In the battle of the iPad Pro keyboard cases, there are only a handful of contenders. At the moment, the Magic Keyboard from Apple is the clear winner over the Brydge MAX+. The last one to test is the Logitech Combo Touch. I have a feeling that there will be no real deal breakers with this one. It is going to come down to a matter of preference and features.

The Combo Touch is using an interesting strategy. Logitech is not trying to be a laptop. It is trying to be a Microsoft Surface. Having never owned that device, I can’t say how well it achieves that goal. But you can clearly see the inspiration. If non-Windows users are interested in seeing what that would be like, the Combo touch is the way to go. It is not the way to go if what you want is a laptop experience, but with an iPad.

I will try to review this product without reference to other products. But let’s face it: that is a rather artificial thing to do since it is class of only three products. Most people interested in this product are cross-shopping the other two. So no promises. We’ll see how it goes. Let’s start with the form factor and overall design:

Design and Form Factor

You might be able to determine whether or not this is a try for you just based on looking at the picture on the box. If you know something about the Microsoft Surface form factor, you already know if this is for you or not. If you need a laptop, this is not for you. We’re done. There is no type of hinging mechanism between the keyboard and the iPad. If you hold the iPad with the keyboard hanging magnetically, it will dangle limply. The kickstand is a nice addition to an iPad case. However, it is also a necessity for using the keyboard. Otherwise, the iPad will not stand up.

You also cannot get much practical use of this keyboard on your lap. It can be done in a pinch or as a stunt. But no one would choose to do it otherwise. The only way this keyboard is intended to be used is as a tabletop companion. That means it is not really a laptop nor a desktop. It is like a desktop with all of the disadvantages of a laptop form factor and none of the advantages. When put that way, it sounds like a pretty bad deal. It gets worse.

Not only does it have the ergonomics of a laptop, it takes up a lot more desk space. It takes up as much front to back space as my iMac and magic keyboard. In truth, a little more. This being the case, what is the benefit of using this instead of a desktop? I am hunting and pecking for an answer, and will get back to you on that one.

As I said before, this is the iPad answer to the Surface Pro. I am not convinced that form factor needed an answer. It is clear why Apple hasn’t tried. That said, there are other design features worth noting. It weighs in at halfway between the Magic Keyboard and the Brydge MAX+. It is heavy, but not as much. The thickness is not much more than the Magic Keyboard because there is no need for a battery or Bluetooth.

I would not describe the material as fabric. But it is highly textured in a pleasing way. The only thing that feels a little cheap is the key caps. They feel of cheap plastic. Everything else feels quite unique and premium. That said, there are worse key caps than these. Most people will have no complaint about them at all. I’m just picky about materials.

The 2-piece design is both a blessing and a curse. Because it cannot stand up without the kickstand, it is hard to use in a lap or on a table that does not have a lot of space. However, the design allows for easy separation from the keyboard. So you can use your iPad as a tablet and leave the keyboard behind. The iPad will still be protected as the case is not meant to come off. The iPad can be positioned at any angle without the keyboard. If you have the keyboard with you, it is easy to flip it around and hold the entire unit as a tablet. It is somewhat heavy that way. But it is more convenient than using the iPad as a tablet when you have the Magic Keyboard with you. The Magic Keyboard does not get out of your way. So when you bring it with you on the go, you are pretty much stuck with using it in laptop mode. That is not really conducive for reading and handwriting.

There is a large cutout for the Apple Pencil. Just note that there is no strap to keep the Pencil in place. When the unit is closed, the only way I have found to open it is by prying it apart in the spot where the Apple Pencil rests. So you will have to remove it before opening the keyboard. It can be a bit awkward. Beyond this relatively minor gripe, the Combo Touch knows what it is and isn’t. It’s design is very good overall. It also seems to be well built and made to last. Whatever problems this unit might have, it is not the hardware. This is some of the best hardware Logitech has ever made.

Keys and Trackpad

I really like this keyboard. I love short-throw keys and this is one of them. I wish there was an even lighter touch to the action. But I can type almost as fast on this one as I can on the Magic Keyboard. I really have nothing bad to say about the typing experience. Just remember that I like shallow key travel. If you don’t, you will probably not like this one. If you type a lot of words throughout your day, this one is worth trying.

I also like the function row of keys. They are very useful and have a pretty basic layout with familiar options. There will be no learning curve to using it. You will also appreciate the keyboard brightness buttons that control the backlight for the keyboard. There is some light leakage around the keys. This could be better. But it is better than many others. You will be able to see the keys without a problem.

The function row enables access to pretty much everything you would normally have to do with a button press. You can control volume, go Home, and even bring up Siri and lock the screen. I hate reaching up and interacting with the buttons on the iPad. Having dedicated keys for all those things makes the experience much nicer for me. Even on the Mac, Apple has a problem with function rows. It is better with the M1 MacBook Air. They just have to address the iPad boards. If you want a functional function row, the Combo Touch wins the day.

About that trackpad... I find the tracking indistinguishable from the Apple trackpad with regard to performance. In size, it is about halfway between the Magic Keyboard and the Brydge. As a result of not being as large as it could be, you will have fewer accidental touch errors while you type. I have had only one after a few thousand words. That is extremely good. I feel this is the right sized trackpad and Apple should probably reconsider its commitment to the huge trackpads they favor. When it comes to the lower deck of this product, I have no meaningful complaints. I doubt you will either.

iPad Case

The case where the iPad Pro lives is as interesting as the keyboard deck. It is not quite as well executed. But that really isn’t saying anything of note since the keyboard is executed extremely well.

The case has all the right cutouts for speakers and the charging port. The buttons are covered. The Lock button seems to be unimpeded by the cover. The volume buttons are a bit stiff for my tastes. It is not a deal breaker by any means. There is a large cutout for the Apple Pencil. That means that if you do not use an Apple Pencil, that will be an open spot that could take damage if dropped in just the right way.

Magnets attach the case to the keyboard. It is highly doubtful that any normal use could result in an accidental detachment. You have to be rather intentional to separate the two parts. If you fold the keyboard all the way behind the iPad, it will detach easily. But most people will just pull the two parts away from each other with a little effort. That is the most natural way to do it.

Around the front rim of the case is a rubberized material that serves as a protective lip around the vulnerable glass. You should be very comfortable lying the iPad face down while in the case. It is very well protected. The sense of protection abounds with respect to the entire case. If you dropped the iPad Pro while in one of the other two cases mentioned in this review, you would have reason for concern. If dropped in the Combo Touch, you have reason to believe no damage will be suffered in the process.

About the kickstand...

When the Surface first came out, I wrote a piece about the kickstand and whether the iPad needed one. I have actually written more than one piece on the subject and my opinion has come around quite a bit. While I understand the case for not having a kickstand, it doesn’t really seem to apply to what the iPad has become. It only really applies to what it once was. Even so, a kickstand would have made since for the second or third revision of the product. At this point, the lack of a kickstand feels more like religion than engineering. And I am not one for religion in any of its guises.

The iPad is a general purpose computer at this point. Unlike the iPhone, it should be considered in the same class as a Mac, albeit it one with different compromises. It is not simply a piece of glass that you hold. It is too big to hold while doing productive things. It is also plenty big enough to use as a video player non-ironically. You will have long sessions with the iPad that make holding all that time impractical. It is also a drawing tablet. This is clearly a device that requires some sort of stand. And it is silly to leave that as an add-on for third parties. It should be a basic part of the design since is a basic necessity of the form.

I have some doubts about whether the Microsoft solution is the right one. But at least it is a solution. Logitech has chose to ape that solution. That’s fine. But there were plenty of other kickstand options they could have chosen. So points for the kickstand. The particulars and execution are what is in question.

The kickstand is a flap that folds out from a bit above the middle of the back panel. It has a mechanism allowing it to be opened to any angle you need for typing, viewing, or drawing. Since it is a part of the back panel, the keyboard is not required. The design works pretty well, but with a few notable quirks. This is arguably the most notable aspect of the setup. So I will spend some time going over the pros and cons:

Pros

• You have the freedom to adjust the tablet to any angle with or without the keyboard attached.
• The kickstand gets out of the way when you don’t need it.
• It feels resonably sturdy on a table or solid surface.
• Adds very little bulk and weight to the package

Cons

• It is not easy or fun, albeit, possible, to use on a lap, and not possible for shorter people.
• There is a little play in the hinge mechanism so the position you put it in can be a little fiddly.
• It is a little difficult to deploy.
• It takes up a lot of space on a desk.

Most of this article has been written with the iPad in my lap. So it is definitely possible to do. To keep my arms from being in an uncomfortable position, I have to push the unit just up to my knees. For the iPad to be at the proper angle, the sharp edge of the kick stand has to be directly on the lower part of my kneecaps. I have bad knees to begin with. And this is very uncomfortable. There is also a bit of wobble as I type because the iPad and keyboard are only connected by a magnet with no stiff hinge in that location for holding it in place. You can prop up the iPad for typing, viewing, or anything else without deploying the kickstand. It is suboptimal for use on a lap — any lap. It just so happens that I do the majority of work with a mobile unit on my lap.

Everyone will have to decide for themselves whether the ergonomics of this type of industrial design will work for them. You can always clean off more space on your desk to make room. When you do, you will have an excellent typing and tracking experience. My trusty tape measure puts the cost at exactly 14” of desk space from front to back for that experience. If you don’t have that much space, this design is not going to work for you. If your lap isn’t long enough and you can’t handle the discomfort of something sharp resting on your knees, this will not work for you no matter how much you want it to. And make no mistake about it: you will want it to work out.

One more word about the case... If Logitech just sold the top half as a stand-alone case, they could get $100 easily. And I think it might even be mostly worth it. Just as a case with a stand, it doesn’t take up that much space and offers a lot of utility. Further, you would never try to balance it on your lap. It would have none of the drawbacks it has when you are hanging a keyboard out in front of it. But that is not the product they set out to make.

Conclusion: Compromises and Workarounds

At the end of the day, all iPad keyboard cases abound with compromises. You are sure to find a few things you really dislike about all of them. I suppose that is fitting because even the staunches of iPad enthusiasts find the same about of gripes about the iPad. It is an imperfect but strangely compelling device that inspires imperfect but strangely compelling keyboard accessories. Nobody, including Apple, has got it just right.

What you end up having to do is picking your poison and devising workarounds for your device of choice. Again, it is the same thing you have to do to be productive on the iPad in the first place. I cannot give buying advice on an iPad keyboard case. Brydge has the right idea about the form factor, but the wrong implementation. They are the one I recommend the least. Apple has the first-party advantage. Everything just works. The typing experience is second to none, unless you need more screen tilt and are tired of your fingers whacking the bottom of the iPad when you type. That extra USB-C port is also nothing to sneeze at.

Where does that leave the Combo Touch? I think it leaves it somewhere in the middle. It is an excellent keyboard and an excellent case. But together, there are issues you will need to work around. You will want to always use it on a flat surface, like you would a Microsoft Surface Pro. You will need a lot of dedicated space for all the places and your house you will want to use it. Your typical lap desk will not help in your lap because the unit is too long. If you are tall enough, you can use it on your legs, but uncomfortably.

Yet you will love all of the individual components including how the case feels to the touch. You will want to love it. But it manages to be the rare combination of great components that is less than the sum of their parts. If Logitech goes all out and keeps everything but includes a laptop-style hinge, the will be the clear and untouchable winner. It would be a little heavier and cost a little more. But it would be worth every penny. Surely, someone will step up and go all the way on an iPad Pro keyboard case. But as of now, the game is still up for grabs.

David Johnson