bluetooth wireless keyboard for tablet

3 Bluetooth keyboards for Android tablets

If you need a real keyboard to do real work, here are three excellent and affordable options.

JR Raphael By

Contributing Editor, Computerworld |

Motorola Wireless Keyboard

[Note: This product has been discontinued.]

Motorola's Wireless Keyboard is a great option for any Android tablet owner. The keyboard stands out from the pack with its sleek design -- the lettering used on the keys has a futuristic, Android-like look -- as well as with its large, well-spaced keys.

As a result of the size and spread of its keys, Motorola's unit is slightly larger than the other keyboards I tested -- just under half an inch longer and half an inch taller than the Logitech product. The difference certainly isn't enormous, but it might be relevant if you're concerned about portability.

The Motorola Wireless Keyboard has six rows, the top of which features a series of useful Android-specific functions. These dedicated Android keys allow you to control music playback and volume as well as jump directly to a series of core apps such as Gmail, the browser, the music player and the contacts list. There are also dedicated keys for returning to the home screen, going back, activating the Android menu function and searching.

Overall, the keys are responsive and easy to type on. Along the upper side of the keyboard's back surface, there is a raised ridge that causes the unit to sit at a noticeable slant when placed on a table. I found this made for a natural and more PC-like typing experience.

The keyboard's performance was good most of the time. Like the Logitech model, Motorola's Wireless Keyboard did suffer from "sticky key" syndrome on occasion during my tests; the keyboard also fell behind once and dropped a few letters as a result. This was certainly more the exception than the rule, though; for the most part, the Motorola keyboard was accurate and precise.

Targus Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard for Tablets

Targus's Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard for Tablets is the smallest and lightest of the full-sized keyboards I tested. Though it's considered a "tablet keyboard," the Targus unit is not made specifically for Android and consequently does not offer Android-specific function keys.

The keyboard has six rows, though the top row is filled primarily with Windows-centric function keys (F1, F2 and so on) and serves no purpose when connected to an Android device. If you want to use a keyboard for multiple purposes -- say, to connect to a home PC and a tablet -- this configuration could ultimately make the keyboard more versatile and useful. For Android-specific scenarios, however, its generic nature is a bit of a drawback compared to the Android-tailored alternatives.

The keyboard's layout has one other problem: The Backspace key is in the wrong spot. My brain is trained to press the key at the far right of the numbers row to perform the backspace function, since that's where practically every keyboard puts that command. On the Targus keyboard, for some reason, the Delete key resides in that location -- and when connected to an Android tablet, the Delete key doesn't actually do anything. I found myself having to regularly interrupt my thought process to look down and find the Backspace key, which is awkwardly placed at the right of the top row, alongside the function keys.

Layout aside, the Targus keyboard sits on a slight slant, and its keys are large and easy to use. The keyboard is responsive, though somewhat noisier than the Logitech or Motorola models. Accuracy was excellent in my tests, with no "sticky key" experiences and only a smattering of missed letters during very fast typing.

Bottom line

Targus's Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard for Tablets wins points for its light and compact design. It's also the least expensive model of the three here. But unless you're looking for a multipurpose keyboard, the Targus keyboard's lack of Android-specific functions puts it a notch below the other contenders.

The Motorola Wireless Keyboard has the nicest form of any of the wireless tablet keyboards I tested. Its larger form and lack of bundled accessories put it just a hair behind Logitech's offering -- but with its excellent design and array of dedicated Android keys, Motorola's keyboard is a class act that's well worth its price.

However, the Logitech Tablet Keyboard for Android 3.0+ is my pick for the best overall, universal Android tablet keyboard. Its outstanding performance, combined with the included carrying case and tablet stand, puts it a step ahead of the competition.

Contributing Editor JR Raphael serves up tasty morsels about the human side of technology. Hungry for more? Join him on Twitter or sign up for his weekly newsletter to get fresh tips and insight in your inbox every Friday.