The Good: An exquisite, well built keyboard with good sized keys.
The Bad: Offers limited protection and has no backlit keys.
The Bottom Line: Despite the lack of backlit keys, this is a solid, beautifully designed keyboard that is a joy to use.
The Logitech Ultrathin is an elegant bluetooth keyboard cover for the iPad Air and while it may not be the newest keyboard in Logitech’s lineup, it’s still a strong contender and one worth looking into.
I was eager to see whether it would supplant the Zagg Cover as my go-to iPad keyboard, needless to say the bar was set high.
Design & Build
The Logitech Ultrathin, with its matte aluminium exterior creating a striking contrast against the glossy finish of the keyboard, is simply put, beautiful! This beauty however comes at a small cost given the glossy finish is prone to dirt, fingerprints and scratches. Despite that, the keyboard has held up remarkably well to the rigours of daily use .
Good sized keys and a comfortable viewing angle make for a great typing experience.
The Ultrathin is not only is pleasing to behold, but also to hold. A solid keyboard with sturdy construction, it exudes quality and excellent craftsmanship. That’s not to say it’s without flaws though. When in use, the iPad rests at an angle in a magnetic groove and while the it can be placed there in portaint mode, it exerts noticeably more pressure on the keyboard (raising it a little in the center) and isn’t as stable.
Notice how the keys are recessed below the rest of the keyboard.
Once closed, the keyboard is held fast with strong magnetic clips and serves as a cover protecting the screen — and only the screen. Despite it offering little protection, what little it does protect, it does so well. The keys are recessed and rubber pads on two of the corners and a rubber band along the length of the keyboard ensure that the iPad’s screen never comes into contact with the Keyboard per se.
Typing and Battery Life
As good as it may look and feel, the true qualities of the Ultrathin shine through when you start typing. The keys are well spaced and most of them – with the exception of punctuation and the number row – are near full sized. They’re well placed and typing feels almost like a natural transition from a normal keyboard with little to no learning curve.
I do however lament the absence of backlit keys. The Zagg and the Kensington before it, spoilt me with that useful nicety. Apart from that, the only real complaint I have with the Ultrathin’s keys is the absence of a capslock on indicator.
Logitech sacrifices less important keys for a full sized return key.
With regard to battery life, Logitech claim the Ultrathin can last up to 3 months with normal usage and while I can’t yet verify that, I’ve been using it intensively these past few weeks have yet to see the small battery and bluetooth indicator turn red (less than 20%). This in part is due to that fact that the Ultrathin, when unused for a short period of time, turns off to save power.
Logitech Ultrathin: The Verdict
For the longest time, I’ve felt the brand Logitech was synonymous with quality, and my use of the Ultrathin has only strengthened that belief.
The keyboard is masterfully designed and using it has been a delight. Despite the lack of backlit keys, it has triumphed as my favourite keyboard among the barrage of great keyboards I’ve used the past couple of months.
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