Brydge Pro +: Making the iPad a Laptop?

With the launch of iPad OS (iOS 13), Apple moved closer to making the iPad a ‘laptop replacement’. Apple launched a mouse control feature that allowed external trackpads or mouse to control the iPad. However, it was buried under accessibility and didn’t really work that well, certainly not good enough to be a laptop replacement.
With the recent iPad OS 13.4 update, Apple launched full mouse support pushing the limits of an iPad even further, thereby bridging the gap between a MacBook and iPad even more.

Brydge launched the first mass-market iPad keyboard with a trackpad. The Brydge Pro + could’ve been everything for someone that wanted to make the iPad Pro a laptop replacement. Unfortunately for Brydge, the 13.4 updates changed everything with multi-touch functionality, swipe features and more. Brydge made the Brydge Pro + before iOS 13.4, and this would’ve been the perfect product then. However, Apple released the latest update, launched the magic keyboard and showed how the trackpad features on the iPad were meant to be creating a massive problem for Brydge. To counter this issue, Brydge delayed shipment and even launched an app to provide updates to improve the trackpad features continually.

The Brydge Pro + has a fantastic set of features, and the company is really trying its best to improve the trackpad with regular updates.
Let’s go through some of the Pros and Cons.

Pros

• Amazing design
• Drastically improves the iPad Pro functionality
• Using the iPad Pro with Moft X tablet stand is possible. I can still use the iPad as a tablet whenever needed
• It can be make my iPad a laptop replacement in most cases. Once I add the external trackpad by Apple it is definitely a laptop replacement
• You can use this on your lap without any problem

Cons

• Trackpad is just not good. Can’t use it for long work hours
• Some trackpad gestures don’t work, particularly the three finger ones
• Inserting and removing the iPad can be a little tricky
• Adds a lot of weight to the iPad

1) Design: Similar but Different!

With the Brydge Pro + the iPad Pro turns into a smart-looking tiny laptop, especially the 11-inch model. Brydge really worked on the hinge design and tried to create an almost perfect laptop experience with an iPad. The keyboard by itself is slightly bigger than the iPad, but the aluminium build offers an experience similar to a Macbook and definitely feels premium to use. The only issue is that it is a little hard to insert and remove the iPad from the hinges, especially compared to Apple’s Magic Keyboard. I usually remove my iPad all the time to play COD mobile, and I realised that inserting it is a bigger task than removing it. Nevertheless, when folded up, it is easy to toss into a bag and take it with you on the go. The Pro Plus offers an excellent lap experience with the flexible hinges providing adequate balance for typing, drawing or scrolling. It weighs ever so slightly more than a Macbook Air which is certainly understandable. Brydge also generously offer a back panel to protect the iPad from scratches. However, in my experience, the magnets aren’t strong enough to be in place, and it feels very flimsy. The Trackpad and Keyboard designs are fabulous. Brydge tried their best to fit a decent-sized trackpad on the keyboard for ease of use.

Design Score: 9/10

2) Trackpad: The Reason to Buy and Not to Buy!

There is a lot to love and hate about this trackpad. Firstly, kudos to Brydge for releasing the first mass-market iPad keyboard with a trackpad. The bad luck for Brydge was the release of iPad OS 13.4 and the launch of Apple’s Magic Keyboard that consists of an almost perfect, Macbook like trackpad. The trackpad on Brydge isn’t bad for general scrolling. However, it becomes a hassle to perform continuous productive work. One of the significant flaws with the trackpad is the lack of three-finger functionality. Brydge included some handy shortcuts like 3 fingers tap open app switcher that can be implemented in the accessibility settings.

As a Macbook and Dell user, this “diving board” style trackpad isn’t as good as the Macbook Pro or even the Dell XPS 2-in-1. I frequently use Apple’s Magic trackpad for serious work, and that definitely helps out a lot to complete tasks a lot faster without breaking my iPad! The trackpad on the Brydge Pro + isn’t easy to scroll, and there is a noticeable glitch where a two-finger scroll on a website, for example, doesn’t stop when we intend it to stop. Also, since Brydge uses a diving board mechanism, you can’t click on the top of the trackpad, and that can be very confusing for Macbook users. The good news is that we can tap anywhere on the trackpad and it is much faster than actually clicking.

The trackpad is undoubtedly the worse part of this keyboard. However, Brydge launched an app to fix all the glitches, and they have fixed 50% of the issues since launch. I’m hoping they add three-finger navigation and fix the scrolling glitch with future updates. As of now, I will continue to use Apple’s Magic Trackpad along with my Brydge Pro+ for any serious work that needs to be done.

Trackpad Score: 4/10

3) Keyboard: Perfect…. for an iPad!

A significant advantage with the Brydge Pro + is the inclusion of function keys on the top row. From left to right we have the Home button, the quick-lock, keyboard backlight control, iPad brightness controls, the onscreen keyboard, localisation, media controls, volume, Bluetooth, and power. One of the reasons I am glad I went with the Brydge Pro+ as the additional function row is missing on Apple’s magic keyboard, and the extra keys are something I use on a daily basis. It also includes a button to activate Siri on the bottom left, which can be useful if you people use Siri. If that can be mapped to Google Assistant, it will be perfect.

Brydge keyboards for iPad have had one of the best typing experience in the past. The Brydge Pro + is no different as it offers excellent key travel with decent typing distance for an 11-inch iPad Pro. You can’t expect a lot more from a device that is only 11 inches. That being said, it does get cramped to over long periods of typing that can cause an issue for content writers or students.

I have had no issues with the keyboard, and I wrote this and many other articles on the Brydge Pro +. I thoroughly enjoy using my iPad as my primary productive machine, and I hardly ever use my laptop unless I absolutely need it. Brydge Pro+ has an integrated backlit keyboard. Unlike Apple’s Magic keyboard, you can adjust the backlight from the function row. However, you will notice a lot of bleeding lights, especially on level 3 of power, and that isn’t the best experience from a premium device like this.

Keyboard Score: 9/10

Overall, I would say the Brydge Pro + is an excellent option for most people and is a worthy opponent to the magic keyboard. However, if money is no concern for you and you don’t need a stand for the iPad in tablet mode (like I do), I would strongly consider you to pick Apple’s Magic Keyboard. The Brydge Pro+ has a fantastic typing experience, and it is more lap-friendly compared to the magic keyboard. It has a row of function keys and feels like a laptop. The aluminium material is a lot more durable and should last you a long time. However, the trackpad is the main area where the Magic Keyboard takes it away. The diving board mechanism isn’t perfect, the software bugs are annoying over long periods of use, and there isn’t three-finger gesture support as if now. I’ve also had a few connection issues as it disconnects after some time of idle use. This might be to save battery, but it’s still annoying at times.

I hope Brydge solves all the issues with their software updates and it can then certainly be a better alternative to the magic keyboard. Even now, I would prefer the Brydge Pro + over the magic keyboard because I can’t attach my Moft to the iPad using the latter, it offers a better lap experience, and has an exceptional keyboard for an iPad. The Brydge Pro+ is for someone that doesn’t want a trackpad for their iPad Pro and isn’t willing to spend so much more for Apple’s magic keyboard.

Overall Score: 6/10