Logitech Flip Folio Review

Design

• Keyboard stows neatly
• Generally solid build quality
• Kickstand feels quite stiff

On first glance, the Flip Folio might look a little funny, as it just seems like a bog-standard folio type iPad case with kickstand.

However, it hides a neat trick that makes it one of the more unique iPad cases you’ll find. In the back is a cutout to put the tiny wireless keyboard that this case comes with that you can easily stow away or take out when needed.

Essentially, the Flip Folio has the versatility of a dedicated scissor-actuated keyboard when you need it, and when you don’t, it magnetically sits in the back of the case if you’re after a more traditional tablet workflow without having a keyboard in front of you.

The iPad attaches magnetically to the case, sitting neatly if you’ve got one of the supported models. The iPad I’m using is actually a first-gen 9.7-inch iPad Pro from way back in 2016, as I don’t necessarily use a tablet-based workflow for a lot of the time. Despite looking a little silly if you put a model it’s designed for inside, the case works as intended, and I haven’t got any complaints.

Setting up the Flip Folio is easy, as long as you follow Logitech’s hieroglyphics for instructions in the box that involves folding part of the kickstand out and putting it behind the iPad to prop it up. It is adjustable, so you can change the angle of the device, although it feels slightly crude compared to other kickstand cases out there.

The case and keyboard carry a slim profile when put together, while the keyboard attachment itself is especially slender and light. Owing to its svelte chassis, there is some deck flex, but it still feels okay.

It’s available in a range of colours, with either the Graphite colour I have, a Pale Grey, or Lilac.

The keyboard has a 65% style layout, complete with small arrow keys and a dinky function row across the top. The functions are designed for iPadOS specifically, and work as intended for tasks such as changing brightness levels or taking a screenshot. You also get three dedicated buttons for connectivity using Logitech’s Easy Switch method found on their more desktop-oriented products.

I don’t have too many issues with the layout and arrangement, especially as the keyboard uses standard key caps for letters, and slims it down for things such as the Return, Backspace and Shift keys.

Those to the right of the main alphanumeric arrangement, such as for slashes and brackets, are also slimmed down – arguably because you might not be using them as much as the comma and full stop, which are the same size as the rest.

As I’m more used to the laptop form factor, I did find myself looking around for a trackpad that wasn’t there, although if you’re used to using a tablet in this style of workflow, you should get on okay.

Logitech also says the Flip Folio in both its Graphite and Midnight Black colourways are manufactured with 37% post consumed recycled plastics, in-keeping with their generally excellent sustainability record for peripherals.

Performance

• Heavier than the competition
• Responsive, scissor-actuated feel
• Convenient pairing and battery life

The Flip Folio is, first and foremost, a case, so it should be easy to travel around with, and offer a degree of portability that a traditional laptop can’t match.

It all fits together well, giving it a stowable and slender profile for bunging into a bag to take with you on a train or plane for instance, or just carry in your hand from meeting to meeting.

The problem with the Flip Folio is its weight, with the case tipping the scales at 465g, and the keyboard at 176g, for a total weight of 641g. This makes it heavier than the equivalent Apple Magic Keyboard with trackpad.

In actual use, I didn’t have any real complaints. The travel here is a short and snappy one, owing to what feel like scissor-actuated keys underneath, and the layout is comfortable enough to make typing notes or emails up on the go a rather pleasant experience. 

Pairing over Bluetooth to my iPad was virtually instant, and even when I wanted to connect the Flip Folio to my phone or to my main PC just to use it in a more conventional form factor was as simple. This was not least assisted by those dedicated pairing buttons on the function row.

The Flip Folio’s keyboard is rated to work with all of Apple’s operating systems across mobile and desktop, as well as Windows and ChromeOS. In spite of this, it lacks the dual-printed keycap legends and only comes with those suitable for iPadOS and macOS.

There is software available for this keyboard, with the Logitech Control app that’s traditionally designed with the Combo Touch peripherals, although its only update this year added firmware support for the Flip Folio. With it, you can seemingly only update firmware for the Flip Folio, rather than use it to remap any keys or anything else; the software is quite slow and unresponsive, which doesn’t help.

When it comes to battery life, Logitech rates the keyboard to last for up to two years on its bundled button battery. As there isn’t any backlighting or other things to drain it, then you can almost set and forget it.

Should you buy it?