Macally - Keyboard Case for iPad Mini 7 (A17 Pro, 2024) and 6 (2021) 8.3-inch - Lightweight iPad Mini Keyboard with Magne - Black

This case is a honey. I thought I loved my old case, but I really love this one. The old one was a clamshell - the tablet really looked like a teeny MacBook. And the hinge flexed backward so I could stand it up with the keyboard forming part of the tent-shaped support. However, the keyboard would still be active so if I had to enter any text, I couldnt get the built-in tablet keyboard to appear, so not so convenient. This one doesn’t flip over, so it takes up a bit more space on the table if I’m just scrolling through my email or reading a book during a meal. But that’s the only negative. The keyboard has a nice tactile feel, and the keys are just where I want them as on a normal QWERTY keyboard. A big (and happy) surprise, if I long press a key, the Apple character choices come up with all the range of diacritical marks. My fake MacBook case couldn’t do that; I’d have to clumily switch to the onscreen keyboard. I can hold down a, e, o, n etc and get all the accents; only thing I can’t figure out is where the degree sign is. There is an Option key, but Option-0 just makes the screen flicker. Option-O gives me a Ø (that’s not a Theta is it?). Anyway, the degree sign is a perennial mystery even on regular size Apple computers. Other good things: the battery life is approximately forever. I had to recharge it a couple of weeks after I bought it, but maybe I hadn’t fully charged it. It has been more weeks and still isn’t asking to be charged. Charges pretty quickly, too. The case has a magnetized rim so you can sit an Apple Pencil (or imitation) on top of the screen but the magnet isn’t strong enough to keep the stylus in place when you close it up and carry it. The case seems to be sturdily constructed, especially around the rim where I always drop things. The tablet can be removed from the keyboard, leaving the cover attached to the keyboard. Hard to describe but it means, when the case is closed, there are two layers against the back to the tablet, and the front of the tablet lies against the keyboard, so there is protection for the screen as well. The cover is hinged so the top half bends backwards and forms a support when the case is open. I have no trouble adjusting it to any kind of angle. I should note that the keyboard does not include a trackpad. This is fine with me, because I always drag the heel of my hand across them and wind up selecting things I don’t want. When I get a new laptop first thing I do is disable the trackpad. But if you are a trackpad fan, this keyboard case is not for you. Setup was flawless, pairing with an iPad. It can also pair with Android and some other operating systems, but you have to tell it. It works seamlessly with the iPad it was designed for. I use the iPad for everything, too lazy to walk back to the room where the laptop sits. With this keyboard, I can do everything. My family may not appreciate that with this keyboard I can type The Great American Text Message, but they should know me by now. All in all, it is a better deal than many cases at much higher prices. Some day my iPad won’t work any more; when I replace it, I’ll look for this case made to fit the new tablet. The keys are clearly labeled, I can usually find the home keys, not much worse than on my old Olivetti. (Yes I go back to horse and buggy typewriters).