by 
We like the keyboard, but there’s no denying that the Rubata is bulky.
Hailing from the land down under, PADACS specializes exclusively in iOS accessories. The latest is Rubata Mini, a Bluetooth-enabled keyboard case for the iPad mini, which couples a 59-key hard-shell keyboard with a black synthetic leather case that snaps closed for full protection.
Once opened, the iPad mini slides comfortably into the right-hand pocket, held in place by a large tab that tucks neatly behind the tablet. Try as we might, we couldn’t get our iPad to fall out, so there’s no need to fear it slipping onto the floor or pavement while open.
The case features a retractable rear kickstand, used to hold the iPad mini upright while typing. While the viewing angle is adequate, it’s only adjustable by a few degrees. The kickstand is cut from the very same faux leather used for the exterior, held in place by a flimsy cloth strap that doesn’t quite live up to the quality of the rest of the case.
The side strap used to snap the case closed is something of distraction when open. In kickstand mode, it hangs above the iPad, threatening to droop just enough to get in the way of the display. It bends backwards, but there’s nothing to attach it to; with a little force, we tucked it behind the tablet, but it still juts out and draws your eye away from the screen.
While the strap may be easy to overlook, the weight and extra bulk may not. With an iPad mini inserted, the Rubata Mini weighs in at nearly 18.5 ounces, nearly double the heft of the tablet alone. While we barely notice the weight of the iPad mini by itself, we definitely felt the difference with this case, which also added nearly half an inch to the iPad mini’s thickness as well.
We can’t complain about the protection offered by the Rubata Mini, but it makes a so-so reading companion when the keyboard isn’t in use. Though the keyboard flap neatly tucks behind the iPad mini while reading, there’s little space on the right side for holding it, forcing our fingers to wander uncomfortably onto the keys instead.
Thankfully, the keyboard itself works quite well and takes up a modest 10 x 8 x 5-inch workspace when in kickstand mode. While the keys aren’t particularly spacious, they feel good and we had no problem typing on them; pairing the case with the iPad mini via Bluetooth also went off without a hitch.
The built-in lithium battery is rated for 80 hours between charges, which takes roughly four hours using the included micro-USB cable. We actually never had to charge it during our testing, since the keyboard goes to sleep after 10 minutes to preserve battery life.
The bottom line. The PADACS Rubata Mini is a well-built case with a usable keyboard, but its durability comes at the expense of distractions while typing and reading, not to mention overall thickness and weight.
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