5 reasons the Logitech Folio Touch is better than Apple’s Smart Keyboard
When I first heard of the Logitech Folio Touch, I wondered if it was worth upgrading to from my existing Apple Smart Keyboard Folio for the iPad Pro 11”. I knew that I didn’t want Apple’s Magic Keyboard because it does not have a way to fold flat for me to draw on. The new case from Logitech seems like a nice in between option. And now that I’ve used it for a couple of weeks, I’m glad I made the upgrade.
There are a lot of reviews of the Folio Touch case out there. Thus, I will instead be focusing on the 5 reasons why I think the Logitech Folio Touch compares better to the Apple Smart Keyboard Folio.
Reason 1: Logitech Folio Touch lets me to draw better
The photo below shows you how the kickstand of the Logitech Folio Touch lets you prop up the iPad Pro when you fold away the keyboard. The kickstand holds up the keyboard strong enough that it does not sink down significantly when you draw with your pencil. However, it doesn’t hold its kickstand angle completely, so if you press down hard, it does sink a little. So far, it has not been a problem for me yet. This is one area that I will observe longer to see how sturdy it remains after months of folding and unfolding.
The Folio Touch also allows you to use the same kickstand angle with the keyboard laid out for use. The photo below shows you what I mean.
The keyboard does not need to be not magnetically attached to the iPad Pro for it to be activated. This means that I can use it whenever the keyboard is folded out for use. This is something that I can’t do with Apple’s Smart Keyboard Folio. The variability of the kickstand on the Folio Touch does make a difference.
Reason 2: It’s a really nice backlit keyboard!
The backlit keyboard is self explanatory. I use my iPad in a dark room quite often, putting my kids to bed. So, yes, I do wonder why I took so long to upgrade to the Folio Touch. The difference is literally, night and day.
If you’ve used a good Logitech made keyboard, you will understand what I mean. If not, trust that when you do pay for the mid to high end Logitech keyboard, the hype is often true. And this is the same for the keyboard Logitech has paired with the Folio Touch for the iPad Pro.
Since we are talking about the keyboard, you might be wondering what happens when the keyboard is folded away. First of all, the keys does get deactivated when the keyboard is folded away. I’m not entirely sure how Logitech detects when it needs to disable the keyboard. My guess is it does it by a combination of the angle of the iPad, the orientation of the keyboard and if the keyboard has completely folded away. But suffice to say, it has thus far worked very well. I don’t get unintentional keystrokes when I fold away the keyboard whether I am working on a table or laying down on the bed.
And by the way, the keys does touch the surface when face it down on the table or any flat surface.
Reason 3: Apple-like trackpad experience
With iPadOS 14, the mouse experience has vastly improved. Especially when more apps begins to add better mouse support. However, if you have a trackpad, you can use gestures to navigate around iPadOS a lot better. I’ve tasted this when I paired an Apple Magic Trackpad with the iPad Pro.
This is one of the main draw of Apple’s Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro. So when Logitech brought this similar feature to the iPad Pro with the Folio Touch, I was hoping the trackpad experience would be the same. And I was not disappointed.
The trackpad on the Folio Touch works just as well as Apple’s own trackpad. All the native gestures are supported on the Folio Touch. Even when I use my MX Anywhere 2S mouse with my iPad, the trackpad is still extremely useful due to the support for gestures. I also prefer the more accurate scrolling when using the trackpad vs the mouse scroll wheel on iPadOS.
Error, group does not exist! Check your syntax! (ID: “2”)Reason 4: Much better protection, and build material
I’ve yet to drop my iPad Pro (*touch wood*). Sure, the lack of covering at the sides of the iPad Pro is aesthetically appealing. But I’m do constantly worry due to that the lack of protection when using the Apple Smart Keyboard Folio.
The Logitech however fully covers up the iPad Pro as you have seen in all the photos of the Logitech Folio Touch here on this post.
I also like the fabric material that is used for the case. It feels nicer to touch compared to the rubbery and silk fabric material that is used on the Apple Smart Keyboard. Of course, time will tell if the fabric material holds up and how clean it remains after many months of use.
But as you can see in the photo below, the Apple Smart Keyboard Folio has started to peel at the sides after about a year of use.
The thicker material used on the Logitech Folio Touch gives me an impression that should last longer. I will update this article perhaps a year later to see how well the case fares.
Reason 5: Helps keep the Apple Pencil intact
As you’ve seen in the photos, there is a flap that helps to hold the case and also the Apple Pencil in place. There is also a slot that is meant to store Logitech’s Crayon stylus. However, it also perfectly holds the Apple Pencil. I’ve been using it to hold my Pencil when I’m not using it.
If you regularly carry your iPad Pro around with your Pencil, you would probably also have the same worry of accidentally bumping the Pencil off the iPad Pro. I’ve known a few friends who have lost their Apple Pencil that way.
One point to note, when you close the flap with the Apple Pencil stored in the slot, the Pencil will not be touching the iPad Pro’s side and therefore will not charge.
And even if you don’t keep the Pencil in the slot, the flap does help to reduce the risk of losing your Pencil when carrying it around.
The flap has two magnetic positions and will close the case flushed to the sides when you don’t have the Apple Pencil on the case.
One slight problem…
In my two weeks of use, I’ve only encountered one problem using the Logitech Folio Touch case with my iPad Pro. And that’s using USB-C devices that expects to attached flushed to the iPad Pro. One of this is my USB-C SD card reader.
Thankfully, for adapters like Apple’s USB-C HDMI adapter and my Innergie 3rd party USB-C to USB-A adapter, it does fit well.
So, in order for me to use my SD Card reader, I had to use a bunch of adapters to connect it together.
The only two things I miss with the Apple Smart Keyboard Folio
Firstly, the Apple Smart Keyboard Folio is a lot lighter. Everyone I know who have the same Logitech Folio Touch case says the same thing. Boy is the case HEAVY! But its also something you get use to quite quickly.
Secondly, there’s no way for me to customise and make the case look unique. The fabric material of the Logitech Folio Touch, while nice, is quite resistant to anything sticking on it. As you can see below, I cover the back of the Apple Smart Keyboard case with a bunch of stickers to identify it as mine.
With the Logitech Folio Touch, short of painting it with a permanent marker, the only place that would hold some stickers is the part behind the kickstand.
Final words: Highly recommended
I think its obvious that I highly recommend this the Logitech Folio Touch for the iPad Pro 11”. If you are looking for a better one versus the Apple Smart Keyboard Folio, you can’t go wrong with the Folio Touch.
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