I’ve had a chance to test and review several different iPad cases over the years. There is usually a tradeoff between build and elegance on one hand, and convenience and portability on the other. This Aerb keyboard/case seems to be aiming to fulfill both of those purposes, and for the most part it succeeds. It is a fairly elegant and durable keyboard/case that is also very light and convenient.

Most of the case is made out of PU leather. It is a cheaper variety of leather that has been treated for durability and ease of cleaning. This is a very good choice for this kind of product – I have another case made out of similar materials, and it has withstood the test of several years’ worth of use and abuse. The case feels very soft and good in your hand.

The back of the cover features a retractable kickstand. This is a simple solution for propping up the iPad while typing. Unfortunately, the kickstand only supports one viewing angle. It also prevents you from using this case on your lap. Other than that, the kickstand works well for most of my typing purposes.

The iPad Air slides relatively easily into its slot and is kept securely there with a velcro strap. Even though it’s not too hard to put your iPad in and take it out, a case like this will make it much less convenient to do so than the ones where you attach your iPad through magnetic clasps.

The Bluetooth keyboard attaches to the case through several magnetic clasps distributed around the edges. This is a pretty neat and convenient way of attaching the keyboard. The keyboard felt secure while inside the case, and it was easy to remove when you needed it out.

The keyboard paired up with my iPad Air very easily and without any hitches. It also maintained connection for the duration of use. The keyboard is charged through a micro USB slot on the side. (An Apple compatible charging port might have been a more appropriate choice, but knowing how reluctant Apple is to let the third-party vendors use its ports, this was likely not going to happen.) I have not fully tested how long you can go with the keyboard on a single charge, but even after a few days of moderate use the keyboard was still going strong. I would expect that its charge capacity would be on par with my other Bluetooth keyboards, which can go on for weeks without a need for recharge. The keyboard is very responsive, and I for the most part like the key action. However, this smaller sized keyboard feels cramped compared to the full sized keyboard, and you really don’t want to be using it for composing longer documents.

This keyboard overall provides a pretty good level of protection for your iPad against accidental bumps, drops, and scratches. However, it is not a heavy-duty protection case, and you would not want to rely on it for protection form serious accidents. It’s also definitely not waterproof. If you are looking for that level of protection, then there are a few options out there for you. (New Trent has a nice line of rugged iPad cases and covers.) For most of the “regular” iPad users who need a decent amount of protection, as well as a solid and reliable keyboard, this case/keyboard combo will be more than adequate.

One of the most appealing features of this case/keyboard combo is its price. It’s on sale right now on Amazon for about $17, which is unbeatable IMHO. Even it’s full price of $35 is well below half of what some of these products go for. In my opinion this case is in no ways inferior to the ones made by the better known brands, and it even beats them in terms of portability and convenience. It would definitely be worth your while to check it out.