Sorry if this has been asked before (did a search beforehand though).

Can anyone recommend a decent physical keyboard for the iPad (3rd gen). I am doing quite a bit of typing on it now in Pages, e-mails, etc and the on screen keyboard, while great for quick bits of typing, isn't great for long uses.

I'd like a small portable keyboard rather than a standard size one I've searched on Amazon but most iPad specific keyboards seem to have mixed reviews, some are keyboards with a inbuilt stand others are actual cases as well. The Apple iPad keyboard looks good but the price and ability to only use the iPad in portrait mode puts me off a bit.

I don’t have any first-hand knowledge of them but the Logitech ones seem to get good reviews and I’ve always found Logitech products very well made. They do tend to be more expensive though.

Thanks. I have had a look at the Logitech one online and Currys currently have it on special offer for £40 but none of their local stores have it in stock!! (I know I can order off the website, but I have a gift voucher I want to use in store).

"ability to only use the iPad in portrait mode"? I assume then that you're you talking about the Apple iPad Keyboard Dock? That's only for the iPad 1 anyway.


There is the Apple Wireless Keyboard, which is just a Bluetooth keyboard. Orientation shouldn't be an issue.

Any Bluetooth keyboard should be fine.

Have a look at these... http://www.mobilefun.co.uk/cat/iPad-3-Keyboards.htm

Another vote for the official Apple wireless keyboard

I managed to get one cheap off Ebay, bloomin' beautiful thing to work with, it is!

Apple Wireless Keyboard or HP TouchPad Wireless Keyboard if you really want a black one.

Logitech have a new keyboard due out this month that keeps its charge for 2 years based on 2 hours a day usage - http://blog.logitech.com/2012/05/03/...than-a-case-2/

I think it looks good, now all I need is MS Word for iPad lol.

Thanks for your replies


Its a good job I didn't go for that one then if it only supports the iPad 1!!


I have looked at the Apple keyboards but was unsure if they were really worth the price. Do the shortcut keys at the top work with the iPad (home button, volume, brightness, mute, etc)?

I was reading about that one. Looks cool, the solar panels and immense battery life are amazing, but the keys remind me of a ZX Spectrum

Lol yeah they do remind you of that

My issue with the iPad is no MS Word... Without that I have no use for the word processor.

I paid £30 for it, boxed, on Ebay and it's well worth that. The build quality is fantastic and it's robust enough to go in my bag along with my iPad and I don't worry about it. It's also really nice to type on over long periods, I've found. It's really helped with my written work when I'm out and about.
Yeah, those shortcut keys do work, though I can't tell you off the top of my head what the "home" button does (I'm in my office, iPad+keyboard is at home, lol)


I use PlainText on the iPad. I find it brilliant and, coz it syncs with DropBox, I can polish stuff up on my desktop whenever I want. I also hear good things about iAWriter

The problem is I'm often collaborating wIth other people so there needs to be 100% combatibility with Word or formatting gets really messed up.

Because of that it's easier to just use Word on the laptop.

Because I work across a few different platforms, as well as collaborating with others, stuff tends to be drafted in txt files, anyway... from there it's either going on various websites or can easily be cut n pasted into an rtf file in either Word or Libre so PlainText is spot on for that.

Thanks for everyone's replies.

Using a gift voucher I had, I went and got an Apple Wireless Keyboard this evening. It works great with my iPad (and I am typing this with it now). The only slight disappointment is the fact only some of the function keys work with iOS. While some iPad specific keyboards have a 'Home', 'Search', Slideshow' and 'Lock' keys the Apple keyboard only has volume and brightness controls. But I am sure the build quality of the Apple keyboard is far better than the others and that is the main thing.

It even works on my Windows PC and PS3 which is a bonus. Sadly it won't work on my iMac as it doesn't have Bluetooth.

You should be able to get an bluetooth adapter to make it work with your iMac. I've seen them really cheap but think they're only compatible with Windows. I'm sure there is a not too expensive option for Mac out there.

Would not have thought it would be any better than what Logitech produce - they produce some very reliable and sturdy goods.