Reviewed: February 15, 2009
Reviewed by: Mark Smith

Manufacturer
Sony

Type: Wireless Keypad
System: PlayStation 3

Rating: 6.5

Features

First, let’s discuss the need for such a device. Personally, I find the need for a keypad much greater on the PS3 than the Xbox 360 for two main reasons - web browsing and BD-Live. I do quite a bit of surfing on my PS3 and having a keyboard makes it much easier to enter URL’s and navigate the web. My PS3 is also my Blu-ray player and now that nearly all Blu-ray movies are releasing with BD-Live enabled features I find myself having to register and log into the various studio BD sites to check for online content.

Until now I have been using a spare USB keyboard I had lying around for both my 360 and PS3 texting needs; just swapping the plug into the system I needed. And while that solution got the job done it certainly isn’t suitable if you plan on mixing up gameplay with text-chat, like in PS Home. But that also leads me to the question of, “if you are in a position to text-chat you are probably in a position to voice-chat, which is a much better alternative.

So, perhaps we don’t exactly “need” a wireless keypad, but even as a luxury item, how does it perform? The keypad is amusingly awkward when it’s not attached to your DualShock gamepad and depending on your hand and finger size, it could be even more awkward to use after you snap it into place.

Unlike the 360 keypad that mounts between the grips, the PS3 Wireless Keypad mounts above (or to the front) of the gamepad. For me, this causes some awkward stretching of my hands and an uncomfortable grip on the DualShock, or even more likely, having to re-grip the entire controller in order to type. Neither option is comfortable or intuitive.

The full QWERTY keypad is larger than those found on the largest cell phones, so if you are an expert texter on your phone’s QWERTY keypad then you will love this larger size, assuming you can come to “grips” with the positioning. The button spacing is acceptable for all but those with mutant thumbs, and each button has a nice response to standard pushing pressure – no mashing and no mistaken inputs.

Blue and orange shift buttons allow for multiple functionality for many of the keys. Shortcut keys will send you directly to your Friends List or bring up messaging features. One interesting feature is the ability to turn the entire keypad into a touch pad, similar to those touch pads on laptops, so you have some sort of mouse-style cursor movement. But then again, your analog stick serves the same function and with more accuracy.

The keypad operates using the Bluetooth 2.0 spec for maximum range and lower battery drain. The keypad charges using the same mini-USB cable you use to charge your DualShock and your first-time connection to your PS3 will also “pair” the device. The battery life is excellent, and it was nearly a week before I had to recharge, but I also wasn’t using it heavily. A power switch allows you to turn off the keypad when not in use and storage drain seems to be minimal. An LED on the side indicates battery and charging status.

If I wanted to nitpick I would also complain about the lack of a backlight. Sure, it’s a huge drain on the battery, but if you game in the dark trying to type by the glow of your TV can be a pain. I could also complain about the lack of a USB cable. Sure, we all have the one that came with our PS3 but what if you need to charge your controller and your keypad at the same time?

Retailing for $50, the PS3 Wireless Keypad is a touch recommendation, even for those who like to collect gadgets. I found the keyboard more comfortable to use when it wasn’t attached to the DualShock, and since it operates using Bluetooth it could serve as a keyboard alternative for cell phone users who don’t have a phone with a QWERTY keyboard, assuming you wanted to carry this around.

My PS3 usage is split about 45-45-10 with movies, games, and Internet, and my need for keyboard input has been growing, but I have no problem using a full size computer keyboard, which still offers the best and most accurate solution for my needs. I’m guessing that anybody who needs to chat already has a headset and would prefer to taunt verbally, at least for the games that support voice chat, and who wants to type conversations in PS Home – that defeats the social purpose of that environment.

If you are a gadget enthusiast with more money than sense then check out the PS3 Wireless Keypad. It does what is advertises and it does it well, but for me, this is just another item I have to worry about keeping charged and cluttering up my table that is already home to 5 remotes and a dozen gamepads. For that same $50 you can buy a quality Bluetooth headset and voice chat or a nice wireless USB keyboard and type in comfort. For me, I’ll stick with my full-sized keyboard for my typing needs.