Logitech Combo Touch for iPad (7th, 8th and 9th generation) keyboard case with trackpad, wireless keyboard, and Smart Connector technology – Graphite

(It's a secret. . . . ) Do you have a "larger" laptop with a 15" or 17" screen that you don't want to carry around all the time? Do you have a desktop computer and already use your iPad for mobile tasks but miss having a keyboard and mouse? Do you ever wish your iPad had a physical keyboard because typing large amounts of text on the on-screen keyboard is inconvenient? The Logitech Combo Touch could be the right choice for you! In a crowded market, Logitech has created a strong contender for the best overall "keyboard case" for your iPad 7th generation. The case is also available in a separate version for the iPad Air 3rd generation or the iPad 10. iPad Pro 5" screen size Because of the differences in iPad models, the cutouts for the camera, headphones, and other features are slightly different in both case styles. As a result, while this review focuses on the 7th generation iPad, it applies to both models. So, what exactly is the Combo Touch? It's made up of two completely separate parts that work together to turn your iPad into a mini laptop computer. br>br>CASEbr>The back protective cover is the first piece. This case, like most others you've probably seen, fits your iPad snugly. All of the speakers, microphones, charging ports, headphone ports, camera, and other components are cutouts in the case, and everything lines up perfectly so nothing gets in the way. It also has a nice kickstand-style prop on the back that can be fully adjusted. This enables you to prop up the iPad at almost any angle without the need for any additional accessories. Angles are limited by defined stops. Once you've got it where you want it, it's easy to adjust and doesn't move. This works perfectly to go from a very high angle, such as when watching videos, to a slightly lower angle, such as when using it as a laptop and typing, to an even lower angle, which you can use for things that require you to touch the screen, such as drawing with an Apple Pencil or simply typing with the on-screen keyboard. The cover is made of a thick fabric that looks like tweed or other heavy fabrics on the outside. It has a pleasant tactile feel to it and appears to be durable. This piece also includes a handy pencil holder made of stretchy material for storing your Apple Pencil if you have one. br>br>Because the case uses a kickstand design, there will be extra space behind the screen for the kickstand, as opposed to a regular laptop where the screen is supported by the hinge and the keyboard. In the case of many iPad cases, including this one, the kickstand setup is required because the keyboard and hinge alone cannot support the weight of the iPad. In practice, this should not be a problem unless you have a very shallow desk surface or, more importantly, if you plan to use the Combo Touch on your lap like a MacBook. The kickstand design does not work well on a lap unless it is supported by something underneath it, such as a separate lap desk. br>br>The other component is the Combo Touch's true "brains. " This piece houses the keyboard and touchpad, as well as the magnetic edge connector for the iPad's electronic connections. If you've never used a keyboard that connects to the iPad via the edge connector, you'll be surprised at how simple it is at first. Simply place the keyboard near the iPad and it will snap into place magnetically (or perhaps magically). That's the only thing I have to say on the subject. It aligns itself to the correct location and connects the necessary electronic components automatically. You can immediately use the keyboard and touchpad after that. Because the unit is powered directly by the iPad, there are no batteries to worry about. In order for the iPad to recognize the keyboard and touchpad, there are no additional pairing steps or anything else you need to do. It's ready to use as soon as you plug it in! br>br>It's worth noting that the keyboard can be easily detached from the iPad, leaving you with only the back half of the case containing the iPad. This is for when you want to use the iPad without the keyboard because you can't flip the keyboard around to the back of the iPad when it's not in use. It must be unplugged and set to the side, which some may consider a flaw, but I actually prefer this setup. If you're sitting somewhere like an airplane or a waiting area, chances are you'll have your bag nearby and can simply put the keyboard in there when you're not using it. Or, in the worst-case scenario, simply place it nearby. When you aren't using the keyboard, I've seen some other cases where the keyboard is folded back around the iPad, which seems like an awkward way to hold the iPad because the back of the iPad becomes the keyboard rather than just a flat surface. br>br>Another thing to keep in mind is that this is not a light unit. The total weight of the keyboard, including the back protective case, is around 1 pound and 6 ounces. Because the iPad 7th generation weighs only 1 pound and 1 ounce out of the box, it becomes a 2 pound, 7 ounce unit when combined with this case. When compared to a current-generation 13-inch MacBook Air, which weighs 2 pounds 13 ounces, your iPad is no longer the light laptop replacement it once was. It will still be shorter and narrower than a MacBook due to the smaller screen, but once you have the Combo Touch installed on your iPad, the thickness will be similar to that of a laptop. br>br>KEYBOARDbr>So, let's take a look at the keyboard. To begin, it's covered in the same tweed-like fabric as the rest of the house. They're made of the same fabric as the other piece, so they're a perfect match. It also contains the necessary magnets to turn on and off your iPad when you open and close it. The keys themselves are very nice, consisting of an actual plastic key with each key separated and a standard physical key mechanism similar to that found on a laptop computer. This is far superior to some other iPad keyboards, which use a simple membrane type keyboard with keys that are literally made of rubber, giving them a rubbery feel. Despite being smaller than a standard keyboard, the keyboard responds well and is easy to type on; however, the size is limited by the iPad's small screen, which does not allow for a full-size keyboard. Despite its small size, I found typing on the keyboard to be extremely comfortable and far superior to using the on-screen keyboard. When typing long emails or other types of documents on a computer screen keyboard, tasks that are time-consuming br>br>There are a plethora of iPad/iOS-compatible apps available. On the keyboard, there are specific keys that are all very useful. The keys are listed in the top row:
- Home - It works in the same way as the iPad's home button. When this key is right on the keyboard, there's no need to touch the iPad itself. br>- Keys for lowering and increasing screen brightnessbr>- a key on the keyboard - This toggles between displaying and hiding the on-screen keyboard. When you're using an app that supports it, you can use the on-screen keyboard.
- Search - The iPad's global search box appears as a result of this action. I discovered that having a dedicated button for this feature encouraged me to use it far more than I had previously.
- Lowering and raising the brightness of the keyboard keys - The keyboard is fully backlit, just like a modern laptop (though Logitech chose to leave the spacebar unlit for some reason), and there are four brightness levels to choose from. You can also turn off the backlight entirely by turning it down to the lowest setting.
- Rewind, pause/play, and fast forward are the three media playback keys. These are self-explanatory and are used when listening to music or watching videos.
- mute / volume down / volume up / mute / volume up / volume down / volume up / volume up These work in the same way as the physical volume buttons on the iPad's side. The addition of a dedicated mute button is welcome, as there is usually no physical mute button on the iPad itself.
- a key to the lock This works in the same way as the iPad's screen lock button, allowing you to quickly lock and unlock the screen. br>br>There are a few other special keys on the keyboard in addition to the top row:br>- Key to the globe and the entire world - This button is located in the lower left corner of the keyboard and allows you to quickly switch between different keyboard layouts. For example, if you're typing a message on the Combo Touch keyboard and hit this key, the on-screen keyboard will change. The emoji keyboard (or other types of keyboards, such as other languages, depending on which keyboards you have configured on your iPad) will appear on the screen keyboard. This is useful for inserting emojis or other special characters while continuing to type on the physical keyboard.
- Keyboard shortcuts for Control, Option, and Command - These are set up similarly to a standard Mac keyboard, with three on one side of the space bar and two on the other. The Control key can be used as part of the standard Control-Down-Down-Down-Down-Down-Down-Down If you Control-click, it will bring up the editing menu, just like on a Mac. (Among other things, I'm sure) click the highlighted text. In iOS, I have yet to discover a use for the Option key, but it is almost certainly useful. The Command key, on the other hand, comes in handy because it allows you to use standard shortcut commands like Command-C to copy and Command-V to paste, which is much more convenient on the iPad than using the on-screen keyboard. To choose these commands from a popup menu on the screen.
- arrow keys to move in a certain direction - Another useful feature is the ability to move the cursor exactly where you want it and use standard keyboard-based text selection methods like holding down the Shift key while highlighting text with the arrow keys. br>br>TOUCHPADbr>Of course, the touchpad is a brand-new feature in the world of iPad cases. iOS only recently added support for touchpads, and this is one of the first cases to include both a keyboard and a touchpad. br>br>First and foremost, using a touchpad on your iPad for the first time is an unusual experience; after all, the iPad is designed to be used with your finger on the screen to select items, so having the equivalent of a traditional mouse pointer appear on the screen is strange. The touchpad pointer appears on the screen as soon as you connect the Combo Touch and use the touchpad. The pointer in iOS is usually just a translucent disk, but it takes on different shapes depending on what you're hovering over, such as changing to a tall rectangle when you're hovering over text. Also, the pointer vanishes completely when you hover over something you can click on, which is a little perplexing. Instead of simply hovering over the clickable item, the item itself, such as an icon or a button, enlarges slightly and moves in sync with the touchpad motion. This can sometimes cause the pointer to become misplaced for a brief moment until you realize which icon or button is currently selected. It would be nice if the pointer was simply an arrow, like a mouse pointer, but this is an iOS feature, not a Combo Touch feature. br>br>For the most part, the pointer behaves as if you were touching the screen with your finger. To perform the same actions as if your finger were on the screen, simply press down on the touch pad. By default, the touchpad only responds to physical clicks rather than tapping the surface, but this can be changed easily using the touchpad controls found in Settings. Generally speaking Trackpad. This panel also allows you to change the tracking speed and scrolling direction. On the same screen, you can enable a two-factor authentication. Although iOS has a secondary click option, I was unable to get it to work with the Combo Touch, so it is possible that it is not something that this particular unit supports. However, you can perform a secondary click by pressing and holding the Control key on your keyboard while clicking. When text is highlighted, this will open the editing menu. br>br>On occasion, I discovered that iOS failed to recognize the click. The majority of the time it works fine, but every now and then the iPad requires multiple clicks before it recognizes the click. I believe this is a problem with iOS rather than the Combo Touch, but regardless of where the issue lies, it is still a minor issue. br>br>After using the touchpad, I'm not sure if there's any advantage to using the pointer over simply touching the screen for what you want. On a small device like the iPad, you have the entire screen at your fingertips for quickly accessing the controls you require. When compared to simply tapping the screen, using the touchpad pointer requires more effort because you must first move the point to the desired location. In terms of touchpad usability, I found the gestures (shown below) to be far more useful. br>br>The touchpad supports gestures, and gesture controls greatly improve the experience of using a keyboard with an iPad because you can quickly navigate through web pages and other screens without having to reach up to the screen. The touchpad supports all of the standard gestures that are available on the iPad screen. Two fingers can be used to scroll up and down, switch between multiple home screens, navigate forward and backward in Safari, and so on, while three fingers can be used to quickly bring up the task switcher to switch between apps or return to the home screen from within an app. Pinching to zoom works the same way it does on a computer screen. br>br>Logitech has a companion app for the Combo Touch, but it's limited to controlling how long the keyboard backlight stays on after you stop using it and how quickly it dims down when it's turned off. All of the critical functions, such as tracking speed, turning tapping on and off, and scroll direction, are managed through the standard iOS setup screen in Settings, as previously mentioned. Generally speaking Trackpad. Unless you are extremely picky about how the key backlighting behaves, there is no reason to install the companion application at this time. Should you get the Combo Touch for your iPad? br>br>SUMMARYbr>So, should you get the Combo Touch for your iPad? br>br>I believe that if you frequently type on your iPad or if you don't have a regular laptop and want to convert your iPad into one, you should purchase the Combo Touch. The excellent keyboard, touchpad gesture control, and overall case quality outweigh the occasional issue with touchpad clicks. br>br>However, if you only use your iPad occasionally and wish you had a keyboard, I recommend investing in a separate compact Bluetooth keyboard. I believe that Logitech's compact keyboards are better suited to a light user because you can keep your iPad in a slim, lightweight case most of the time and only use the keyboard when necessary. This will allow you to travel with your iPad while also saving you money over purchasing the Combo Touch. PROS: br>br>
- Exceptionally well-made case that fits your iPad perfectly and provides excellent protection on all sides. br>- Fantastic feeling keyboard with real, fully backlit keys and all of the necessary iOS keysbr>- When reading documents, switching apps, and so on, the touchpad provides all of the familiar gesture controls without requiring you to reach up to the screen. br>- The stand's versatility allows for a variety of possible screen angles. br>- The iPad's magnetic edge connection connects instantly, eliminating the need for batteries or pairing. br>br>CONS:
- Your iPad will gain a significant amount of bulk and weight as a result of this accessory. The iPad case is heavier than the iPad itself. br>- The use of a pointer over simply touching the screen has some quirks, and the benefit of using a pointer over simply touching the screen is debatable. br>- Because the stand extends from the back of the screen, it requires more desktop space than a laptop, which can be used without a surface beneath it - This is especially problematic if you plan to use the Combo Touch on your lap, as the kickstand will most likely not be well supported if you rest it on your legs. br>br>VERDICT: br>4 out of 5 stars - Despite the additional weight and minor touchpad issues, this is the best iPad keyboard case available. br>br>*** Thank you for taking the time to read my review - Please let me know if you found it useful by using the form below.

Mila Hunter

| Dec 24, 2021

Here are my thoughts on the subject. I also have a magic keyboard for my iPad Pro, and I can say that the trackpad and keyboard on this keyboard are just as good as the $300 magic keyboard, plus it has a function row, which I wish my magic keyboard had! Excellent product that I would strongly recommend! However, one disadvantage is that it is a little on the chubby side, if you know what I mean. He's a bit of a hunk. It was exactly the same thickness as my 2011 MacBook Pro (the version with the cd slot still) when I placed it next to it, so it won't be damaged if it falls! haha.

Egypt Vega

| Jun 03, 2021

Pros- br>The cover has a substantial feel to it. br>The keys are excellent, with excellent backlighting and top-mounted function keys. (This is most likely the only reason I'll keep this case. ) br>br>Consbr>The keyboard connects to the iPad separately, and there is no strong magnet for attachment, which they should've included in their case (if the iPad didn't already have one). As a result, the keyboard can easily detach itself. br>br>It's quite heavy (I should've done some research beforehand), but it does make the iPad quite heavy. br>br>Sly marketing on their part, the keyboard must be detachable for any mode other than laptop style mode, which means you must detach the keyboard and store it somewhere else, as it does not fit as part of the unit, if you want to use the portrait reading mode, for example. br>br>Just sitting there, the apple pen holder appears silly. (I haven't gotten my hands on a first-generation pen yet. ) br>br>The touchpad is good, with the exception of the part that clicks. This means that 'touch' will not make your choice for you; you must click. It's not a deal breaker, but it can be inconvenient for those who sleep close by. br>br>I wish it was lighter; the fact that the keyboard detaches so easily defeats the purpose of the iPad's three other sides' sturdiness.

Kaia CHAMBERLAIN

| Nov 07, 2021

Pros: (I specifically sought out the Logitech because of these features)br>Rugged exteriorbr>Easy set upbr>Removable keyboardbr>3 optional set-up optionsbr> as stated in the advertisement br>br>Now for the drawbacks: br>This is an iPad generation 8, and the item is advertised as compatible with both generations 7 and 8. I don't own a 7, so I can't speak for 7, but here are the things that don't work for me:br> br>The case partially covers the camera (as seen in the photos). br>Volume buttons are difficult to use (they can be controlled by the volume keys on the keyboard, which is fine), but what if I want to use it as an iPad without the keyboard? I'll have to resort to the corner swipe option. br>The most significant "boo!" Is it because the headphone jack is hidden? And I don't mean in a fixable way. When my AirPods are charging, I put them on and listen to music.

Catalina McFarland

| Sep 14, 2021

This was purchased to replace the Apple keyboard that came with the standard iPad. It only took a few minutes to put my iPad in the case and connect the keyboard and mouse via the smart connector. After that, iOS will prompt you to download a Logitech app, which will enable the touch controls. The app does not require a login, and all I had to do was open it in order for my touchpad to work. To be honest, using this over my Apple iPad keyboard has been a huge improvement; I find myself using the touchpad far more than physically touching the screen, and it gives my iPad the feel of a laptop. The touchpad is responsive and easy to use, and the keyboard has a great clicky feedback feel, rather than the rubbery soft texture of the Apple keyboard. There is a touchpad dead zone in the far corners and especially near the top, but I was able to avoid it for the most part. Because the back of the iPad is covered, it can be used as a case, and closing the iPad turns off the screen. Some actions still require you to touch the screen, but I can perform the majority of them using the touchpad. This is something I would strongly recommend to anyone who owns an iPad.

Aarya Galvan

| May 19, 2021