I've been using an iPad Mini 2 for 6.5 years, I recently purchased a 2018 iPad Pro 11" about a week ago to replace it. The Mini 2 remains a great iPad and I plan to continue to use it as my bedside clock-radio and as a book reader. The iPad Pro is going to be my portable work computer, plus I'll read comic books – ahem, graphics novels – on it because they're so much nicer on its larger screen. Since I'll be doing a lot of walking around with the iPad Pro I needed a case. Since I'm going to be doing a lot of typing with the iPad Pro I needed a keyboard. I had a Logitech keyboard case with the iPad Mini and was quite satisfied with it when I was using the iPad Mini as my portable work computer so I decided to buy another Logitech keycase for the iPad Pro. You can find my review of the Logitech case I used with the iPad Mini at the Amazon page for the "Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Folio for iPad Mini".
I did consider waiting for the new Apple Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro but comparing the price of $300 for that vs the price of $100 for the Logitech Slim Folio, well, sorry, but the Apple keycase isn't $200 better. If I ever need a trackpad (which I doubt) I have a spare Apple trackpad plus a bunch of Bluetooth mice all of which work nicely with iPadOS 13.4 or later. Even the currently-available Apple keycase is $150 when you can find it on sale, $180 normally. This Logitech Slim Folio Pro seemed to be very similar to the Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Folio I used with the iPad Mini so I was pretty sure it would get the job done for me.
The two keycases are in fact very similar. The Slim Folio Pro is bigger (obviously) but also much more solidly built. The old Ultrathin did its job perfectly, protecting the iPad Mini from scratches and scuffs plus little spills and a few short drops – my iPad Mini still looks almost new! The Ultrathin is really showing its age, though, with one of the retention corners and the main folding spine cracked – the corner isn't a big deal (the power button under the cracked corner can still be operated without issue and it still holds firmly) but I had to reinforce the spine with tape. The other damage is reasonable expected wear-and-tear given how I've used (and sometimes accidentally abused) it. Comparing the corners the new Slim looks much sturdier and I don't expect to experience the same problem with corner cracking barring some major fall onto a hard surface (when you want the case to crack so that your iPad won't). I am concerned about the spine on the Slim, though, because while it is more solidly built than the Ultrathin that area is going to experience frequent bending and other stresses. We'll see...
It wasn't difficult but it was modestly time-consuming to fully insert the iPad Pro into the Slim keycase. I can't see inserting and removing it frequently, or at all except once every month or three to clean it. Inserting and removing the iPad Mini from the Ultrathin keycase was a much faster process which encouraged me to pop it out so I could use it in "hand-held mode" now and then; I don't see doing that much or even at all with the iPad Pro and the Slim keycase, it's going to be stuck in "laptop mode" all the time, I think.
The keyboard itself is fantastic! Unlike the Ultrathin designed for the smaller iPad Mini, very few compromises had to be made to squeeze all the keys into the available space. It feels like a good laptop keyboard, excellent "feel" and travel, I can type at full speed. Even though I'm a good touch-typist I love the backlighting! Note that there are really only 2 levels of backlighting, the third level is "off". The 2 levels of backlighting aren't very different from each other, the lower level should have been made dimmer. The function keys are really helpful, I use them a lot instead of swipes or hitting the power/top or volume/side buttons on the iPad Pro.
This keyboard case is pretty great for turning the iPad Pro into a laptop replacement. Not that I would give up my desktop Mac but for on-the-go use the iPad Pro 11" in this Logitech Slim Folio keycase is perfect for my needs. The iPad + keycase isn't bulky but together they do feel heavy especially when being held in one hand for reading. It's not impossible to do but it does get uncomfortable, even when propped up a bit on my legs or belly while slouched on the couch. The iPad Mini, even with its Ultrathin case, is better for most handheld uses, especially reading – one of the reasons I'm keeping my old Mini even though it can't run the latest version of iOS and is otherwise getting a little long in the tooth.
If Amazon lets me, I'll include a set of pictures of my 2018 iPad Pro 11" in this Logitech Slim Folio keycase matched with similar pictures of my 2013 iPad Mini 2 in its Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Folio. Please note the pictures that show damage and wear are of the old Ultrathin case which is 6.5 years old. I am showing them here for comparison, the new case is NEW so it's still in perfect condition and hopefully will remain that way for a long time.
Please note that this Logitech Slim Folio Pro is for the 2018 iPad Pro 11". If you use it with the 2020 iPad Pro 11" it will fit but the larger camera array will be occluded, the cutout for the camera is sized for the smaller array on the 2018 model. In April, Logitech is releasing a revised version of the Slim Folio Pro with a larger camera array cutout which will fit the 2020 iPad Pro properly, be sure you get that newer version if you get a 2020 iPad Pro. The newer one will also fit the 2018 iPad Pro.
| Standing screen display size | 11 Inches |
|---|
