Review: Inateck BK1002E Bluetooth Keyboard

This keyboard was sent to me for review by Inateck. I've not heard of the company before. From what I can see on their website, they sell mainly electronic accessories for computers. Actually, I thought this was a normal keyboard which is why I accepted this offer to review. But it's not quite normal because it's designed for use on iOS devices. I was looking for a keyboard for use with my computer.

Design

This particular keyboard BK1002E is a Bluetooth keyboard designed specially for iOS users, basically those using the iPads and iPhones. I'll talk specifically about its use on iOS devices first, but you can also use it on a Mac which I'll talk about further down.

It's a very compact keyboard about the size of the Apple wired keyboard without the number pad on the right. It's about 2 inches wider than an iPad Air and 2.5 inches shorter. Using a physical keyboard is definitely more productive than an on-screen keyboard because you have all the buttons visible and not hidden on a second keyboard page.

This keyboard uses the Mac keyboard layout, so it has the Cmd keys by the side of the Spacebar.

Typing on the keyboard feels nice. The keys have a nice spring, similar to those on the official Apple aluminium keyboards. The Inateck keyboard is may look like it's aluminium but it's actually some sort of plastic. I don't mind as long as it's durable. It's a pretty light keyboard, comparable to the Apple wireless aluminium keyboard that I also have.

The keyboard uses two AAA batteries. A battery indicator is above the F11 button. It starts blinking when you hit the Connect button, or lights up when battery is low. Battery life is fine after a month or so but I would keep spare batteries around.

In short, it's a compact and lightweight option for anyone who needs a portable physical keyboard to use with your phone or iPad.

On iOS devices

I'm using this with my iPad Air 2. Paring the keyboard with the iPad is quick. First power on the keyboard and press the Connect button on the back. Then under your Settings in iPad, select to pair with the keyboard.

There's no lag when it comes to typing.

The top rows of buttons have dual functionality and are programmed as shortcuts for iOS use. Here's the list:

• Home button
• F1 - Decrease brightness
• F2 - Increase brightness
• F3 - Show/Hide keyboard
• F4 - Copy
• F5 - Paste
• F6 - Cut
• F7 - Select All
• F8 - Rewind
• F9 - Play/Pause
• F10 - Forward
• F11 - Decrease volume
• F12 - Increase volume
• Del - Power button

A Home button has replaced the Escape button on the top left. Pressing this button, just like on your iOS device, will get you to the home screen. Double clicking it will lay out all the apps that are opened but there's no way to navigate using the keyboard so you have to switch apps using your fingers.

Several function keys are programmed with text editing functionality such as Copy, Paste, Cut, Select All. By the way, you can still use the usual keyboard shortcuts such as Cmd+C for copy, Cmd+A for selecting all, etc.

The main advantage of using the keyboard is you can edit your text much faster because the arrow keys provide a very quick way to select text. Here are some shortcuts if you don't already know.

1. Using the arrow keys alone - You can move letter by letter, much faster than having to use your fingers to create an insertion point
2. Holding the Alt - Use the arrows to jump word by word
3. Holding the Cmd or Control - Use the arrows to jump from front to end of a sentences.
4. Hold Shift with the combination of Cmd or Alt - Select either letters or words or whole sentences

You can power your iOS device on or off using the power button on the top right. Yes, you can power on your device even when its sleeping. When you power it on, you can't use the numeral buttons on your keyboard to unlock the screen. You have to use your fingers.

There's this language icon on the Spacebar. Hit the Fn button with Spacebar to switch between different languages.

As for the arrow keys, you can use the Fn button to engage the Page Up, Page Down, Home and End functionality.

For use on a Mac

You can actually use the keyboard on a Mac, but you won't be able to use that the full features of the keyboard.

First thing to note is there's no Escape button, something I use often. That has been replaced by the Home button. Nothing happens when you press it on a Mac.

Another thing is you cannot use Fn+Delete to delete stuff behind the insertion point. You can delete from the back to front, but you can't delete from the front to back. This is also a move that I use very often.

Somehow, I also felt that it's not as responsive on my Mac as compared to the iPad. There's this split milli-second lag.

The Copy, Paste and other special functions are still in use. However, you can turn that off using System Preferences to set to use the F1, F2, etc as standard function keys.

Conclusion

If you need a good keyboard for your iPad or iPhone, Inateck's BK1002E Bluetooth Keyboard is a good one.

Just note the absence of the Escape key and about the Delete key if you intend to also use the same keyboard on your Mac.

Note that Inateck have other keyboards for Windows so do not buy the wrong keyboard.

The keyboard is available for sale at
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LMV9LN8
www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00R5Y9QC2

Here are some photos of the keyboard.

You can turn off iPad's on-screen keyboard with the F3/Keyboard button on the Inateck keyboard.

The Home button has replaced the Escape button on the top left.

The keyboard uses two AAA batteries.

Here are the different keyboards that I have. The Apple aluminium keyboard is lousy which is when it's still in its unused state, and the buttons are even turning yellow. The Logitech K760 on the left is a good keyboard but it's much larger because of the solar panel.

Here's a side comparison.

The support behind props up the keyboard to a comfortable height for typing.

The keyboard is available for sale at
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LMV9LN8
www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00R5Y9QC2