Brydge iTrack might complete your iPad-centric desktop setup. Photo: Brydge
Brydge iTrack may be the first trackpad designed specifically for iPad. That allows the desktop accessory to take full advantage of the support for trackpads Apple added to iPadOS.
And while it uses Bluetooth, Brydge promises minimal connection hassles.
Keep your Brydge up to date to get the best features. Image: Brydge/Cult of Mac
Brydge recently rolled out a big update for select iPad keyboards that finally brings multitouch gesture support and some major improvements. Here’s how you can update yours to take advantage of the changes.
The Brydge 12.9 Max+ turns your iPad Pro into a clamshell laptop. Photo: Brydge
The Brydge 12.9 Max+ is a magnetic clip-on keyboard for the largest iPad Pro models. It includes a sizable trackpad, and a design that mimics a clamshell laptop.
It uses some of the features of the popular Apple Magic Keyboard, but goes in a different direction.
This discount won't last long — don't miss out! Photo: Apple
The biggest ever discount on the outstanding 12.9-inch Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro is back. Order yours from Amazon or Best Buy today for just $249 — down from $349 — before the price returns to normal.
You can also save $100 on the 11-inch model for iPad Pro and the newest iPad Air, which is now just $199.
The Brydge 10.2 Max+ turns an iPad 8 into a detachable laptop/tablet. Photo: Brydge
Brydge has a new feature-laden keyboard case for the low-cost 10.2-inch iPad. It brings a large trackpad to this tablet. And the Brydge 10.2 Max+ offers 4-foot MIL-STD drop protection thanks to a built-in Otterbox case.
This company’s keyboards for the iPad Pro are aimed at professionals. The newest one for the low-cost iPad seems to be for younger users.
The best way to turn your iPad into a laptop. Photo: Brydge
When it comes to iPad keyboards, Brydge makes some of the best money can buy. And right now you can pick up its 10.2-inch model for the newest iPad for under $100, thanks to a $29.96 discount.
Other improvements are on the way. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Brydge on Wednesday rolled out the first firmware update for its Pro+ keyboard for iPad Pro. It’s designed to fix some of the issues users and reviewers have been experiencing with the built-in trackpad — and it’s certainly a good start.
But there are some things you should be aware of before you rush off to buy a Pro+ for your iPad Pro.
One of the best keyboards money can buy for iPad Pro now comes with a built-in trackpad. The Brydge Pro+ is one of the first to truly embrace mouse support in iPadOS. And it costs a lot less than Apple’s official Magic Keyboard, which won’t debut until May.
Like almost every other Brydge keyboard I’ve used, this one delivers a terrific typing experience that you can rely on every day. It feels superbly comfortable, and it’s brilliantly designed. It makes your iPad feel like a MacBook in the most elegant way possible.
Despite all that — and my appreciation for Brydge as a company — it’s really hard for me to recommend the Pro+. It gets so many things right, but completely misses the mark where it really matters. Here’s my full Brydge Pro+ review after several weeks of use.
UPDATE: February 25, 2021: Brydge is currently preparing a big firmware update for the Pro+ that promises to eliminate its trackpad issues for good by adding native multitouch gestures. That means the Pro+ will soon offer exactly the same functionality as Apple’s own Magic Keyboard.
We have yet been able to test that firmware update, but we have heard that it lives up to Brydge’s promises. Bear that in mind before reading the rest of our original review below.
An iPad with a Brydge keyboard is a pretty good replacement for a Mac! Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac
A year ago, when Apple introduced the latest iPad Pro models, I called the tablet the computer for everywhere. To this day, I still think the 2018 iPad Pro, complete with Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard Folio, is an incredible setup for tons of situations. At the same time, it’s anything but cheap, starting at $1,107 for an 11-inch model with keyboard and Pencil.
Then there’s the Mac laptop lineup. Apple’s current cheapest offering is the MacBook Air, also starting at $1,100. Fortunately, you don’t have to drop over a grand to get an incredibly versatile, powerful, and portable budget laptop made by Apple.