Folding Keyboards

Today’s ever-increasing dependence on tablets and cell phones has led to, up until now, a distinct disadvantage over the computer: Typing is much more difficult on a screen. Well no more, say tech companies — you can have your cake and eat it too!

Folding and rollable keyboards have been around for a few years, but the early iterations were not much better than typing on a screen. Luckily, folding keyboards have come a long way and now you can find a range of products and prices to fit your needs and budget.

The Zagg Pocket Keyboard is one of the smallest options. The wireless keyboard folds into nearly a full-size keyboard (85 percent) from its compact 9-inch by 2.5-inch by half-inch rectangle. It is unique in that it folds vertically, thus preserving the natural layout of the keys. It costs $69.99.

Matias make a number of different keyboards ranging from $49.95–69.95. They fold horizontally and are slightly larger at 10.08 inches by 5 inches by 1.38 inches closed. The keyboards are also not compatible across different operating systems.

Microsoft is releasing their own Universal Foldable Keyboard in July. It’s a sleek device that can pair with either Microsoft or Apple, even giving you the capability to pair with two mobile devices at once. It also preserves the natural keyboard and is user-friendly. Closed it measures 5.8 inches by 4.9 inches 0.45 inches. It costs $99.95.

The Jorno tri-folding Bluetooth keyboard is another good option. It pairs with just about any Bluetooth-capable device and its case doubles as a stand. It folds down to 9.91 inches by 3.53 inches by 0.67 inches and costs $99 on sale from $120.

There are a number of other options out there, including several $30 or less choices. But, like with anything, you get what you pay for. Look for prices to drop in the future.