Targus Ergonomic Folding Keyboard review: Portable text entry for all platforms
Pair it with a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 for writing on the go
I’ve been thankful for the opportunity to try out hundreds of smartphones over the years and I still bounce around a bit with my T-Mobile SIM, but the engineering marvel of Samsung’s foldable offerings continues to fascinate me. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is one of my favorite phones because it can quickly transform into a small tablet and it supports the S Pen.
While Samsung offers an on-screen split keyboard and handwriting support, I still prefer a physical keyboard for writing. For the past few weeks I have been packing along the Targus Ergonomic Wireless Folding Keyboard and it is the perfect partner for the Z Fold 4.
Rating:
As explained in my palmsolo’s Refresh Rating Scale post, I’m awarding the Targus keyboard four (4) Medals of Yavin. It’s portability, battery life, keyboard design/feel, and price make it an easy recommendation for people who want to enter text on a physical keyboard. The use of microUSB prevents it from earning a 5.
The Good and the Bad
Let’s take a closer look to see why I can easily recommend it for the reasonable $40 price on Amazon.
Pros
Ergonomic split design
Antimicrobial treatment
Connect and easily switch between three devices
Large keys with good tactile feedback
Cons
Legacy microUSB port for charging
No backlighting
Experiences
On-screen keyboards on phones are very good in 2023 and with advanced voice-to-text performance I see more people than ever using their voice for quick messages to family and friends. Some of us like to use our mobile devices as portable computers and I often hear that a person’s smartphone is their most reliable computer. If you write an extensive amount of content, using an external keyboard is a better experience with faster text entry with better accuracy.
Given my long history with mobile devices, I fondly recall the Think Outside Stowaway keyboards I used with PDAs and Pocket PCs many years ago. Thus, I was excited to get the chance to try out the Targus Wireless Folding Keyboard.
While my focus with the keyboard was primarily with the Galaxy Z Fold 4, the keyboard supports Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android so you can use it with computers, tablets, and phones. The function keys perform a bit differently for the various operating systems, as shown in the image below.
The keyboard weighs in at just 140 grams (5 ounces) so I barely notice it in my gear bag. It is also held closed with magnets while being easy to carry with the matte soft touch outside surface. This surface material also prevents the keyboard from sliding around on a desk.
Pairing via Bluetooth was quick and easy with three dedicated keys (Q, W, E) set for you to designate up to three different devices to switch between with the keyboard. The keys have good size and excellent spacing that reduces inadvertent key presses. The tactile feedback is also excellent with travel on this keyboard being even better than my Surface Pro 8 keyboard.
There are four full rows of keys with an upper row of number/function keys that are about half the height of the other four rows while extending across the entire width. Two smaller space bars are present, one on each side of the fold, with the keyboard angled up from the center out to provide a more ergonomic experience.
Bottom line
I’ve been using the Targus Wireless Folding Keyboard for a couple of weeks and have only charged it once. If you press the Fn-10 key you can see the green indicator light flash the battery status and when you see a red light then that is your prompt to recharge the keyboard.
Given my 45 minute train commute and my regular business travel on airplanes, having a portable wireless keyboard is a great accessory to actually get work done in those situations. The case I received for free from Samsung with my Z Fold 4 purchase is perfect for propping up the phone to use with the keyboard. I highly recommend finding a case with a kickstand to use with this keyboard if you are going to use your phone or tablet.
Performance and connectivity has been flawless with the keyboard and my typing has also been nearly flawless. The function keys can be very useful so I recommend learning those shortcuts for your connected devices.
If you use it with one primary device, simply open it up and it will connect and be ready to go without any other interaction required. Start tapping away on the keys to write that next novel on the go. The center hinge is soft material so you do need a table or surface to set the keyboard on, but typing with a keyboard on your lap isn’t an ergonomic method anyway so I have no problem with this approach.
*Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links that add no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission.