The ProtoArc XK01 Tri-Fold Bluetooth Keyboard is able to make your small business journeys extra productive. It’s full dimension, with a numpad and performance keys, too. Nevertheless it folds down to suit simply in a briefcase.
It’s obtainable solo, or with a journey mouse, or because the centerpiece of a bundle with the mouse plus a USB-C hub and multi-port wall charger.
I absolutely examined the folding keyboard with my 13-inch iPad Professional, plus the opposite parts, too.
This submit accommodates affiliate hyperlinks. Cult of Mac could earn a fee if you use our hyperlinks to purchase objects.
ProtoArc XK01 Tri-Fold Bluetooth Keyboard overview
It doesn’t matter what kind of pc you utilize, there are benefits to exterior equipment.
Notebooks put the keyboard subsequent to the display, forcing person to hunch over to correctly see the show. Significantly better ergonomics consequence from lifting the display up and typing on an exterior keyboard. And tapping on a pill’s on-screen keyboard isn’t sensible for various paragraphs. A bodily one is what you need.
That’s very true in case your job consists of getting into a great deal of numbers. You want a numpad.
The ProtoArc XK01 is properly suited to both MacBook or iPad customers who have to kind in loads of phrases and/or numbers.
Desk of contents:
Full-size keyboard that folds to journey dimension
Photograph: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The XK01 begins out as a block that measures 8.4 inches by 4.6 inches by 0.7 inches, and weighs 0.7 kilos. That’s sufficiently small to suit simply in a bag… particularly when you think about what’s contained in the bundle.
Swing open the 2 sides to disclose a full-size keyboard. It spans 14.4 inches large — far wider than a MacBook keyboard — together with that numpad I preserve mentioning.
I’ve examined loads of journey keyboards however I can’t keep in mind the final one which had the devoted set of numbers and calculator buttons that accountants and different numberjockeys rely on. It’s the standout function of the keyboard.
Plus there are all of the perform keys one expects on a full-size keyboard. And the XK01 journey keyboard boasts a row of useful perform keys for controlling music playback, adjusting your pc display’s backlights, and many others.
Photograph: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Keys measure the standard 0.6 inches sq. with 0.15 inches of separation. They use a scissor mechanism, and key journey is about what I count on for a pocket book keyboard — not nice, however first rate. I’ve no downside contact typing.
That stated, ProtoArc didn’t construct in any additional house. All of the keys match tightly collectively. As I stated, there’s first rate key separation, however don’t count on the numpad to sit down off by itself. That took some getting used to.
However the one main compliant I’ve with the accent is that it lacks key backlights. It is available in a spread of colours — black, gray and silver — with the keys in the identical shade so you may select which possibility you discover simpler to see.
The ProtoArc XK01 connects to your computer systems by way of Bluetooth. And it may be paired with three of them, and swap between them on the press if a button. It’s a useful function in a journey keyboard. I paired it with my iPhone, too.
Add a journey mouse
Photograph: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
When utilizing an exterior keyboard, a mouse is a greater possibility than both your pocket book’s trackpad or your pill’s touchscreen. ProtoArc gives a bundle that features the XKM01 folding keyboard and a journey mouse.
The mouse measures 4.25 inches, by 2.3 inches by 0.9 inches, and a mere 0.15 kilos. That makes it journey pleasant with out the accent shrinking to the purpose it’s arduous to make use of. The sides might be extra snug to carry, however I used ProtoArc’s mouse for days and am fairly happy with it.
It might probably pair with two computer systems by way of Bluetooth, or use a 2.4GHz USB-A dongle. Both possibility works, although I discovered the vary on the dongle to be brief.
When bought with the mouse, ProtoArc’s keyboard will get a slight modification and product quantity change. This verison communicates by way of the identical 2.4GHz USB-A dongle because the mouse, or it may pair to 2 computer systems by way of Bluetooth.
The keyboard and mouse combo comes with a carrying case.
Contemplate the ProtoArc XKM01 LX bundle
Photograph: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Those that wish to go all in can go for the XKM01 LX bundle. It consists of the keyboard, mouse and case, then provides a multi-port USB-C hub, USB-C wall charger and a cable to attach them.
I’ve by no means used a pocket book or a pill that I believed had sufficient ports, so a hub is at all times welcome. ProtoArc’s focuses on legacy equipment — it features a pair of USB-A ports, an HDMI port, SD and micro-SD card readers, and a single USB-C one for charging your pc.
Talking of which, the wall charger is able to placing out 65W. It consists of two USB-C ports that may put out a most of 45W, and a USB-A one which tops out at 18W.
I put the ProtoArc XKM01 LX bundle by way of real-world testing. I linked all its these equipment to my iPad Professional and went to work. They usually did the job.
I used the keyboard by way of Bluetooth and a couple of.4GHz, and the mouse too. I linked an exterior show to the HDMI port on the hub, and powered my pc by way of the hub, too. Each the pill and the exterior display received their energy from the wall charger. Every part carried out precisely as anticipated.
The bundle comes with a black, zippered, clamshell case that’s bigger than it must be to carry these equipment. If you wish to put extra gear in it, cool. If not, go away it at house.
ProtoArc XK01 Tri-Fold Bluetooth Keyboard closing ideas
The phrase “digital nomad” is greater than just a little pretentious, however as somebody who’s labored remotely for 25 years, I’ve used an enormous variety of journey keyboards in all places from seashore homes, a riverboat on the Rhine, a bungalow in Thailand and plenty of extra areas. This one from ProtoArc stands out as the one one I can keep in mind with a numpad. If you should enter plenty of numbers in your journey, it’s the best way to go.
As for the ProtoArc XKM01 LX bundle, it’s a equipment properly designed for an iPad person able to get quite a bit performed on a enterprise journey.
★★★★☆
Pricing
The ProArc XK01 Tri-Fold Bluetooth Keyboard prices $44.99 — fairly a pleasant worth for a well-designed and well-made accent. And Amazon at the moment gives a deal.
Purchase it from: Amazon or ProArc
The XKM01 Tri-Fold Bluetooth Keyboard and Mouse Combo is $79.99, although each ProArc and Amazon supply offers that decrease the rice.
Purchase it from: Amazon or ProArc
As for the total XKM01 LX bundle keyboard, it sells for $129.99. Although, once more, particular offers decrease the value.
Purchase it from: Amazon or ProArc
ProtoArc supplied Cult of Mac with a overview unit for this text. See our opinions coverage, and take a look at extra in-depth opinions of Apple-related objects.