Razer Mechanical Keyboard Case brings tactile typing to the 12.9-inch Apple iPad Pro
All the benefits of physical key switches without the obnoxiously loud noise.
The Razer Mechanical Keyboard Case brings physical switch typing to the 12.9-inch Apple iPad Pro.
Razer is usually known for aiming high-end devices at competitive gamers, but the company's new Mechanical Keyboard Case for the 12.9-inch Apple iPad Pro is actually meant for a larger group of tablet users looking to replace their PCs with a more portable setup.
While most laptops have shallow scissor switch keyboards that barely move under your fingers while you type, Razer's mechanical switches were designed in-house to bring the springy click of a full-size desktop mechanical keyboard to the iPad. Some die-hard touch-typers have even reported increased speed and accuracy while using mechanical switches too.
Unlike Apple's own Smart Keyboard, the Razer Mechanical Keyboard Case protects the iPad on all four sides.
Razer actually makes three different types of switches for all its keyboards and each have different actuation points to execute key commands.
The Mechanical Keyboard Case incorporates the company's "Ultra Low-Profile Switch" that requires 70 grams of force so it's still tactile while saving space.
And unlike a lot of mechanical keyboards that make ridiculously loud noises when the the spring reaches the bottom, the switches here are silent.
The iPad Pro is a beast of a tablet at 1.57 pounds (713 grams), so Razer thankfully includes a metal kickstand on the back of the case with a hinge for adjusting the viewing angle.
Mechanically speaking, it's a little strange that Razer didn't use Apple's new Smart Connector to join the keyboard to the tablet, especially since it would have been a convenient way to use the iPad's battery as a power source for the backlit keys.
Regardless, the Bluetooth connection means you can pair it with other devices too, and the company claims the rechargeable battery can last up to 10 hours with the keys illuminated and a whopping 600 hours without.
The Razer Mechanical Keyboard Case for the Apple iPad Pro is available to buy now for $169.99 in the US (£159.99, AU$259.95), the same price as Apple's own Smart Keyboard.