LG’s newly unveiled Rolly Keyboard is one of the most impressive new smartphone accessories I’ve seen all year. Although it has the look of a Kickstarter project, the Rolly is a foldable, or rollable, full laptop keyboard that can connect to up to two devices at the same time via Bluetooth to increase your productivity while on the go.
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Rolly seems to be right up the alley of Microsoft’s Universal Foldable Keyboard that’s also supposed to be highly portable. Microsoft’s solution is to fold the keyboard in two, whereas LG transforms its accessory into a stick that can be easily hidden away in your already-tech-filled backpack or purse.
According to LG’s press release, the Rolly is made of “high-contrast keys” and features a fold-out mobile device stand.” The device has a 17m key pitch that’s “nearly” as generous as 18mm key pitch found on a desktop keyboard.
The Rolly Keyboard can connect to devices featuring Bluetooth 3.0 support or higher, and it features auto-pairing and the ability to toggle between two gadgets with a key press. LG would probably like you to buy the device to pair it with its smartphones and tablets, but it’ll also work with iPhone, other Android phones and other gadgets that might need a keyboard.
A single AAA battery powers the keyboard for up to three months of average use, LG says. But the company did not share any pricing details for the accessory, saying only that it’ll start shipping at some point in September. Comparatively, the Microsoft keyboard costs $99.95 and it’s already available for purchase.
LG’s full press release and a video showing the Rolly in action follow below.
LG DEVELOPS FULL-SIZE KEYBOARD FOR POCKETS
LG Looks to Increase Share of Growing Mobile Device Accessories MarketSEOUL, Aug. 27, 2015 — In an effort to capture a larger share of the fast-growing mobile accessories market, LG Electronics (LG) will unveil the industry’s first solid rollable wireless portable keyboard at IFA 2015 in Berlin, Germany. Unlike other portable keyboards on the market, LG’s Rolly Keyboard (model KBB-700) folds up along the four rows to create an easy-to-carry “stick” that fits into one’s pocket as easily as any purse or briefcase.
Featuring high-contrast keys and a fold-out mobile device stand, typing on Rolly Keyboard is extremely comfortable because its 17mm key pitch is nearly as generous as the 18mm key pitch found on most desktop keyboards. Made of impact-resistant and durable polycarbonate and ABS plastic, typing on the keyboard offers satisfying tactile feedback not found on flexible silicone keyboards. Two sturdy arms fold out to support smartphones as well as tablets 1 in an upright position. Simply unfolding the Rolly Keyboard enables the auto pairing function to connect easily to two different devices at the same time via Bluetooth 3.0 with the ability to toggle between the two with a simple key press. A single AAA battery powers the keyboard for up to three months of average use.
“LG Rolly Keyboard is just one of the many premium input devices we’ll be unveiling in the coming months as we expand our accessories offerings,” said Seo Young-jae, vice president in charge of Innovative Personal Devices at LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “The goal was to create a product that could add more value to LG smartphones and tablets at the same time offering a unique design proposition that hadn’t been explored before.”
The Rolly Keyboard will make its debut in September in the United States, followed by key markets in Europe, Latin America and Asia in the fourth quarter. Prices and details of availability will be announced locally at the time of launch. Visitors to IFA 2015 can see LG Rolly Keyboard up close in Hall 18 of Messe Berlin from September 4-9.
