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Microsoft Universal Mobile Keyboard Review

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The closed up restrictive Microsoft disappeared in recent years. It has been replaced by a new, open company that develops apps for iOS and Android, often faster than it does for its own Windows phone operating systems. The Microsoft Universal Mobile Keyboard is a great example of this. It comes with a three-position switch that lets the typist connect to up to three devices, including all three major platforms: Windows, iOS and Android.

But how well does it work with all three?

microsoft universal mobile keyboard with iphone

Microsoft Universal Mobile Keyboard Design and Function

microsoft universal mobile keyboard with ipad in case

The Microsoft Universal Mobile Keyboard ($79.95) takes up very little space thanks to the dimensions. It’s 9.53-inches wide, 4.29-inch deep and only .47-inches thick when closed. Despite the size, we get a keyboard that’s comfortable to type on, even for a touch typists with beefy paws like me. A row of shortcut buttons between the keyboard and the back edge (where the user places their phone or tablet) controls media and volume levels, as well as locking the screen and giving a shortcut for searching.

microsoft universal mobile keyboard accessories

The keyboard is black plastic with finely textured keys. A removable cover folds over to protect the keyboard. It’s made with a rubberized coating that feels soft, but also collects dust and lint. I carry it around in my car so it’s always available. The outside started looking dirty after just minutes in my car’s console between the front seats. I cleaned it off and within minutes sitting on a restaurant table it looked like I had rolled it in bread crumbs. The debris doesn’t come off easily.

The Microsoft Universal Mobile Keyboard holds up well thanks to a quality design. It’s not a rugged device for extreme environments, but the user doesn’t need to baby it either.

microsoft universal mobile keybord

On the right edge near the back of the keyboard sits the power/Bluetooth pairing button and the micro-USB port used to charge the battery in the keyboard.

The battery came charged up. After about three weeks of use, I’ve still never charged it once. It’s still going strong.

microsoft universal mobile keyboard side with samsung

Open the cover on the keyboard and slide the tablet or phone into the channel designed to hold the device. The tablet rests at one of two angles. One is closer to an upright angle while the other sits back close to a lower 45-degree angle.

People who want to connect the keyboard up to a tablet or device that won’t fit in the channel, like the Surface Pro 3, can remove the cover easily so they can position the keyboard close to their tablet. The cover connects to the keyboard with a strong magnet. It doesn’t come off unless the user pulls at the cover with a little force.

microsoft universal mobile keyboard with encore 2 write

On the bottom there are two non-skid, raised rubber lines that keep the keyboard in place. It won’t slide around while using it.

Microsoft Universal Mobile Keyboard Compatibility

microsoft universal mobile keyboard switch

In the upper right corner of the Microsoft Universal Mobile Keyboard there’s a three-position switch with icons for Windows and Android in positions 1 and 2. The 3rd position reads iPad iPhone.

The keys to the left and right of the space bar show the Apple Cmd key. There’s also a Home key with a house icon. It functions like the Windows key on Windows compatible keyboards, but it doesn’t show the Microsoft Windows logos like Windows compatible keyboards. Microsoft seems to prioritize Apple devices over their own.

microsoft universal mobile keyboard with encore 2 write

The keyboard paired easily with all the devices I use including…

  • iPhone 6 Plus
  • iPad Air
  • Nexus 9 Android tablet
  • Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Android phone
  • Surface Pro 3
  • Toshiba Encore 2 Write

All of the shortcut keys above the number keys work with each device. The Home button takes the user to the home screen on both Android and iOS. On Windows it opens the Start Screen. The search icon brings up the search function in Charms on Windows 8.1 and Spotlight search on iPad or iPhone. On Android it launches Google Now search. A lock key on the left turns off the screen on all of the devices.

microsoft universal mobile keyboard open

An Fn key works with other shortcut keys that share regular keys. The backspace key shares a Del key. The space key also brings up a browser, but this didn’t work on Windows. The right Alt/Option key shares the onscreen keyboard toggle. This didn’t work on Windows either.

Microsoft Universal Mobile Keyboard Value

The Microsoft Universal Mobile Keyboard sells for $79.95 from the Microsoft Online Store. Buyers can get the [amazon_link id=”B00GWGLUZ0″ target=”_blank” ]Microsoft Universal Mobile Keyboard[/amazon_link] at Amazon for $63 in black and [amazon_link id=”B00MV72REW” target=”_blank” ]in lighter gray[/amazon_link] for $66.

 

 

Compare it to the [amazon_link id=”B00MUTWLW4″ target=”_blank” ]Logitech Bluetooth Multi-Device Keyboard K480(920-006342)[/amazon_link] for a lot less, but it’s not nearly as mobile. It’s larger and doesn’t come with the handy cover.

I prefer the Microsoft Universal Mobile Keyboard because of the great design, comfortable typing experience and long battery life. That’s in addition to it’s compatibility with so many devices. It’s my go-to mobile keyboard and makes me more productive while out and about with my tablets or phones. Microsoft made an awesome mobile Bluetooth keyboard that works well with the three major platforms.

3 Comments

3 Comments

  1. Charlie Lipshitcz

    04/25/2015 at 8:01 pm

    $80??? I bought a similar sized bluetooth keyboard for $11 and it works great.

  2. Riley

    11/01/2015 at 8:48 pm

    I have this MS keyboard paired, connected to an iPad Air 2. In Messages, the MS keyboard will not work – only the iPad “soft” keyboard will function. The MS keyboard is on, indicates it is connected, the upper right hand slider is set to “iPad iPhone”. Any thoughts? Thank you.

  3. larsonmysticmusic

    02/26/2016 at 4:40 pm

    Mine only works if it’s plugged into the wall. I bought it third party through Amazon.com and have since gotten a refund and was able to keep the keyboard, but I’d still like to get it to work. Is it an issue that I can correct by letting it charge overnight, do you think? I have had it plugged in for the past two or three hours now, and it still just turns off when I unplug it. I can’t turn it back on, and forget about pairing it. It just sits there being an infuriating black rectangle of quantum entangled awful that exists in everyone else’s realities as fan-friggin-tastic. :|

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