Hey folks,

Originally posted on Turbulencegains.com

Been using the ESR Rebound Magnetic Keyboard Case with my 11” iPad Pro M1 for about a month now and figured it’s time to share some thoughts. I’m a cadet pilot, studying psychology, and also running a blog where I write about fitness, tech, and aviation. Basically, my iPad isn’t for chilling or watching YouTube. I’m typing, editing, note-taking, and prepping for DGCA exams on this every single day.

I didn’t want to pay 16k for Logitech’s Folio Touch, and Apple’s Magic Keyboard was way out of budget. I already liked ESR’s accessories, so I decided to give this one a try. Reached out to them with a few pre-sale doubts, and they threw in a 20% refund after the purchase. Pretty sweet start.

Build and Grip

The case feels way more premium than what I expected. It’s made of a soft rubberized matte material that gives a grippy, confident hold. But yeah, it picks up smudges and fingerprints pretty easily. I’ve got a bit of OCD, so I clean it often with a microfiber or isopropyl cloth. Still, I’ll take smudgy and solid over slippery and shiny any day.

The hinge is sturdy and smooth. It tilts to most angles I need whether I’m working at a table, on the bed, or even in an airplane seat. No creaks, no wobbles. It feels like something you can trust not to break when adjusting it.

Typing and Trackpad

Typing is actually enjoyable. The keys have a satisfying click, aren’t too cramped, and feel stable under the fingers. They could’ve added a bit more key travel, but for a portable setup, it’s more than usable. Backlighting is available in multiple colors, but I just stick to white. The rainbow effects look kinda cheap in serious work settings.

The trackpad works well for general multitouch gestures. Scrolling, pinch-zooming, three-finger app switching all smooth. What I do miss is tap-to-drag. You can’t just lightly drag windows or files. You have to press down physically to move things, which feels a bit stiff. Not unusable, just mildly annoying.

Also, no dedicated Escape key. You’ll need to use Fn + ` to get that function. Takes a few days to get used to.

Battery and Bluetooth

Battery life is excellent. I use it around 2 to 3 hours a day, five days a week, and I didn’t charge it for the entire month. When I finally did, it charged from dead to full in about 90 minutes via USB-C. Bluetooth connection has been flawless. Turns on, reconnects instantly, no weird drops or lag.

Lap Use

Decent, actually. It’s bottom-heavy enough to feel stable on your lap. Of course, it’s not as comfy as a full-sized laptop, but I’ve typed entire blog posts while sitting cross-legged or in a moving car. It doesn’t fall backward or act wobbly like some lighter folio-style cases.

Magnet Strength

One of the things I was skeptical about was the magnetic attachment. But this thing holds on tight. The iPad snaps in with a strong click, and doesn’t budge. You’ll need both hands to pull it off, which honestly gives me peace of mind when I’m tossing it into a backpack or carrying it around.

What I’d like ESR to improve in version 2

Checkout full review Here on Turbulencegains.com

Just bought a rebound magic keyboard for the iPad 13 OLED. It has the rubber thin case around it that you can remove. It's thick and heavy but I couldn't bring myself to drop that cash on the apple version since I dont use the Magic Keyboard all day. Moreover, the magic keyboard offers poor protection and it's pretty easy for the chassis to get dinged up or scratched even in a laptop bag. Most of the time my iPad is docked next to my Mac Studio, but I certainly do use it as a laptop replacement aswell so I still need something. At any rate the ESR version feels alot more solid than the older 12.9 magic keyboard, typing is better and the base is alot more stable. The downside is you have to charge it and it's thicker and heavier. I figure the extra weight is not a huge deal though since you pretty much only ever use it on your lap sitting down or on a desk. Than when you want to grab and go with the tablet, you just pull it off the keyboard. Also the ESR one allows you to use it in portrait mode. Anyone else rocking the ESR rebound case with the new iPad OLED?