It virtually sounds comical, however utilizing a teeny-tiny keyboard with an iPad mini isn’t a horrible thought. In reality, it simply may assist you to get some work performed in an area that might in any other case be sacrificed to social media doomscrolling, offer you a headstart into the day, or just have interaction in some word-y leisure exercise.
The iPad mini is a unbelievable gadget. It’s criminally underrated as a conveyable exterior show, particularly for Mac customers. It has all of the firepower on the earth you’ll need from a pill. In reality, have been it not for the display measurement, it will deserve a productivity-boosting keyboard greater than the 2025 iPad with its 11-inch display.
Alas, Apple doesn’t make a keyboard for the iPad mini. For apparent causes, one may say. However that doesn’t imply there is no such thing as a house for one such accent. Third-party labels absolutely felt in any other case, and if you happen to search for on on-line retail platforms, one can find a wholesome few keyboard equipment for the compact pill.
HOU is a kind of manufacturers that serve bold merchandise at a discount. Their iPad keyboards, particularly, are fairly standard in Reddit boards. In hindsight, there are hardly any mainstream manufacturers on the market that supply a keyboard accent for the iPad mini. I used to be wanting to strive one, and I used to be left in a state of bewilderment, each the great and irritating form.
Extra premium than it must be
I bought myself the most recent iteration of HOU’s iPad mini keyboard, and straight out of the field, it defied what a $60 peripheral ought to feel and look like. For instance, Apple’s folio keyboard for the pill prices the identical, and lacks a keyboard deck.
The HOU keyboard case is made out of a rubberized silicone materials. It’s not as smooth as considered one of Apple’s instances, but it surely presents the identical texture because the Magic Keyboard for iPads. In doing so, HOU’s accent additionally borrows the smudge-prone nature of its Apple inspiration.
It’s fairly simple to wipe off the oil stains and mud, however you undoubtedly will discover them throughout day-to-day utilization. The general construct high quality, nevertheless, is unbelievable. There aren’t any tough edges, misaligned elements, poor cuts, or unfastened sides.
The interior lining is smooth velvet, which is one other neat assurance that the pill’s coat will probably be protected over extended utilization. The general materials end is unquestionably on par with Apple’s $249 Magic Keyboard Folio for the iPad.
The higher half of the keyboard case has a creased folding line with 30 magnets to securely lock the iPad mini in place. I liked the pliability of utilizing the pill in portrait mode whereas typing a fast article. It’s not any extra productive, but it surely feels proper whereas utilizing the cell app, and appears fairly good whereas at it.
There aren’t any information steps, which suggests while you fold the higher half to relaxation on a flat floor as a again relaxation, you’re free to regulate the inclination angle. The bottom I might get was an inclination of 126 levels, and the very best it might go was a keyboard-screen angle price 168 levels.
That’s way over the Magic Keyboard or any MacBook can obtain. Regardless of the shortage of any steps or rails, the rear foldable portion stays locked instead and doesn’t exhibit any wobble or slipping on the floor.
It’s not too thick both, and provides nearly the best heft as a way to comfortably carry it with none palm fatigue. The smooth, but grippy floor texture undoubtedly is useful right here.
The edges are barely prolonged, so irrespective of the place the pill is positioned, its chassis isn’t involved with the exterior atmosphere. I really like this protecting strategy.
The typing expertise is a studying curve
I’ll spell out the unhealthy half first. This isn’t a daily-use keyboard. It’s extra like a stop-gap answer that fills the necessity for a keyboard in areas the place you possibly can’t fairly entry (or whip out) your laptop computer. Consider these tiny foldable tables behind practice seats.
In fact, you possibly can simply perch it atop an opulent deskstation, however that’s not going to maneuver the expertise needle an excessive amount of. Now, I’ve bought small arms even by Asian requirements. My associate’s palm profile makes mine appear like a teenage boy.
Regardless of not being blessed by generously grown digits, I discover the HOU keyboard cramped. It’s not so vexing that you simply wish to throw it out, but when your job entails typing all day on a bigger keyboard, or a full-sized laptop computer, your fingers will want a while to regulate.
Now, right here’s the great half. As soon as your fingers get used to the tiny deck, you possibly can comfortably kind your well beyond just a few emails or deal with fast Slack chats. It took me a few days earlier than I bought a really feel of issues and reached a cushty typing cadence.
On a typing take a look at, I might attain roughly 60% of my typing pace, which isn’t unhealthy. The error charges have been barely larger. If I have been to quantify, I’d say the typing errors are about 20-25% extra frequent in comparison with my normal charge whereas utilizing a full-sized laptop computer or bigger keyboard.
The encouraging half is that the scissor-style keys supply an honest quantity of journey and a springy suggestions. The keycaps reliably register keystrokes, even if you happen to faucet across the periphery. There’s some sideways motion round the important thing corners, however nothing too worrisome or surprising.
You get the complete Magic Keyboard format on this one, besides the operate row keys on the high, because of house constraints. Fortunately, all of the iPadOS shortcuts that I’m used to, work simply tremendous. From app switching to common search, the important thing combos labored reliably nicely.
It took me some time getting used to the quantity row on the high, which additionally hosts two different image keys every. On events the place I felt too lazy to hit the Possibility/Shift shortcut, I merely pulled the on-screen keyboard and bought the job performed.
I really love this hybrid strategy, particularly with the iPad mini, as a result of your fingertips are comfortably near the display. It’s additionally one of many causes I didn’t miss a trackpad. It isn’t possible to suit one both, so there goes that practical conundrum.
There are a few hidden tips
It is a Bluetooth-connected keyboard and fees by way of a two-pin magnetic connector. The pairing course of is pretty simple, and you need to undergo that problem solely as soon as.
The battery life is surprisingly good. I’ve been utilizing the keyboard for almost two weeks now, and haven’t charged it because the preliminary set-up. I’ve used it every day, albeit in an irregular style.
On most days, it was used for 30-40 minutes for fast emails, Asana job administration, and updates in Groups. On just a few events, I used it for roughly two hours, engaged in internet shopping and typing a brief article or two, in Google Docs. It’s only a bliss that the iPad can deal with that load with none hiccups.
In the event you intend to make use of the pill for watching movies and studying, you possibly can merely flip the keyboard deck and get going. In that state, the keys are locked, so even in case you are holding the pill with a number of keys pressed tightly on the again, you gained’t need to take care of unintended key inputs.
On this state, the 2 halves are magnetically clasped collectively, so that you don’t have to fret in regards to the keyboard deck flapping round on the again. I admire these small, however considerate perks. The truth that they’re accessible at such a discount is simply the cherry on high.
Except for a surprisingly good battery life, I additionally love the automated lock facility. The second you shut the lid shut, the iPad mini robotically enters the lock state, and on opening it, the pill wakes up.
Do you want one?
A tiny keyboard for a mini pill may sound like overdoing the productiveness enchantment. However there’s a distinct segment on the market that may draw sensible advantages from a tool just like the HOU Keyboard for the iPad mini.
I, for one, like it. Not as a result of it’s exceptionally good, however because of the truth that it fills a practical hole in my day-to-day workflow. I requested just a few acquaintances round me in regards to the utility promise, if that they had entry to the keyboard every day.
One in all my buddies who runs a restaurant enterprise talked about that it may very well be used for billing-related duties, whereas one other particular person who works at an structure agency stated it’s a nifty gadget to deal with paperwork on the go.
A office buddy, who works as a social media supervisor, stated the keyboard is a potent addition for fast content material posting, making templates on the go, and sharing updates. A few college students in my normal work cafe have been additionally enamored by the thought and stated it’s a compact answer for studying and task work, particularly in cramped libraries.
The entire HOU Keyboard package deal appears and feels extraordinarily refined, and it delivers an equally rewarding practical expertise. For its asking worth, I’d say it’s a disproportionately good worth.
It’s not a computing workhorse, but it surely actually fills an adjoining hole for iPad mini followers. And it does so in fairly some fashionable style with out breaking the financial institution.