5 physical keyboards perfect for traveling

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

When you’re on the move, whether for business or leisure, compact travel gadgets are definitely the way to go. A compact keyboard, for example, is essential if you want to travel light but still want a comfortable typing experience. Typing short messages on a smartphone with your thumbs is fine, but if you need to compose something longer, a larger physical keyboard will make things much easier. And of course, such a keyboard will also work perfectly with tablets.

As you might expect, physical keyboards designed for travel come in different shapes and sizes, with some able to be folded up for perfect portability. You’ll also find a range of features, some of which will be more important to you than others. In the list below, we’ve rounded up some of the coolest options, from the ProtoArc Read on to find the best solution for your next trip!

If saving space in your luggage is a top priority, then the $40 ProtoArc XK01 Full-Size Keyboard might be just what you need. This nifty little device folds three ways, creating a footprint just 8.4 inches in diameter and 4.7 inches wide when folded, while weighing just 10.5 ounces. Unlike most travel keyboards, the 105-key ProtoArc XK01 includes a number pad, making it ideal for people who work in, say, finance, or for those who simply prefer to have easier access to the number keys. If the number pad is of little use to you, there’s a variation of this travel keyboard called the ProtoArc XK01 TP ($57) that replaces it with a trackpad, eliminating the need for a mouse.

Other features of this compact travel keyboard include quiet scissor-switch keys so you won’t make noise in quiet environments, 12 media hotkeys for quick access to media playback, volume, brightness and other frequently used functions, and three Bluetooth 5.1 channels for easy switching between multiple devices. It also offers USB-C charging and comes in five colors: black, gray, silver, blue and green. Notably, there is a Plus variant priced at $59, which offers backlit keys. Any disadvantages? Well, some reviewers have noted that the folding hinges don’t lock when the keyboard is open, making it less suitable for use on unstable surfaces like laps or a pillow.

The Keychron B11 Pro sports a sleek profile and folds in half for easy storage. What really stands out about this neat little travel keyboard is its split design that angles the two key sections outward to create a more natural position for your hands and wrists. It’s supposed to make prolonged typing more comfortable, although the fixed seam means it doesn’t have the adjustability of a true ergonomic split keyboard that offers two physically separate halves.

Open for typing, the Keychron B11 Pro measures 15.5 inches × 5.6 inches – just a bit short of a full-size keyboard – and is half the width when folded. The scissor switch keycaps each have a concave design for better precision. Keychron claims up to 138 hours of battery life via USB-C charging. Conveniently, to conserve battery life, the keyboard automatically turns off each time you fold it, and automatically powers on and reconnects to your device when you unfold it.

Since this is a travel keyboard, you can use it on all kinds of surfaces, including slippery ones, which is why its back cover has been designed with a polyurethane leather-like material that provides some grip for stable and secure typing. But be careful: the Keychron B11 Pro does not have a backlight, nor does it have a kickstand or folding feet to raise the rear edge of the keyboard.

Several years ago, I thought I could save a few dollars by replacing my aging and well-worn Apple Magic Keyboard (for Mac) with a third-party keyboard that was fairly inexpensive and looked almost identical. But unfortunately, and perhaps not surprisingly, it didn’t work. Besides its many other flaws, I noticed that every time I pressed the spacebar, two spaces appeared. It was a disaster. So I returned it and did what I should have done in the first place: bought an Apple Magic Keyboard. And of course it worked very well.

Sure, there’s no backlight, no number pad, it doesn’t fold in half, it’s not particularly cheap… but it works well and gets the job done. Apple’s $99 keyboard is also compact, measuring 11 inches wide and weighing just 8.5 ounces. The scissor switch keys provide a quiet and comfortable typing experience, and because they pair via Bluetooth, you can use it with Android devices and not just Apple ones. The aluminum frame also gives it a sturdy feel, so you can throw it in a bag without worrying too much about damage. Apple also offers custom versions of the Magic Keyboard for iPad, which are arguably the best add-ons to increase your productivity.

Logitech released its first product, a computer mouse, in 1982, and became a reliable manufacturer of PC peripherals. One of its most recent releases is the Keys-To-Go 2, which Logitech describes as its “most portable keyboard ever.” The sleek-looking device measures just 9.8 inches in diameter and tips the scales at 7.8 ounces. This one also includes scissor switch keys and Easy-Switch buttons for quickly switching between multiple devices. Made from recycled plastic, the Keys-To-Go 2 is available in graphite, pale gray and lilac and comes with a built-in magnetic cover for adequate protection when you’re on the road.

But at $139, the Logitech Keys-To-Go 2 is one of the more expensive options among our selection of travel keyboards. Additionally, there is no USB-C charging. Instead, it uses two CR2032 coin cell batteries (included), which Logitech says will last up to 36 months. So if you carry a few spares on your travels, running out of power shouldn’t be a problem. In fact, with such a long lifespan, replaceable batteries might be preferable to a built-in rechargeable battery, which requires periodic charging and a cable. Backlighting is also missing on this keyboard, and while the compact design is definitely a plus for travel, some people with larger hands may find the keys a little too cramped.

Launched via a Kickstarter campaign, the MoErgo Go60 has the most unique design among our picks and looks like another cool gadget that could change the way you travel. It’s a true split keyboard, meaning you have two physically separate halves, each with a small circular trackpad so you don’t need to carry a mouse when traveling. Designed for better ergonomics and long typing sessions, the MoErgo Go60 offers quiet mechanical switches that can be replaced or customized. It also includes underlit RGB lighting, which is more for aesthetics than key identification. The Go60 can be carried in two halves in a protective travel case. The case also contains a few tent poles that you clip under each half to raise them up. They can also be adjusted to different heights so you can find the optimal position for your typing style.

But the limited 60-key layout can take some getting used to, with some familiar functions and keys – including numbers – accessed via two-key combinations by default. You can, however, integrate the number keys into the base layer using the Layout Editor, which allows you to remap the keys as well as create custom layers and macros. Out of the box, the Go60’s right trackpad offers cursor control, while the left allows vertical scrolling and also lets you navigate a canvas. Again, the layout editor lets you change the functionality of the trackpads, although there’s no way to add multi-touch. The MoErgo Go60 keyboard costs $315, but it could be a winner if ergonomic design is important to you. Plus, if you want to add a sleek walnut wrist rest to each half, you’ll have to spend an extra $128 at checkout.

There are certainly plenty of travel keyboards vying for attention, but for this list, we’ve focused on those that bring something distinct to the table, giving you a general idea of ​​the types of features available with such devices. They include everything from backlighting and a built-in trackpad (or two trackpads) to a numeric keypad, exceptional portability, ergonomic design, sturdy construction, and even a sleek look. We also checked several online reviews to make sure we included keyboards with at least generally positive coverage, although we also mentioned some significant downsides of each device.