Review of the Brydge Pro 11: Keyboard with Trackpad for iPad Pro

IPad or MacBook? Its design leaves it in the air

Apple has long included the slogan that the iPad is a computer without being one. Or that this is better than a computer. Or that he wants to be a computer and his parents won’t let him. Something like that. The case is that the Californian company wants to make its iPad Pro look like a product straddling a classic tablet and a computer, providing features that are not found in these other devices. And more than words, they are facts, since the iPadOS software is maturing and adapting to it, turning the slogan into a circumstance.

And if Apple is adapting to this, so do accessory manufacturers for their products. Brydge is a good example of this on a keyboard with a trackpad that, observing it at first, could be a hit for a MacBook. In fact, when we received it, we decided to carry out a kind of experiment showing a photo on a social network and letting our followers say if it was an iPad or a MacBook. Although there was a lot of bad response, the truth is that a good part of these were aimed at the Mac option, leaving respondents somewhat surprised that it really was not.

In the editorial staff of La Manzana Bitten we said goodbye to MacBooks recently in favor of brand-new iMac, so in a way we missed the portability and beautiful design that apple notebooks have. Perhaps this context is to blame for having caught our attention so much.

Actually this product is divided into two accessories in turn , having on the one hand the keyboard itself with a kind of tweezers that serve as a hook to the iPad. These are well fixed avoiding any possible scare. In addition, the materials of these do not damage the part by which they hold the device, but it should be noted that this entails a certain discomfort when placing it, not being something instantaneous as perhaps it happens on the Apple keyboard.

Once this part is fixed, we have a cover for the back of the iPad with very careful and custom-made materials to protect the device. A kind of velvety fabric for the interior and another that is a mix between synthetic leather and plastic material for the back, giving protection and softness to the touch in equal parts.

Once we have everything in place, the iPad screen can move 180 degrees , not allowing it to fold over, leaving the keyboard on the outside. In any case it is not necessary. It is tedious if at any given time we want to use the device as a tablet, detaching ourselves from the rest by the aforementioned tweezers, but otherwise it is very comfortable to enjoy so many viewing angles.

As a conclusion to this point we could say that it is the most positive of the product. In the end such an element has to enter, first, by sight and this fits very well. It gives a sophisticated look that departs from other options that we find in the market. A curiosity to highlight is that we find a brand sticker on the box, which we can put where we want. This is very reminiscent of those that Apple adds to its products and despite being a mere anecdote, the truth is that it reminds us that we are still in the same ecosystem despite being a product external to the apple company.

Technical specifications

Before going to assess other more subjective aspects rescued from our experience, we have to talk about the technical specifications of this keyboard. The first thing we should know is its dimensions: 24.7 x 17.8 x 0.7 cm. Its weight is 1.1 kg individually, not counting the addition of the iPad. It incorporates an integrated lithium battery that gives autonomy of several weeks of intensive use, which is recharged through a USB-C that is located on the left side of it. It should be noted that the box incorporates a cable with this standard at both ends, so we will not have to buy it separately.

The materials used for its construction are high quality aluminum . It has an LED light on its keyboard that indicates when it is on and connected to the iPad. Connection that, by the way, is quick and easy from Settings> Bluetooth on the iPad. Of course, the connectivity of this is a Bluetooth 4.1 , a correct standard and that does not give problems but that is somewhat behind the Bluetooth 5.0 that many devices on the market add. Although, we insist, in practice we did not notice it either.

Keyboard with more lights than shadows

For more luck than misfortune, in the market we find a multitude of options in terms of keyboard. Either with covers that incorporate one or with totally external keyboards. Each of these has its own mechanism that differentiates it from the rest. In this one from Brydge we can find a mechanism and ergonomics that, without being the best, more than meet the highest demands and know how to polish its weak points.

And what are those weak points? Well, at first it can generate a strange feeling of being a poor quality keyboard, similar to those that we can find at a low price and for which it is not worth complaining either given the economic amount of purchasing it. However it remains in that, in a mere sensation. Once we pass the initial learning curve and get our fingers accustomed to this size, everything improves considerably.

The route is what it is, neither too long nor too short. Arguably, it is a middle ground between two well-known Apple keyboards; the controversial butterfly that the MacBook carried until recently and the already habitual mechanism of the Magic Keyboard that we also find in the iMac. In this newsroom in which we write so much – we are here for a reason – we do not settle for anything and after several days of intensive days using it, we have concluded that without being perhaps our favorite options, we could even include it in our recommendations for users very active in writing .

In our particular case we can add a catch, but that has its justification and solution. We refer to the distribution of the keys . We write in Spanish and as such we need letters of our language such as ‘ñ’, a key that does not exist at first sight in the American version that we have tested. This for those who purchase the Spanish version will not be a problem, as it will incorporate it. However, it must be said that having the iPad configured in Spanish, this key appears in the place where it would correspond if the keyboard were Spanish. The same happens with other punctuation marks that are altered and although they are also located in the place where they should be if it were Spanish, sometimes it has taken us a couple of seconds to remember where it should be, since the screen-printed symbol that appears is another.

One downside to that if we do not find a possible solution beyond adapting, is that the ‘enter’ key has such a small size compared to its classic shape. This has the same dimensions as a normal key, only slightly wider. That is why we have made false clicks to believe that it was located higher than it is, already accustomed to that by clicking below the ‘delete’ we find part of this piece.

One aspect that, far from being a further inconvenience, is a great advantage, is that this keyboard is designed one hundred percent for iPad , finding the classic Apple ‘cmd’ keys or a key that serves as a home button and serves to Summon Siri if pressed long. Of course, it has been added where the ‘esc’ would go and, as it happens on the Apple keyboard, it is a key that for many is essential and they will miss not having it. In any case, it does surpass others from the apple company by incorporating function keys with which to lock the device, control the brightness, take out the virtual on-screen keyboard or control the volume.

By the way, something that can go unnoticed a priori but that is very useful is the backlight of the keys. While this feature is also not something new or revolutionary, we have found it very pleasant to have it to work in low light conditions, being able to find three levels of regulation to adapt the light to the moment in which we find ourselves.

Lack of trackpad waiting for iPadOS 14

Go ahead that as a general rule in this newsroom we are not too fans of trackpads, preferring on many occasions a good mouse that allows us to move more comfortably. However, it would be absurd to ignore what is possibly the functionality for which this Brydge keyboard stands out the most.

We have the smallest version of this keyboard, that of the 11-inch iPad Pro. So the size, despite being proportional and not far from the 12.9-inch, is crucial for us to believe that it is perhaps too small . This in the end, beyond objective data, is somewhat subjective as they are everyone’s questions. We had the feeling that we were barely taking advantage of the small area it occupies and it has become more comfortable to perform an action with the finger on the screen than with the trackpad.

In this sense it must be recognized that iPadOS does not help too much. Yes, it is true that we have new functionality that we did not have before, which have added gestures with which this trackpad is compatible and facilitate actions such as closing apps or moving around them, but possibly still insufficient. We understand that in this case it is more a matter of waiting to see news of iPadOS 14 than these and other similar accessories can be used, but today it does not convince us.

In any case, far from detracting from the benefits of the Brydge keyboard, we must recognize that in the end it is not too far from Apple’s . Neither by size nor by benefits.

Transport and protection

Those who choose to buy a keyboard like this is because in the end they plan to use the iPad as a work team or at least give it a more intensive use than what can be given a priori on such a device. For this reason portability is a fundamental advantage, but the doubt arises when we observe that this keyboard and its corresponding weight will have to be added.

Yes, the set weighs and not a little precisely , but let’s not go crazy. It is normal to notice it in comparison to a light keyboard such as the Smart Keyboard or the iPad itself without add-ons, but in the end it is not very crazy. Given the characteristics of this keyboard, the weight could not be reduced much more and possibly a decrease in it would affect the overall balance, making the tablet go ahead when we have it on a surface.

A virus pandemic that you’ve probably heard of has prevented us from leaving our home too much and therefore trying this keyboard in places like a train or bus. However, we have been able to move with him in various parts of the house away from the classic office table. The sofa, the bed and our legs have served as makeshift tables to use our iPad with Brydge keyboard and the truth is that it has been very comfortable .

What’s more, despite its volume it has been more suitable than the Smart Keyboard as it has a greater sense of stability. A perfect hybrid between that other keyboard and what it would mean to take the MacBook. It is clear that the aforementioned places are not the most suitable for use, but if you need to use it in situations like this, it complies with a note.

As for protection , the second section that gives the title to this section and which we have not discussed so far, we must highlight the security it provides for our iPad, although perhaps not so much for the keyboard itself. The back cover that comes with this keyboard, despite not being magnetic, gives the impression of being so good that it sticks to the back of the iPad, also offering a pleasant touch. However, the keyboard part, being metallic, leaves too many doubts about how long it will last without scratching. They are premium materials that look good to the touch and feel, but in the end this is accompanied by possible scratches if the entire equipment is transported in a backpack, so perhaps it would be advisable to purchase a special padded cover or backpack to avoid disappointment. However, in no case does it appear that there will be serious problems in this regard.

As an addition to this section, we must recognize that during the process of editing this revised we had a mishap with this keyboard. While we were taking the photographs that accompany this article, the keyboard suffered a very severe fall that caused the corners of the front part of the keyboard, those close to the trackpad, to rise, making the signs of the stroke evident. The fall, we insist, has not been small and therefore we understand these marks as normal and associate it more with our own awkwardness than with construction materials.

High but fair price

Price is probably always one of the most controversial factors. In the end it is up to each person to assess whether or not something is expensive. We will limit ourselves to say that this is a keyboard with a high price, but that is far from other options such as those offered by Apple. We could say that it is in the average and even below. The Spanish version is not available at the moment , although we can find this product on Amazon in its QWERTZ version, which is the one we have tested.

Final conclusion

In the end, like any review, we have to summarize in general our impressions and tell you, reader, whether or not this keyboard is worth it. The truth is that we will get out of this dynamic because given the circumstances we are unable to say clearly if we recommend this keyboard from Brydge or not.

This keyboard has surprised us and although it has its shortcomings, in the end we believe that they can be polished through the Apple software and those that do not, we do not consider serious. However, we cannot forget that we are talking about an expensive accessory and therefore it is not suitable for all audiences. Regardless of your purchasing power, in the end you have to assess to what extent your use of the keyboard and trackpad is so intensive as to require it and not settle for one with a lower price and lower benefits. And you will even have to examine also if your use would not be useful even the on-screen keyboard.

We insist, we really liked this keyboard and we would have no problem recommending it to you if you meet the usage pattern. However, it is up to you to decide whether you can get the most out of it. In the comments box you can leave us your impressions and, a little earlier, right here below, see the general scores we give to this product.