Best Bluetooth keyboard for the Apple TV 4K

We're a virtual company made up of tech experts from across the globe. We use keyboards every day with all sorts of devices including the Apple TV 4K, and we've tried plenty of different types of Bluetooth keyboards over the years.

The Anker Bluetooth Ultra-Slim Keyboard is the most affordable full-sized Bluetooth keyboard. It features built-in Apple shortcuts and doesn't take up much space, making it easy to store away when you're not using it with your Apple TV.

Our pick

Anker Bluetooth Ultra-Slim Keyboard

• $20 from Amazon
• $20 from Anker

Full-sized, afforadble, and reliable

When it comes to full-sized Bluetooth keyboards, the Anker Bluetooth Ultra-Slim Keyboard is one of the most affordable ones on the market. Plus, the compact design and built-in Apple shortcuts make it perfect to keep in your living room, bedroom, or any room your Apple TV lives.

Who should buy the Anker Bluetooth Ultra-Slim Keyboard

The Siri Remote for the Apple TV 4K is great, but swiping around to enter text is beyond tedious. That's where the Anker Bluetooth Ultra-Slim Keyboard keyboard comes in handy. Its completely wireless, meaning no dongles or cords needed, and it doesn't require line-of-sight, which means you can use them from anywhere if you happen to be moving around. If you've ever been frustrated by inputting your password or a search term on your Apple TV, this keyboard is a miracle worker.

Reasons to buy

• 3-month battery life.
• Apple shortcut compatible.
• Compact design.
• Compatible with Android and Windows systems.

Reasons not to buy

• No number pad.
• Uses AAA batteries.

It's hard to beat $20

There are a plethora of Bluetooth keyboards out there that will work with the Apple TV, but it's really hard to beat the $20 price tag of the Anker Bluetooth Ultra-Slim Keyboard and get the same compact design, sleek style, and functionality.

The fact of the matter is you don't need a keyboard for your Apple TV that often. You'll mostly only have to use it when you want to input your password to buy an app or type in a search term when you're looking for a movie to rent, which means you don't need a fancy keyboard with all the bells and whistles to get the job done.

Although needing to 2 AAA batteries is a bit of a letdown, a 3-month battery life is very good mileage.

If you really want, you can even use the Anker Bluetooth Ultra-Slim Keyboard with your iPad, iPhone, or Android phone and tablet, and it's fully compatible with each software, so you don't always have to keep it next to your Apple TV. While you most likely, wouldn't want to write your Ph.D. thesis on the Anker Bluetooth Ultra-Slim Keyboard, it's certainly able to handle typing up small documents, assignments, and other files should you find the need.

Although needing to 2 AAA batteries is a bit of a letdown, a 3-month battery life is very good mileage, and the automatic power-saving mode that Anker has included is a big reason it gets that much.

Alternatives to the Anker Bluetooth Ultra-Slim Keyboard

If you're looking for a keyboard that's a little more useful for all your Apple products, Apple's Magic Keyboard will allow you to take your keyboard from your Mac, to your iPad, to your Apple TV, and then to your MacBook and give you a fantastic typing experience.

Runner-up

Magic Keyboard

Perfect for all Apple products

$86 at Amazon

Apple TV, Apple Magic Keyboard, right? Right! It's compact and looks like it might move around on you, but it's fantastically stable (I type on one all day long), lightweight, and large enough to type comfortable but small enough to be unobtrusive.

It won't take up a ton of space on your coffee table and the battery last a long time (I use it all day and have to charge it maybe once every two weeks). So, if you're looking for a standout performer in terms of connectivity, overall feel, and size, Apple's Magic Keyboard is a perfect pairing to your Apple TV!

Upgrade pick

Logitech Easy‑Switch K811

Control features with the push of a button

$119 at Amazon

This little ditty is my personal favorite. It's a compact keyboard designed with Mac in mind that has plenty of useful additional features. It has the added benefit of being specially designed to control features on your iPhone or iPad, like navigating to the Home screen and audio playback controls. With one button, you can switch between three different devices.

It's about a foot long, so it may still not be an everyday keyboard if you really only want one for your Apple TV, but if productivity is paramount and you have a lot to do and no time for pairing multiple keyboards, then the K811 is hands-down the best for you.

Bottom line

Entering text on the Apple TV with just the Siri Remote is a bummer, and the Anker Bluetooth Ultra-Slim Keyboard alleviates that pain for only $20. Its compact design allows you to easily find room to store the keyboard while not in use, and its 3-month battery life will keep you typing a long time before the batteries run out!

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Luke Filipowicz is a staff writer at iMore.com. He uses his Apple TV daily for gaming and entertainment.

Mick Symons is a staff writer at Mobile Nations whose tested a plethora of Bluetooth keyboards over the years. He's seen the bad, the good, and the ugly.

Lory Gil is the managing editor of iMore and considers herself a bit of an Apple TV fanatic!