Apple has designed a keyboard for its larger-screened 12.9-inch iPad Pro, but for other iPads, such as the iPad Air 2 and the iPad mini 4, customers looking for a keyboard solution will need to stick with keyboards created by third-party manufacturers.

Zagg is often a popular choice among iPad users who need a keyboard, so we went hands-on with the Zagg Folio Keyboard Case for the iPad Air 2 in our latest video review. The Folio is a thin case that has a built-in keyboard, turning the iPad into a mini laptop.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.

We weren't fans of the construction of the case. It's made of plastic, with a leather texture added to the top and bottom, but its plastic design makes it fragile. We ended up cracking our review unit when attempting to get the iPad in and out of the case. While Zagg has a replacement program in place for faulty products, we wish this case was made of better materials.

The Folio allows the iPad to be angled into several different viewing positions, and it leaves all of the ports on iPad accessible. It includes a keyboard with backlighting, and while the keyboard is not full-sized, it doesn't take long to adjust to the smaller keys. The keys felt similar to the keys on a MacBook Pro keyboard and weren't too mushy or too clicky.

The Zagg Folio Keyboard Case for the iPad Air 2 can be purchased from the Zagg website for $99.

Note: MacRumors received no compensation for this review.

Top Rated Comments

4ubrey Avatar
136 months ago
0:21 "This unit actually cracked when trying to get the iPad in and out of the case."
0:44 "but if you go a bit too far back it does get a bit top heavy and can tip over"

1:38 "but overall this is a pretty good keyboard case"

¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macintoshmac Avatar
136 months ago
I believe, as a reviewer, you can be opinionated; in the case of this case, you could clearly have added a statement that you cannot, in good faith, recommend this case to anyone - owing to it breaking under review conditions. How will this case last even a year of use of a normal person who would sometimes want to use the case and sometimes want to use the iPad without the case - therefore, taking the iPad in and out of the case - ever so often?

You claim that you have not received any compensation for this review, but your neutral stand against an obviously fragile product does raise questions about the integrity of the review.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TommyBoyAZ Avatar
136 months ago
I personally have two of these, 1 for the iPad air and the other for the iPad air 2. I don't use them as my everyday case, but when I am out on the road I normally take this for the ease of having a keyboard. But one thing the review was incorrect on is that the backlight brightness can't be changed, It actually can..

To do this you hit the little light bulb icon on the lower right.. each time you hit it the brightness increases (Dim, Normal, Bright, Off). If you hold the lightbulb key and hit the left or right arrows you can change the backlight color.

As for the case cracking, i haven't had this problem. Like any slim cover case, Just need to be careful on how you remove it. Mine have been in and out of the case about a few dozen times with out issues - Could have been a defect for the review model.

Anyhow, for what its worth...
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
4jasontv Avatar
136 months ago
You claim that you have not received any compensation for this review, but your neutral stand against an obviously fragile product does raise questions about the integrity of the review.
I am very harsh with MacRumors approach for reviews, but only because I want to rely on them. I didn't watch the video yet, but as far as I can tell they did receive compensation for the review. They got a case.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

maxresdefault

Apple Shows Off a Key Reason to Upgrade to the iPhone 17

Saturday February 7, 2026 9:26 am PST by
Apple today shared an ad that shows how the upgraded Center Stage front camera on the latest iPhones improves the process of taking a group selfie. "Watch how the new front facing camera on iPhone 17 Pro takes group selfies that automatically expand and rotate as more people come into frame," says Apple. While the ad is focused on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, the regular iPhone...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Says These 7 U.S. States Plan to Offer iPhone Driver's Licenses

Monday February 9, 2026 6:24 am PST by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. The feature is currently available in 13 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, and it is expected to launch in at least seven more in the future. To set up the...
Apple Logo Zoomed

Apple Expected to Launch These 10+ Products Over the Coming Months

Tuesday February 10, 2026 6:33 am PST by
It has been a slow start to 2026 for Apple product launches, with only a new AirTag and a special Apple Watch band released so far. We are still waiting for MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, the iPhone 17e, a lower-cost MacBook with an iPhone chip, long-rumored updates to the Apple TV and HomePod mini, and much more. Apple is expected to release/update the following products...
14 inch MacBook Pro Keyboard

New MacBook Pros Could Now Arrive in March

Sunday February 8, 2026 6:02 am PST by
New MacBook Pro models with the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips could arrive as soon as Monday, March 2, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In today's "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said that the release of new MacBook Pro models is tied to the release of macOS Tahoe 26.3. The launch is said to be slated for as early as the week of March 2. He added that the M4 Pro and M4 Max models on sale today...
m5 macbook pro deal

Why You Shouldn't Buy the Next MacBook Pro

Tuesday February 10, 2026 4:27 pm PST by
Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pro models as soon as early March, but if you can, this is one generation you should skip because there's something much better in the works. We're waiting on 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, with few changes other than the processor upgrade. There won't be any tweaks to the design or the display, but later this...