Brydge 11 Max+: Making the iPad a Computer (Hardware)
Official GBAtemp Review
Product Information:
- Official Store: https://www.brydge.com/
Review Approach:
The Brydge Max+ series of keyboard cases put your iPad Pros (and new Air) into a MacBook like enclosure. The Max+ aims to make your iPad replace your laptop and actually succeeds everywhere Apple allows it to. But even with the limitations of iPadOS, this keyboard case can really transform how you might use your iPad.
The Feel:
Even though this keyboard case is substantially cheaper than Apple’s officially licensed keyboards, the Max+ screams premium with its texture, weight, and design. The Max+ series comes in the 11 and 12.9 inch variants for the iPad Pro line. While the 12.9 variant has a regular size keyboard, the smaller version which I have is more cramped. Coming from a 15 inch laptop, this keyboard definitely took some getting used to but I did get the hang of it. I am not a keyboard fanatic but compared to Apple’s and Logitech’s keyboard cases, you’re not going to get a better feeling keyboard with deeper key presses. Unfortunately because of the cramped layout, I did find myself accidentally pressing keys more than I would like.
Where this enclosure falls short is being a good case. Brydge actually does not advertise the Max+ line as a protective case at all so being one isn’t a priority. The iPad seamlessly attaches to the keyboard with the rear magnets. This feels very secure and I have no worry about it slipping off when walking around with it open. This functionality sacrifices drop protection however as there is little that would lessen the impact of a drop. What protection I can appreciate from this keyboard is bending while in a backpack. Apple’s mobile devices are infamous for having bending issues and the iPads are no exception. Having the thicker aluminum housing compared to the flexible plastic in other cases makes me feel better about putting it in a backpack (This is not an advertised feature). The Max+ also does not have a 360 degree hinge which can be frustrating when wanting to do more touch orientated tasks.
A very nice to have in this keyboard is the large trackpad. After installing a firmware update, gestures can easily be done using the amount of space give to your fingers. I have only had the trackpad glitch out on me once but simply turning off and on the keyboard fixed the issue. A problem that could be more of iPadOS issue is that double tap and hold functionality is missing. I am very accustomed to double tapping instead of clicking and not being able to drag things around without clicking is annoying.
Was it worth it?
This is where this hardware review turns into more of a iPadOS review because as much as the Brydge Max+ does to elevate the iPad experience, iPadOS just brings it back down. Ever since the 2017 iPad Pro, developers have shown more interest in bringing more professional applications to the iPad but that dream still isn’t brought to life in 2022. The iPad doesn’t need MacOS for it to reach its full potential, it just needs more fleshed out apps that make use of the powerful hardware inside of it.
Navigating the home screen still feels like an iPad experience but once I got into optimized apps like Safari or Lightroom, I did almost forget that I wasn’t on a laptop. Using the Max+, browsing the web will feel very similar to the desktop experience with full keyboard and mouse support. I don’t even use the mobile versions of some apps like Youtube as the web version is just better. Problems start when apps don’t have any support for keyboards. For example google photos, I couldn’t scroll between photos using the directional keys and had to use touch controls. While the Microsoft Word mobile app is optimized for keyboard and even the Apple pencil, the experience quite as good as the desktop counterpart. Using a two finger tap is supposed to simulate a right click but the functionality isn’t used everywhere. I would highlight a link and try to get a menu to pop up to open the link but nothing appears.
If you really wanted to, you could actually turn this form factor into a true laptop experience. I used the Moonlight app to stream my 3080 desktop to my ipad with very minimal delay. There are issues with the app itself but the full experience is there. Using this method in combination with the Max+ keyboard is where it can truly shine. I would much rather use this setup to stream Blender and After Effects to my iPad than lugging around my Gigabyte Aero 15 which only lasts around 2 hours. The only issues would be the lack of actual function keys and no double tap hold support.
The Brydge Max+ is a great addition to the iPad Pro line if you want a laptop replacement and don’t care about drop protection. The MacBook-like design and layout fits right into the Apple esthetic and won’t make you look like you’re cheating out on anything. Brydge has made an awesome keyboard that will make you wish that Apple would either make a Surface-like Macbook or add MacOS to the iPad.
Verdict
- Better keyboard than competition
- Large Trackpad
- Gesture Support
- Weight allows for use on your lap
- Long battery life
- Seamless connectivity
- Has function keys missing in official Apple keyboard
- Limited by iPadOS
- Trackpad can be wonky at times
- Cramped Keyboard
- No function keys for remote desktop streaming
- Can’t double tap and hold
- No 360 degree hinge
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