ZAGG Pro Keys 2 Keyboard Review

The ZAGG Pro Keys 2 comes in several sizes to accommodate different iPad models. We tested the ZAGG Pro Keys 2 for iPad Pro 11" (M4). The weight of the keyboard alone is 1.10 lbs (0.497 kg). See an additional image of the keyboard with the entire folio portion. While the keyboard and folio case itself are very slim, the entire package of the keyboard folded closed in the folio case with an iPad is actually quite thick. See a photo with the closed folio next to an Apple Macbook Pro (2023).

Note that the dimensions of this keyboard vary slightly, depending on which variant you buy. See the Differences Between Variants section for more details.

You can completely remove the folio cover from the keyboard.

The keyboard has good overall build quality. The chassis feels reasonably sturdy, with minimal deck flex, though it does produce some light squeaking noises if you intentionally twist it. It’s made entirely of plastic—while it doesn’t feel especially premium, it also doesn’t come across as overly cheap. The folio cover features a faux leather finish and is constructed from a mix of rigid plastic panels and rubberized edges, which help protect your iPad and keyboard from minor bumps and drops.

One downside is that the keyboard's surface picks up fingerprints fairly easily. It also lacks rubber feet on the underside, so it tends to slide around a bit on smooth surfaces—even with the folio cover underneath.

There are no rattling noises while typing, but the keys do have some minor wobble, especially on larger keys, due to the lack of stabilizers. That said, the wobble isn’t noticeable during regular use.

The keyboard attaches magnetically to the folio case. The hinge and magnets feel secure and do a good job of keeping the keyboard in place or propped up at a viewing angle, even when you’re moving it around—so long as you’re not too rough. Unfortunately, the folio cover lacks a magnet to keep it closed, so it tends to flap around during transit.

This keyboard lacks incline settings, but it's designed to sit flat on your desk. Its very thin profile makes it comfortable to type on, especially since there's now an integrated palm rest surface integrated into the keyboard, a feature missing from the original ZAGG Pro Keys.

Note that you can use the folio cover to prop up your iPad. ZAGG advertises two viewing angles, though it doesn't specify what those angles are. In our testing, we found the folio can reliably support the iPad at 115°, 120°, and 130° angles. The magnets are strong enough that you don't need to worry about the keyboard slipping out of position, but there's also a bit of wiggle room to fine-tune your viewing angle within that range.

The folio cover is also fully detachable from the keyboard, so you can place your propped-up iPad on a separate surface.

You can set the backlighting to various colors, including White, Teal, Blue, Red, Pink, Green, and Yellow.

The clarity of the backlighting is acceptable. It's helpful in low-light conditions, and the legends are reasonably clear without major obstructions. However, it's fairly dim, even at the highest brightness settings. The lighting isn't visible in regular lighting conditions whatsoever.

The included charging cable is a standard USB-A to USB-C made of rubber. It retains some kinks from its packaging.

ZAGG advertises a battery life of up to one year but doesn't provide more specifics. We expect this is only achievable with backlighting off and with light daily usage.

For context, the previous generation ZAGG Pro Keys was also rated for one year of use between battery charges, but the product page for that keyboard specifies the estimate is based on "regular use of one hour per day." However, this particular qualifier is missing from the product page of the ZAGG Pro Keys 2.

In any case, heavy usage and using the backlighting will drain the battery significantly faster. If you have this keyboard and want to share your experience with the battery life, we'd love to hear from you in the Comments.

The top row of the keyboard includes shortcut keys for various functions, including Bluetooth pairing, a dedicated Lock key, and a Power key. The Lock key either locks a connected iPad or brings up the lock screen if the device is already locked.

Other extra features include a non-magnetic stylus clip at the top of the keyboard, which holds an Apple Pencil securely—though it doesn't charge it. You can also check the keyboard's battery level using the Fn + Ctrl hotkey.

For instructions on how to pair devices, adjust the folio case kickstand for different viewing angles, and see other information, see a digital version of the user manual on Zagg's website.

• USB-A to USB-C cable
• User documentation

This keyboard provides an adequate typing experience. That said, the keys are marginally closer together compared to the previous generation model, and they're much closer together compared to most standard desktop keyboards. Typing can feel a bit cramped as a result, and you may need to type slower at first to avoid errors until you get used to it. The keys also feel a bit mushy when bottomed out, and their short total travel can make typing feel somewhat abrupt—especially if you're a heavier typist.

The larger keys lack stabilizers, so they can feel uneven if pressed closer to the edges. Lastly, there's some variety in keycap shape—some have concave tops, others are convex, and the spacebar is flat. This may eventually help you to differentiate keys without looking at your keyboard based on how they feel, but it also may affect comfort and take some getting used to.

This keyboard has poor single-key latency. While it's perfectly suitable for everyday browsing, office work, or light gaming, it's too high and inconsistent for playing fast-paced or competitive games.

This keyboard has satisfactory multi-key latency, which poses no issues for productivity, everyday browsing, or light gaming. However, it's too high—and far too inconsistent—for fast-paced or competitive games that require inputs while multiple keys are pressed and held.

This keyboard has excellent 4-chord split performance, meaning it can very reliably register up to four simultaneous inputs. However, it doesn't support N-key rollover, so it's unable to process simultaneous inputs.

Good chord split performance often makes a keyboard well-suited for rhythm games. However, we don't recommend this keyboard for rhythm gaming due to its latency performance.

This is a folio keyboard, primarily designed for use with iPads. However, you can use it with desktop computers. Some keys on the function row do nothing depending on the operating system.

On Windows devices, the dedicated Lock, On-Screen Keyboard, and 'Globe' keys do nothing.

For MacOS, the Lock and search keys work as expected, but the 'Globe' key does nothing.

On Linux devices, the dedicated Lock, On-Screen Keyboard, and 'Globe' keys do nothing while the Home key opens Firefox to your homepage.

On Android devices, the 'Globe' button acts as a Shift input. The On-Screen Keyboard and Multiple Window buttons do nothing.

On iOS and iPadOS devices, all inputs work as expected.