Brydge today announced the upcoming launch of a new beta firmware update designed for the Pro+ keyboards, which launched last spring. The Pro+ keyboards feature integrated trackpads and came out ahead of when Apple added dedicated trackpad support to iPadOS.
The software available from Brydge adds native multi-touch capabilities and should much improve the trackpad experience of the Pro+ keyboard. We reviewed the keyboard back in March and found the trackpad to be inferior as it wasn't initially designed with Apple's integrations in mind.
According to Brydge, the firmware will bring a "natural" multi-touch experience, with the update available through the Brydge Connect app. Using the new beta firmware requires customers to have the iPadOS 14.5 update installed.
Brydge Pro+ keyboard users who want to try out the new firmware update can sign up on the Brydge website. The first 500 who sign up for the public beta will be able to access the firmware on February 24, while others will get access on March 3. For a limited time, Brydge is also offering up to 25% off on Pro+ keyboards.
Priced at $130, the 10.2 MAX+ has a built-in native multi-touch trackpad and an integrated backlit keyboard, plus it offers full device protection. Brydge says that it is designed to combine the functionality of a Brydge keyboard with the protection of OtterBox. The 10.2 MAX+ can be pre-ordered from the Brydge website.
Wednesday April 23, 2025 8:31 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices.
Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of April 2025:
Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...
Thursday April 24, 2025 2:14 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
If you missed the video showing dummy models of Apple's all-new super thin iPhone 17 Air that's expected later this year, Sonny Dickson this morning shared some further images of the device in close alignment with the other dummy models in the iPhone 17 lineup, indicating just how thin it is likely to be in comparison.
The iPhone 17 Air is expected to be around 5.5mm thick – with a thicker ...
Tuesday April 22, 2025 10:22 am PDT by Juli Clover
Apple plans to release an all-new super thin iPhone this year, debuting it alongside the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. We've seen pictures of dummy models, cases, and renders with the design, but Lewis Hilsenteger of Unbox Therapy today showed off newer dummy models that give us a better idea of just how thin the "iPhone 17 Air" will be.
The iPhone 17 Air is expected to be ...
Despite being more than two years old, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 still dominate the premium wireless‑earbud space, thanks to a potent mix of top‑tier audio, class‑leading noise cancellation, and Apple's habit of delivering major new features through software updates. With AirPods Pro 3 widely expected to arrive in 2025, prospective buyers now face a familiar dilemma: snap up the proven...
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While the so-called "iPhone 17 Air" is not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the ultra-thin device.
Overall, the iPhone 17 Air sounds like a mixed bag. While the device is expected to have an impressively thin and light design, rumors indicate it will have some compromises compared to iPhone 17 Pro models, including only a single rear camera, a...
Tuesday April 22, 2025 5:01 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
A developer has demonstrated Windows 11 ARM running on an M2 iPad Air using emulation, which has become much easier since the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) regulations came into effect.
As spotted by Windows Latest, NTDev shared an instance of the emulation on social media and posted a video on YouTube (embedded below) demonstrating it in action. The achievement relies on new EU regulatory...
Thursday April 24, 2025 10:15 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Starting today, April 24, Apple Stores around the world are giving away a special pin for free to customers who request one, while supplies last.
Photo Credit: Filip Chudzinski
The enamel pin's design is inspired by the Global Close Your Rings Day award in the Activity app, which Apple Watch users can receive by closing all three Activity rings today. The limited-edition pin is the physical...
Apple's $570 million fine from the EU has triggered a sharp rebuke from the White House, which called the fine a form of economic extortion, Reuters reports.
The fine was announced on Wednesday by the European Commission, following a formal investigation into Apple's compliance with the bloc's Digital Markets Act (DMA), a landmark piece of legislation aimed at curbing the market dominance of ...
That keyboard appears to add a lot of bulk to the iPad. If one doesn't really need to be portable, that may not be an issue. I like my Magic Keyboard profile better, even though it is a lot more expensive.
That's great for existing customers, but surely the Magic Keyboard has killed the product? I'm surprised its taken this long to get the update to be honest as I remember us chatting about this when the Magic Keyboard was first announced.
Price. Also extremely useful function keys. It’s a great alternative.
Ive got the previous version (without the trackpad) and had a previous model for my iPad air 2. Brydge make excellent keyboards. Its a shame its taken so long for them to fix the multi touch. Ive read elsewhere that they might have needed to wait for iPad OS to give them access to the features they needed to allow their trackpad to provide true multi-touch. Don't know how true that is, but if the trackpad is as good as the logitech touch keyboard (ie not as good as the magic keyboard but a hell of a lot cheaper) then its probably worth it.
I think it's too little too late. It took a full year for them to add this support, and even though it's a good price point, it's not nearly as nice of an option as the Magic Keyboard. Plus, if the rumored 2021 iPad Pro is a little thicker, it won't fit in the slots the iPad slides in to, which I've never been a fan of design wise. The Magic Keyboard, for its faults, is still a much more elegant option.
I bought the iPad magic keyboard during the recent $200 sale, and I've had it for almost a month now. Not sure why the Magic Keyboard is getting so much love. I could understand the preference when the Brydge keyboard didn't have as good of a touchpad. But if that's been fixed, the Brydge keyboard is definitely a more compelling option.
To be fair to the magic keyboard, the build quality is nice, and the touchpad is very good. But it's had some annoying drawbacks. For one, I keep on wishing that the keyboard allowed for more tilt. I instinctively keep on trying to tilt it further back, only to realize I'm not a laptop. It's not a problem when using it on a desk, but when I have it on my lap, it always seems like I'm looking down on the iPad at an angle; the screen is not perpendicular to my face. Also, though I knew going in that the Magic keyboard didn't have a row of function keys, I didn't realize how much I'll miss them (I had the Brydge keyboard for my iPad Pro 9.7", and it was always convenient having those keys there). It wouldn't have been a major problem if the OS had a bit more of universal keyboard shortcuts. For example, there is no shortcut for Siri, and it's annoying to always speak out 'Hey Siri'. You never know whether it'll pick it up, or your phone will. On the Brydge keyboard there is a dedicated Siri button (which was always useful on my previous Brydge keyboard). For basic functionality like volume control, you either have to extend your hand, or go to the control center, which obfuscates any video you are seeing. It's not the same has having dedicated keys on the keyboard.
The only reason I bought the magic keyboard is because I had read that it had the best trackpad experience, and that the brydge version wasn't as good. That seemed like a deal-breaker, so I didn't opt for the Brydge this time. Also, I had known that swiping from the bottom is not convenient on the Brydge (a problem, I had found irksome even with my previous Brydge keyboard). But after using the magic keyboard, I realized that this will never be a problem when you have a trackpad. On the magic keyboard, not once did I use to use the bottom-up swipe gesture cause you can just move the cursor down beyond the screen for it to mimic the swipe-up gesture. It's just more natural to use the touchpad than to extend your hand.
So, if in fact the touchpad on the Brydge keyboard has been improved to match the Magic Keyboard, I'm going to be returning the Magic Keyboard and will be buying the Brydge instead. [S]Another potential benefit might be that (not sure yet), that I might be able to use it with a TPU cover that I have on my iPad Pro. Currently I have to take it out to use it with the magic keyboard.[/S]
To summarize the advantages of the Brydge keyboard - 1. Can tilt more than the magic keyboard 2. Has function keys 3. $40 cheaper at current sale price [S]4. Might be compatible with protective cover in place[/S]
Advantage of the Magic keyboard - 1. Back-side protection 2. Don't have to ever charge it 3. Attaching it magnetically is better than swiping the iPad into rubber holders
The magic keyboard advantages seem meager at best. The Brydge is not perfect either, but I'm willing to bet it's day to day use might be better than the magic keyboard.
Edit - from reviews it seems Brydge can't be used with an external cover.
