iPad is a great and simple device, but it lacks physical keyboard that would make it a useful productivity tool. There are several great options out there when it comes for external keyboards. However, if you are looking for a very portable keyboard that also doubles as a protective cover, then the Belkin line of such products is a very solid and reliable choice.

The outer parts of the case are made of nice soft material, and they feel very sturdy and elegant. The case is for the most part very well and elegantly designed, and it fits iPad Air perfectly. It leaves enough of the openings on the sides for all the peripherals connections and iPad buttons to be easily accessible.

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, but it can still do the job of more intensive writing. It certainly beats the on-screen keyboard by a long shot.

The design of this case allows you to quickly insert in your iPad and take it out. This is one of the more important features that I look for in such cases, as I like to use my iPad primarily in its “natural” state.

The kickstand of this case feels a bit flimsy and it is easy to knock it over accidentally. The case also doesn’t allow you to put your iPad Air automatically to sleep when you close it, and it’s very easy to wake your iPad Air from sleep by just accidentally pressing a key in the closed state.

This is also not the most protective iPad case that I’ve come across. It looks and feels sturdy enough to protect your iPad Air from accidental scratches and bumps, but I would not trust it with a more serious drops or impacts. However, 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.