The iPad Air 4 might not be the latest iPad that money can buy, but it's still a quality piece of kit that only becomes more useful when you add on one of the best keyboard cases. You can almost turn the iPad into a kind of defacto touchscreen laptop — the touchy-feely MacBook that Apple never made (only it did, with extra steps).
There are, however, loads of options out there to choose from, and finding the best for you can feel like sorting through a haystack to find a needle. That's where we come in. We've created this list so that you can find the best keyboard cases for iPad Air 4, so that you can skip the trickiest part of the buying process and get straight to the typing.
Quick List
Best overall
Pricey it may be but the Apple Magic Keyboard is truly something special and, appropriately, magical. It's our favorite keyboard case for the iPad Air 4 and the newer Air 5. It has a beautiful cantilever design, scissor mechanism backlit keyboard, and a trackpad for multi-touch gestures as well as cursor control. It's the best overall pick if you can afford it.
Best without a trackpad
If you don't need trackpad, the Apple Smart Keyboard Folio is a good choice. It's a full-sized keyboard that also has a case offering front and back protection when not in use. There's no need to charge the keyboard and you don't even have to pair it via Bluetooth. Just plop it into place and start typing. Effortless.
Best Magic Keyboard alternative
The Brydge Air MAX+ is keyboard case that gets you as close to a laptop experience as you're going to get. It has a multi-touch trackpad along with a quite protective case. Bluetooth 5.0 gives you an instant connection. Even better, it's all at a lower price point than Apple's equivalent.
Best for typing
The Logitech Folio Touch is an utter joy to use. It has a full backlit keyboard that connects via the Smart Connector so pairing is seamless, just like with Apple's own products. All you do is connect and start typing. The back kickstand gives your iPad Air 40 degrees of angle control, so whether you're typing, watching a movie, or drawing a design, you can find the ideal angle.
Best for protection
The ProCase iPad Air 4 Keyboard Case is an excellent case for fending off scratches and scuffs. Besides its leather exterior and hard plastic bumper, it also has a keyboard that is magnetically detachable so you can easily set up wherever you want. Alternatively, you can leave the keyboard at home if you need a more portable setup, such as when commuting.
Best for flexibility
The Typecase Touch iPad Air case is a hard clamshell case that offers a keyboard with a touchpad. Its hinge rotates 360 degrees so you can use your tablet laptop-style or tablet-style depending on what you need to do. The keyboard has a row of iOS function keys to help you be more productive while it also offers 10 backlit colors. The 2.4-inch touchpad also makes your iPad Air 4 feel more like a laptop, plus you can tap, scroll, and swipe without removing your hands from the keyboard.
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Best for bumps
ZAGG keyboard cases are always worth checking out. This one is detachable so it's simple enough to remove the keyboard when you don't need it, while keeping your iPad protected from up to 6.6-foot drops. The keyboard is backlit and rechargeable, lasting up to a year between charges. It's also possible to pair with up to two devices simultaneously, before toggling back and forth between them.
Best for style
We think Fintie offers a lot for your money, as demonstrated in a certain other Fintie iPad case review. This case is a stylish folio keyboard case that comes in plenty of colors and designs. The keyboard attaches magnetically so you can easily pop it out when you don't need it. The folio part also holds your iPad Air up at three different angles so you have plenty of adjustment options.
Best for folding
We've reviewed other ESR iPad cases and always appreciated how well-made yet nicely priced they are. This one has a simple yet elegant design. The back of the slim keyboard folio folds so you can attach it to your iPad Air magnetically at several different angles, in either landscape or portrait mode. Its keyboard also has a trackpad so you can use your iPad Air more like a laptop.
Q & A
Why a keyboard case for your iPad Air 4?
The iPad Air 4 might not be the lates model but it's still one of the best iPads you can buy. It offers nearly Pro levels of performance without the price tag. Add on a keyboard case and you can expand your iPad Air's functionality so it's almost like a mini laptop. If you get a keyboard with a trackpad, it's even closer to being a laptop. The trackpad can be used for cursor and multi-gesture control, giving you plenty of ways to interact with iPadOS.
Of course, if you use your iPad Air 4 more for watching movies, surfing the web, and the occasional email, a less expensive keyboard will usually suffice. It's still good to have a way to type 'properly' on your iPad Air 4, but look for a cheaper example. The newer iPad Air 5 is exactly the same size as the iPad Air 4, so cases are interchangeable between the two. Plus, some cases (like Apple's own Magic keyboard) are even interchangeable between the 11-inch iPad Pro and the iPad Air models, so it's worth checking.
Which of the best iPad Air 4 keyboard cases is for you?
Our favorite iPad Air 4 keyboard case is the Apple Magic Keyboard. It's expensive but it really is the ultimate iPad keyboard case. Designed by Apple engineers, it's there to enhance your iPad's functionality in every way. The cantilevered design is elegant while giving you a choice of viewing angles. Also, the trackpad makes it easy to do plenty of things fast, like switch between apps or access the app switcher.
If you want something more reasonably priced, however, there's always the Logitech Folio Touch. Its fully backlit keyboard means you can type just about anywhere, no matter what time of day it is. As it uses the Smart Connector, you don't have to worry about Bluetooth pairing either, so it's super speedy to use.
If a keyboard isn't essential, there's always the best iPad Air 4 cases too.
