The SCOSCHE freeKEY is a water resistant roll away keyboard that aims to make carrying a full size keyboard with you as convenient as possible. Simply pair the freeKEY with your iPhone or iPad with your keyboard and start typing. When you're done, just roll it up and go. Does it really save the day when you need a full size keyboard instead of the on-screen keyboard? Let's find out!
When you first pair the SCOSCHE freeKEY keyboard to your iPhone or iPad, you'll notice that it takes a few minutes for the keyboard to finally lay flat. This somewhat irritated me at first so instead of using it right away, I went ahead and threw it on the charger to top it off and let it lay flat. This seemed to do the trick. My only concern is that this is the case every time you roll the keyboard up. For folks that can stash it in a laptop bag and lay it flat, it won't be so much of an issue.
While using the SCOSCHE freeKEY I found that I would occasionally skip letters if I started to type too fast. While I could type faster on the freeKEY than I can with the on-screen keyboard, there were still some minor annoyances. The first thing you should keep in mind is that even though this keyboard works with the iPhone and iPad, it wasn't made for use with an iPhone or iPad. That means you won't find a dedicated Home button key like you do on many other made for iPad keyboards. Reaching up to tap the screen may be an issue if you key your iPhone or iPad set back a significant distance while typing.
All that aside, let's not forget that the freeKEY keyboard is meant to be rugged and save you in a pinch. It's water resistant so you can use it virtually anywhere. Toss it in any bag and just pull it out when you need it. It also costs a fraction of what a lot of made for iPad keyboards cost.
The good
- Easy rollup design lets you stow the freeKEY almost anywhere
- Cheaper price point than many iPad keyboards
- More durable than a lot of portable keyboards
The bad
- Sometimes it's hard to get the freeKEY to lay flat again after being rolled up for a longer period of time
- Typing too fast can result in key skips
- No dedicated iOS buttons such as the Home button since the freeKEY isn't technically a made for iPhone and iPad product
- Picks up dust and lint extremely easily
The bottom line
If you're looking for a keyboard that you can toss in your laptop or messenger bag and forget about, the freeKEY by SCOSCHE is a great option. It'll save you in a pinch and can be used virtually anywhere, including around water. If you're looking to get some serious work done, I'd recommend checking out some other options that are made specifically for heavy typing on the iPad via the link below.
- $44.99 - Buy now
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