Streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and so forth depend either on PCs or PC-like smart devices like the smartphone and tablet in order to deliver their online content to millions of subscribers. It’s a different deal with TVs like HDTVs.
They require Roku Sticks or Roku TV to give the TV Netflix accessibility when push comes to shove. With that said, keyboards for Roku devices are becoming highly popular for TVs and some such since it gives them PC-like input functionality.
Buying Guide for the Best Keyboard for Roku
What should you look for when it comes to keyboards for Roku? Something wireless, preferably. They should work like a remote control or clicker with your TV, but mostly for your Roku so that it’s easier to type in titles or genres you wish to look for in Netflix and whatnot.
Roku’s Onscreen Keyboard Covers for Your Keyboard Needs, Right?
It’s not the same. An on-screen keyboard on the TV works like the onscreen keyboard on a videogame. You have to screen over letters in order to put in titles or genres one after another. This device allows you to sign-in or search when running its app, thus allowing you to type on it or tap-type on it.
An actual keyboard is much easier, whether you know how to type in the traditional sense (your four left fingers on ASDF and your four right fingers on JKL; and both thumbs on the Space Bar).
The Main Functions to Look Out For in a Roku Keyboard
The keyboard should mainly have the ability to type words quickly in a standard keyboard format found in your typical laptop. It should also be usable with smartphones and tablets as well as Roku-connected HDTVs with Bluetooth support.
It should also gain quick access to common keyboard functions, such as copy-paste text, playback control, and volume level, thus transforming your smart device or display device into something as useful as a laptop or PC.
What is the Best Keyboard for Roku?It Should Be Ergonomic and Comfortable to Use
For our money, we also prefer a comfortable keyboard with quiet typing features. No keyboard sounds like typewriters in the 1960s at this point and some actually love the feedback loop of the click-clack of keys when typing words, but many others wish for a keyboard that’s as quite as a remote control.
Look for low-profile keys with whisper-quiet features. Your keyboard of choice should bring comfort to your fingertips while sparing your ears with any noise. Moreover, such a device should have media controls and functions closer than the hotkeys found in Windows-dedicated laptops.
Let There Be Light to See the Device in the Dark
When searching for a Roku keyboard, you can go fancy with it and get the gamer keyboard with elegant blue LED on it with an adjustable brightness level. There are also rainbow lights that go from cyan to purple to red to green to blue and back again. It’s aesthetically pleasing and easy to see in dim lights.
It’s perfect for when you’re searching for a new movie while running your projector, thus you have to deal with low-lighting conditions. The backlight can also do auto shut-off for power conservation purposes. It only turns on when you need it and you’re using your keyboard.
The Importance of Being Cross-Platform Compatible
You should also be on the lookout for a cross-platform compatible device. This way, you can use your Roku keyboard with not only the Roku streaming device platform but also operating systems such as Windows, MacOS, Android, and iOS. A good keyboard has system-specific function keys available.
It should also work on devices such as the smartphone or tablet. Any device that has Bluetooth support can be used. Your Roku is mainly connected to your HDTV or any HDMI-supported device, so make sure your display device has Bluetooth to allow keyboard pairing to happen.
Portability and Durable Keyboard Body
Get a keyboard that’s easily portable due to its ultra-slim and sleek design. It should also barely weigh under a pound, thus making the device the perfect travel accessory when you wish to watch Netflix on the hotel television while on the go.
Get a tough device with scissors kick construction to ensure the keys can be used 3 million times continuously. They should also be made of a material such as a high-grade anodized zinc alloy back shell on an ABS plastic-brushed finish front panel. It could also be made of aircraft-grade aluminum too.
Long-Lasting Battery Life and Operation
6-month battery life for the keyboard is also preferable. Sure, wired keyboards you can hook up with USB tend to be powered by the connection, but a Bluetooth or 2.4G USB wireless keyboard has the additional advantage of being usable in any area as long as they’re within range of the signal.
To be more specific, get a Roku keyboard with a built-in industry-standard rechargeable Li-polymer or Li-On battery to give you 6 months of action on every single charge. It might be much shorter when the backlight is turned on and the keyboard is used 8 to 24 hours a day instead of 2 hours a day.
A Truly Multi-Functional and Multi-Compatible Keyboard
Long story short, look for a scissors-kick Bluetooth keyboard that can handle millions of button pushes and hours of playtime as you marathon-watch movies like Lord of the Rings or search for new titles involving the superhero genre (the Marvel or DC cinematic universes).
As a bonus, you can use such a colorful lightweight yet thick keyboard for your notebook PC, tablet, or smartphone as a portable keyboard so that you won’t have to scroll or tap into on-screen keyboards with your large hands.
What is the Best Keyboard for Roku?
Here are the top 8 Roku keyboards we’ve found on Amazon.
1. Colorful Rechargeable Backlit “Gamer” Keyboard with Touchpad Mouse Combo for Roku Products
| Connectivity | 2.4G wireless with USB receiver |
| Compatible Devices | Roku, Projectors, Raspberry Pi, Smart TV, Notebooks, Tablet, Google TV Box, Android TV Box, PC/Pad, HTPC glasses, and more. |
| Size | 6.3 x 4.3 x 0.6 inches |
| Weight | 4.59 ounces |
| Special Features | 77 keys, backlighting color support (RGB), handheld, portable, and black QWERTY keyboard. |
| Operating System | Android and Google |
The PONYBRO Backlit Mini Wireless Keyboard has a lot going for it as a colorful backlit wireless keyboard using 2.4G USB transceiver technology. This handheld QWERTY keyboard looks like a mix between a videogame controller and a keyboard.
It also comes with a touchpad mouse combo for good measure in case you want to use it for your laptop and not just for quick typing of titles, genres, and sign-in details.
2. Another Backlit Mini Bluetooth QWERTY Keyboard with a Built-In Touchpad That Has PS4 Compatibility
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 3.0 wireless |
| Compatible Devices | Laptop, Gaming Console, PC, HDTV, Roku, Apple TV, PS4, HTPC/IPTVVR glasses, and Smartphones. |
| Size | 6.9 x 1 x 3.9 inches |
| Weight | 0.04 ounces |
| Special Features | Backlit keyboard includes a built-in touchpad, iOS and MacOS device compatibility, QWERTY key format, and black/orange color scheme. |
| Operating System | iOS and MacOS |
As for the Fosmon Mini Bluetooth Keyboard, it’s even more controller-like than PONYBRO. It’s slightly smaller and lighter than PONYBRO as well. It works on both Apple TV and many laptop or gaming console variants (like the PlayStation 4).
It also uses Bluetooth in order to connect to your device so make sure you use it on a Roku TV (Roku smart TV) instead of an HDTV with no Bluetooth connectivity.
3. Another 4G Ultra Mini Wireless QWERTY Keyboard with Touchpad and Over 92 Keys
| Connectivity | 2.4G wireless with USB receiver |
| Compatible Devices | Compatible with Roku, Raspberry Pi, PS3, Xbox, HDTV, Mac, Windows, tablets, PCs, and laptops. |
| Size | 3.5 x 0.5 x 5 inches |
| Weight | 3.2 ounces |
| Special Features | Highly portable handheld controller-sized mini wireless keyboard with 92 keys and 2.4G RF. |
| Operating System | Windows and MacOS |
Rii 2.4GHz Mini Wireless Keyboard is jam-packed with keys and functions. It’s also LED backlit, which is all the rage for portable keyboards of its type.
Aside from that, it offers wide compatibility for both Windows and Apple machines (particularly those that use MacOS). It also works with Roku and any HDTV with a USB port. On top of that, it works with game consoles like the Xbox and PS3 (and beyond) as well as the Raspberry Pi.
4. This Particular Backlit Mini Keyboard Has Gamers in Mind with Its 100 Keys, Media Keys, and Hotkeys
| Connectivity | 2.4G wireless with USB receiver |
| Compatible Devices | Vizio, Sony, Apple, Samsung, LG, Android TV, Xbox consoles like Xbox One, PlayStation consoles like PS4, Windows, IPTV, Roku devise like the Roku Stick, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and so forth. |
| Size | 5.5 x 3.5 x 0.89 inches |
| Weight | 3.50 ounces |
| Special Features | Backlit mini keyboard with built-in touchpad as well as 100 keys with various hotkeys and media keys. |
| Operating System | Android |
The iMakz Backlit Wireless Keyboard with Touchpad Mouse works with various devices, from the PlayStation line of game consoles to the Amazon FireStick 3. Naturally, it also works with the Roku Stick or the Roku TV.
You can avail of a device with 100 keys including media keys and hotkeys for immediate shortcuts when gaming. It also works with all the popular game consoles like Xbox One and PlayStation 4 (and should work just as well with future releases like PS5 and Xbox X-Series).
5. This Multimedia Wireless Keyboard Offers Linux, Windows, and Smartphone OS Universal Compatibility
| Connectivity | 2.4G wireless with USB receiver |
| Compatible Devices | Compatible with PS3, HTPC, macOS, Linux, Windows, TV box, smart TV, Android TV, smartphones, and Roku. |
| Size | 5.7 x 3.8 x 0.79 inches |
| Weight | 4.09 ounces |
| Special Features | Backlit Keyboard with touchpad, multimedia keys, and universal compatibility for various |
| Operating System | Android, iOS, Windows, and Linux |
The Sidiwen Backlit Mini Keyboard with Touchpad Mouse costs about $10 but it’s a cost-effective keyboard that features universal compatibility and multimedia keys (like the ones found in iMakz). The Fn+F2 shortcut turns the backlight on and off.
It’s compatible with HTPC to PS3 or Linux to Windows OS. It also offers plug & play, has the ever-popular backlight feature and comes with a touchpad keypad remote.
6. Full-Sized Wireless PC Keyboard That’s TV-Compatible and Amazon’s Choice for Computer Keyboard & Mouse Combos
| Connectivity | 2.4G wireless with USB receiver |
| Compatible Devices | PC, gaming console, smart TV, and laptop. |
| Size | 14.65 x 5.04 x 0.67 inches |
| Weight | 1 pound |
| Special Features | The backlit keyboard comes with media hotkeys, touchpad, and works with PCs and TV-connected PCs. |
| Operating System | Android, Chrome OS, and Windows 10 |
The Arteck 2.4G Wireless Touch TV Keyboard is Amazon’s Choice in Computer Keyboard & Mouse Combos by Arteck. It’s only outdone by Rii when it comes to user ratings. Not coincidentally, it also costs about $24.
It’s easy to set up, it has 10 meters or 33 feet of wireless range, and it is backlit. Unlike other keyboards, it’s not as compatible with smartphones or at least it’s not designed for smartphones.
7. A Specifically Designed Multimedia Peripheral Keyboard for Streaming Sticks or Media Players
| Connectivity | Bluetooth |
| Compatible Devices | Roku Stick, Roku TV, Amazon FireStick, Alexa, Android TV, and various smart TVs and HDTVs except (notably) Samsung TVs (they don’t support peripheral keyboards). |
| Size | 6 x 1.7 x 0.6 inches |
| Weight | 5.60 ounces |
| Special Features | Mini QWERTY keyboard specifically compatible with Roku TV and Amazon Fire TV Stick (as well as Alexa) using Bluetooth connectivity. |
| Operating System |
Last but not least is the iPazzPort Mini Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard. It’s another backlit keyboard but it uses Bluetooth connectivity in order to connect and directly interface with the Roku device or Amazon FireStick streaming hub.
It’s also a notable Roku-supported and HDTV-compatible (except for Samsung TVs) peripheral keyboard compared to the other wireless keyboards designed more for gaming or PC use than for use with Roku user inputs.
8. AMBOLOVE Wireless Mini Keyboard with Touchpad Mouse and Multimedia Keys
| Connectivity | Bluetooth |
| Compatible Devices | Control Keyboard for Roku, PC, HTPC, X-Box, Android TV Box, Smart TV |
| Size | 5.98 x 4.02 x 0.51 inches; |
| Weight | 4.8 Ounces |
| Special Features | Wireless Mini Keyboard with Touchpad Mouse and Multimedia Keys, 2.4Ghz USB Rechargable Handheld Remote |
| Operating System |
It is a great product to use with Roku and Amazon Fire
Things to Consider
HDTVs, as opposed to PCs, require media devices from Roku and Amazon in order to connect to the Internet and stream Netflix or Amazon Prime content as well as content from Disney+, Hulu, Peacock, HBO Max, and many other streaming providers. That is unless you have a smart TV.
Regardless, we’ve voted for AMBOLOVE Wireless Mini Keyboard or Rii 2.4GHz Mini Wireless Keyboard as the best Roku keyboard of the bunch.
References:
- “Amazon Search for Keyboards for Roku“, Amazon.com, Retrieved August 11, 2021