Once upon a time, Chrome OS only came on laptops that had a keyboard built-in, but now we have Chromeboxes, Chromebits, and Chrome tablets. No matter what form your device seems to take, one thing remains absolutely clear: a good keyboard is essential! Chrome OS plays well with most keyboards on the market and whether you're looking for a travel-friendly keyboard to replace your Chromebook's sticking keys or need a wireless keyboard to use in bed, we've got a keyboard for everyone!
This is the wired keyboard I use with my Chromebooks at my standing desk, and with its clicky Blue switches and RGB lighting, it has served me quite well for the last two years. Just be mindful: Blue switches are loud!
Brydge made a couple of Chrome OS keyboard options for the Pixel Slate a year ago, but the Brydge C-Type works well with any Chromebook, has the Chrome OS function keys and layout, and a six month battery life. If it had backlit keys, it'd be perfect.
The Logitech K380 is a long-standing favorite replacement keyboard because of its long battery life and near universal compatibility. It also has the ability to switch back and forth between three devices quickly, which allows you to easily hand it off between family members.
Most folding keyboards have gaps, shrunken keys, no stability, or all three, but not iClever! The tri-colored backlighting is a nice touch, but being a regular-sized, solidly stable keyboard that can fold up compactly, packs well, and works hard more than earns it a spot in our gear bags.
Go wireless or go home!
Whether you intend to use this keyboard at home or on the go, a wireless keyboard is the best bet. They're great for using on the couch, on the bed, or in a home office that's already overrun with cables. The Aukey mechanical keyboard looks awesome and sounds great when I'm typing away at home. Since this is a keyboard that's made for Windows computers, you'll need to remember what function each of the F keys corresponds to, but it's not too hard to remember. The RGB backlighting comes in extra handy if you plan on typing a lot in dark or low light conditions.
