Why a foldable keyboard could be a game changer

I wrote the vast majority of this article on my phone.

But if you imagine me meticulously tapping out over a thousand words with my thumbs on a small screen, think again. The whole process was much more enjoyable thanks to the foldable keyboard.

After purchasing a foldable phone (Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5) last year, it seemed like a good idea to buy a foldable keyboard for it. It’s been a great addition to my arsenal of gadgets so far, allowing me to quickly type or send emails without having to boot up my laptop. It’s also easier to hide than regular Bluetooth keyboards, and its case doesn’t look out of place on your coffee table.

If you’re like me and you’re bored with touchscreen typing, here’s what you need to know about foldable keyboards and why you should consider buying one.

This story first appeared on Advisorator, Jared’s weekly tech advice newsletter. Sign up to learn new tech tricks every Tuesday.

One feature you should have

Amazon is full of foldable keyboards from brands you’ve probably never heard of, with a surprisingly wide range of designs and features to choose from. Some fold in half, others in three. Some have built-in trackpads, others have full numeric keypads like those found on a traditional desktop computer keyboard.

Jared Newman / Foundry

The options can be overwhelming, but I was able to narrow the field down with one important requirement: I wanted the keyboard case to double as a stand (for my Fold5 and iPad Mini). After all, the whole idea of a foldable keyboard is to enable comfortable typing from anywhere; having to carry a separate stand would defeat the entire purpose.

Which led me to Plugable, which sells an 11.5-inch foldable keyboard for $50 (Amazon link) and a compact 10-inch keyboard for $45 (Amazon link). I bought both on Amazon with the intention of returning at least one of them. (Savvy tech buyers also know that Amazon’s “Used – Like New” purchase option is a great way to save big on tech without waiting for deals.)

Choose your keyboard size wisely

Admittedly, the full-size 11.5-inch Plugable keyboard is a bit larger than I would like. When folded into the bag, it measures 6.6 x 5 x 0.9 inches, which is too big to fit in my pocket.

However, when I tried the compact 10-inch version, I quickly realized it wasn’t going to work. While the smaller model is cute and more pocket-friendly (it measures 5.9 x 4 x 0.9 inches in the case), the tight key layout makes typing difficult. Plugable also committed the unforgivable sin of placing the backspace key next to the bracket keys instead of at the end of the number line. I can’t get through a single sentence on the smaller keyboard without making a mistake.

Jared Newman / Foundry

I have no problems typing on the larger keyboard, which is about the same size as a keyboard you’d find on a small laptop. All the keys are in their place, and there are handy one-touch keys for things like media playback, volume, and voice search (which is mapped to the Windows key if you’re using iOS or Android). I also like that the keyboard turns on automatically when unfolded, connecting to the device it was last paired with. Folding it closes it.

Jared Newman / Foundry

As for the built-in stand, it’s exactly what I was hoping for. The case has a small plastic lip that catches the keyboard when closed, but also serves as a stop when you fold the case into stand mode. It holds my foldable phone firmly in place and works well with larger tablets as well. (I even used the stand without keyboard while playing games on your phone using an external arcade stick.)

Other trade-offs to keep in mind

The Plugable Foldable Keyboard allows for compromises. It doesn’t feel as sturdy as a regular keyboard, and the right side doesn’t stick to the table, so it presses down when you press on it.

Jared Newman / Foundry

At $50, it’s also a tad more expensive than a basic Bluetooth keyboard. While some cheaper foldable models cost around $30, you can also find standard keyboards for under $20 from brands like Arteck (Amazon link) if you’re willing to sacrifice portability.

But in my case, the foldable keyboard serves exactly the purpose I had in mind: turning a foldable phone into a small mobile workstation. It has been incredibly rewarding to use and I just hope you won’t notice any typos in the work he has produced.

Bonus: three more versatile gadgets

Jared Newman / Foundry

The Plugable Keyboard Carrying Case (with a nifty built-in stand) also got me thinking about other cool gadgets that serve more than one purpose. Here’s a short list:

Samsung microSD pendrive (Amazon link): While USB to microSD card adapters are nothing new – I have several of them in my desk drawer – Samsung’s adapters are so compact that they resemble a small flash drive. It was useful for things like transferring files to my Steam Deck and setting up the Raspberry Pi.

SanDisk Dual USB Flash Drive (Amazon link): Speaking of flash drives, SanDisk came up with the clever idea of selling one with a USB-C connector on one side and a USB-A connector on the other. A small slider allows you to slide in or out either connector, which is perfect for transferring data between your computer and a USB-C-equipped phone or tablet.

This portable spider stand (Amazon link): Years ago I bought a smartphone and tablet stand from Breffo, with eight rubberized arms that can be bent in any direction. It’s a wonderfully versatile gadget that supports a wide range of screen sizes and can be used to prop up your screen virtually anywhere. At one point it functioned as a car phone ventilation holder, but I also used it as a makeshift tripod. Although Breffo no longer exists, the Rienar brand sells a similar design for just $5.

Do you have a versatile gadget you can’t live without? Tell me about it and sign up for my Advisor newsletter to receive columns like this every Tuesday.