Microsoft Universal Mobile Keyboard, Review

A good physical keyboard can help us get more out of our smartphone. And, of course, also to our tablet. When we buy a new mobile and we consider making an accessory we usually think of a good case or an external battery, two very popular accessories. But, depending on how we use our phone or tablet, a keyboard can be as important as the two accessories I just mentioned.

During the last years, taking advantage of the pull of mobile phones and tablets, many wireless physical keyboards have arrived on the market, but some leave much to be desired. A device of this type must have a good ergonomics, and, in addition, a careful construction. Otherwise it will last us a jiffy. Let's see if the Microsoft Universal Mobile Keyboardmultiplatform keyboard , which works with Android, iOS and Windows, really measures up.

Construction and ergonomics

The first thing I usually notice when I analyze a physical keyboard designed to be used with mobile phones and tablets, and therefore, in which portability must prevail, is in its construction. This Universal Mobile Keyboard has two clearly differentiated parts: the keyboard and a cover that protects it when we are not using it, but when we use it, it acts as a support on which we can place both our phone and a tablet. Both pieces are held together by two magnetic plates , so it is possible to separate them by pulling them slightly.

The keyboard is made of a quality plastic, although the truth is that this section is not the best I've tried. If its base was aluminum and not plastic, its robustness would be greater, but it would also weigh more and be more expensive. The plastic used in the manufacture of the lid, with rubber texture, I like it much more than the keyboard itself. In addition, this finish prevents our mobile scratching when we put it on the lid, so this element does not put any hits.

Now we go with ergonomics, a very important section if we think about using the keyboard frequently. In the images you can see that it is a very compact device, which forces us to keep our hands together as we write. Of course, once you get used to it is quite comfortable, especially because the size of the keys is generous. What I liked the most is that the keys hardly suffer from transverse oscillation , which is what causes us discomfort in the wrists when using it for a long time. And its touch is not very different from other chiclet keyboards of good quality, like Apple with which I'm writing this post, so my balance in the ergonomics section is positive.

Experience of use

Connecting this Microsoft keyboard to your mobile or tablet is a breeze. It turns on automatically when lifting the lid (we can also turn it on manually by pressing a button located on the right side of its base), so we only have to indicate which operating system uses the device to which we are going to link by moving a key. Now we enable the Bluetooth connection on our mobile or tablet, look for the keyboard and enter the password that will appear on the screen. And ready.

Once we have connected it to the mobile, the physical keyboard prevails over the virtual one, so we can start using it immediately in any application. If we decide to use the lid as a base to hold the phone or the tablet, which is most likely, we can opt for two different inclinations . Although, in my opinion, the most comfortable to write is the one that keeps the phone less inclined.

This keyboard uses a long-lasting rechargeable battery that, according to Microsoft, gives us a maximum autonomy of 6 months per charge. It is evident that I have not been able to prove if it really lasts that long, but I have verified that a 5-minute load allows us to use it for about 5 hours without problems, and also that it is fully charged in about 8 hours . As you can see, it's not bad at all.

Conclusions

I have left for the end of the analysis an interesting feature that will please users who, like me, need to use the physical keyboard with several devices, which can also use a different operating system. I tried it with an iPad and a Sony Xperia Z1, and not only connected without problems to both, but allowed me to switch from one to another in a very simple: moving the selection key of the operating system hosted on the corner upper right of the keyboard.

The taste of mouth that this keyboard has left me after writing with it for several hours is very positive. Its finish is quite good, its ergonomics are taken care of and it is really easy to use. For all this, I think it is an option that is worth taking into account if we need a keyboard of this type to squeeze our smartphone or tablet. Of course, it's not cheap. Its official price is 79.90 euros , a high amount that will probably cause some users to opt for a cheaper keyboard.