Tech21 Evo Type Adds a Keyboard to Your Pixel 3 XL

Tech21 Evo Type is a protective case with a wireless keyboard so you can type longer documents more easily on your Pixel 3 XL.

Tech21 makes some of our favorite protective cases, and this new option is an exciting one for mobile professionals who need to get more productivity out of their phones.

The keyboard is housed inside the folio cover and connects wirelessly to the Pixel 3 XL, so you can start typing longer documents and emails on the go without resorting to a tablet or laptop. It pairs with an NFC connection and the bag has a stand to help you find the right typing position. The case and keyboard are made of soft-touch fabric.

For now this is only available on the Pixel 3 XL, but if it proves successful enough for Tech21, there’s a chance we’ll see it coming to the iPhone with Bluetooth connectivity in the future.

We had a chance to test the Evo Type with the Pixel 3 XL and found it helped speed up our typing on the Pixel 3 XL, although typing on a smaller keyboard was difficult. We’ve been using all sizes of keyboards on phones and small tablets like the iPad Mini for years, so it’s not difficult to adapt to this size and it makes sense with increasingly larger phones.

The keys are touch sensitive, but they are not tactile, so there is no movement to them. This creates a learning curve, but is faster than typing on the screen with a traditional keyboard.

Alongside this keyboard, Tech21 also announced the Charge Pod. The Charge Pod is a portable wireless charger with a 5,000mAh battery that charges via USB C connection. LEDs show how much power is left, and it’s made of a textured surface that’s easy to hold and rubber grips to keep it in place on the desk. It automatically detects the right amount of power to send to your device. Tech21 will present the Charge Pod with a choice of cases and wallets. Your phone slides inside the Charging Pod and stays in place in a bag, or you can use the wallet option as a wireless charging clutch.