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Hands-On With Brydge's 12.9-Inch iPad Pro Keyboard With Trackpad
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I hardly use function row on my MBP, the angles it’s set at work well for me, and the trackpad is plenty big. So yeah, for me, it’s close to a perfect accessory.
Well, that's pretty much wrong though. You can do plenty more than just draw. Then again, I bet you just use your phone to call people and text, right?
IMHO, the best keyboard for an iPad, if someone really needs one, is the Apple Magic Keyboard for Macs ($99 at Apple)
Brydge has been making keyboards for Apple's iPads for years now, and the newest model, the Brydge 12.9 MAX+, is compatible with the third, fourth, and fifth-generation iPad Pro models, so it works even with the new mini-LED iPad Pro.
In our latest YouTube video, we checked out the new Brydge 12.9 MAX+ to see if it's a viable alternative to Apple's own Magic Keyboard. Note that we have a preproduction unit and haven't had a lot of time with it, so is more of an overview than an in-depth review.
Shipping out in June, the Brydge 12.9 MAX+ is priced at $250, which is quite expensive, but it is a full $100 cheaper than Apple's Magic Keyboard for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Like the Magic Keyboard, it offers a full keyboard and a trackpad that's compatible with the iPad Pro models, turning an iPad touch experience into a more laptop-like experience.
The Brydge 12.9 MAX+ is a keyboard case that connects to the back of the iPad Pro magnetically similar to the Magic Keyboard, but it does not have the same elevated angling, instead using a flatter, more typical laptop design.
The keys, which are arguably one of the most important aspects of any keyboard, feel great under the fingers and have a good amount of travel. There's a row of shortcut keys above the number row for controlling screen brightness, accessing media controls and emoji, and more.
The trackpad is huge, much larger than the trackpad on the Magic Keyboard and comparable to the trackpad on the MacBook Pro. The trackpad works well, and there are no dead zones. You can tap anywhere on the trackpad (and click in most areas minus the edges), and it's a major improvement over the trackpad on Brydge keyboards that we tested last year. You're not going to feel a lot of difference with this trackpad and the trackpad on the Magic Keyboard.
Since this is a Bluetooth keyboard, it does not connect to the Smart Connector like the Magic Keyboard, which is not as convenient because it does need to be charged at times. There are some other minor downsides. The keyboard is a bit wobbly when you touch the iPad's screen while using it, and the hinge is tight and it takes some force to adjust the position of the iPad, but overall, it's a solid keyboard and looks like it will be a good alternative to the Magic Keyboard.
Make sure to take a look at our full video to get a look at the keyboard in action.
Article Link: Hands-On With Brydge's 12.9-Inch iPad Pro Keyboard With Trackpad
Two points for my reasoning:
Any keyboard designed to attach to an iPad adds undue heft to said iPad. The quintessential use of the iPad is as a lightweight device for information consumption, such as checking emails, web browsing, watching movies, playing games… or creativity (editing photos, movies, etc.). Using the iPad for text production (answering long emails, writing long texts, etc.) is occasional for most people. Thus, adding “permanent” weight to it does not make sense. Having a separate bluetooth keyboard that you can pull out or take with you on the occasional instance where you will need it makes much more sense.
The second aspect is cost: Any keyboard designed specifically to attach to an iPad is proprietary to that iPad, i.e., will need to be replaced when the iPad gets replaced. A separate bluetooth keyboard can move with you when you move on to a newer / better iPad.
Of course, any other “unattached” bluetooth keyboard would fit the arguments above. From experience, though, Apple’s current Mac Magic keyboard hits the right balance (size, weight, build quality, design,…), and is well worth the price.
I’ve made this argument before, with one caveat. If you only ever need a keyboard at home or at your office, get the standard magic keyboard (and track pad). Superior functionality and compatibility with future iPads and Macs. However, (here’s the caveat,) if your main use case for the keyboard is on-the-go stuff (like note taking, or working on the subway, or in coffee shops, or during flights, etc.) having a portable keyboard folio or case is the only way to go.
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I’m not sure if I buy that exactly. He implied that the new Brydge firmware makes it comparable to the Magic Keyboard. He doesn’t say specifically that this trackpad is better other than the size. I still find the Brydge trackpad to be janky and prone to bad palm rejection, even with the new firmware update.
Liquid damage is a real possibility for expensive Macbooks. Not a problem for an iPad Pro.
I actually used my iPad for a long time like this. My messenger bag has a padded slot for my iPad, and then it's got another smaller slot right in front, which the Apple keyboard fit perfectly. It was really quite nice.
Knocking over coffee on a desk with a Macbook Air could easily brick an expensive machine. A beverage spill is very unlikely to brick an iPad standing on its edge in this keyboard setup.
Not for me. It's just not true that writing long emails (or journal entries) on my iPad is rare. I have a Mac mini for work, and that's it. I don't sit at my desk except for work, and I don't want to sit at my desk except for work. So my personal writing gets done on my iPad, on the couch or in my bed.
Hands on looks really good, if iOS 15 brings good improvements this would basically be very much as close to laptop as you can get
The size of the trackpad really is appealing
The size of the trackpad really is appealing
Err what? What compromises?
It has function keys, huge trackpad and is adjustable. Seems rather flawless now the gestures work
i did watch it. i also watched reviews for the original Brydge’s firmware update which said it’s just as good as good as the magic keyboard, which proved to be untrue.
perhaps don’t be an ass.
edit: “perhaps watch it” — i can’t get over how pompous you sound.
You (and/or other people) kept raising points that were addressed directly in the video. In a thread about the video. Annoying.
You can make a pretty good assessment of how smooth/good the mouse gestures are by watching in real-time as he does them. If that’s not enough for you then so be it.
You can make a pretty good assessment of how smooth/good the mouse gestures are by watching in real-time as he does them. If that’s not enough for you then so be it.
my goodness, somebody call the police.
alright dude. i rewatched the video. the video leads you to believe that the new Brydge Pro firmware makes it essentially equivalent to the Magic Keyboard. this is untrue, which is why i was skeptical of the claim which you take as gospel.
rewatching the scrolling clips, i can see slight lag and choppiness. but i guess as a viewer, it should be on me to analyze the video frame-by-frame before DARING to comment. who am i to expect the reviewer would get every single detail?
i watched another video from 9to5mac — and guess what — the reviewer didn’t say the new Brydge Pro Max comparable to the scrolling experience of the Magic Keyboard. he said it’s more similar to… guess what… you’ll never believe it……………………………
he compares it to the old brydge. can you believe it?
so i’m confused. should i believe you and the implications of the macrumors reviewer, or should i believe my eyes and the detailed analysis from the 9to5mac reviewer?
It all comes down to preference, i suppose. I wanted to use my iPad Pro full time - I went with it for almost 9 months, but the multitasking issues and text selection issues with iOS drove me back to a MacBook Air and so far Apple has done little to woo me back.
Yes, the trackpad really helps with the text selection issues, but as others pointed out the non-Apple trackpads still have issues and the "magic keyboard" isn't that magical if you are not sitting at a desk/table.
Never mind that multitasking is still mostly a disaster - it's gotten better and maybe I just need to practice more, or I'm just old and can't be retrained but I still find macOS overall a better fit. Lots of things I love about my iPad Pro, but it's not a laptop replacement for me. Yet. We'll see if Apple does anything meaningful at the WWDC next month.
Yes, the lag if something goes to sleep is maddening vs. keyboards that use the smart connector. I love everything about my Brydge keyboard with my original iPad Pro except for the bluetooth lag
They have been adamant about things not happening in the past too - right up until they did a 180 and shipped an amazing new and innovative product that did they thing they said they would never do
It wouldn't be hard for them to have a mode where when you connect a keyboard/trackpad, macOS is always running and iPad aps just run in a window like they do on the existing M1 Macs. Detach the keyboard/trackpad and it transitions back to the full screen iPad OS experience. Heck if they just worked a bit on Mission Control the functionality is probably mostly there.
The blur between macOS and iPad OS is definitely decreasing and I have little doubt that at some point there will be some sort of unification. My ideas above are certainly not earth shattering or novel - Apple has plenty of existing tools where they could offer an optional "advanced", "pro" or "power user" mode to really unlock the full potential of the new iPad Pro hardware.
Or they could just address the handful of really significant warts on iPad OS and make it functional.
I'm not holding my breath for either at this point. Apple can knock it out of the park with hardware, but they seem to have a HELL of a time getting a handle on their software
I saw in another thread yesterday that it was redesigned and once again detachable. Going to their site I found this;
Combo Touch Keyboard Case with Trackpad for iPad Pro & iPad Air
Backlit keyboard case with click-anywhere trackpad and Smart Connector for iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th & 6th gen), iPad Pro 11-inch (1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th gen), and iPad Air (4th & 5th gen)www.logitech.com
They have a video with it detaching.
Well that settles it - if there are other third party companies using the smart connector I will NEVER be buying a bluetooth keyboard again. The lag when you have to wake the keyboard up is beyond annoying. I'd love to be able to set the sleep time to an hour even if it impacts the battery life - there is nothing more annoying than tapping on the keyboard to control something and nothing happens for seconds
Yeah, except that if you do any kind of text editing/selection in any kind of volume they trackpad is pretty essential.
If you are just casually consuming stuff or only typing occasionally then your suggestion might have merit.