I just got this keyboard case today, and wanted to let you all know about it, discuss both the good and the bad.
We’ll start out with the good.
1. The build quality on this thing is fantastic!!!!!!!!! I can’t stress that enough. I know some people had issues with previous Brydge cases, as they had a weird system where you had to slot the iPad in to their hinges, and it was incredibly hard to get in and out. That is no longer the case. Now, it’s basically like putting the iPad on the Magic keyboard from what I understand. No smart connector, this is all done via bluetooth, but the way it goes on is pretty much the same. Thee bottom is metal, and it makes your iPad both look and feel like a mini macbook. Imagine if Apple still made the 11 inch Macbook Air, but updated it with the new modern form factor. That is what you would get here pretty much. The keys have great travel, and are a lot better than other cases I’ve tried. Imagine Macbook keyboards from 2015 and before. The case is sturdy, slightly heavy, which some might see as a con, but for me it’s just right.
2. The price is incredible. The device was selling new back in 2021 for $199, but I got mine off of Amazon, brand new, for only $49. I wish I had just gotten this one first and not wasted money on the other one I had first. Don’t get me wrong, the Typecase Edge also works, but this is better. Plus, I like the more traditional laptop design of the Brydge as opposed to the more Magic Keyboard style of the Typecase. But that’s a matter of preference. But no matter what, the price on this is great for what you are getting.
3. Ongoing firmware updates mean that we should see compatibility with new iPad OS features, and new features for the keyboard introduced. Though, I will discuss a potential problem with this in the cons section.
Now, the not so good:
1. Bridge either went, or almost went out of business depending on who you believe. From the looks of it, several Brydge executives got together, formed a new company, and bought all the assets of Brydge and the site is back up and such, after a few months of just displaying nothing but a logo. I don’t know if production has resumed or not, but at least they have a working site again. I was able to download the Brydge Connect app, and update the keyboard to the latest firmware, so that is good. Now, as far as continued updates, we can only hope the company gets all their ducks in a row and can continue pushing those out. What I can say is that I tried contacting Brydge support, from some replies they left on app store reviews, and each time, my emails bounced. So, at least right now, no active product support seems to be available.
2. One of the things I like about this case is the dedicated function row, as opposed to the way most bluetooth cases do it, where they combine the functions with the number row, and then you hit fn and the number to carry out the function. I like the full function row much better. Also, the layout is pretty much what you would expect from an apple style keyboard, but rather than a FN key to the left of CTRL, you have a globe key, used to switch keyboard language. We don’t really need that, as we can already do this via ctrl space. But, even on iPad OS, there are some VO commands that still require the use of FN. That’s a no go here. Is it a deal breaker? Absolutely not, as those commands are ones I rarely use, but it would be nice if we could use the globe key as FN, and then have the function row act as normal function keys, f1, f2, f3, f4, etc which would be great for when we want to do anything remote desktop related, but then do the special function when we hit Globe or FN plus the function key. I was going to try to suggest this to Brydge developers, but then my emails all bounced. Darn it!
3. This last one is a major annoyance, where everything else has been pretty minor. Normally, when using A keyboard case, whether that be the one from Apple and with the Smart Connector, or a bluetooth keyboard case, it is expected that when you close the device, the device goes to sleep. Well, I’m not sure if it is a Brydge firmware thing, an iPad OS Public Beta thing, or both, but when you close the case, the ipad acts like it wants to sleep, but every few seconds to maybe a minute, ttthe iPad wakes itself back up, and VO starts reading, then it tries to sleep, same thing over and over. The only fix is to turn power off on the keyboard, then close the case. But then, that defeats the purpose of the “instant on” feature they advertise, which is as close to the behavior of the magic keyboard as you will ever see on a bluetooth device. Even when you do power it off, when you turn it back on, connection is incredibly fast. I’m not sure what bluetooth version most of these cases are using, but the Brydge Max+ is on Bluetooth 5. Still not a deal breaker, but the most annoying issue of them all.
So, over all, while I have listed 2 pros and 3 potential cons, this thing is totally worth the money. Even knowing what I know now, I would still. buy it again.
I hope this info helps someone out.
Comments
Good review, but I have a question
I have an iPad six generation which I use for school. Would this keyboard be compatible with iPad? sixth generation
Logitek slin folio.
When I close my VO still on and does not go into sleep. Also for strange reason music start playing. I think is an apple issue. Also sometimes I can not type. Need to close whatever app I am using and open it again. Again an apple issue. This is why it will never replace a laptab. Sad it has great potencial.
@Dominic, I don’t think this…
@Dominic, I don’t think this model will work for you, as it is for the iPad Pro, 2018 and onward. It is available for both 11 and 12.9 inch.
@Holger Fiallo, Mine doesn’t do all that mess. Just won’t go fully to sleep. Not sure what bluetooth version most of these cases use, but the Brydge is on Bluetooth 5. I know yours uses the smart connector. But I read lots of reviews on it, and I didn’t think I would like the material nearly as much, and I am thrilled with the look and feel of the Brydge. None of the cons are deal breakers for me. Hopefully Brydge will continue to do firmware updates, and also Apple can fix whatever could be wrong on their end. I reported it in Feedback just in case it is a problem with iPad OS. But in the mean time, I can power the keyboard off, and that gets it to sleep and then we’re good, but that shouldn’t be necessary. Not the end of the world though.
An idea of what may be causing the problem
I think I may know what is causing the problem on my case at least. Can’t speak to the other ones, but I think it is because I haven’t found a way to completely disable the trackpad, and maybe that is getting activated somehow, as I read somewhere that any movement of the trackpad will cause the tablet to wake. There has to be a keyboard shortcut but I can’t find it anywhere, and the downside to the buy out, restructuring, or whatever Brydge is going through right now is that they have no active product support it would seem. Other than this one big issue though, I’m thrilled with the keyboard case, and won’t need to buy anything else for a long time.
Can confirm, and will do.
Hey, thanks for this tip. I turned VO off, and indeed, the iPad seems to have stayed asleep. I at least heard the tabblet lock, and didn’t hear any other sounds from it, so guessing it did stay asleep.
Strangely enough, I did not have this problem with the TypeCase Edge, which is not nearly as nice as this thing. But it could be a firmware thing, or bluetooth version thing, but yeah, it only happens with VO turned on. Will report this.
Try This Justin
Try this before contacting Apple. I did a search and found the following:
Touchpad Disable/Enable
FN + Alt
Hold Fn and tap Alt to disable
Hold Fn and tap Alt again to enable
No Go!
Sadly, that’s a no go. As stated in the review, the keyboard doesn’t actually have an FN key. It has a globe key to the left of ctrl. Having said that, I already tried it anyway, just to see if globe also doubled as FN. No luck! Upon further investigation, seems those instructions are for the version of the case they make for Windows tablets. So, no luck there. And, based on what Oliver wrote, I did some testing, and it is definitely a VO thing when the keyboard is connected and powered on. Thanks anyway though for trying to help.
Waw I thoght they were in administration
Hi justin
It surprises me to know brydge has a new modle for this keyboards, as I knew, from Andy Lane who was the one first giving me the advice on this brand, that the company was in administration.
Well from a previous owner of a 11 inch brydge keyboard I could tell that thank God they solved that issue with the hinchs which let my ipad air 4 with a frame damage.
And also I could confirm that the issue with the fn key was since the first model, when I asked the same over here and it has no solution, because as you said, the brydge only has a globe key, not intended to work as the fn key.
If you let me, I could suggest a magic keyboard chinese replacement, as I have bought a magic keyboard from a brand called Hou and the model is MF-11, for my ipad pro m2 11 inch; and it is a peace of beautifulness. The keys are the smoothest keys I have ever felt in a keyboard and the construction of the case is awesome.
take care.
@Karina
Hi Karina,
Wow, sorry to hear that your previous Brydge caused damage to your iPad. That's no good at all. This model has been out since late 2021 or early 2022, and from what I understand, Brydge started going through their problems around May of this year. So, even though their site is back up and running, they haven't come out with anything new yet. And, since they are still in the midst of that restructuring, they have no active product support. However, I will keep looking out for changes here, and see if I can get them to release a firmware update that would make the globe key also work as FN. I think they could easily do it, it just needs to be suggested and explained why this would be needed.
Thanks so much for the recommendation. I will keep that in mind, but for now won't be making any more big purchases. None of the issues I described in my first post is a deal breaker for me. There aren't that many times where I would need the fn key. It would be nice, but I'm managing without that. The issue where the iPad won't sleep is confirmed to be a Voiceover thing, which doesn't happen with VO turned off. I reported it on the feedback and to Apple Accessibility, so hopefully it will be fixed.
By the way, we have the same iPad. M2, 11 inch. Mine is Space Gray, 128 gb. Fantastic device!
Update :)
I just wanted to let you all know that I checked the Brydge web site again today, and it seems like they are getting closer to a come back, as their site now has a contact section again, and they provided a working email. I’ve sent them an email, and it didn’t bounce. I brought up some of the issues I already mentioned in this thread. Should I receive any kind of reply, especially if it is helpful, I will update here, but it is already an encouraging sign to see the site getting more information and pages.
Just wanted to revisit this
Hello folks,
Just wanted to revisit this thread, as the Brydge has had tons of issues with either keys entering multiple times, or a letter not being entered at all. I love the build of this thing, but it’s a shame this thing is messing up so much so shortly after I got it. I’m not sure if there is any good way of cleaning it, or if there is anything I can do that would help. Thankfully autocorrect gets most things fixed, but it’s still driving me nuts!
Ports?
Hey Justin,
Does your particular iPad have any USB ports? If so, I 'might' have a solution for enabling/disabling the Trackpad.
My thought is if you picked up a cheapo bluetooth pc mouse, and plugged the little receiver into the USB port, it would work like most computers do, in that the trackpad would be disabled.
Of course, this being iPad, and Apple, who knows. Thought it was worth mentioning though. 😅
Brian, Come to find out, the…
Brian,
Come to find out, the issue wasn't the trackpad at all. It's a VO bug. But, a much bigger problem than the iPad not sleeping when that connection is active is the issue I'm having with either repeating keys or keys that require multiple presses in order for them to work. Seems like every few weeks, I pull it back out because I really like the form factor, the build, but only end up using it a few minutes then end up chucking it back in the closet. I tried using a deoxidizing contact cleaner on it that works for my broadcast console and some other electronics, but it made the problem worse I'm afraid. With as much as the thing messes up, I can type just as fast on the ipad using Braille screen input.
That's a shame
I feel like, at least for casual users, that if Apple ever fixes all the issues with iPads and keyboards, said iPads will replace laptops.