Review Showdown: ZAGG Slim Book v Logitech CREATE For iPad Pro 12.9"

The promise of the giant iPad Pro, per the "Pro" moniker, is that you're going to be able to get work done! Serious work. Apple has even added its own detachable Smart Keyboard cover to its lineup of accessories which also includes the Apple Pen. And, as much as the Pen is a joy to use, typing is a much faster method of input for mine and many people's writing needs. I've tried Apple's Smart Keyboard cover and though I love it for it's svelte figure, the keys themselves leave a lot to be desired for anything other than answering a few emails and typing up a few status updates on your social network of choice. So, what to do? Look at the alternatives.

With the Slim Book, you'll get the usual complement of function keys for an iOS Bluetooth keyboard but this one is also backlit and gives you 7 colors to choose from at three different brightness levels. Logi Create works with the smart connector and adds one feature to the function keys that ZAGG lacks and that is the ability to control screen brightness. This would seem like a little thing, but ZAGGs hinge covers of of the bezel area on the iPad Pro making accessing the iOS Control Center a bit difficult.

Between the two keyboard covers, the ZAGG is definitely more rigid so typing on a lap or uneven surface feels a bit more stable. You'll definitely experience some flex with the CREATE and you'll get more flexibility from the Slim Book. It can be used at an angle up to 135 degrees and can be used in laptop, tent or tablet modes. There's only one angle for the CREATE when it's attached to the smart connector, though you can disconnect it from there and lay it almost flat so that you can use it with the Apple Pen for artwork or taking notes.

One thing you won't have to concern yourself with all that much when it comes to the CREATE is power. Since it's powered through the smart connector, there's nothing to charge. The Slim Book, being a Bluetooth connected device will require you to charge it. The frequency with which you'll have to charge is dependent upon how often you use the backlighting . Without the backlighting , ZAGG says you'll get two years between charges. Additionally, since it's using Bluetooth, you'll also get the ability to use the keyboard with three separate Bluetooth devices which can be programmed into the 1,2 and 3 number keys on the keyboard.


There's just one caveat in making this choice. When removing the iPad Pro from the ZAGG case, I cracked a corner of the case and if I had purchased this, I'd be taking it back for a replacement. I've read of others having this issue as well, leading me to believe that the CREATE may be built a bit better for the long haul. ZAGGs keyboard will be fine, I'm sure, but the cover it goes into may be a bit questionable if you think you're going to be removing the iPad from time to time.

Disclosure: Logitech and ZAGG provided us with sample units for the purpose of this review.