Head below for more details, availability and pricing on each of the two new offerings from Belkin:
Director of Belkin’s QODE keyboard business, Ana Hory, said the new QODE options pack a number of new and highly requested features including “a backlit keyboard, more responsive keys, adjustable viewing angles and a removable case.”
One of the most immediate updates to the QODE Ultimate Pro is its detachable back case feature, which allows the keyboard and case to work together or separately. In fact, Apple’s official Smart covers will work in tandem with the case portion for “full dual-sided protection” when the keyboard is not being used. Belkin notes that due to its detachable design, the QODE Ultimate also supports portrait and landscape viewing angles, unlike most keyboard cases of its kind.
Along with a host of physical improvements to the keycap shape and responsiveness, Belkin claims the keyboard portion is “the first iPad keyboard case on the market with the same number of keys as a laptop keyboard.” Another handy feature the company has added, and a first for the QODE line, is the new backlit keyboard with three stages of brightness. It also features an auto on/off feature and Bluetooth connectivity to seamless pair with up to two devices simultaneously.
The QODE Slim Style Keyboard packs much of the updated features as its Ultimate counterpart, but in a more sleek minimalist design. Belkin says it has a compact “embedded-frame construction for durability and productivity without bulk.”
The QODE Ultimate Pro and QODE Slim Style Keyboards are available now on Amazon and Belkin.com for $149.99 and $99.99 shipped. If you’re looking for other Belkin gear, we currently have a 20% off sitewide coupon code available offering discounts on its newest Mac accessories, WeMo smart home products and more.
Full Press Release below:
[9to5-press-release]
New QODE Ultimate Pro Keyboard Provides Improved Keyboard Layout, Detachable Case, Backlit Keys and Simultaneous Pairing with Two Devices
Playa Vista, Calif. – October 14, 2014 – – Belkin International, the market leader for tablet accessories, today launched two new QODE keyboards designed for the iPad Air, the QODE Ultimate Pro Keyboard and the QODE Slim Style Keyboard. The QODE Ultimate Pro Keyboard for iPad Air, Belkin’s most advanced iPad keyboard to date, combines durable tablet protection, unparalleled versatility and an upgraded typing experience in one convenient, lightweight package, while the QODE Slim Style features an upgraded keyboard layout in a slim, folio-style design.
“We’ve taken everything that was great about our original QODE Ultimate Keyboard and added a number of premium features that our customers have requested, including a backlit keyboard, more responsive keys, adjustable viewing angles and a removable case,” said Ana Hory, director of Belkin’s QODE keyboard business. “The QODE Ultimate Pro turns the iPad Air into a lightweight productivity workhorse, giving users a viable way to get real work done without having to carry around a clunky laptop.”
Designed for users who want both a protective case and a keyboard, but not always at the same time, the QODE Ultimate Pro features a detachable back case that makes it simple to remove from the keyboard. The case portion is compatible with the Apple Smart Cover for full dual-sided protection when the keyboard isn’t in use. Thanks to its detachable case, the QODE Ultimate Pro also features both portrait or landscape modes for more viewing options than traditional clamshell keyboard cases.
Belkin completely redesigned the keyboard layout of the QODE Ultimate Pro, making it the first iPad keyboard case on the market with the same number of keys as a laptop keyboard for increased functionality. Belkin also increased the width of the keycap shape and improved key pitch for a faster, more accurate and more comfortable typing experience. A first for the QODE keyboard line, the Ultimate Pro features a backlit keyboard with three brightness levels for easier typing in darkness or low light.
The QODE Ultimate Pro’s Bluetooth® Smart Keyboard seamlessly pairs up to two devices at once and features a smart-sensing technology that automatically turns the keyboard on when the iPad Air is docked and off when closed, even when used as a standalone keyboard. The auto on/off feature helps prevent battery drainage and contributes to the Ultimate Pro’s impressive battery life of up to one year on a single charge.
QODE Ultimate Pro Keyboard for iPad Air (F5L171) – $149.99
- Improved keyboard layout for more laptop-like feel
- Backlit keys with three brightness levels
- Adjustable landscape and portrait modes with two viewing angles
- Detachable case works with the keyboard or alone; case is Smart Cover compatible when detached
- Smart-sensing auto on/off technology
- Bluetooth Smart Keyboard pairs two devices at once
- Up to one year of continuous battery life based on average usage
- Slim and lightweight
- Rubber bumper prevents keyboard from touching screen
- Aircraft-grade aluminum alloy in two colors: Silver and Space Gray
- Compatible with iPad Air
The Belkin QODE Slim Style Keyboard Case combines the same upgraded keyboard design as the QODE Ultimate Pro with a minimalist, embedded-frame construction for durability and productivity without bulk. A magnetized closure keeps the folio-design securely closed for screen protection, making it perfect for use on the go.
QODE Slim Style Keyboard for iPad Air (F5L174) – $99.99
- Folio-style cover and Bluetooth keyboard in one
- Improved keyboard layout for more accurate typing
- Innovative stand for Multiple viewing angles; magnets securely hold tablet at ideal angle
- Bluetooth Smart connectivity pairs with other devices
- Handheld media mode – keyboard tucks away flat for touch screen use
- Slim, lightweight, stylish design in 2 colors: Blacktop/Gravel
- Flexible corner tabs hold iPad securely in place
Availability and Pricing
QODE Ultimate Pro Keyboard for iPad Air is available now at Belkin.com, Amazon.com, The Apple Store and AT&T stores in the US for an MSRP of $149.99. The QODE Slim Style Keyboard for iPad Air is available now at Belkin.com, Amazon.com and AT&T Stores for an MSRP of $99.99.
About Belkin
At Belkin, we make people-inspired products that harness the power of technology to connect the dots between people and the experiences they love. Our award-winning product lines include wireless home networking and entertainment devices; mobile accessories for laptops, smartphones, tablets; home energy management and home automation solutions; plus a broad range of cable and power products. Belkin also owns the Linksys brand, maintaining a powerful new platform to deliver the next generation of home and wireless networking experiences. A privately held company founded in 1983, Belkin has more than 1,500 employees in 21 countries. Headquartered in Playa Vista, California, Belkin can also be found on the Web at belkin.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/belkin, and on Twitter at Twitter.com/belkin.
[/9to5-press-release]
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