a case that protects all the iPad's edges. It can pair with two devices at once and switch between them easily with dedicated keys on the top left. On the other hand, the Brydge attaches to the corners of the iPad only, but this makes the combo look more like a laptop. Also, it has brighter backlighting, and its standard key shape makes it a bit easier to type on than the ZAGG.
The ZAGG Pro Keys and the Logitech Slim Folio Pro are both folio keyboards for iPads. The ZAGG comes with a removable iPad case that covers all edges of the iPad, while the Logitech only covers certain areas. The ZAGG lets you pair it with two differences, while the Logitech only lets you pair it with the iPad. Also, it uses scissor switches that provide nicer tactile feedback than the Logitech's rubber dome switches. That said, the Logitech has brighter backlighting, which is important if you often work in a dark room, but you can't change the colors like you can on the ZAGG.
The ZAGG Pro Keys is better than the Fintie Soft TPU Keyboard Case for iPad 7th Gen. The ZAGG feels sturdier and doesn't flex as much as the Fintie, and it has backlighting, which lets you see the keys when in a dark room. You can pair the ZAGG with a second device via Bluetooth, unlike the Fintie that only lets you pair with one. You can remove the ZAGG's iPad case, so you can still use your iPad without the keyboard and reattach it magnetically when you need it. On the Fintie, the case is stuck to the rest of the folio.
Test Results
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