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

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...
iOS 26

Apple Releases iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3

Wednesday February 11, 2026 10:07 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3, the latest updates to the iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 operating systems that came out in September. The new software comes almost two months after Apple released iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. According to Apple's release notes, ...
M3 iPad Air

Apple's Next Two Products Are Coming Soon

Thursday February 12, 2026 11:17 am PST by
Apple plans to release an iPhone 17e and an iPad Air with an M4 chip "in the coming weeks," according to the latest word from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "Apple retail employees say that inventory of the iPhone 16e has basically dried out and the iPad Air is seeing shortages as well," said Gurman. "I've been expecting new versions of both (iPhone 17e and M4 iPad Air) in the coming weeks."...
macbook air prime day 2025

M5 MacBook Air: Release Date, Features, and Performance Predictions

Wednesday February 11, 2026 3:36 am PST by
The MacBook Air is Apple's most popular laptop – a thin, fanless machine that wields quiet power thanks to the efficiency of Apple silicon. While the M4 model isn't exactly old, attention is already turning to its successor. Apple doesn't telegraph new product launches ahead of time, but we can draw a surprisingly clear picture of what to expect by looking at Apple's silicon roadmap,...
iPhone 16e Bottom Crop

Apple Reportedly Unveiling a New iPhone Next Week

Tuesday February 10, 2026 1:51 pm PST by
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld. The report said the iPhone 17e will be announced in a press release on the Apple Newsroom website, so do not expect an event for this device specifically. The iPhone 17e will be a spec-bumped successor to the iPhone 16e. Rumors claim the device will have four key...