The Envent ET-IP4CKB003 iPhone 4/4S Bluetooth slider keyboard is ideal for those that are refraining from using an iPhone just because of the lack of a physical keyboard. For the rest of us however, the onscreen keyboard is one of the best in the touchscreen business and we can stick to it. Besides, the case makes the phone really bulky eliminating the slim and sexy design appeal of the iPhone.
With a popular device like the iPhone come a plethora of accessories that are there not only to protect it but also add value like extra battery life, a slide out QWERTY keypad so on and so forth.
Today we have with us a Bluetooth QWERTY keyboard from Envent. It is compatible with the iPhone 4 and 4S and has its own battery, which means that it wont suck juice from your iPhone. But is this keyboard a must have accessory for your beautiful iPhone or are you better off with the touchscreen?
Design and build
Straight out of the box, the case looks very big. There is a bracket that houses the iPhone and it is also compatible with the iPod touch. Even though the iPod doesn’t fit perfectly in the bracket, it remains there steady nonetheless.
The case we received for review has a pearl white matte finish, which is nice. The case may not be a dust and fingerprint magnet but it can get dirty very easily. The case has an opening for the camera, the volume rocker and the 30mm dock connector.
Below the bracket is the keyboard that slides out. The sliding mechanism is sturdy and very well built. The keys are quite small and neatly laid out in 4 lines. The spacebar isn’t in the center of the bottom line but rather towards the right.
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Overall the build of the Bluetooth keyboard seems sturdy but the overall package is very bulky.
Performance
The Bluetooth keyboard makes the iPhone not only look bulkier but makes it heavier as well. Even though the designers have tried to keep the design of the case compact, it is very bulky and uncomfortable in the pocket.
Connecting your smartphone and the keyboard is very simple. Switch on the Bluetooth of your phone and switch on the keyboard. Your iPhone detects the keyboard and asks you to input some text as confirmation. Hit enter and viola! You are ready.
The spacing and depth of the keys isn’t the best but it is good enough to get the job done. You can also control certain functions from the keyboard such as play/pause and change tracks, brightness of the display and the volume.
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As mentioned earlier, the spacebar is located on the right side of the bottom line. This means that it is easy to press it with your right thumb, but this shift in location from the center of the keyboard takes some getting used to.
The overall experience of typing on the keyboard is average. It will be ideal for those that do not like a touchscreen keyboard experience and would like physical keys to type on. The biggest disadvantage however is that there is no backlighting which makes typing in the dark difficult.
In terms of connectivity, a microUSB port rests at the bottom of the device that is used for charging it. Event claims that the device will last for 45 days on a complete charge. The device takes about 4 hours to reach full charge. One drawback of the keyboard is that it isn’t backlit, which makes typing in the dark difficult.
Bottom Line
The Envent ET-IP4CKB003 iPhone 4/4S Bluetooth slider keyboard is ideal for those that are refraining from using an iPhone just because of the lack of a physical keyboard. For the rest of us however, the onscreen keyboard is one of the best in the touchscreen business and we can stick to it. Besides, the case makes the phone really bulky eliminating the slim and sexy design appeal of the iPhone.