Libra transforms your iPad Pro into a MacBook – complete with trackpad

There are loads of Bluetooth keyboards that turn your iPad Pro into a sort-of laptop. But Libra ($109) takes things a stage further. Connect your iPad and you can tap away on real keys, rather than prodding at glass. So far, so standard. But also, there’s a trackpad, for zipping a cursor around the screen, rather than pawing at glass to select something. (This uses iPadOS 13’s mouse functionality, buried in the Accessibility section of Settings.) For quickly accessing further handy functions – volume; brightness; Home – there’s a media keys row. And when you’re typing in the dark, or just fancy some funky colours beneath your digits, you can fire up – and customise – the RGB backlighting. The keyboard’s even smart when you’re not using it – a magnetic cover or case keeps your pride and joy safe from scratches while it’s jiggling about in your bag.

Craig Grannell Contributor

About

I’m a regular contributor to Stuff magazine and Stuff.tv, covering apps, games, Apple kit, Android, Lego, retro gaming and other interesting oddities. I also pen opinion pieces when the editor lets me, getting all serious about accessibility and predicting when sentient AI smart cookware will take over the world, in a terrifying mix of Bake Off and Terminator.

Areas of expertise

Mobile apps and games, Macs, iOS and tvOS devices, Android, retro games, crowdfunding, design, how to fight off an enraged smart saucepan with a massive stick.