

⌨️ Work tough, type bright — the ultimate iPad armor for the on-the-go pro!
The ZAGG Rugged Messenger is a robust, multi-functional keyboard case designed for iPad Pro and Air 10.5" (Gen 3). It offers military-grade drop protection up to 6.6 feet, a rechargeable battery lasting up to 2 years, and Bluetooth connectivity for pairing with two devices simultaneously. Featuring 7-color backlit laptop-style keys and a built-in Apple Pencil holder, it balances rugged durability with sleek versatility for professionals who demand productivity and style on the move.












| ASIN | B073WPHL8S |
| Batteries | 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included) |
| Best Sellers Rank | #664 in Tablet Keyboard Cases |
| Brand | ZAGG |
| Color | Black |
| Customer Reviews | 3.8 3.8 out of 5 stars (2,550) |
| Date First Available | July 18, 2017 |
| Hardware Platform | Tablet |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 7.67 x 0.91 x 10.28 inches |
| Item Weight | 1.53 pounds |
| Item model number | ID9RMK-BB0 |
| Language | English |
| Manufacturer | Zagg, Inc. |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Power Source | rechargeable battery |
| Product Dimensions | 7.67 x 0.91 x 10.28 inches |
| Series | ZAGG Rugged Messenger - 7 Color Backlit Case and Bluetooth Keyboard for 201 |
| Wireless Type | Radio Frequency |
B**N
Overall, the design, functionality, and response are fantastic and very nice.
Pros - Sturdy and rugged design - I love the way this felt feels on my palms while typing. It is very solid and will prevent any damage as described. One subtle thing that I found cool and interesting was the Volume Button. It has two separate buttons for volume up and volume down as to be expected. However, the volume up has jagged lines that provide a course feel on your finger, allowing you to sense and feel the correct button the first time, as opposed to trial and error and prevent those embarrassing moments where the volume is raised too loud for all to hear. :) Backlit keys - this was the number one thing I was looking for. The keyboard had to have this and I actually really enjoy the multiple color options. I thought it sounded gimmicky, but the colors are very nice. Being able to adjust the level of light is a necessity as well. Bluetooth - multiple sources with easy access to switch in between. I do not use this option much, but it does work flawlessly. Magnet - strong connection and no issues while in lap. I travel a lot for work and this device allows me to work on the plane much easier than my laptop. The only issue I would see is if someone were to lay down and want to hoist this up by resting on the stomach...it can be a little tricky to get that right, but it’s definitely possible, but you’ll have to use your legs up for support. 2 piece - I love the flexibility of having this keyboard as a separate option, while having the iPad safe and sound in a hardback case. The functionality of both is ideal and well thought out. You can use your iPad as you typically would with just the case and when you are ready to type, just pull out the keyboard and let the magnets connect and you’re ready to go. Quick recognition - I know there are some keyboards out there that claim they are instant connect and are not connected via Bluetooth and they hype it as a benefit; well, this keyboard is connected with Bluetooth and has very little, if any lag. There may be a time it goes to sleep (after 30 seconds) and you will hit a key when ready to type again and it doesn’t recognize, but that is very rare. Typically I will hit a key just to make sure it is on and get to work. Very intuitive and easy to manage. Typing - is easy, though the keyboard is definitely smaller than a standard keyboard (duh). The extended felt is comfortable to rest the palms/wrist and does not provide any pain points for me. My hands are not small, but I’m also not 6’8”, where I could see a potential for issues, but that’s to be expected. Short keys - At the top there are options for volume, keyboard, task view, web, and more. Cons - Weight (but you should know this going into it, so it shouldn’t be a shock) - I am only listing this as con to point it out, but I do not find the weight to be an issue or concern. I do not mind it at all. Number pad - not that it’s entirely necessary, but it would be nice to have. The problem would become that it would be too bulky and wide. No stylus - it would be nice to have a stylus. I think that would be an easy addition, as I believe it comes with the “pro” model. Overall, the design, functionality, and response are fantastic and very nice. I would highly recommend this device to anyone who travels or uses their iPad to type.
R**F
Not Zagg's finest product
The design of this case is flimsy. I did not like how the iPad was held in place on the keyboard by a not-very-strong magnet, and I did not like the magnetic mechanism that was supposed to allow me to adjust the iPad to different angles. I ended up with the iPad detached from the keyboard, or the iPad falling backwards or forwards but just not staying positioned in any usable manner. Uselessly unstable when trying to use it on my lap while sitting. The keyboard itself was not solid plastic, but felt like some kind of flimsy vinyl that was encasing the keyboard. Overall, it was a disaster and I shipped it back in less than 48 hours. Previously, I had a Zagg Rugged Case that fit my old iPad Air. It had a strong magnet and felt solid. Unfortunately, the plastic hinge cracked - that's the Achilles heel of that particular model. I've opted for the Folio Keyboard for my iPad Gen 6. It's not as well padded, so it's lighter. The hinge mechanism seems likely to last for a while. I do miss being able to use the iPad in portrait mode separate from the keyboard, but I'll adjust. It's a much better solution than this Rugged MESS - enger.
D**T
The best 10.5 Keyboard Available - Protection, Layout, and Weight.. Worth the Money.
First off - I did a ton of research before buying this keyboard. I looked at the following: 1) Apple Keyboard - Do not buy this one. The Apple Keyboard is filled with complaints, and there are even rumors of a class action lawsuit going on about the terrible connectivity issues that the keyboard is having. If you go to Apple’s own website and sort reviews by newest, you will see that it is filled with updated reviews from people that have not owned their Keyboards for a year and are having issues with it. 2) The Chinese keyboards on Amazon - I looked at all of them.. from companies I have never heard of. I saw reports of cracked screens, hinges, connectivity issues, etc.. I was temped by the IE Grow (I think that’s what it’s called... but something about it made me not want to pull the trigger.. partially because I had never even heard of the company) 3) Other Zagg products - none of them really had the reviews that this one did. The Rugged Messenger has by far the best reviews across Amazon. 4) Logitech - When it came down to was price. I picked mine up off of Warehouse deals and there is literally nothing wrong with it. It did not come with a box.. big deal. It was $50.00 cheaper (so I only paid $50.00) for it.. and there’s not a scratch on it. Fits perfect, set it up in less then 2 seconds. The Logitech didn’t have a warehouse deal at the time.. so therefore the Zagg is the one I got. Onto the keyboard itself.. The keyboard is perfectly fine. Honestly it’s probably the best keyboard for a tablet I have ever used. The travel on the keys is a little higher then I am used to, but then again I am coming from a very shallow iMac keyboard which is very flat. The keyboard also has the proper shift keys.. something that I was reading was a problem with some of the Chinese companies on Amazon... the shift key was so narrow and everyone would complain about it.. the keyboard layout of the Zagg is perfect. I have only missed maybe one or two keys while typing this entire review thus far. The backlighting is also really cool, and battery life seems to be pretty good. Overall, if you’re looking for a great keyboard that offers protection for your iPad so you can throw your tablet in your bag instead of your heavier laptop for trips downtown or heading into the city and walking 20-30 blocks without having a bulky laptop in your bag and knowing you can still get work done on your iPad.. this keyboard/case is the one to get. It does not miss a beat.
C**R
Well just got this keyboard and haven’t used it very often yet. So I don’t know about battery life or longevity but I can speak for my current experience. So far I love the keyboard, I was debating between Rugged and the Slim book. I like the slim book because of the fact it can act much like the laptop and can pivot at any angle. It doesn’t require a “kickstand” and I believe it would work the best on the laptop. So why did I pick the rugged, well because the slim book from my research had a bad design when it comes to the hinge, apparently it keeps cracking on people and I didn’t want to take the chance. The other reason was price, the list price on Amazon for the slim book is $160cdn whereas the Rugged Messenger was on sale for $78cdn so half the price. I was already leaning towards the Rugged any how and the price just sold me. So far I feel the keyboard responds without delay, I am currently typing on it and it works awesome. It’s small but has a very nice feel like a “real” keyboard the keys are in the same spots and you have most of the keys from a regular keyboard minus a few. I can type considerably fast on it, and it seems pretty natural. I can type without even looking at the keyboard just like my desktop computer, so I am comfortable with the layout. The back lights are amazing, one of the reasons I wanted it as it will work great in low light conditions. I didn’t like the Apple keyboard because it had no lights so that wasn’t even a contender for me. The stand is very sturdy, as I type this on my desk or now on my knee the screen is very sturdy and I don’t really have an issue using it on my knee. I was looking at the Logitech Slim with the kickstand and I don’t think that would work well on the lap. One of the cons would also be one of the positive. Although the magnets works great and hold everything up and sturdy, it’s not 100%. Like you can’t just pick it up by the keyboard (when opened up) and have the screen stay. For the most part I think that’s ok. The other is not having a track pad, but I don’t believe any option out there has a track pad so it’s not really a con against this specifically. If I had to choose between the Rugged and Slim Book, if the hinge on the slim book was solid and not flimsy and breaking I would have to really think more on it. I do like the slim book but the hinge breaking and the price makes me think more. The Rugged I find works great for what I need it to do and the price is just awesome. I would recommend this keyboard to others. I believe it’s one of the better options out there at the moment that has a little bit of everything. A solid sturdy stand that used magnets as opposed to the kick stand style that is a flap like a picture frame. The keys light up which is a bonus. The Bluetooth is responsive and works as soon as I life the iPad from it. Although I haven’t used it long, I don’t think there will be an issue with battery light. Overall I would give it a solid 9.7/10. Using on a IPad Air 3 10.5” screen. Works great, oh and before I forget since I have the iPad Air which only has 2 speakers I think the way the case directs sound makes it seem louder. Also forgot to mention, I love how I can detach the screen from the keyboard and have a nice solid protect case to carry my iPad around. That is convenient. I can deal with the added weight, it’s not a huge deal, I used to carry around my 17’ MacBook Pro around so no big deal. Hope my review helps. If anything changes in the near future with the keyboard I will be sure to update everything.
C**E
Tastiera e custodia di elevata qualità. Robusto, ben progettato e materiali piacevoli al tatto. Ottimo davvero
A**H
I love it because it’s working perfectly to my satisfaction. My only recommendation is that you add a charger so the battery can be recharged once it’s dead. Thanks.
S**M
Couldn't be happier. The only downside is that the keyboard charges with a micro USB. But that's not a big deal
J**A
Very strong & sturdy but pretty heavy and therefore tend to fins my son takes the ipad out of the main cover when not on the desk. Keyboard excellent and lasts a long time on a single charge. Storage for apple pen a plus as well. All in all, a very well made product.
Trustpilot
3 weeks ago
2 weeks ago