So, here’s an interesting purchase. An external folding keyboard for a phone. It’s something I picked up on a Black Friday sale for $24 (which is about how much the device is worth, probably).

The keyboard folds in half, and is slightly shorter and wider than a modern phone in its folded state.

Why an external keyboard for my phone?

I like to write - a lot. I take notes, I write down my thoughts, I publish a blog or two - that’s how I process the world. Sitting down in front of a keyboard is a great way to unload what’s in my head: I type faster than I handwrite, and it’s just a meditative experience.

There’s just one problem: I have an infant, which makes sitting down at a computer problematic sometimes. There’s just not enough peaceful minutes in a day where I’m able to sit at my desktop, or even pull out a laptop. My phone’s always nearby though, and I’ve jotted down notes on the go before.

But I hate the on-screen keyboard, which makes me want to pull my hair out when I have to write anything longer than a “k” response to a text. So here comes a keyboard that’s small enough to fit in my back pocket, yet becomes a almost full size keyboard once it unfolds.

Moreover, I’m excited to take it with me on a vacation, or maybe even a quick trip to a coffee shop. I’m not going to travel with a laptop, but it would be nice to be able to write in a hotel room, or on the plane - without the added bulk of another device. A quick pullout keyboard accomplishes that.

I picked up ProtoArc XK04, which has been working out pretty great - it easily pairs to my phone, the keys feel fine enough, and the build doesn’t feel flimsy or cheap. In fact, it’s a little heavier than I expected, which makes for a nicer typing experience (but it’s still light enough to carry around).

I’ll follow-up in six month to year to see if that’s just a gimmick purchase. Or maybe I end up drafting up my next book using this thing - we’ll just have to see.