J JamesGames.com Review: Logitech K380 Multi-Device Keyboard
 

Review: Logitech K380 Multi-Device Keyboard

A JamesGames  Review!
By: James Oppenheim | Created: 2016-10-29 22:24:25 | (Updated: 0000-00-00 00:00:00)

Using a smartphone or tablet to take class notes isn't really practical without a keyboard, and this is the one I'd recommend. It has a reasonable weight, sturdy feel, yet is still light enough to toss in a book bag without weighing you down.

The membrane-style keyboard is a cut or two above others of this type I've tried, with more tactile response. You know when you've "clicked"; there is good feedback.

What really sets this keyboard apart from the competition is its ability to pair with up to three different bluetooth devices. This means that if you have an iPad, a tablet, and an Apple TV, you can use the same keyboard, switching between them with a touch of a button. The switching is virtually instantaneous.

I had no trouble pairing the keyboard to any of the devices I tested it with. You just hold down one of the three selector keys until it starts flashing; this puts it into pairing mode. Then, on your smartdevice, just go to bluetooth settings and you'll find the keyboard there. Click to pair and you're in business. You only have to do this once for each device. The only issue I ran into was that, though clearly identified by my iPad, in Windows 10 it only showed as "keyboard" without mentioning the brand or model. Unless you're trying to pair dozens of keyboards, however, it is obvious. Once paired you just click on the clearly marked device keys to activate it, switching devices at will.

Logitech claims the keyboard will work for up to two years on two AAA batteries. Obviously I couldn't test this! A couple of caveats.

I suggest you test the keyboard for yourself to see if you're comfortable with the size of the keys and their relative closeness to one another. This is a compact keyboard, and as such there is no number pad, so it isn't ideal for finance majors. Still, it is an amazing keyboard, able to connect to three bluetooth devices at a time.