Best external keyboards for Android tablets 2024

There are a lot of reasons why you would want to find the best external keyboard for your Android tablet. Your Android tablet is a great little consumption device that lets you take in streaming movies and play a few games. But tablets fall short of being true productivity machines due to one thing. Tablets need keyboards for good content creation. After considering all the keyboards that are out there, we can confidently say that the Logitech K380 multi-device Bluetooth keyboard is the best out there. Between the price, convenience, and a great typing experience, you'll do well. Plus, if you have another use-case in mind, there are plenty of other options to choose from.

Logitech K380 Lifestyle

Source: Logitech (Image credit: Source: Logitech)

Logitech K380

The best in typing and portability

Reasons to buy

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2-year battery life
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Great price
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Nice typing experience
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Multi-device connectivity
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Logitech flow

Reasons to avoid

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Non-rechargeable battery
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No way to prop up tablet.

Logitech is one of the big names in computer peripherals, mice and keyboards included. So it's no wonder that a Logitech keyboard ended up being our favorite. This keyboard combines a great typing experience with multiple connectivity options and portability for the best on-the-go experience. Your Android tablet wasn't designed to sit on a desk. It was designed as a mobile device and your keyboard should go along with it. But the keyboard experience doesn't have to stop at just your tablet.

With the press of a button, your keyboard can connect to any of three different devices which means you get the same keyboard on whatever device you want. Switch between your computer at home, your tablet on the go, and your laptop at work. Having the same keyboard everywhere will just make you that much more productive. Plus, Logitech's Flow technology allows you to pair up a compatible mouse and you can type, copy, paste, and move files between devices, which is pretty powerful.

It's a little on the small side, sacrificing size for portability, so it may not be an ideal desktop typing experience. For example, there is no number pad on the right. But for a tablet, this is the right size. The only things that are missing are a way to prop up a tablet and a rechargeable battery. Your tablet will need some other way to prop itself up, perhaps with a nice case. The batteries are standard AAA batteries, so they're easy and cheap to replace and they last an estimated two years.

Logitech Ergo K860 Lifestyle

Source: Amazon (Image credit: Source: Amazon)

Logitech Ergo K860

Comfort is king!

Reasons to buy

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Multi-device connect
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Split keyboard
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Comfortable built-in wrist rest
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Number pad on the right

Reasons to avoid

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Not portable at all
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Enormous keys in the middle
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Not-rechargeable, AAA batteries

Ergonomic keyboards are great for marathon typing and arm health. A split keyboard has been shown to reduce wrist strain, and this keyboard says, "Hold my beer" and adds a padded wrist rest on top of the split keyboard design. But this is a full keyboard, including the number pad on the right side which is great for data entry and gaming.

But split keyboards aren't for everyone. The enormous keys in the middle of the layout take some getting used to for sure. Plus, this isn't only a split keyboard, but also an ergonomically angled one as well. That means it is raised in the center conforming to your hands as they rest on the wrist rest. If you can get used to it, this is one of the most comfortable typing experiences, hands down (no pun intended).

Unfortunately, all the extra keys, angles, and wrist rest all make this keyboard unsuitable for mobile. If you want to set down your tablet on your desk and pound away, you're good to go. But if you have coffee shop dreams, you'll need to make a different choice. This also uses AAA batteries, so it's not rechargeable, but the batteries are easily replaced and available anywhere you can buy batteries.

iClever BK05

(Image credit: iclever)

iClever BK05

Fold and go

Reasons to buy

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Connect to up to 3 devices
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Built-in navigation controls
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RGB Backlighting

Reasons to avoid

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Hinges can get in the way of typing
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Backlighting isn't consistent across the keyboard

If you're looking for the ultimate in portability, the iClever BK05 keyboard might be best for you. The name is a bit cringe, but the keyboard itself is solid. It has a metal casing with plastic hinges that emote a cheap feeling, but the keyboard itself is great. It's a tri-fold keyboard that gets nice and small when closed. When opened, it's basically the same size as a 13" Macbook which is awesome.

The keyboard is backlit with RGB lighting. The backlight isn't great though it's very dim and hard to see even with the lights off. Green is the most visible, and blue and red get even harder to see. iClever sells a version of this keyboard without backlighting, so you might want to save some money and go with that option. Also, the hinges stick up a little bit at the bottom of the keyboard which can get in the way of typing, depending on your hand positioning.

You can connect up to three different devices to this handy keyboard. Plus the keyboard works in a wired mode meaning you can connect the keyboard to a computer and charge it while using it. What makes this keyboard good for Android tablets is the built-in navigation controls. You can hit the home and back buttons on your tablet from the keyboard which might save you from having to gorilla arm your tablet whiles working on it.

Logitech K780 keyboard

(Image credit: Logitech)

Logitech K780

Stand and deliver

Reasons to buy

+
Built-in stand
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Great key pitch and travel
+
Connect up to 3 devices
+
Number pad

Reasons to avoid

-
Built-in stand makes keyboard unwieldy to travel
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Stand is one set size.
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No backlight

One thing a great external keyboard can bring to your tablet experience is a built-in stand. The Logitech K780 keyboard does just that. It holds your phone and tablet at a comfortable angle for typing. A single button press can bounce you between three devices. Connect your phone, tablet, and computer for a singular typing experience across devices.

The kickstand is only one size that can't be adjusted. If you have a particularly thin or thick device, you might run into some trouble there. Plus, the stand can't be retracted, adding a bit more bulk to the keyboard making it harder to travel with. There's also no backlight here, so make sure you're in a well-lit environment.

But the keyboard itself has great pitch and key travel, and it's silent when typing. It's an awesome typing experience. Plus, this is a full-sized keyboard with number pad on the right. If not for the size and lack of portability, this is a good contender for best overall keyboard.

What to look for

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There is no shortage of great Android tablets out there. Maybe you just picked up a Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 which we called the best Android tablet money can buy. But finding a great typing experience to go along with it that's compact and portable can be a challenge. That's why we went with the Logitech K380 keyboard. It has a great typing experience, and is ultra-portable, and isn't limited to just your tablet.

At the core of your tablet experience is portability, which is why we mostly picked portable keyboards. If your situation differs, we have options for you too. A desktop experience can also be great on your Android tablet. But for a combination of all of those together, you can't go wrong with Logitech.

Adam Doud

Adam has been writing and podcasting the mobile tech space for almost a decade. When he's not writing, he hosts the Benefit of the Doud podcast, spends way too much time on Twitter, and redesigns his office space over and over.

With contributions from