Review
Summary: If you want a very thin keyboard with almost full-sized keys, silent operation, a spill resistant covering, handy iOS-specific hotkeys and decent battery life, check out the Logitech Keys-To-Go.
Dimensions: 5.39" by 9.53" by 0.24" That's right, it's only a quarter-inch thick.
Weight: 6.35 ounces
Battery Life: Logitech states that the battery will last for three months on a full charge, with approximately two hours use per day. Of course that is an estimate. Full charge time is 2.5 hours and Logitech state that each minute of charging provides approximately an hour of use.
In USE:
Despite it's diminutive size, most of the keys feel full-sized or almost full-sized. Put it this way: I'm used to typing on a large ergonomic PC keyboard, and it only took me a minute or two to get used to the Keys-To-Go. If you're used to springy clicky keys, it may take you awhile to get used to keys that don't travel nearly as far. I'm a fast touch typist, and have no trouble going full speed on the Keys-to-Go. After using it for awhile, the full-size PC keyboard feels strange and clunky in comparison.
The Keys-To-Go is not waterproof, but it is definitely water resistant. the keyboard is covered fully by what Logitech calls FabricSkin, a protective textured membrane.
Any liquid spills or crumbs can be wiped away with a damp cloth. The only part of this keyboard which should not get wet is the top right-hand-side edge, which contains the power switch and mini-USB charging port.
The Keys-To-Go can work with any device, but it is optimized for use with iOS devices. From left to right, it's top row of 14 keys perform the following functions:
1. Home screen,
2. App Switcher
3. search,
4. switch keyboard language,
5. show/hide virtual keyboard,
6. take a screen shot,
7. previous track
8. play/pause,
9. Next track,
10. mute,
11. volume down
12. volume up
13. Bluetooth connect/pairing
14. battery status
Heading left from Spacebar, the four bottom row keys are: CMD, ALT, CTRL, and FN.
Right from Spacebar, CMD and ALT are duplicated.
Other iOS shortcut keys:
Fn + X = Cut
Fn + C = Copy
Fn + V = Paste
Fn + Left cursor = Select left word by word
Fn + Right cursor = Select right word by word
Pairing:
I have not had to re-pair the Keys-To-Go with my iPhone in weeks. As soon as you pair once by turning Bluetooth on in iOS, pressing the 2nd from the right key on the top row to pair, and tapping the Keys-To-Go in the list of detected devices, you're done. Your iOS device should simply recognize and use Keys-To-Go as soon as you move the power switch to On, as long as Bluetooth is enabled in Settings of course.
Alternate Unit:
I first tried and returned the Logitech K480 keyboard. It was substancially thicker, louder, not protected by a membrane, and I couldn't get it to pair with my phone.
Price: The Keys-To-Go is about $70 US at the usual places - Apple online store, Amazon, Wal-Mart, Best Buy etc.
Comments
Wonderful review! Could you
Wonderful review! Could you please explain how to test the battery using the appropriate button? Thanks.
Keys-To-Go Battery Status
Hi. Unfortunately, the battery test is visual. The Set Up Guide states that a blinking green light means the battery is charging, solid green means battery is fully charged and blinking red means the battery is low.
When you press the Battery Status key and the light is green for two seconds, the battery level is above 20% i.e. good.
I'm not going to worry about it, given the battery will last me a month or two of regular use. :)
Thanks, I'm a bit
Thanks, I'm a bit disappointed, was hoping the keyboard's battery level would show up on my iPhone's status bar when both devices are connected. It's still a great keyboard nevertheless.
Thanks, Chris.
It really was that easy to pair. Thanks for the key description.
Keys to go questions
Hello, I have a question a friend and I have been wondering about. When in a text when the enter key is touched the message sends. Does it matter what is being done as to whether it acts as an enter key or the send key? I just received the keyboard today so have not had much time to play with it, but have been talking to a friend about it for the last few days. Neither of us can come up with an alternate answer for this. Thanks for any help you can give us concerning this.
I agree but a quick question about connection
I bought mine at the end of last month and I'm really really please with it. I do have a quick question about connectivity that I'm hoping someone can answer. Can it be connected to more than 1 device? Obviously not when both devices are on but my husband uses it occasionally on his iPhone and every time he does, he has to pair it and after I find that I have to pair the keyboard and my iPhone again also. Is this normal? If so I'l get him 1 of his own for Christmas lol
Keyboard Connectivity and Multiple Languages
Ended up buying my husband an early christmas present and he is thrilled with it. Saves him stealing mine anyway. Lol. I'm finding myself more and more reliant upon this keyboard and had a couple of questions regarding its connectivity and other languages. I have a gigabyte Brix pc which is smaller than the dimensions of a CD case and about the thickness of 2 double CDs. I'm currently using a logitech cheap wireless keyboard with it but was wondering if I could use my keys to go with it or whether I need to buy a windows version instead? Thanks
different iOS shortcut keys?
I decided to get this keyboard because of this review and other positive comments from folks on this site. I got it for Christmas and really like it. The keys feel a little bit mushy but not too bad. I love the little stand you can slide the keyboard in. My 12 mini with its Apple silicone case fits perfectly in it! I found myself trying to do macos commands even though I haven't had a MacBook for about 6 years now, and then remembering that those commands don't all work on the iPhone.
I also like the iOS shortcut keys that are where the function keys would be on a regular keyboard, but their functions seem to be different than the ones listed in this review. The first one still acts as a home gesture, but the second and third ones lower and raise the brightness, like on a Mac. Then there’s one that doesn't seem to do anything at least that I can tell, and then there are all the media control keys. That leaves an extra key to the right that seems to lock and unlock the screen, and finally there are the BT pairing key and the battery status key, which of course isn't much help to a VO user.
I've Googled to see if there might be a newer version of this keyboard than what was reviewed here, but haven't found anything. Did the functions of the shortcuts change in an iOS update?
might change from iOS to iOS
Hi Brian, I don't have this keyboard although I always have look for a sale in order to buy it.
What I can tell from other bluetooth keyboards I have, is that shorcuts change from an iOS to the other, at least that's what happened with my brydge keyboard for iPad. So maybe at the time this review was done, those were the functions, but now they are others.
Kind regards and happy new year.
New Model of Keys-to-Go
Amazon is selling a new version of the Keys-to-Go. The link to it is here: https://a.co/1nz2AKy
This one also works with the iPhone and iPad, but Logitech re-mapped the function keys.
1. Home screen
2. Decrease brightness
3. Increase brightness
4. Show/hide virtual keyboard
5. Spotlight search
6. Previous track
7. Play/pause
8. Next track
9. Mute
10. Decrease volume
11. Increase volume
12. Screen on/off
13. Bluetooth connect/pairing
14. Battery status
Logitech explains all of this here (https://www.logitech.com/en-us/products/ipad-keyboards/keys-to-go.920-008918.html) but that document has several graphics and groups some of the keys by function. For example, in the document, F5, F6, and F7 are all under the heading of "Media Controls").
Heading left from Spacebar, the four bottom row keys are: CMD, ALT / Option, CTRL, and FN.
Heading right from the Spacebar are CMD, and ALT / Option.
Arrow keys are to the right of those.
My wife has the old keyboard and I have the new. We confirmed that these keys work with VoiceOver. You probably can check the battery's using a light probe / color identifier. My wife was able to check both of our keyboards with her light probe / color identifier. Some light probes and color identifiers are better than others at this.
Logitech
I am using the slin folio and it is good for my iPad 9. Logitech does a nice job.
Thanks @Mark M. This seems…
Does the new model have USB C?
I have a roughly 6 year old model and its definitely seen better days, the fabric lifts up by a good 6 or 7mm in the middle of the keyboard which probably doesn’t look very nice and definitely doesn’t feel good. I won’t upgrade until they change micro USB to USB C though. Thanks for any info.
RE: Does the new model have USB C?
I agree that USB C would be nice but The my new model has the same USB B-Mini that the old one had.
Thanks, thats a shame.
I’d have bought a new one if it did. Not going to spend money on an old standard though. Hopefully they update relatively soon.