PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing.

Razer Launches $170 iPad Pro Mechanical Keyboard Case

The case promises to give you the same kind of satisfaction you get when typing on a full-sized mechanical keyboard.

 & Angela Moscaritolo Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

Our Expert
LOOK INSIDE PC LABS HOW WE TEST
65 EXPERTS
43 YEARS
41,500+ REVIEWS

Razer is about to turn your iPad Pro into a full-fledged laptop. Well, the keyboard part at least.

The company on Thursday released a new keyboard case for Apple's 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which promises to give you the same kind of satisfaction you get when typing on a full-sized mechanical keyboard. The $169.99 peripheral connects to your iPad Pro via Bluetooth, and features a detachable polycarbonate protective case as well as a metal kickstand, which lets you prop your tablet into any position that's comfortable.

Each key is individually backlit, and you can select from 20 different brightness levels for typing in low-light conditions. In terms of battery life, the accessory offers approximately 10 hours of juice on a single charge at maximum brightness, and 600 hours when backlighting is turned off, Razer said.

Underneath the surface, the keyboard uses "ultra-low-profile mechanical switches," which deliver the same performance and feel as a full-sized mechanical keyboard, according to Razer, but with a form factor slim enough for a mobile device. The company called the component the "world's first" ultra-low profile mechanical switch, and said it has other applications in mind for it beyond this case.

Razer ultra-low-profile mechanical switches

"We're commonly thought of as a company that makes phenomenal products for gamers, but to design the very best products, we've had to innovate from the ground up — even from each individual component such as mechanical switches," Razer co-founder and CEO Min-Liang Tan said in a statement. "We're excited about the potential of our Ultra-Low-Profile Mechanical Switch and look forward to exploring other applications in addition to the mechanical keyboard we've designed for the iPad Pro."

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes. 

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app. 

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth. 

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light. 

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

Read full bio