Logitech Folio Touch Convenient | Engadget

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The Folio Touch makes a strong first impression, with a soft, tweed-like fabric finish, available in Oxford Gray or a darker color called graphite. Aside from looking pretty, I’ve already noticed that it stays cleaner than Apple’s Magic Keyboard, whose silicone surfaces capture fingerprints and smudges even when you think you’re gentle with it.

As mentioned before, the Folio Touch has dense rubber bumpers, which cover everything except the lock button, which you’ll need for Touch ID connections, and the top edge where the Apple Pencil magnetically attaches. The Air’s stereo speakers and USB-C port remain exposed, though the rubber bumper is thick enough that all of those openings are safe in the event of a fall.

Convenient with the Logitech Folio Touch keyboard.

Somehow, despite the tough rubber, that thicker case doesn’t feel much heavier than Apple’s offering. The main disadvantage is that the rubber casing is more difficult to put on and take off. With any other Smart Connector accessory, you just need to pull and the tablet will detach from the three magnetic pins.

On the back, there’s a somewhat adjustable kickstand, and on top you’ll notice a buckle that can fit Logitech’s optional Pencil accessory (a pencil alternative). This strip of material can also unfold to transform into a magnetic closure when the folio is closed like a book. For those of us who don’t own the Pencil, it’s easy enough to fold the loop back on itself so that it doesn’t obscure the screen as you type.

I alluded to it early on, but I didn’t feel the Folio Touch was meant to be used on the knees – the skinny crutch was a little precarious balanced on my legs and it’s quite heavy. Even after you’ve stabilized everything, the screen straightens up at an uncomfortable angle. I prefer Apple’s approach, which skips the kickstand altogether. The Magic Keyboard’s flat underside rests comfortably against your legs, while a fold in the case lets you tilt the screen forward and back as needed.

At least the Folio Touch is comfortable for typing in the office. The buttons offer surprising depth, with springy back and no problem like double pressing. I will say that with prolonged use (for example, editing consecutive iPhone reviews in Google Docs), I started noticing too many instances of stuck keys. Input lag meant that I often had several words ahead in my mind before realizing that I needed to pause, save, and correct typos.

Side by side, Logitech’s keyboard is also louder than Apple’s, although the typing experience is good either way. You can’t go wrong if touch input is the priority.

The button backlighting activates automatically and this line of shortcuts will come in handy if you want to perform operations such as adjusting the brightness or volume of the screen or controlling media playback. There are also iOS-specific shortcuts like a search button that does the same thing as pressing the CMD spacebar. These are mostly useful, but beware of the lock key in the top right corner – too often I hit it instead of the delete button causing the screen to lock while I’m in the process. to type.

As for the touchpad, it’s roughly the same size as what you’ll find on the Magic Keyboard, and responds to the same multitouch gestures, like swiping three fingers up to see all of your open apps and swiping with two fingers to close. all of these thumbnails. The touchpad also worked well for one-finger tracking. Many apps support point-and-click, although you have to press down with each “left click” – there is no option in the iPadOS settings to press-to-click.

Other than as a laptop – what Logitech calls “Type” mode – the Folio Touch can be used in three other positions. There is “Display”, where you turn the keyboard over to look only at the screen. (Lenovo has offered this on its Yoga laptops for years, in Stand mode.) There’s also “Sketch,” where you allow the tablet to lie down at an almost flat angle. And, of course, “Read” is what happens when you fold the keyboard, like a book cover, leaving only a tablet in your hand. Apple’s Magic Keyboard cannot do any of these things.

In practice, the Folio Touch balances better in your lap in Sketch or View mode than a laptop-style keyboard. I watched eight consecutive episodes of GLOW with the tablet balanced on my lap or sitting in bed with the device resting on my legs. I guess I was pretty comfortable, if I sat like that for more than four hours watching food cravings. Having said that, I wouldn’t recommend watching a movie on your lap with this thing if there is a flat surface available.

In Reading mode, during this time, the physical keyboard automatically turns off when it is turned over, so you don’t have to worry about accidental key presses. Even so, feeling the keys under your fingers is a strange sensation. (I said the same thing about Lenovo’s Yoga laptops a long time ago.)

Anyway, should you buy this stuff? If you can’t afford Apple’s asking price of $ 299 for the Magic Keyboard, but still want a physical keyboard, yes. And if you want more than fair a folio keyboard – ditto. Also: if you want a keyboard that doubles as a protective case. All the right reasons. But if money isn’t an issue and you’re not going to buy the Logitech Pencil accessory, and above all you want the best typing experience possible, bite the bullet and spend your money with Apple.

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