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 Kensignton line of such cases is a very solid and reliable choice.

The outer parts of the case are made of nice leather, and they feel very sturdy, soft 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, and you really don’t want to be using it for composing longer documents.

One issue that I have with the comprehensive iPad cases like this one is that they don’t allow you to easily put in and take out your iPad. If you intend to leave your iPad in the case more or less permanently, then this might not be that much of an issue for you. However, as one of the biggest attractions of iPad Air is its lightness and an overall decrease in size, using a case like this one on a continuing basis feels like a waste. Another issue that I have with this case in particular is that when you remove the keyboard, the rest of the case feels very loose and not very well secured.

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.