Apple is now offering the popular Brydge line of keyboards designed for the newest iPads in its online store.
As of today, Apple is selling the Brydge 10.2 Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard for the seventh-generation iPad and the Brydge 10.5 Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard for the third-generation iPad Air.
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Available for $129.95, the Brydge keyboards are more affordable than Apple's own Smart Keyboards and offer a more traditional typing experience with 1.2mm of key travel.
Brydge keyboards, which come in gray, silver, and gold to match the colors of the available iPad models, are unique among third-party keyboards because of their tab system.
The iPad is designed to nestle into two silicone-lined tabs at the top of the keyboard, with no additional cover required for the rest of the iPad, which keeps the design more minimal. The tabs are hinged, so the keyboard can be closed over the iPad in a clamshell design.
Brydge keyboards aren't able to take advantage of the Smart Connector on Apple's iPads and instead must use Bluetooth, but Brydge says they're able to last for up to 12 months on a single charge depending on usage. There are integrated iOS battery management tools to cut down on power drain.
The keys are backlit, there's a row of function keys specific to iOS, and the keyboards use Bluetooth 4.0 to connect to the iPad. Each keyboard is made from a heavy, durable aluminum that's able to hold up to wear and tear, and it's simple to remove the iPad from the tabs that hold it in place.
The Brydge keyboards are available from the Apple online store and Apple retail stores in the United States and Canada starting today.
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I'll have whatever you're smokinStill think the Smart Keyboard is better.
Personal preference.So some above think it's great, others not. Which is it?
I have tried a number of keyboard cases, and still come back to Apple's own smart keyboard. Sure, it's expensive, but I find it offers the best integrated experience. It's a breeze to attach and take off, the smart connector means I don't have to bother with charging the keyboard or turning it off and on, and I quite like the typing experience it affords.
It's also relatively thin and light, though I find that it gets dirty very easily, which I guess is a common issue with many Apple products. They start out all clean and pristine, but never stay that way. Still, the smart keyboard ticks off many of the right boxes for me.
The Bridge only works with the naked iPad. The tolerances of the hinge mounting are too tight for anything else on the iPad. It includes a black protector for the iPad though but will not help the iPad if dropped onto a corner.Do you have a case on your iPad? I'm curious if you can use one of these with an iPad in a case.
Both have their clear advantages for different activities, I would not give either of them up.
On the negative side, the key action is less responsive and requires more pressure than I would like, it doesn't allow the use of a case or back protection for the iPad, and it makes swiping up from the very bottom of the screen (for example, to invoke split-screen mode) nearly impossible.
For me, the net result is that I happily use it but I'm not in love with it.