Finally, an iPad Keyboard That Feels Like Typing on Apple's Magic Keyboard

Published Oct 8, 2025

Tyler Hayes is a Senior Author at How-To Geek, previously holding the title of Reviews Editor. He has been writing professionally since 2013. In the early years, Hayes covered the intersection of technology and music as it relates to streaming services, audio gear, and everything in between. Since then, he has covered all kinds of consumer products, from wearables to smart home gadgets.

Hayes first started writing professionally for Fast Company after spending a decade as a computer technician repairing computers and networks in people’s homes. Since 2013, he has contributed to dozens of publications, including The New York Times, WIRED, PCMag, Vice, Newsweek, and many more. His newsletter is: This Week The Trend.

Most of his writing has revolved around service journalism and helping people understand the latest pieces of technology. But he has done features on Pandora Radio, NBA Top Shot, and what goes into building the perfect playlist. He has also written for the Library of Congress and submitted his own emoji proposal to Unicode.

Beyond writing about technology, Hayes has worked for Microsoft and a few startups over the years. Outside of work, he reluctantly became a daily runner during the 2020 lockdown and has been unable to quit since.

Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents:

Try something different:

Satechi’s OntheGo Bluetooth Keyboard with Stand has great keys for typing, but its strength of being unconnected to a tablet might also be its weakness. Anyone looking for a part-time keyboard is in for a treat. But if you want a long-term commitment, you should look at a dedicated keyboard case.

Satechi OntheGo Bluetooth Keyboard With Stand

8/10

Battery: Up to 3 months of life
Num Pad: No
Switch Type: Scissor-switch keys
Wired operation: No

The OntheGo Bluetooth Keyboard with Stand is a compact, travel-ready typing solution designed for professionals who work from anywhere.

Dimensions: 11.4 x 5.8 x 0.4in.
Bluetooth: 5.1
Multi-device pairing: Up to 3 separate devices
Charging: 2.5 hours

Pros & Cons

Comfortable typing
Stiff stand positioning
Low profile design
Cover folds underneath

On the heavy side for portable keyboard
No trackpad

$80 at Satechi $80 at Amazon

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By Justin Duino

Jun 5, 2024

Price and Availability

The Satechi’s OntheGo Bluetooth Keyboard with Stand is available to buy now. It retails for $80 and comes in black and sand colors. It comes with a USB-C cable in the box for charging. The USB port on the keyboard can’t be used for a data connection, however.

Specifications

Battery: Up to 3 months of life
Num Pad: No
Switch Type: Scissor-switch keys
Wired operation: No
Dimensions: 11.4 x 5.8 x 0.4in.
Bluetooth: 5.1
Multi-device pairing: Up to 3 separate devices
Charging: 2.5 hours

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This Keyboard Is All About Versatility

Satechi OntheGo Keyboard with Stand folded shut.

Anyone who needs a keyboard for more than 50% of their tablet work should probably get a keyboard case. It’s always there and isn’t a separate piece to keep track of. There are plenty of keyboard combo cases, but Apple and Logitech probably make the best ones.

If, on the other hand, you only need a keyboard occasionally, then a standalone keyboard like this OntheGo one from Satechi is a better move. There’s no reason to carry the extra weight of keys most of the time if you’re mostly watching videos. You can grab it only when you need it.

The OntheGo Keyboard with Stand measures 11.4 by 5.8 by 0.4 inches. While it’s pretty compact, it is thicker than an iPad Pro—then again, most gadgets are.

It weighs 1.22 pounds, or nearly 550 grams, which means the keyboard feels solid and sturdy. But it also means that the accessory is a commitment to bring along. You can feel it in a bag. The weight is probably its worst physical attribute.

The stand portion has a 150-degree viewing angle. This is the crux of the device, too. If you don’t want a stand, thenApple’s desktop Magic Keyboard is lighter and more compact overall.

Thankfully, the cover that doubles as a stand works well. It’s firm and rigid, but easy to open and prop up. It’s wide enough for an 11-inch or a 13-inch iPad in landscape. It’s also wide enough for a vertical 11-inch iPad and a vertical iPhone.

The back kickstand is nearly invisible unless you need it. I didn’t find it to get in the way or pop open when I didn’t want it to.

In terms of versatility, the cover can flip around completely to sit under the keyboard and get out of the way if you don’t need the stand portion. The keyboard can connect to and remember three devices, so if you need to connect it to a Mac or another device, it can be used as a desktop keyboard too.

Speaking of the Apple Magic Keyboard, the OntheGo key layout is nearly the same proportions as it. But you do get inverted “T” arrow keys on Satechi’s version.

Importantly, the battery life is claimed to be up to three months of use. I’m in the middle of trying to wear it down. I can confirm that its advertised 2.5-hour time to charge is about what I saw.

The only part I wish were different was the power button. I'd rather have an on and off switch to toggle, rather than a slightly ambiguous button, but that's minor overall.

Typing Feels Great, If You're Used to Low-Profile Keyboards

Satechi OntheGo Keyboard with Stand sitting at an angle.

The OntheGo Keyboard has a solid design, but its best quality is probably its keys and the feel of typing. A keyboard is only as good as how it feels to type on, after all.

Not only does the physical size of the layout closely mimic Apple’s Magic Keyboard, but the shape, height, and spring of the keys also match Apple’s keyboard very closely.

Ultimately, Satechi’s keyboard has a more plasticky feel to it. The scissor-switch keys seem to have slightly more travel, which also contributes to a different typing experience. But using this keyboard is one of the few that I’ve been able to move to from Apple’s thin profile model with almost no hiccups. It took me a few paragraphs of typing this review before it felt like I was at home again. Even the Logitech Keys-To-Go 2 took longer to get used to. The spacing and pressure on Satechi's model were both familiar and comfortable.

Satechi OntheGo Keyboard with Stand with an Apple Magic Keyboard on top of it. — Apple's Magic Keyboard sitting on top of the OntheGo Keyboard.

This keyboard isn’t quite as quiet as Apple’s, but it isn’t loud like a mechanical keyboard. You should be able to use it in an office, plane, or library setting without getting any dirty looks.

Should You Buy the Satechi OntheGo Keyboard with Stand?

Satechi OntheGo Keyboard with Stand with an iPad.

For its $80 retail price, theSatechi OntheGo Keyboard with Stand provides a fantastic typing experience with a clever stand for tablets or phones. As the product is conceived, it’s hard to find a lot of fault with it. But that doesn’t mean this form factor is for everyone.

If you regularly need a keyboard, this one could be cumbersome to set up and bring along as another device to charge and keep track of. Apple’s Magic Keyboard for iPad is the way to go. If you’re used to using a trackpad, it’s hard not to have one available.

If you want a separate keyboard, but want the lightest and most portable option, that title is still reserved for theLogitech Keys-To-Go 2. That one only weighs 222 grams and can last up to 36 months on a single coin-cell battery.

Still, there’s a place for this OntheGo Keyboard with Stand. Occasional tablet writers who want a similar keyboard to the Apple one on their desk at home.