Brydge Pro Review: The Best iPad Pro Keyboard You Can Buy

The Brydge Pro Keyboard for iPad Pro 2018 is the best iPad Pro keyboard you can buy. I tested this keyboard for several months along with the competition from Logitech, Zagg, and Apple. After extensive testing, the Brydge keyboard for iPad Pro 2018 is the best you can buy. Here's why and what I learned from it.

This new Brydge Pro keyboard is a better typing experience than my MacBook Pro keyboard, and it's stood up to the busy days I've put it through over the past few months without any wear or tear. The Brydge is backlit, easy to use on a lap or a table, and has significantly better key travel than the official Apple iPad Pro keyboard, which is more expensive.

The Brydge Pro keyboard deserves a Must be Mobile Editor's Choice Award for the performance, features, value and overall mobile productivity boost it offers.

You can buy the Brydge Pro keyboard for $149 or the 11-inch iPad Pro and $169 for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro directly from Brydge, Amazon, Verizon, and other retailers.

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Brydge Pro performance

The excellent backlit keyboard enables the iPad Pro to be productive where Apple's Smart Keyboard dares not step.

Typing on the Brydge Pro is a pleasure thanks to the full-size keys with a soft-touch surface on each keycap. There's a lot to travel, making it easy to type for long periods of time without the fatigue that comes with typing on a glass screen on the iPad or on the Smart Keyboard Folio sold by Apple.

Along with the full set of buttons and a row of numbers, there's also a set of function keys to control media playback and brightness, lock the iPad, and pull up the onscreen keyboard when needed. Key placement is excellent with plenty of space between keys. I love the arrow key placement, which is far better than what Apple switched to for the MacBook Pro keyboards.

I use the iPad Pro in the car and on the go on a wide variety of desks, tables and surfaces, so I need a keyboard that I can use reliably in the dark and on any surface. With the backlit buttons, it's easy to stay productive on iPad Pro while you're in the car. The keyboard's design lends itself far more to lap use than Apple's official option. It sits on or even slightly between the legs for better mobile productivity. The hinge makes it easy to set the right viewing angle on any surface. There are three brightness options for the backlit keys so you can choose the best option for your situation.

As you type, you can still access the iOS, soon to be iPadOS, on-screen keyboard suggestions, and it's easy to reach and touch one of them when you want to. The keyboard button that pulls up the onscreen keyboard makes it easy to quickly add an emoji.

The Brydge Pro is the reason I can leave my MacBook Pro at home on some trips and still be productive.

Brydge Pro design

The Brydge Pro keeps me productive anywhere.

The Brydge Pro keyboard is made from aluminum and is very solid but not too heavy to compromise on portability. Once you figure out how to align the iPad Pro and keyboard, installing and removing the Brydge Pro is easy.

The hinge is part of the secret recipe that makes this keyboard so special. You can use it in a standard keyboard mode with an angle that's perfect for working on your lap, on a tray table, or on a desk. It's the only easy way to work on a flight and it's proven multiple times.

When I want to take a break from typing or work, I just pull out the iPad, flip it over, and put it back in to use the keyboard as a stand for gaming or watching movies. The angle is convenient for use in bed, at the coffee shop, or on the plane. You can also fold it in this position for a tablet mode. That's handy for traveling, but if I just want to use the iPad Pro at home, I just unplug it from the Brydge Pro.

Sturdy build quality and great hinges complete the experience.

There are four rubber feet on the underside of the keyboard, like those found on most laptops. These keep the Brydge Pro on a table while you type. Two rubber knobs prevent the iPad Pro screen from touching the keys or keyboard when closing.

The edge of the keyboard near the iPad Pro screen is curved so you can quickly reach up and tap a suggested word or swipe to go home or switch apps. You don't lose functionality by installing Brydge Pro, you only gain productivity.

When you close the combo, the iPad Pro goes to sleep and so does the keyboard. Open it up and both the keyboard and the iPad Pro will be activated. Press Enter to unlock the iPad Pro and you're good to go. It's as seamless as opening your MacBook Pro while wearing an Apple Watch.

Every Brydge Pro includes a leather sleeve that protects the back of your iPad Pro while you use the sleeve. This attaches with magnets and stays in place nicely, but is also easy to remove. I use a skin on my iPad Pro and it still fits easily on the hinges, so I don't use the leather case very often.

Brydge Pro battery and connectivity

Charge via USB-C when you need it, which isn't often thanks to the 12-month battery life.

The battery life of the Brydge Pro is 12 months and after 3 months of regular use it's still running without needing a charge. It currently sits at 83%, which is impressive given the amount of time I've been using it. The keyboard is charged with USB C. So if you run out of battery, just plug it into the iPad Pro charger and you're good to go.

You can connect the Brydge Pro to your iPad via Bluetooth or via a hardwired USB-C connection if you prefer. This wired connection works, but I don't routinely use it.

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Apple Pencil 2

While you can use the iPad Pro without the Apple Pencil, it's a must-have accessory. This is an essential annotation and drawing tool, and it's a great way to edit photos, draw, and fine-tune touch needs on iPad Pro. You can't use the Apple Pencil from the older iPad Pro, and you can't use it with the older iPad Pro, so it's an even more important tool if you're already using the Apple Pencil. This is way better than a standard pen you might have used a long time ago. It pairs with the iPad Pro and feels more like writing or drawing on paper than old pens. The new Apple Pencil 2 lets you charge it wirelessly on the edge of the iPad Pro and it stays there when you're not using it. Shop the Apple Pencil 2 for $119.

By: Brydge Pro Review: The Best iPad Pro Keyboard You Can Buy