Besides giving a better typing experience, these Logitech folio keyboards are lightweight and add many features to the table. However, they fall on the expensive side of things. So, it is important to know the difference between these keyboards and find which is the one for you. In this post, we pit the Logitech Rugged Folio against the Logitech Combo Touch to find the better iPad keyboard option. Let’s get going, shall we? But first,
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Design & Ergonomics
As suggestive of its name, the Rugged Folio sports a rugged build. It features a shock-absorbent body that can withstand shocks, bumps, and drops & falls. This quality makes it apt for someone who is careless with the devices and wants the best experience.
That said, the keyboard case is soft to the touch. And the lightweight form factor is the cherry on top. If we talk numbers, this one weighs just about 1.3 lb. Along with the shock-absorbent body, the Logitech Folio keyboard case is also resistant to liquid spills. So if you knock over your coffee or water while working, the keyboard will be safe. Of course, you’ll need to be fast as the Flash and clear up the spill. Moreover, note that the spill protection is different for your iPad and the keyboard.
Other than that, it appears like a conventional keyboard case. It sticks to the iPad via the Smart Connector at the bottom. The smart connectors also charge the devices, so you do not have to take the pain of charging the keyboard separately. The Logitech Combo Touch may not be as rugged as its counterpart above. However, it does bring a nifty feature to the table — Trackpad. And guess what? The top edge of the trackpad is clickable.
Both keyboards share several common features. For one, you can prop up the iPad with the kickstand at the back and use it like the Surface Pro. To add to it, you can adjust it at four different angles according to your preference. Secondly, both keyboard cases for the Apple iPad feature smart connectors. As noted earlier, these connectors allow the keyboards to draw power from the iPad, thereby removing the hassles of charging it. Lastly, the magnetic snap ensures that the keyboard case wraps around the iPad when closed. Naturally, this gives you 360-degree coverage.
While you won’t find any wrist rest on these keyboards, the Rugged Folio and the Combo Touch keyboards offer decent ergonomics. You will be able to incline the screen as per your preference. But owing to their small size, they may not offer you the best typing experience (more on that later). More importantly, you can detach the keyboard when not needed. The best part is that the iPad will still have its back cover.
Build Quality
Both keyboards have an impressive build quality, and they will last you a long time. They are durable, making them suitable for college kids and young adults. Both keyboards fair share of abuse and can protect the iPad from major damage.
Typing Performance
Before we go any further, let us tell you that both Logitech Rugged Folio and Combo Touch are compact keyboards. Neither will give you the same experience as a full-fledged keyboard (see best mechanical keyboards for Mac). The keys are placed close to each other, which may result in typos, especially if you’ll be using a compact keyboard for the first time. That said, the Rugged Folio delivers an impressive typing experience. And the iOS shortcut keys are quite useful. The low profile means that typing on this keyboard is smooth and comfortable.
On the other hand, the Combo Touch brings the advantage of a keyboard and trackpad. The trackpad works efficiently with iPadOS (see how to customize widgets on iPadOS) and supports helpful trackpad gestures, including three-finger swipes. The folks at Tech Radar suggest that you can customize the trackpad’s sensitivity. That said, the keyboard is comfortable to use. The keys have a low profile and have just 1mm of travel distance. But the good news is that for its size, the keys have adequate distance between them and deliver a comfortable (and quiet) typing experience. However, at times, the iPad may take a little time to register the keys for both keyboards.
Logitech Rugged Folio vs. Combo Touch
So, which keyboard should you choose? Well, if you want to turn your iPad into a mini laptop, the combo of the trackpad, regular keys, and shortcut keys make the Logitech Combo Touch a good pick. It delivers a quiet typing experience. However, at 1.09 lb, it adds its share of weight to the overall setup. On the other hand, if a trackpad is not your topmost priority, then the Rugged Folio makes more sense. The typing experience is almost similar. But here, you get the advantage of safeguarding your precious iPad from accidental falls, drops, and bumps against door frames and table corners.
