ESR’s Rebound Magnetic Keyboard Case 360 includes a protective case for an iPad as well as a keyboard and trackpad. It offers typing with the tablet in portrait or landscape, a trick Apple’s own case/keyboard can’t match. You also can use the case when you leave the keyboard behind.
I tested it with my 13-inch iPad Pro. Here are my hands-on impressions.
ESR Rebound Magnetic Keyboard Case 360 review
As cool as Apple’s Magic Keyboard for iPad is, it has limitations. Most notably, it’s mostly a keyboard that can also be used as a case. If you just want to use it as a case, you still have to carry the keyboard with you. And it only allows the iPad to be used in landscape mode.
The ESR Rebound Magnetic Keyboard Case 360 suffers from neither of those limitations. And it costs much less than Apple’s product.
It is compatible with the iPad Pro and iPad Air models released in 2014, both the 13-inch and 11-inch models.
Table of contents: ESR Rebound Magnetic Keyboard Case 360 review
- Flexible, protective iPad keyboard case
- But heavy and thick
- Usable iPad keyboard and trackpad
- ESR video
- ESR Rebound Magnetic Keyboard Case 360 final thoughts
- Pricing
Flexible, protective iPad keyboard case
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
ESR’s iPad case/keyboard starts with a plastic case that wraps around the back, sides and corners of the tablet. Naturally, there are cutouts for the cameras, USB-C port, speakers, etc., plus covers for the buttons.
This is a basic but functional case that should protect your tablet from life’s little mishaps. It’s comfortable to hold, which isn’t true of all third-party iPad cases.mA keyboard, trackpad and stand are a separate part of the ESR Rebound Magnetic Keyboard Case 360 for iPad. The stand copies the “floating” look of Apple’s rival product — it’s a cool effect no matter who makes it.
The case connects to the stand magnetically and securely so the iPad can easily rotate between landscape and portrait. I hadn’t realized how limiting I found being stuck in landscape with other keyboard cases until I used ESR’s. I love the freedom of choosing which screen orientation works better for a given situation.
And there’s a bit of a range in viewing angles. The screen can be straight up or down, or lean back as much as 30 degrees.
A flap helps keep the clamshell closed and secures an Apple Pencil to the iPad. It’s a simple feature Apple itself ought to discover.
The iPad case/keyboard comes in black or white.
Unfortunately, it’s heavy and thick
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
There’s a lot to like about the ESR Rebound Magnetic Keyboard Case 360, but it’s heavy. I’m testing the version for the 13-inch iPad Pro, and the removable keyboard section weighs a hefty 2.1 pounds. The separate case comes in at a reasonable 0.5 pounds, but together they add 2.6 pounds to the iPad.
ESR’s case is also a bit thick. The cover and keyboard together measure 0.75 inches.
In short, using this product triples the weight and thickness of the tablet. For comparison, the Apple Magic Keyboard weighs 1.1 pounds less and is 0.25 inches thinner.
Usable iPad keyboard and trackpad
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
As I’m testing the version of the ESR Rebound Magnetic Keyboard Case 360 for the 13-inch iPad Pro, there’s room for an 11.75-inch wide keyboard. That’s a typical size for a notebook, and the keys are the usual 0.6 inches square with 0.15 inches of separation. Key travel feels decent — about what I expect for a notebook keyboard. ESR makes versions of the keyboard with U.S. and British layouts.
There’s room for a row of iPad function keys. With these, I can easily adjust the tablet’s backlights, control background music and perform other common tasks.
Key backlights offer a rainbow of color options: white, blue, red, green and purple. That seems an embarrassment of riches — I’d have been happy with a single color. And there are three brightness levels for each hue.
All in all, typing on ESR’s iPad cover/keyboard feels very much like typing on any laptop. And that’s a good thing.
The trackpad measures 4 inches by 1.9 inches. That’s a usable size, though I’ve certainly used larger ones. And bigger is better. Still, the trackpad is quite functional, and supports the usual iPadOS multi-finger gestures, like two-finger scrolling.
The keyboard and trackpad require a wireless connection to the computer via Bluetooth. That means the iPad keyboard case needs its own battery that must be kept charged via a USB-C port.
ESR video
ESR made a video showing off the capabilities of its device:
ESR Rebound Magnetic Keyboard Case 360 final thoughts
ESR’s iPad keyboard case offers some real advantages over Apple’s rival product. I love that it lets me type on my tablet in portrait or landscape mode. And I appreciate that it includes a case I can use when I don’t need a keyboard.
But it’s heavy.
★★★★☆
The price helps push up my opinion of this product. It costs about a third of what Apple charges for its iPad keyboard case.
Pricing
The usual price for the Rebound Magnetic Keyboard Case 360 is $167.99, but it’s currently available from ESR for $119.99. That’s a 29% discount. Both the 11-inch and 13-inch versions cost the same.
Buy it from: ESR
However, Amazon sells ESR’s iPad keyboard case for even less. The cost runs from $89.99 to $119.99, depending on the iPad size and model.
Buy it from: Amazon
Before buying, be sure to read my review of the rival Apple Magic Keyboard for the new iPad Pro and iPad Air models.
ESR provided Cult of Mac with a review unit for this article. See our reviews policy, and check out more in-depth reviews of Apple-related items.
