Touchfire for iPad Mini is a clear, compact, and cozy keyboard

The Touchfire magnetically snaps onto the bezel and adds a tactile dimension to the onscreen keyboard.

Xiomara Blanco

Oct. 9, 2013 3:46 p.m. PT

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Dice-like keys

From this angle you can see how the keys have concave circles in their center, and slightly protrude above the screen.

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Touchfire for iPad

The Touchfire keyboard is also available for the iPad 2, 3, and 4, but that model differs in design with a larger bottom border, due to the full-size iPad's bigger bezel.

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Up-close detail

The keys are shiny and smooth, but lose any reflective qualities when backlit by the on-screen keyboard. This photo features the full-size iPad Touchfire keyboard; the iPad Mini model has keys that change in width to optimize typing on the small tablet.

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Realigned keys for better typing

The Touchfire's keys don't perfectly align with the on-screen keyboard on purpose; the adjustments to the silicone keys provide a more comfortable space for typing.

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Happy typing!

The soft and rubbery texture of the Touchfire is comfortable and I like that you can simply rest your fingers on them without pressing or activating any of the keys -- like a normal keyboard.

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Similar, but different

The Touchfire for the iPad Mini isn't just a shrunken version of the full-size keyboard; it was specially designed to accommodate the design nuances of the smaller Apple tablet.

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Compact and mobile

The keyboard is super-thin and adds virtually no bulk to the device. In addition, since it uses the on-screen keyboard, it takes up less space than Bluetooth keyboards that fold out -- great for travelers and people typing on-the-go.

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Clear keyboard

Since the Touchfire Keyboard is made of silicone, it is clear and therefore naturally backlit.

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Side-by-side comparison

Both models of the Touchfire keyboard can be rolled or folded up without losing their form. They also come with a lifetime warranty that covers manufacturing defects.