Logitech Bluetooth Multi-Device Keyboard K480 for Computers. Tablets and Smartphones. Black, Compact, Dial and Switch, Spill-Resistant Keyboard - 920-006342 (Renewed)

Logitech Bluetooth Keyboard - K480 - RefurbishedThis keyboard is designed to pair with three different devices and switch easily between them via a three position selector switch. It works with any Windows, Android, Chrome, or iOS device capable of communicating with Bluetooth. I wanted an external keyboard because I am often finding myself working on e-mail or other simple documents on just my phone or Kindle Fire tablet and find that the built in touch keyboards are too frustrating for anything but a simple response and I was spending more time correcting the "corrections" that they make to my input. I chose this particular keyboard because Logitech makes products that I trust and because It has the ability to easily select which device to use and this can be done on the fly with all three devices open and in front of me.This review is for the refurbished model, but the only things that I saw that might suggest refurb is that it came without batteries (it takes two AAA) and there was something crossed out in pen under the battery door. Other than that, the keyboard came in a white cardboard box, perfectly wrapped in a plastic bag and looking and working perfectly.One note about the physical appearance of the keyboard. It is large and it is heavy. it is nearly the size and weight of my chromebook and that is just for the keyboard. There is a groove along the top to hold the tablet/phone is place so the overall feel when using it is as if you are working on a laptop (except without a mouse/pointing device, for which I found it useful to keep a stylus handy). I like this configuration because the size and weight make the system extremely stable and comfortable when placed in my lap while lying in bed. Size and weight would be a drawback if portability were required. For reference, the groove will perfectly fit most tablets or phones in any orientation but will not fit a device that is in a case of any substance.Setup is extremely simple. Place the batteries in the case and close the door. Select which device to assign to which position. Hold down the Connect key for either iOS or one of the other operating systems. Open your device to search for the keyboard. It then sends a code to your screen that you have to type in and the pairing is complete. There is an attractive instruction sticker attached in the space between the keyboard and the groove that gives all of the instructions that you need. I will be leaving it on my keyboard but that is personal preference. I successfully paired and tested the keyboard with a Kindle Fire HD7 tablet, an LG 5 phone, and an iPad 2.Living with this keyboard has been easy so far, as it has met my needs and expectations. I use it with mostly with the Kindle Fire and the LG G5 phone. I place the Fire in the groove (in landscape mode) and it makes a decent, if rudimentary, word processor using the WPS Office app accessible from the Docs app on the Fire. The 7" screen is relatively small, but it is bright and high resolution enough that I would rate this as easy to use for this purpose as my Chromebook. However, the Fire and my phone are always with me when I am home and I don't need to sign in to them when I want to use them, so this is actually better for me in that respect. I use an Otter Box case for my phone because I tend to be hard on phones. It protects the phone extremely well but, by design, is not easy to remove from the phone. I have to place that on a stand next to the keyboard when I want to type. So far, I have tried the keyboard on this phone with Messaging and with MS Word for Android. As with Docs on the Fire, it works well and behaves like a mini word processor. The screen on the G5 is higher resolution and brighter than on the Fire, but it is also smaller, so I find that the Fire is better for that purpose, but Word has a Mobile View option that makes the text more readable while working on it, so it works well in either orientation. Messaging works exactly as expected, with the added advantage that you type twice as fast with a keyboard than without one and you don't spend half of your time fixing what auto-correct thought you wanted to send in your message.The keys on the keyboard have a nice feel to them and work reliably, as one might expect from Logitech. They have decent tactile feedback but they are loud. I don't find that to be a problem. My only disappointment comes when deleting, using backspace. In this case, there is a small lag between when you press the key and the letter to be deleted disappears This would never be noticed if you delete one letter at a time, but it can be off-putting when trying to delete a whole word or sentence by holding the delete and letting it repeat because you will go past where you thought you might. This can be annoying enough to deduct a star, but I This appears to be a limitation that comes from the tablet rather than the keyboard, because I can select text in real time, so I give Logitech the benefit of the doubt on this. As mentioned above, I keep a stylus handy to use as a pointer when needed, so I find it is easy enough to use it to select a longer passage and delete it that way. It is the shorter items where old habits kick in and I use the delete key multiple times. I also find that selecting the text with the shift key and left arrow key works responsively and as expected, so this shouldn't be a problem.I like that the keyboard has a set of function keys along the top that give functionalities that might go unused in a mobile device because you can't remember the shortcuts for that particular system. There are :EscF1- HomeF2- Task SwitcherF3- Toggle menuesF4- Go backF5- SearchF6- Rewind/BackF7- Play/PauseF8- Forward/NextF9- Mute AudioF10- Decrease VolumeF11- Increase VolumeF12- Insert/SaveScreen Shot/ Lock ScreenDelSome of these keys are modified by other keys, like the fn key along the bottom of the keyboard chooses screen shot or lock. I haven't explored these so I can't comment on them. All of the characters needed for daily use are present, but not the myriad special ASCII characters that we might sometimes need. It may be possible to to access them through the alt key like on a PC, but I don't know if that is built into every operating system or how to access it from here.In summary, the Certified Refurbished Logitech k480 Bluetooth keyboard has met or exceeded my expectations. The keyboard presents itself as if it were never opened or used in any way, so I would say that the refurb is n excellent way in this case to save a third of the cost. I find the k480 keyboard to be comfortable and more convenient to use in my environment than opening up a Chromebook or laptop. Having phone and tablet in front of me, I can switch between them and actually get some sort of meaningful work done from devices that were meant more for convenience than productivity. I can't stress the convenience of the three device switch enough. The switching is instant and seemless. Due to the size and weight of the keyboard, I might choose a different solution if needed this capability outside the house. At that point a laptop or Chromebook would offer better security and more flexibility.

I'm using it right now to write this review on my Android phone. Turn a knob and it'll pair with my Android tablet. Turn the knob again and it'll pair with my Chromebook. The keys give me the feedback I need to type quickly. It's perfect for when I need to text with people who only want to text and BOY DO THEY GET MAD when I pound out lengthy texts in such a short period of time!

To start, I am a huge fan of Logitech, their keyboards are my favorites and I have several for various devices.Why Do I Need a Keyboard for a Tablet?: If you're reading this, presumably you're already interested in a keyboard for your tablet but in case you're still on the fence, there are several things to consider when deciding between a keyboard for a tablet and simply taking a Chromebook/Netbook/Laptop. My reason for buying this was simple: I LOVE AMAZON. If I could buy produce and a car on Amazon, I'd be set for life. I use my Fire more than any other device and love it for traveling. However, I despise typing reviews or emails on a screen. Taking this keyboard with me when traveling allows me to write Yelp reviews, email, types notes, and so on with ease, while maintaining easy access to all my Amazon content. The option for typing on more than one device is also nice, though not a feature I really need.Compared to Other Options: This is the second keyboard I bought for my Fire HD 10 5th Gen. A few years ago, I bought the slim case and keyboard combo, which I hate. It always had issues connecting and the case was rather bulky. This is larger but it holds my Fire far better and I haven't had any problems connecting it. Easy of use makes up for the size.Size: I knew this was going to be thick when I ordered it but I nearly sent it back when I saw it. The Logitech keyboard/cover I have for my iPad was extremely thin, wish this was similar. However, the weight makes it feel stable and it's very easy to use it in various locations (sofa, bed, table, etc.). Since buying it, I've often used it as a stand, with the keyboard turned off.Batteries v. USB: Not having to carry an extra charging cable is wonderful. I recently stayed in a hotel with very few outlets, forcing me to prioritize charging certain devices over others. Carrying an extra battery or two is easy and allows for continues use, no matter where you are. I'll update if it becomes annoying but for now, it's a plus.Improvements: The keys are insanely loud. Think 90's keyboard loud. It's irritating at home and taking it on a plane or a quiet train... not good. I specifically wanted this for plane travel but I'm rethinking that. I'd also love to see a solar powered version. I have a solar Logitech keyboard which I love. A key protector would also be nice. I haven't had to pack it for a long trip yet but I'm hardly looking forward to doing that. I'll likely end up buying a case for it but I wish there was something slimmer. Final improvement would be to put the power button on the top, rather than on the bottom. It's easy to turn off and on but given that it uses batteries, having easier access to the power button would be nice.Overall Impression: I love it. The key noise is the only real downside. If you want a keyboard for travel and use a Fire tablet a lot, this is a great option. If you don't need near instant access to Amazon content, I'd recommend a Chromebook for travel (slimmer, screen covers keys, etc.).ETA: I just packed for a trip and was deciding between taking this combo or my Chromebook, so I weighted both. My tablet plus the keyboard came in at 2.724 lbs alone (pre case and charging cable). For comparison, my Chromebook weights 2 lbs, so that's the one I'll be using. If you really need a tablet and keyboard for travel, look into the .8 lb Logitech without the slot; it'll allow you to keep your tablet in it's case and the weight difference is important when traveling.I do love this keyboard and having been using it almost non-stop when I'm at home. However, it's just too big to travel with when flying.