We've reviewed some excellent keyboard cases for Apple's most recent iPad, like our Editors' Choice, the Belkin Qode Ultimate Pro for iPad Air 2 ($79.99 at Amazon) . The problem is they cost around $100 or more, which might lead you to wonder why you're trying to laptop-ify your iPad Air 2, when you can buy a more powerful laptop for the same price as an iPad/keyboard case combo. With its $36.99 Apple iPad Air 2 Bluetooth Keyboard, Sharkk provides an inexpensive solution for turning your iPad into a productivity powerhouse. But while the price tag is appealing, you unfortunately get what you pay for.
Design and Features
At 9.55 by 7.2 by 0.8 inches (HWD) and 15.04 ounces, the Sharkk's ( at Amazon) specs are similar to other keyboard cases we've tested. The case's exterior is coated in a soft-touch, matte black plastic, which is aesthetically and texturally pleasing. But the hinge and aluminum support stand give the Sharkk a somewhat clunky look compared with sleeker cases, like the Logitech Type+ for iPad Air 2 ($99.99 at Verizon) . The aluminum support stand feels smooth, but has a grainy appearance that doesn't look as premium as the ClamCase Pro for iPad Air 2's ($39.95 at Amazon) smooth aluminum back.
To set the case up in a laptop configuration, you need to pull out an extension built into the top of the keyboard section, which is also attached to the aluminum hinge on the case section. Doing so reveals two support stands above the keyboard, where your iPad Air 2's bottom edge (in landscape mode) rests. You can alter your iPad's viewing angle by adjusting how far out you slide the case section away, and you can spin it around to a portrait orientation, which is a nice touch. At its most extended, the Shark's width goes up to 10.5 inches. It's a relatively complex and awkward arrangement to prop up your iPad compared with other keyboard cases that use magnets or simpler hinges, like the Logitech Type+ or the ClamCase Pro.
The Sharkk's keyboard is made of matte black plastic that bends even under light pressure. A glossy black plastic section above the keyboard picks up even the faintest finger smudge. More importantly, it holds three LED indicators for Caps Lock, battery, and Bluetooth pairing status. The Caps Lock LED is a nice touch that we haven't seen before on a keyboard case. Two switches to the right of the LEDs are used for Bluetooth pairing and power, and a micro USB port on the keyboard's top right edge is used for charging with the included cable. Sharkk claims the keyboard case has a 60-hour battery life, which is about a month's worth of daily two-hour usage. It's nowhere near the Zagg Slim Book for iPad Air 2's two-year battery life, but it's not a deal breaker, either.
Similar Products
Logitech Type+ for iPad Air 2
Belkin Qode Ultimate Pro Keyboard Case for iPad Air 2
ClamCase Pro for iPad Air 2
Zagg Slim Book for iPad Air 2
Zagg Rugged Book for iPad Air
A clasp on the case section's top edge (in landscape mode) keeps the case together while not in use. Unfortunately, the clasp lacks a release mechanism, making it difficult to open the case, which gets frustrating.
Performance and Conclusion
The large, well-spaced keys have good travel, and they're all in their rightful, familiar places. Unfortunately, the keys are flimsy to the touch and the excessive movement makes for a slightly less accurate typing experience. Feedback is mushy and weak, too, which isn't helped by the fact that the keyboard section itself flexed under the mere force of my fingers as I typed this review. And my fingers occasionally caught the edges from adjacent keys as I typed. To Sharkk's credit, I only experienced some key-bouncing while using the Delete key, and the keyboard's Bluetooth performance was generally on par with other keyboard cases we've reviewed.
The usual row of iPad-specific keys sits directly above the number keys. You get a Home button, as well as Brightness, On-Screen Keyboard On/Off, Cut, Copy, Paste, Media Controls, Volume, and Lock buttons.
For $36.99, the Sharkk Apple iPad Air 2 Bluetooth Keyboard will get the job done, even if it doesn't offer the best build quality or the most comfortable typing experience. The only other keyboard case we've tested that supports the iPad's portrait orientation is Belkin's Qode Ultimate Pro Keyboard Case for iPad Air 2. It's our Editors' Choice award winner, but it's also around $150. If keyboard comfort at a better value is more important than portrait orientation, check out the $99.99 Logitech Type+ for iPad Air 2, which has an excellent keyboard and a simple folio-style design. If the price is still a downer, the Logitech Ultrathin for iPad Air 2 ($87.50 at Amazon) offers an excellent keyboard for a slightly lower $89.99 price tag, but it's not designed with protection in mind.
The Sharkk Apple iPad Air 2 Bluetooth Keyboard is a fair case for the price and will get the job done, but there are better keyboard cases out there if your budget allows it.
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