Recently, I’ve been testing out the Padacs Rubata iPad Bluetooth Keyboard Case. Designed in the “Land Down Under,” this iPad folio case features a full Bluetooth 3.0 keyboard as well as great protection factors. I’ve been super impressed with this product so far, and I had a great time reviewing it. iPad cases are always some of my favorite things to take a look at, and this was no exception! Check out the full review after the break!

Padacs was nice enough to send us the Rubata to review, but it doesn’t change our thoughts on the case at all. Pinky promise!

Design & Protection

We’ll start by taking a look at the core of every iPad case- design and protection. As soon as I opened the package, I could tell that the Rubata is certainly not lacking in either category, and I’ve been nothing but impressed with the accessory so far. The iPad itself is enclosed with minimal surrounding protection. The corners are exposed, but this doesn’t pose a problem. The exterior of the case extends well out from the iPad itself, leaving a generous buffer between your precious device and the concrete below.

The case is well designed too- I’m really impressed by the quality of the materials and construction. The stitching is neat and really adds to the professional look. The Rubata would fit in really well in a boardroom just as well as a downtown coffee shop. There’s a logo imprinted on the magnetic flap, but it’s not very noticeable.

KEYBOARD FUNCTIONALITY

Let’s get down to the most important part of this case- the keyboard. I’m really impressed with how easy  it is to type out messages that used to take me twice as long while using the touchscreen keyboard. Connecting the keyboard to the iPad via Bluetooth was incredibly simple and fast, and so far, the battery is lasting much longer than I expected- I’ve only had the chance to partially charge the device, and it’s still running strong. It’s also worth noting that its only charge was over a week ago. I wish my iPad’s battery lasted that long!

The shortcut keys placed on the top row of the keyboard are my favorite feature (well, aside from the killer battery!). There are controls for the “Home” button, brightness, accessing the on-screen keyboard, Spotlight Search, PhotoStream slideshow, select/cut/copy/paste, and music playback and volume controls. In the top right corner, a lock button makes closing down the device really simple and fast.

This entire review was written using the Padacs Rubata and my iPad. Overall, it’s been a good experience, but there are a few things to consider. First, the keyboard is not full size. However, the miniaturized keyboard is really easy to get used to. After only a few hours of use, I’d adjusted really well, and I’m no longer making errors while typing. If you have larger than average fingers, you might not adjust as quickly, but the keys are a reasonable size and I feel that everyone should be able to use the keyboard easily once he  is  used to the feel. Another problem that potential buyers should be aware of is the double-entry of characters. Often while typing, I look up to see that for every one time that I pressed a key, two characters were entered. This happened regardless of how fast I was typing or the amount of force that I was applying. However, the frequency of this seemed to go down with use, and it’s much more manageable now. I wouldn’t let either of these factors deter you from buying, though. Padacs has created a killer device, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed testing it out.

Conclusion & Rating

Overall, I really love this case. It’s protective and stylish, and the keyboard works really well. While I do have a few gripes about functionality, I’m very pleased with the Rubata, and I’d easily recommend it to someone who needs to do lots of typing on their iPad. It’s by far been one of my favorite review products yet!

The case retails for $59.95, and you can pick it up direct from Padacs.

DESIGN: 10/10
PROTECTION: 9/10
BUILD QUALITY: 9/10
FUNCTIONALITY: 6/10

OVERALL: 9/10

Overall score is a mathematical average of the four previous contributing factors. Scores are rounded to the nearest whole number.

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the author

Sam Ell, Managing Editor & Lead Designer: My life has been reduced to the point of carrying on conversations with the Path Tool in Photoshop. I'm in deep, man. Self-proclaimed comedian and genius, and since we're best friends, I guess it's okay to admit that nobody thinks that I'm as funny as I do.