Sahara Keyboard Case for the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra vs. Inkolelo/Sackei/Generic Magnetic Keyboard

YouTube Review:

Gradually, as time passes, we are seeing more keyboard case options for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra. With the movement of the pogo pins, the charging slot for the pen, the reversal of the volume/power buttons, and updates to the cameras, old cases for the S8/9/10 Ultra don't fit the S11 Ultra. But Samsung and third parties were not ready at launch with compelling options, so those of us with this tablet have had to scrape and scrounge for decent product choices. There are now a few magnetic keyboard cases available on Amazon, but I am convinced they are all the same "HL Keyboard" and have the same pros and cons as the Sackei and Inkolelo magnetic keyboard cases I've previously reviewed. Now Sahara has come out with a Microsoft Surface 2-piece keyboard case that consists of a protective case with a kickstand and a detachable Bluetooth keyboard with a touchpad. How does it stack up to the "HL Keyboard"? Is it worth your attention and money? I had to buy one to find out so I could tell you.

Let's look at the major differences between them:

Typing Feel and Special Keys
Generic keyboard: The travel on the generic case is generally good. They keys have decent separation and are clicky enough to not feel mushy. The finger guides are reasonably easy to feel. The backlight is bright enough in the dark but isn't terribly visible during daylight. There is a DeX key and an AI key. There is a row of function keys that are labeled with their Android actions. You can disable the touchpad and take screenshots with the push of a button.

Sahara case: The keys on the Sahara case feel like they have a little bit less travel than the generic keyboard case. The finger guides feel exactly the same. The backlight is just as difficult to see in daylight. There is no DeX or AI key, but you do get a home, back, multitasking, and Windows keys along with the same row of special keys allowing access to media controls, brightness, volume, etc. The multitasking key allows you to switch between the last 4 open apps. The Windows key brings up the app drawer. Now, why this is a Windows key and not a Command key, I cannot say. Even the Samsung keyboard has this key labeled as 'Cmd'. There is also an 'Alt Gr' key which brings up keyboard options. There is no Esc key and there is no key for bringing up the settings menu. I personally would rather have the Esc and settings keys than the AI or DeX buttons, but this is what is on offer here.

The Touchpad
The 4.5" x 2" touchpad on the generic keyboard case works more or less exactly as you'd expect. Scrolling is smooth and most of the time you feel as if you have decent control over scrolling speed. Occasionally the screen will scroll out of control, and you'll find yourself in a place you weren't trying to go (usually the bottom of the page), but this is not unique to this touchpad. The touchpad is wide and short but is large enough for general use.

The 5" x 3" touchpad on the Sahara case feels nicer to use than the one on the generic keyboard. It has a smoother feel and seems easier to control. However, just as with the generic keyboard, it can sometimes go wonky and start scrolling out of control. I blame Android for this problem and not necessarily the touchpads. It seems to me that Android still has some optimization needed when it comes to mice and touchpads. This is less of an issue with Windows laptops or the iPad's Magic Keyboard. The touchpad on the Sahara case is also significantly larger. Now, this can be a pro or a con as with any touchpad, stray touches can cause the cursor to jump somewhere you didn't expect. This is sometimes exacerbated with a larger touchpad as it becomes even easier to touch it accidentally. You can wake up the keyboard with a touch of the touchpad if it has not gone into sleep mode, which happens after 10 minutes.

General Hardware Observations
The body of the generic keyboard is covered with very vaguely leather-textured plasticky fabric (probably polyurethane) that has a little bit of drag due to the texture and feels fine to touch. It's not luxurious, but the texture means it's a little less susceptible to fingerprints. The area where the tablet rests is microfiber with just the right amount of nap. The cutout for the camera fits fine. There is nowhere to stow the pen, so beware if you travel with this case as it is easy to knock the pen from its magnetic resting place. I wish that there was a place to stow the pen beneath where the tablet sits, but no such luck here. You're probably best off putting the pen somewhere else entirely, so you don't lose it.

The body of the Sahara case is made from a smooth plastic that is more like the finish of Apple's Magic Keyboard, but not quite as nice. The plastic on the key bed looks cheap because of its oddly textured finish. I worry about dust and grime clinging to that finish, but for now it seems fine. As the Sahara case is a 2-piece affair, you can use the keyboard away from the kickstand. This offers more flexibility than the typical magnetic case, but it also means that the setup takes up more space when used together on a desk. It also means it's really too much to try to use on a lap or on an airplane tray table. But having the kickstand separate from the keyboard means it's easier to use the tablet as a tablet without having to deal with the keyboard constantly attached. And while you are using the tablet in the kickstand case, it's still protected. The kickstand folds down from the top instead of up from the bottom. This makes it easier to have a flatter angle, but at some point, the weight of the tablet will just push the flap all the way down flat. If you want the flattest and most secure position for drawing or writing, it's best to turn the tablet upside down. The other advantage of the kickstand is that you get many more angles than you do with the magnetic keyboard. It's a much more flexible approach.

The Sahara case also has a small display on it that lights up when the keyboard is on and in use. It shows connection and battery status along with caps lock, function key lock, and an indicator to show when the touchpad is disabled. Also, the control keys are in a completely different order than they are on the generic case or the Samsung slim keyboard. There is also an opening beneath the tablet where you can stow the pen when not in use. This means you can keep the pen with the tablet – even when detached from the keyboard - and not have to worry about potentially losing it in transit. The kickstand portion of the case fits very securely and is difficult to put on and take off. It's not really something you're going to want to do often.

Battery Life
The USB C ports and power switches are on the right side of both keyboards. The generic case is rated for 7 hours of use with the backlight off and 2-3 hours with the backlight on. Charging from empty to full is said to take up to 3 hours. The Sahara case's manual claims more than 90 hours of 'working time' and more than 100 days of standby time but the box indicates up to 300 hours of use on a single charge. Which words are true? Who knows. Based on my usage so far, I'd say that 300 hours is completely out of the question for active usage time since I have the battery down to about half after a few days of use with the backlight on, but it might be possible to get more than 100 hours of standby time. Turning the backlight off will also increase battery life. Charging time is the same at up to 3 hours.

Is it worth it? I do like the Sahara keyboard case. I think its main drawback is that this style of case just requires a lot more desk space than the magnetic keyboards. If you are someone who uses your tablet in tablet mode most of the time and needs to type only occasionally or is OK with the extra space requirements, I think this is a good keyboard at a reasonable price. I love the screen and although the touchpad is easy to activate accidentally, I appreciate its larger size that makes scrolling more enjoyable.

Currently, this keyboard case is available only at Best Buy. Please note that the purchase link below is an affiliate link and purchases made using this link will help support this site and my YouTube channel and allow me to continue to buy products to review and share with all of you. Thanks for your support!

Sahara Case Best Buy Link:
https://bestbuycreators.7tiv.net/Dy4445