Review: Logitech Folio Touch Keyboard Case with Trackpad

Earlier this spring, Apple surprised friend and foe with the Magic Keyboard for iPad. This is a cover with a fully illuminated Magic Keyboard and built-in trackpad. As you could read in our review of the Magic Keyboard for the iPad, we are enthusiastic, but the price is quite high at €339. Logitech has therefore released a much cheaper alternative: the Logitech Folio Touch keyboard cover with trackpad for iPad Air 2020 and iPad Pro 11-inch. How do you like this all-in-one keyboard cover?

Logitech Folio Touch review: the cover in brief

These are the main features of the Logitech Folio Touch for iPad Air and iPad Pro:

• Two versions: for iPad Air 2020 and iPad Pro 11-inch
• Keyboard cover with fully backlit keyboard and built-in trackpad
• Connects via Smart Connector, no charging required
• Row of special iPadOS function keys
• Fold-out stand with adjustable angle for adjusted working position
• Space to attach Apple Pencil 2 to the iPad and charge it at the same time
• Keyboard can also be folded for tablet position
• Dimensions: 25.6 x 19.2 x 2.1 centimeters
• Weight: 646 grams excluding iPad, 1123 grams including iPad
• Price: €159.95

Text and review: Benjamin Kuijten (@BenjaminRK). This Logitech Folio Touch keyboard cover was made available by the manufacturer.

To start with, it is good to know that there are two versions: for the 11-inch iPad Pro and the latest iPad Air 2020. Because the iPad Air 2020 is slightly thicker, Logitech has released a special version for it. The camera’s crop is also different. Apart from these cosmetic differences, both versions are identical in terms of capabilities and functions. We tested the version for the iPad Air 2020, but the pros and cons apply just as well to the iPad Pro model.

To use the keyboard, you must press the iPad firmly into the case. The edges are made of a kind of rubber, which protects the iPad all around. So you no longer see anything of the color of the iPad, except for the camera cutout and where you can attach the Apple Pencil 2. The cover closes magnetically and with a magnetic flap you ensure that everything stays in place.

Logitech Folio Touch while typing

To use the cover while typing, unfold it completely. The keyboard is incorporated into the ‘lid’ of the cover, which you place on the table in front of you. There is a magnetic stand on the back, with which you determine the viewing angle of the iPad. There are no fixed positions, which makes you very flexible in determining the correct working position. Compared to Apple’s Magic Keyboard, you have much more freedom, which is a big plus.

As soon as you put the iPad with cover down and activate the screen, the keyboard lighting immediately turns on. The lighting is clear enough that you can type well even in the dark, although the keys are never as evenly lit as on a MacBook or Apple’s Magic Keyboard for iPad. The key illumination is good, but not nearly as good as Apple’s keyboards.

Typing itself is quite pleasant. The button travel (the distance when pressing a key) is just right. It’s a lot more pleasant to type than Apple’s Smart Keyboard and the infamous butterfly keyboard of previous generations of MacBook. In addition, the keyboard of the Logitech Folio sounds a bit duller than the Magic Keyboard for iPad. When it comes to typing, we think the Logitech Folio Touch is one of the better keyboard covers for iPad.

A major advantage over Apple’s Magic Keyboard for iPad is that this Logitech keyboard has a separate row of function keys. You can go to the home screen, adjust the volume, lock the iPad, search and control media with the touch of a key. Unfortunately, an escape key is missing, but we think the extra row of function keys is certainly a strong addition.

Since iPadOS 13.4 you can operate an iPad with a mouse or trackpad. Ever since the introduction of this feature, we have been pleased with how Apple has implemented it on the iPad. The built-in trackpad in this Logitech Folio Touch also works with this. We like the trackpad, although it does feel a bit different in use than Apple’s. In our experiences, the trackpad on Apple’s cover responds a bit more smoothly, making operating the iPad a bit more pleasant. It does not seem to be due to the settings, because the speed of the cursor is the same for both models. We feel like the trackpad on Apple’s Magic Keyboard for iPad is a bit more accurate. An advantage of Logitech’s is that the trackpad has a slightly larger surface area.

We must also add that this cover is best used at a table or desk. The cover is somewhat unstable on your lap due to the stand at the back. If you work a lot on the couch with your iPad on your lap, we think Apple’s Magic Keyboard for iPad is more suitable.

Logitech Folio Touch in tablet mode

What’s missing from Apple’s Magic Keyboard case is a dedicated tablet stand. Once your iPad is in this case, you can only use it with the keyboard unfolded in front of you. You won’t have that problem with the Logitech Folio Touch. You can fold the part with the keyboard all the way back, so that the keys at the back face outwards. This means you don’t have to completely remove the iPad from the case if you want to use it without a physical keyboard.

A disadvantage of this is that it makes it very thick and heavy. If you mainly use the iPad in typing mode as a kind of laptop replacement and occasionally purely as a tablet without typing, then this method of use is sufficient. But if you only type occasionally and mainly use the iPad as a tablet, we find the cover too clumsy for that.

The cover is made of a kind of fabric casing. We find that a bit more comfortable in the hand than the rubbery material that Apple uses for the iPad Magic Keyboard. Although only time will tell what the covers look like in the long term (read: several years), we have more confidence with the Logitech cover. You don’t see any dirty, greasy fingerprints on it and the cover also seems to have more wear and tear than Apple’s.

The cover is a lot heavier and thicker than the Apple cover. As a result, it sometimes feels a bit clumsy to use, especially if you want to take it with you when closed. With a closed Logitech Folio Touch cover, the iPad is half as thick as a closed MacBook Pro. In terms of weight, the iPad with cover comes close to a MacBook Air (1123 grams versus 1290 grams).

Conclusion Logitech Folio Touch review keyboard case for iPad

All in all, we’re quite pleased with the Logitech Folio Touch keyboard case for iPad. The keyboard is very pleasant to type on and the function keys come in handy while working on your iPad. The iPad is therefore increasingly becoming a laptop replacement. The built-in trackpad also lets you operate the iPad without touching the screen, although we prefer the trackpad on Apple’s Magic Keyboard for iPad.

The many different viewing angles and different positions for both typing and using the iPad as a tablet are the biggest advantages of this all-in-one keyboard cover. With a price of around €160, the cover is a lot cheaper than Apple’s. Keep in mind that the Logitech Folio Touch makes your iPad a lot thicker and heavier.

After reading this review of the Logitech Folio Touch for iPad, do you want to buy the keyboard cover? There is a model for the 11-inch iPad Pro and the iPad Air 2020.

Are you looking for a cover for the iPad Air 2019 or 10.2-inch iPad? Then also read our review of the Logitech Combo Touch keyboard cover.