Best iPad Air 5 keyboard cases in 2023
The best keyboards for working on your iPad Air
The iPad Air 5 is a fantastic tablet and it's powerful enough to work like a mini laptop, which is why we recommend one of the best iPad Air 5 keyboard cases, so you can get work done, send emails and do any other kind of writing on the move.
The iPad Air 5 has a powerful M1 chip, 12MP Ultra Wide front camera with Center Stage, 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display and a 5G wireless option. That's why we awarded it 4.5 out of 5 stats in our iPad Air 5 review.
With one of the best keyboard cases, you can keep this advanced slice of technology protected and transform it into a writing machine. Either replacing your laptop or giving you a mini laptop on the move. You can even use some of these as a portable keyboard (but obviously not a case) with your other devices, like an iPhone 14 Pro.
It's a great time of year to update your tech and your accessories, because Black Friday is on November 25. We can never guarantee which devices and products will be included in this big day of sales, but many of the best iPad Air 5 keyboard cases could be reduced, so keep your eyes peeled.
Whether you want a laptop replacement or to simply send emails on the move, here are some of the best iPad Air 5 keyboard cases you can buy today.
Turn your iPad Air 5 into a laptop with the best keyboards
Why you can trust iMore Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
A bit of Apple magic
Apple's own premium keyboard case has just about everything you could want for your iPad Air 5. As noted in our review, the Apple Magic Keyboard offers a smooth typing experience, a trackpad to get the most out of iPadOS, a USB-C port for charging, backlit keys, and front and back protection. The floating cantilever design attaches magnetically and lets you choose your ideal viewing angle.
Simple and effective
This ZAGG option has an adjustable kickstand, ergonomic Pro keyframe design, backlighting in seven colors, 6.6-foot drop protection, multi-device pairing, and year-long battery life, which all add up to make this an excellent choice (if you don't need the trackpad feature).
Most laptop-like
For a true laptop look and feel, go for the Brydge Air MAX+, which we noted is great for complex workflows thanks to the native multi-touch trackpad. Other features include military-grade 4-foot drop protection standards, Bluetooth 5.0 for zero lag, adjustable backlit keys, up to three months of battery life, and 135-degree screen rotation.
Colorful options
Who says a keyboard case can only be black, white, or gray? Have some fun with your keyboard case design. This Fintie Bluetooth keyboard is removable so you can use the case without it when you don't need to do a lot of typing. The built-in Apple Pencil holder lets you charge it on the go, too!
Turn around, bright eyes
The dual-axis, rotatable, 360-degree hinge gives you infinite viewing angles so you can flip it around to share your screen to people across from you. This is a lower-priced option that includes a trackpad, so you can get more laptop-like functionality from your iPad Air 5. The colorful backlit keyboard and handful of color options make this even more fun to use.
Cantilever for less
If you love Apple's floating cantilever design but want to spend a bit less, check out this keyboard case from ESR. The seven-color backlit keyboard includes a full row of shortcut keys and a precision trackpad with multi-touch gesture support.
- Back to the top^ (opens in new tab)
Which of the best iPad Air 5 keyboard cases should you pick?
Be sure to check any cases before you buy them, not all iPad cases fit all iPads. However, the iPad Air 5 is the exact same size as the iPad Air 4, so iPad Air 4 keyboard cases will also fit your iPad Air 5. The 11-inch iPad Pro is nearly the same size as well, so many of those cases will also fit.
We're always going to consider Apple accessories to be one of the best options since they are created by Apple engineers specifically for Apple devices. The Apple Magic Keyboard is sure to delight with its floating cantilever design that allows you to adjust your iPad Air 5 to the angle that works best for you. You also get a fabulous typing experience, a trackpad that takes full advantage of iPadOS, a USB‑C port for pass-through charging, and both front and back protection.
If what you really want is to turn your iPad Air 5 into a miniature laptop, the Brydge Air MAX+ Wireless Keyboard Case with Multi-Touch Trackpad will get you about as close as you can get. If you're using this out in the wild, people might even ask you where you found such a tiny laptop. The Bluetooth 5.0 gives you a fast connection so you can just open up your "laptop" and get to work. The multi-touch trackpad enhances functionality, and the protective case even has antimicrobial technology!
If you have another kind of iPad, you should take a look at our best keyboards for iPad mini 6 guide or our best wireless keyboards list. We've also got a huge selection of iPad case guides, like our best cases for the iPad Pro (2021) list or our more general best iPad case library of options.
iMore Newsletter
Get the best of iMore in in your inbox, every day!
Karen is a contributor to iMore.com as a writer and co-host of the iMore Show. She’s been writing about Apple since 2010 with a year-long break to work at an Apple Store as a product specialist. She's also a contributor at CNET. Before joining iMore in 2018, Karen wrote for Macworld, AppAdvice, WatchAware. She’s an early adopter who used to wait in long lines on release days before pre-ordering made things much easier. Karen is also a part-time teacher and occasional movie extra. She loves to spend time with her family, travel the world, and is always looking for portable tech and accessories so she can work from anywhere.
Thank you for signing up to iMore. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.