Review: OnePlus Magnetic Keyboard for OnePlus Pad

The OnePlus Magnetic Keyboard was released together with the OnePlus Pad but sold separately for USD 149, cheaper if you get it as a bundle with the tablet.

In this review, we'll look at the design, typing experience, function key shortcuts, OxygenOS shortcuts and you can decide whether this is worth the money.

This keyboard case is only available in green. I'm sorry but the colours from my photos are probably not the most representative of the actual colour in real life which looks more like dark olive green.

There's no mention on the material that's used to make the keyboard case but it looks like PU leather to me. I tried to smell the leather but there's absolutely no smell at all.

The surface texture is really nice to touch.

On back of the keyboard case is one fold and a cutout for the camera.

The keyboard case is not that heavy (weight not listed) and doesn't make the 552g tablet much heavier, much thicker. Main downside of the keyboard case is it only protects the front and back of the tablet and not the three of four sides.

Overall finishing of the keyboard is fantastic and it follows the form of the tablet really well.

The keyboard case attached to the tablet with rather strong magnets.

The tablet can only be deployed at this angle and it's a comfortable angle to work with when the tablet is on the table. When the tablet is on my laptop, it's still very usable although I wish it can go a bit lower.

The keyboard draws it's power from the tablet via the three connectors.

The keyboard is smaller than standard size keyboard but it's easy to get used to typing on it thanks to the well spaced and big keys. The keys are not back lit.

The typing experience is surprising good and comparable to laptop keyboards. The keys have good travel and feedback.

The touchpad is small but accurate and responsive. There's no right click with the touchpad so the only way to get the contextual menu is to tap and hold, just like you would with your finger.

It is possible to use a mouse for right click to get the contextual menu. But note that with web browsers, you will not get all the menu options from the contextual menu.

When using the touchpad, the cursor appears as a circle.

The function key shortcuts require the Fn key pressed.

The list of function key shortcuts are:

• Back
• Home
• View active apps
• Decrease brightness
• Increase brightness
• Disable/enable touchpad
• Mute
• Decrease volume
• Increase volume
• Screenshot
• Lock

There are still three keys at the top right without function key shortcuts that could have easily been shortcuts for Settings, Search or Notifications.

The Android shortcuts available are

• Lock screen: Cmd + L
• Home screen: Cmd + Enter
• Back: Cmd + Backspace
• Recent: Alt + Tab
• Notification drawer: Cmd + N
• Screenshot: Cmd + A
• Keyboard shortcuts: Cmd + /
• Change keyboard layout: Cmd + Spacebar
• Switch input method: Shift + Spacebar
• Google Assistant: Cmd
• Browser: Cmd + B
• Email: Cmd + E
• Music player: Cmd + P
• Maps: Cmd + M
• Calculator: Cmd + C

The Android keyboard shortcuts are quite limited, about half of what you get with Samsung tablets. And there's not even a shortcut for Search which I use all the time to find and open apps.

Alt + Tab in most OS allows you to move from one app to the other as long as you hit Tab repeatedly. With OxygenOS, you hit the Alt + Tab have to use your finger next to scroll the opened apps. And if you accidentally open an app and want to Alt + Tab to the previous app, you can't. This is dumb implementation.

And there are no shortcuts for Page Up, Page Down, Home and End.

Conclusion

This is a well designed and well made keyboard case for the OnePlus Pad. It works fine and the typing experience is satisfactory.

Downsides are the keys are not backlit, the lack of Android keyboard shortcuts and no search shortcut.

It is a good keyboard. It's a good deal when purchased at a bundled price together with the tablet. Get it together with the tablet if you can, not after you get the tablet.

Availability

The OnePlus Magnetic Keyboard Case is available on OnePlus online store, Amazon US and if you're in Singapore you can find it on Shopee SG and Lazada SG.