It's no secret that I love tablets - I find them to be incredibly useful and fun tools. In fact, I've spent a lot of time as of late reviewing and comparing the most recent additions to the tablet world to one another. As much as I love tablets, though, they're not the best for productivity without some good accessories. Of those accessories, the most useful addition is, without a doubt, a Bluetooth keyboard; truth be told, I actually prefer a good Bluetooth keyboard and stand over the Transformer Series' keyboard dock in most cases - it's just a more portable and convenient option for me.Thus, when I got a chance to review the new ZAGGkeys Flex keyboard, I jumped on it. This keyboard is a really neat accessory to have, as it caters especially to those who have both an Android and iDevice, and it can sync to both for easy switching (granted, you will have to pair it each time if using with multiple devices).So, without further ado, let's take a look at the good and bad aspects of this keyboard. [important]

What is it?

  • How much does it cost? $80 ($55 on Amazon)
  • Okay, where can I buy it? ZAGG or Amazon
  • The Bottom Line: If you're looking for a lightweight, portable keyboard to pair with your Android device, then the ZAGGkeys Flex is not only a fantastic option, but one that I whole-heartedly recommend.

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The Good

  • Several Android-specific keys: Home, search, cut/copy/paste, music playback controls, volume controls, "menu," browser, and lock. Excellent! ALT + arrow keys work as home/end, while CTRL+ arrow jumps to the beginning/end of each word, much like on a desktop computer. Shift + arrows highlights words. Shift+ Delete actually deletes characters (delete normally works as backspace).
  • Form factor is excellent. It's extremely light; you won't even realize it's in your bag!
  • Pairing/Reconnecting literally takes a few seconds. Easy Peasy.
  • Speaking of, it can pair with both Android and iOS devices. And that's awesome.
  • Recharchable battery that charges over USB, and has extremely long battery life. Should only need to be charged three or four times per year, maybe less if you don't use it all that often.
  • The short USB cable that comes with it is pretty awesome. I love easy-to-carry USB cables, and this one would pair nicely with a good portable charger for your juicing your phone on the go (like the ZAGGsparq). Suh-weet.
  • Touch typing is nothing short of pure enjoyment on this keyboard. I actually typed most of this review using it.
  • The tablet stand is much more sturdy than one would think at first glance. It has magnets that keep it together - brilliant idea!
  • Caps-lock light! Never again yell at someone on accident.
  • Very well thought-out design. When wrapped up in the protective case/stand, the keyboard's design elements are highlighted. Classy.
  • Should look good paired up with any tablet (read: not overly iDevice-looking).

The Bad

  • If the speakers are on the bottom of the tablet (Acer A510, Toshiba Excite 10, for example), they are muffled by the stand.
  • The keys are slightly loud; especially the space bar.
  • Feel slightly cheap. Could be because it's so light, or perhaps because some of the keys feel "loose."
  • The keys are undersized, so it takes a bit of getting used to. However, if you can type on a netbook, then you'll be able to type on the ZAGGkeys Flexx without issue.
  • I would like to see some other Android-specific keys incorporated, like notification toggle, recent apps, and the app tray. If it had that, you could almost use your tablet without touching the screen.

Conclusion

As you can see, there's a lot to like about this keyboard - it's functional, light, has incredible battery life, and, most importantly, is a pleasure to type on. I readily recommend the ZAGGkeys Flex to anyone looking for a good keyboard to pair with their Android tablet or smartphone, as well as their iDevices - I'll probably never leave the house without it again.