Ask yourself a question: “What’s the closest thing you can buy that resembles a Laptop or a Notebook?”
The most obvious answer would be a Tablet PC but there’s a catch. While Tablet PCs offer a similar set of features and functionalities as a Laptop or a Notebook, it misses out on one key feature – a Physical Keyboard.
Although Tablets do feature On-Screen Keyboards, the lack of a Physical Keyboard hampers their productivity aspects to a great extent. Not only can a Physical Keyboard on Tablets improve your overall typing experience but it can also make the Tablet PC a very capable, budget-friendly, content creation device.
In an attempt to resolve this issue, Logitech took a bold step and introduced their Folio Series Add-On Keyboard Case for iOS, Android, and Windows-based Tablets. Their objective was simple – to make an affordable, attachable keyboard for your Tablet that transforms it into a 2-in-1 device with superior touch and type experience.
In this article, I will be explaining the significance of Logitech’s Folio-Series Keyboards and put forward an extensive guide on how to connect them to everyone’s favorite Tablet device of all time – the iPad.
What Makes the Folio Series Keyboards So Special?
Launched back in 2017, the Universal Folio Keyboard Case from Logitech was a very popular choice among Tablet users. Featuring a compact chassis with well-spaced keys and dedicated function buttons, the Universal Folio made sure to improve your typing experience by leaps and bounds. Moreover, the effortless installation on any 9 or 10-inch Apple, Android, or Windows Tablet allowed this device to be ‘universally‘ compatible across all platforms. With an attractive price tag of $59.99, the Universal Folio was Logitech’s first step in the right direction for gifting new life and functionality to Tablet devices.
Owing to the success of Universal Folio, Logitech expanded its Folio Series lineup by introducing major contenders in the Tablet Keyboard space. Although the Universal Folio was in itself a great product, it lacked support for the newest generation of Tablet devices which have much larger displays and form factors. For a more modern and feature-rich iteration, Logitech released 4 new attachable keyboards exclusively for iPad users – the Slim Folio and Slim Folio Pro featuring Bluetooth connectivity as well as the Rugged Folio and Folio Touch that take advantage of the Smart Connector on your iPad.
While the Slim Folio, Slim Folio Pro, and Rugged Folio seem to be a faithful recreation of the Universal Folio with updated features, support, and a more modern design, the Folio Touch is in a league of its own.
Alongside generational improvements, the Folio Touch also makes use of a trackpad for seamless navigation, narrowing the gap significantly between Laptops and Tablets. Often acknowledged by many as the “Magic Keyboard Killer”, the Folio Touch brings way more versatility to an iPad while being a cheaper alternative to Apple’s offering.
With the Folio Series lineup, Logitech has already set the gold standard for affordable, all-in-one keyboard cases that checks all the boxes in terms of features and functionalities.
Connection Options and Compatibility
The Folio Series lineup utilizes two different modes of connectivity – Bluetooth Pairing as is the case with Universal Folio, Slim Folio, and Slim Folio Pro, and the Smart Connect feature for Rugged Folio and Folio Touch Keyboards.
Before moving on to the steps required for connecting any Folio Series Keyboard to your iPad, it is important to check for compatibility since every Keyboard from this lineup has support up to a specific generation of iPad. Let us take a look at the Compatibility list.
Logitech Universal Folio:
- Compatible Devices: iPad (2nd, 3rd, and 4th Gen); iPad Air (1st and 2nd Gen)
Logitech Slim Folio:
- Compatible Devices: iPad (5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th Gen); iPad Air (3rd Gen)
Logitech Slim Folio Pro:
- Compatible Devices: iPad Pro 11-inch (1st, 2nd, and 3rd Gen); iPad Air 12.9-inch (3rd and 4th Gen)
Logitech Rugged Folio:
- Compatible Devices: iPad (7th, 8th, and 9th Gen)
Logitech Folio Touch:
- Compatible Devices: iPad Pro 11-inch (1st, 2nd, and 3rd Gen); iPad Air (4th and 5th Gen)
Connect a Logitech Folio Series Keyboard to Your iPad Using Bluetooth
To connect a Logitech Folio Series Keyboard to your iPad using the Bluetooth Pairing method, follow these steps.
(Note: The following method will only be applicable for Universal Folio, Slim Folio and Slim Folio Pro Keyboards as all of them feature Bluetooth connectivity.)
Step 1: After setting up your iPad in the protective case, place it in an upright, typing position.
Step 2: While the Slim Folio Pro uses a rechargeable battery that can be charged through a USB Type-C cable, both the Universal Folio and Slim Folio Keyboards have no support for this feature. Dual lithium-coin batteries power these devices. Make sure to remove the battery tab from the keyboard to power it on.
For the Slim Folio Pro, placing your iPad in an upright, typing position turns on the keyboard automatically. When you lift the iPad out of Reading Mode, the keyboard will turn off to reduce battery consumption.
Step 3: Once you power on the keyboard, navigate to the Settings menu from your iPad and turn on Bluetooth. You should see a blue light blinking on your keyboard which indicates that the device is ready to pair.
If the indicator light doesn’t blink, hold down the Bluetooth button on the keyboard for a few seconds until you see the blue light blinking.
Step 4: Your keyboard should appear in the Devices list. Select ‘Universal Folio‘/’Slim Folio‘/’Slim Folio Pro‘ from the menu.
Step 5: When your iPad requests a PIN (usually a 4-digit or 6-digit number), enter it using the Folio Keyboard. This will establish a connection between your iPad and keyboard.
That’s it! The Folio Keyboard has been successfully paired with your iPad. You can repeat the same steps when trying to connect to a different generation of iPad.
On an additional note, if your status light turns red, it means you have to replace the batteries (for Universal Folio/Slim Folio) or charge your keyboard (for Slim Folio Pro).
Connect a Logitech Folio Series Keyboard to Your iPad Using Smart Connect Feature
Since the Smart Connect method eliminates the use of Bluetooth Pairing, connecting your Logitech Folio Series Keyboards to your iPad is relatively simple. Follow these steps.
(Note: The following method will only be applicable for Rugged Folio and Folio Touch Keyboards as both of them have support for the Smart Connect feature.)
Step 1: If you are not familiar with the Smart Connect feature, the Smart Connector is located at the back of your iPad and has three small, magnetic contacts. The Folio Keyboards work by drawing power from the device itself.
After setting up your iPad in the protective case, place it in an upright, typing position. Similar to Slim Folio Pro, these keyboards also have an automatic On/Off feature. When you lift the iPad out of Reading Mode, these keyboards will turn off to reduce battery consumption.
Step 2: Once the connection is secure, your Folio Keyboard will be activated and you can start with your typing sessions without needing to worry about any additional options.
In case your Folio Keyboard stops working, check for any dust or debris blocking the pins of the connector. If the issue persists, try disconnecting and reconnecting the keyboard or restarting your iPad.
That will be all! Your Folio Keyboard will function flawlessly on the latest generation of iPad. Furthermore, the Smart Connector allows the Folio Keyboard to run without batteries, saving users from the hassle of any replacement.
Conclusion
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t always need a Laptop or a Notebook for getting the most of your basic, productivity needs. If you are willing to make an additional investment for your Tablet, the Logitech Folio Series Keyboards offer exceptional value in terms of money.
Likewise, setting up these keyboards is extremely easy as is evident from the entire guide. I hope you like it. Leave a comment down below if you encounter any problems during the process. Our team will be happy to help you out.