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Connecting your computer to a TV casts your action onto the big screen and savs you the hassle of getting a media streamer, or building a dedicated gaming PC. But controlling it from your couch can be annoying.
Instead of balancing a keyboard on one knee, and a touchpad on the other, the smarter solution is to get a mini Bluetooth keyboard. These ultra-compact keyboards look more like a smartphone turned on its side, but have physical keys. They have the same key layout as a full-sized keyboard, plus a small touchpad to control your computer’s mouse curser.
Because they connect to your devices via Bluetooth, these mini keyboards can connect to your computer, tablet, or smartphone without a USB dongle. Their touchpad will only work on computers, but this accessory can help reduce the amount of touch typing you do on mobile devices.
In any of these cases, a mini Bluetooth keyboard will give you a similar experience to using a full-sized one in a much smaller package.
What You Need to Know Before Buying a Mini Bluetooth Keyboard
There are many factors to think about when choosing the right mini Bluetooth keyboard for you; below are the most important ones, which we considered while we were researching this list.
Size:We defined the term “mini” to mean under nine inches long, which is slightly longer than a smartphone held sideways. We chose this size because it allows you to comfortably hold the keyboard in both hands, and hit each key without straining your palm and fingers very much.
Battery:Every mini Bluetooth keyboard in our guide has a rechargeable battery. In most cases the manufacturer doesn’t give its exact battery life, but if you turn your keyboard off after every use, and charge it once a week, you should be fine. In some cases, the mini Bluetooth keyboard has backlit keys; using this feature will drain its battery more quickly though.
Compatibility:Bluetooth is an open wireless standard adopted by almost every modern gadget — from game consoles, to computers, to smart TVs — so you can connect any of these keyboards to most of the devices in your house. If you want to pair it with a particular electronic, be sure to read its manual to make sure it supports Bluetooth.
