Alright, so I got my hands on one of these ESR keyboard cases a little while back. Been meaning to share how it’s been going since I actually started using it day-to-day.
Getting Started
First thing, taking it out of the box. Pretty standard stuff, felt reasonably solid, not too heavy which was good. The material felt decent enough for the price. I popped my tablet right in. It snapped in place snugly, felt secure, which was my first worry taken care of. Didn’t feel like it would accidentally fall out.
Next up was connecting the keyboard part. I switched it on – there’s usually a little power switch on the side. Then I went into my tablet’s Bluetooth settings. Found the keyboard listed there pretty quickly, tapped connect, and that was basically it. Paired up without any drama, which is always nice. No weird codes or anything complicated.
Using the Keyboard
Okay, typing on it. Look, it’s a compact keyboard, so you gotta set your expectations. It’s definitely better than tapping on the screen for anything longer than a quick message. The keys have a clicky feel, not super deep travel, but enough that you know you’ve pressed them. Spacing is a bit tight if you have larger hands, like me. Took a little getting used to, I made a few more typos than usual at the start. But after a day or so, my fingers kind of learned where everything was. It’s fine for emails, notes, browsing, that sort of thing. Wouldn’t want to write a novel on it, probably.
The connection seemed stable. I didn’t notice any major lag between typing and seeing the letters appear on screen. The battery seems to hold up well too. I charged it fully when I got it, and I haven’t had to plug it in again yet after maybe a week or two of moderate use.
The Case Aspect
As a case, it does what it’s supposed to do. It covers the screen when closed, protecting it from scratches in my bag. It adds a bit of bulk, naturally, more than a simple folio case, but that’s expected with a keyboard. The stand mechanism works well. It uses magnets and grooves, I think. You can prop the tablet up at a couple of different angles. Found one angle that works well for typing on a desk, and another that’s better for just watching something. Felt stable enough, didn’t collapse on me.
Carrying it around is okay. It makes the whole setup thicker and heavier, no doubt about it. It transformed the tablet into something feeling more like a small laptop. Whether that’s good or bad depends on what you need. For me, throwing it in my backpack for a coffee shop work session was fine.
Overall Thoughts
So, after using this ESR keyboard case for a bit, here’s the gist:
- What I liked: Decent protection, easy setup, keyboard is way better than the on-screen one for actual typing, stand is useful, battery life seems solid.
- What could be better: Keyboard is a bit cramped, adds noticeable weight and bulk.
Basically, it turned my tablet into a much more useful device for light productivity tasks when I’m out and about. It’s a trade-off between portability and functionality. For me, having a physical keyboard readily available without carrying a separate one has been pretty convenient. It’s not perfect, but it gets the job done for what it is.