This keyboard from Microsoft takes its name because it is slightly wedge-shaped. It is obviously an attempt by the company to bring more design into its peripheral items, and as well as the neat box it comes in, the Wedge is a lovely bit of kit – it feels good to handle and also to type on, though it’s as compact as you could expect from something that is meant to be carried around along with your tablet device.
The keyboard works by connecting by Bluetooth to a tablet device, allowing you to type your memos and emails far more easily than the touchpad screen on most tablets. Setting up the relationship between the keyboard and the device is a matter of a few seconds, and contrary to some other reviewers I didn’t find the connection dropped – in fact the opposite happened and I often had to remember to turn off the keyboard before putting it away or the tablet was still searching for input from it.
The wedge comes with a rubber protective case for the front of it which bends in the middle to become a stand for your tablet - a clever idea. The keyboard comes with Windows 8 shortcut keys, but since I don’t have a Windows 8 device I mainly used it with a first generation iPad and an iPad mini, and it worked fine with both of those. The keyboard is powered by two AAA batteries, and although I haven’t used the keyboard heavily, these are still working a month later.
Verdict: Well worth packing for a trip where you are leaving behind your laptop and relying on your tablet for your work needs, whether those are emails, web surfing or perhaps writing notes. There’s a wedge-like mouse that can be bought separately.
- Size 10.1 inches long (256mm) by 3.97 inches width (101mm)
- Weight 236g
- Price £79.99
- Contact microsoft.com
