Brydge - Wireless Keyboard for Microsoft Surface Pro 7, 6, 5 and 4 - Silver

I really like this keyboard. It allows me the ability to use my surface pro just like a conventional laptop. This setup is light weight and gives you the ability to place the screen at various angles. The BRYDGE keyboard is comfortable to use and now allows you the opportunity to use the laptop in your lap. My only two cons are that in the beginning upon initial setup the keyboards function weren't working correctly. To fix the issue, I just deleted then reconnected via bluetooth. My only other issue is that I must use the Surface Pro's screen to log onto the system before I can actually use the keyboard. Just wish that once pushing the button to wake the SP3 that the keyboard was able to be used to log on. These issues are definitely not deal breakers. This keyboard is truly worth getting. I will be recommending this keyboard to my family, friends and coworkers.

Going to jump right in - for reader's mindset, I tested this on a Surface Pro 4. Well, it’s a keyboard, lets talk about how the keys are. Each key has a nice action and travel - something around ¼” which sounds remarkably like a Lenovo keyboard (this is good). And all of this is done without adding much in the way of weight or depth as it actually clocks in smaller than the size of the Surface Book keyboard.. As a whole, the build quality of the device is pretty nice. The case feels very solid; attempting to torque it yields no bend. By design I suppose, it is very reminiscent of a Surface Book keyboard with a taste of MacBook thrown in. Of course, like either of these devices it comes with a backlit keyboard. On a minor note, you can tell that the design team spent some time in the packaging department. During my unpackaging of the box there were several times that I stood back and just stared in amazement. The one thing that I don’t care for the most on this device are the hinges. The left hinge is positioned such that it causes significant pressure on the LCD - enough that one can plainly see the stress ripple on the LCD. As a whole, it worries me that continued use in the format of a laptop might cause damage to my Surface screen. (See attached picture) On top of the hinge placing a bit too much stress on the screen, several times while testing it I noted that the Surface was apparently too heavy for it as if I picked up the combo by the base, the Surface would tilt back. As a whole, the hinges seem weak in the wrong places and strong in the wrong places. I guess the one mitigating factor to this that the weaker hinges place (slightly) less stress on the device as a whole. Finally, while the style does match up nearly perfectly with the Surface Pro 4 down to the color, the edges are sharp. When Microsoft designed the Surface, they made the edges sharp but still rounded off the edge just enough that you couldn’t feel an abrupt cut. The edges on this device work to match the Surface styling but fall flat as they missed that final smoothing effect on them. If not immediately apparent from the images of the device, the trackpad is recessed - the edges that surround the trackpad are admittedly some of the sharpest on the unit; especially the one that sits between the keyboard and the top of the trackpad. A smoother transition would have been much appreciated. Finally, the only way this connects is via Bluetooth 3.0. The device offers encryption according to its Bluetooth descriptor record, yet I still feel a bit wary typing in my passwords over a relatively open media in a 20’ radius. I do think that the risk is minimal though as I have no problem typing on a wireless keyboard which potentially suffers from similar security issues. Overall, the upside here is that I can use it with any device I want whenever. All in all, I like it. The keyboard is nice, the keys have some nice travel on them and the trackpad is relatively nice. As this is the first iteration on this device there is definitely room for improvement; the hinges as a whole are majorly concerning which will lead me to separating it from the device shortly after submitting this review and the abrupt cuts make it somewhat uncomfortable to hold on your lap. Giving it four stars as though the LCD issue is concerning, the product is a welcome addition to my tech toolkit.

I purchased my Microsoft Surface Pro 3 a couple of years ago and also picked up the pricey keyboard. While the Microsoft SP3 keyboard is convenient I didn't care too much for the flex while typing. When the Brydge 12.3 keyboard for the Surface Pro 3 & 4 became available I was extremely interested in an upgrade. The Brydge keyboard's aluminum case has a solid feel. The back-lit keys have sufficient tactile feedback and travel to make typing much more pleasant than the Microsoft Surface Pro keyboard. Four rubber feet on the bottom of the keyboard keep it secure in place while typing. The hinge mechanism has rubber spacers that snugly hold the Surface Pro to the keyboard without fear of the two accidentally coming apart. Out of the box the spacers are for a slightly thinner Surface Pro 4 but they do include the silicone spacers for a Surface Pro 3. Swapping was easy but make sure you have everything installed completely. I did have minor issues sliding the Surface Pro into the hinges but that was due to operator error while installing the spacers. Once positioned properly the Surface Pro and Brydge keyboard looked like it a solid laptop. With the Surface Pro up and ready for use the keyboard hinge gives you a slight angle and has silicone feet (actually part of the spacer) that provide non-slip grip while typing. Setup was a fast and easy Bluetooth connection. Brydge also offers the same keyboard with 128GB of memory to provide additional storage for your Surface Pro. For that solid feeling you do pay for it in weight as it is on the heavy side coming in at almost 3 lbs. Most of that weight comes from it's on-board battery which is charged through a micro-USB port. Personally I love this keyboard. While not as thin and lightweight as the Microsoft keyboard it does add stability, no flex and great key response. I've had a few Bluetooth keyboards but none are as solid or integrate easily to the Surface Pro. I having to deal with a stand-alone keyboard for tablets. They only thing I might have done different is add a way to tether the Surface Pro to the keyboard to use the keyboard's battery for emergency power for the tablet if needed (maybe a short cable with Surface Pro charging tip). Brydge keyboards are also available for the iPad Pro 12.9" and 9.7", the new 9.7" iPad, the iPad Air 2, the iPad Air and the iPad Mini 4. I'm definitely picking one up for my 9.7" iPad. All are comparably priced to other alternatives making these a better solution if you don't mind the weight. Pros: + solid feel + looks integrated with the Surface Pro + great key response + back-lit keys + comparable pricing Cons: - relatively heavy - must remember to charge it - hinges are not 360° so you must remove Surface Pro from keyboard if you want to use it as a tablet

Much of the review could be summed up with one sentence: "This thing is absolutely awesome." I have been using Surface and Surface-like form factors as my primary portable computer for about five years now. And I've been very happy with the experience for the most part. The first one I got was motivated more by the fact that it was the best one to use with a pen than anything else, and while I was satisfied with the snap-on keyboard and kickstand support, "satisfied' is really about as far as I would go with it. As anyone who has used a kickstand based machine on a train or airplane can attest, it's often a pain to work with. The shallow travel of the keys isn't particularly satisfying to use, and the less said about the knuckle-punishing fabric keyboards that came with the first generation surface the better. And there are just an abundance of places where there isn't a good place to use the kickstand. Well, this keyboard pretty much fixes all of that. I hadn't realized just how much I had missed being able to just set my computer on my actual lap and type anywhere until I stuck my computer into this wonderful little accessory and started working. The thing improved my productivity simply because I no longer have a lingering reluctance to pull out the computer when I don't have an optimal surface to set it up on. Looking beyond the concept, the product itself is just as impressive. It's got a bit of heft to it that makes it just a little heavier than the Surface itself, much of which goes to an oversized battery they advertise will work for 3 months of heavy use. Usually I feel compelled to stress test battery life claims to see what they actually are, but in this one case I'm willing to let that number stand simply for logistical reasons. The milled aluminum case is sturdy and pleasant to work with, the glass touchpad is wonderfully smooth and responsive, and the keyboard itself has great action on all the keys. It's also got plenty of nice extras including illuminated keys, dedicated function buttons, multi-touch support, and a button to quickly check that massive never-ending battery. Now that said, there are a couple of things that could count as downsides. For a start, the fact that this thing needs an internal battery. Unlike the official Surface keyboards, this thing works on a bluetooth connection. I'm not entirely sure that's a bad thing in all cases, since it does mean you can use the keyboard in a non-laptop configuration and even with other Surface-like tablets if you want (which I confirmed do work, though they look amazingly silly.) But the downside is that you do get all the problems that typically come with bluetooth keyboards, like a slight amount of input lag at higher typing speeds (so long as you stay under 100wpm you're probably fine.) The version with an integrated SSD also has a somewhat awkward workaround for this lack of a direct connection in the form of a dangling USB cable running from the Surface USB port to the keyboard. You might also find it takes a little practice before you're able to get the thing correctly lined up with the clips that grip the Surface. And of course there's the fact that this does double the weight of the Surface, but that's pretty much a necessity in creating a stable product. I can't say that I really feel these detract from the experience for me, but they were deal breakers for a few of the other Surface users who checked out the keyboard. But if you're like me and want the traditional laptop option but don't want to spring for a Surface Book, I'd say this is probably the keyboard for you regardless of the trade-offs.

This keyboard is one of the best I've seen available for the Surface Pro. It has very nice finishes, and compliments the Surface nicely. It truly makes the Surface Pro look like a laptop. The trackpad has the ability to use gestures, which is a great addition as well. You can use a quick three-finger tap to pull up Cortana, or slide up will three fingers to show a your open apps. The battery life is seemingly great. I'm still working off the first charge. The claim is that the battery will last up to three months on a singe charge, and it's easy to see that it's capable. That is VERY good. It also has a button you can press for the battery's status. They keys feel great, and the trackpad is very responsive. My only complaints about this keyboard is that there is no place to store the pen for my Surface Pro 3, and it does add a decent amount of weight. Though, the weight added makes it function much like a standard laptop, and doesn't feel heavy in your lap or anything like that. Pros: Very sleek, nice finishes, very responsive, excellent battery life, smart features Cons: A bit heavy, no place to store the Surface Pen Overall, an easy keyboard to recommend. Though, you may need to find a way to store your pen.

Pros Solid all metal construction Similar design qualities to Surface Pro 3 and 4 Good keyboard size Includes trackpad Changeable pads for Pro 3 and 4 tablet Backlit keys Long battery life Automatic Sleep/Wake function Can open to nearly 180 degrees Stays confidently at the set angle Charges via micro USB Automatically installs and configures on pairing Cons Color isn’t an exact match Shape makes it look more like another Surface instead of a base Inserts for Pro 3 do not stay in place as well as Pro 4 Keyboard requires excessive force Trackpad not configurable Keyboard sometimes takes a while to work resuming from hibernation Bottom bumpers have a sharp edge increasing chances of snagging Finger slot of opening too small making opening awkward Hinge resistance excessive for easy opening The Brydge 12.3 keyboard answers a request some Surface Pro owners have been asking for since the beginning, a solid keyboard option. It is compatible with the Surface Pro 3 and 4. It comes with rubber inserts for the Pro 4 and if you have the Pro 3 you need to switch out for the slightly thinner ones since the Pro 3 is just slightly thicker. You could possible leave in the Pro 4 spacers it is not advisable as it puts excessive pressure on the bezel as it holds the tablet and makes insertion and removal difficult. The design attempts to mimic the angular design and metal construction of the tablet and it mostly succeeds. The Brydge feels solid and well built, almost stronger than the tablet itself. While the Brydge attempts to compliment the Surface design and mostly succeeds, the attempt does have some flaws. First, the base uses the same angle as the tablet instead of being straight. Regular laptops have the base design different to make a distinction between base and screen making knowing which side is top or bottom immediately apparent. With Brydge, you must pause and look for clues if you have it oriented correctly. The easiest clues are the large, almost clunky, rubber feet on the bottom. Of course, laptops often have rubber feet on them but, with Brydge looking create a more elegant design they missed a key element of higher end laptops. Normally, the rubber feet are slightly recessed into the base to create a smooth transition. Some even use sleek bumper strips that look more like styling lines. With Brydge, the feet literally feel like they are just stuck to the bottom. Although the adhesive feels solid, this often creates a problem over time as that distinct line of the rubber catches bags and other materials and either is torn or ripped off. Along the lines of complimenting the Surface design, Brydge attempted to mimic the color and texture of the tablet. Overall, the finish is very nice and high quality but fails at mimicking the Surface color and texture. The Brydge uses a slightly darker gray color instead of the light gray/silver color of the Surface. This of course is a small item and does not affect the functionality of the device in any way. However; if you are looking for an exact match and want it to look like it was made by the Surface team it’s not quite there. Most people wouldn’t even notice and be perfectly happy but for those wanting a perfect match it’s not there. The brackets that hold the tablet in place, understandably, stand out. If you are looking to purchase this, functionality is more important than a perfectly sleek compliment. Brydge has done a commendable job as a third-party manufacturer. Aesthetics aside, the most important aspect of the Brydge is functionality. This is where some shortcomings can hinder and overall decent experience. If you have a Surface Pro 3, you will have to change the rubber inserts that hold the tablet. This on it’s own would be ok. The problem is the smaller inserts just didn’t hold in the bracket quite as well. Insertion and removal the tablet required more carful effort as the edges of the rubber would often catch the tablet and try to curl in as the tablet is inserted. Removal also attempts to pull the rubber insert out slightly. The instructions say when changing inserts, adhesive still on the bracket does not affect the replacement but it seems this may not be the case. The brackets also serve as the hinges. The hinges are very strong and hold the tablet confidently at the angle you set. Tension is tighter than traditional laptops. Although this means the combination holds the angle you set confidently it presents a problem. The tension is so great that, combined with the extremely small finger insert, opening the hybrid laptop is difficult. Those with fingernails might have an easier time but opening takes more effort than it should. A nice feature of the Brydge is sleep/wake support. When you close the combination of Brydge and Surface, the keyboard detects the tablet shutting off and goes to sleep as well. Opening also wakes the keyboard. This means no fussing with a power button but you can also conserve battery life. Battery life is estimated to last and average of 3 months, depending on backlight usage, before needing a recharge. The backlight keyboard has three levels of brightness to suite your needs. The keys are space well and even for larger hands don’t feel as cramped as one would think. The keys have a large space between them so you can detect each key distinctly. Key travel is medium compared to other modern laptops but sensitivity is poor. Typing is imprecise requiring very hard presses to register a keypress. If you are a fast typist with a light touch, be prepared to press a lot harder. All but the hardest typist will find the amount of required force excessive and possibly even tiresome. If you are happy with the force required to type on the fabric keyboard of the Surface, you will find the Brydge a test of strength. Hopefully, Brydge will improve this in the future as typing force varied between keys. The I, O, and E key presses were often the ones missed even with strong force. The Brydge also includes a touchpad just like a traditional laptop. On pairing, the keyboard worked almost immediately. Strangely, the mouse took approximately 20 minutes to show up even though the Brydge was said to be fully installed. If you are the type who likes to customize the touchpad tracking speed or you like the speed and sensitivity of the stock fabric keyboard, you are out of luck. Although the touchpad does an acceptable job it not as smooth, fast, or precise as the OEM touchpad. The Brydge 12.3 is a strong effort at providing an option of a hard keyboard and laptop type experience to the Surface Pro 3 and 4 family. If you are happy with your currently Surface fabric keyboard or are just curious about a hard keyboard, you are best sticking with the OEM fabric one. The good thing is that the keyboard doesn’t cost much more than the stock keyboard so if you don’t mind spending the money or just must have a solid base for your Surface, Brydge can be a viable alternative. Just be prepared to strengthen your hands and possibly slow down your typing.

This is a must have keyboard if you have a surface 3,4 or the latest release and should last you for a long time of next version releases if you upgrade often. I found it to be much much better than the Microsoft surface keyboards and am very sure would not go that route again. Especially the kickstand on the surface pro is very inconvenient when you have it on your lap. The keyboard shouts quality and is very sturdy and feels solid when holding it. It is fully aluminum and looks and feels great. The package is very minimal and you get the keyboard with the surface pro 4 shims attached along with a micro usb charging cable and extra pair of shims for surface pro 3. The keyboard has 3 levels of backlit which is such a plus and features a 160 degree hinge. Th backlit does turnoff when not in use and do save battery. I have not had to charge it yet and seems it will easily last a few months of regular use. Brydge does mention up-to 3 months of battery life. The trackpad is perfect size and small enough that it doesn’t get in the way of typing and your palm doesn’t sit on the trackpad. The keys are like MacBook and are easy to type on and have a very good response. Excellent keyboard from brydge and will convert your surface pro to a surface book with the added functionality.

I have both a surface pro 3 and Surface pro 4 and for the longest time I hoped that someone would make a keyboard that would make my surface(s) more lap-able and here it is. The brydge 12.3 is the first aftermarket keyboard with hinges that the surface can securely attach to. inside the box you will find the keyboard, Micro USB cable, user manual and a sticker. There are so many things I like about it and a few trade offs. Likes: Its balanced, light, and easy to pair, the color and dimensions are similar to the Surface. The back-lit keyboard is nice, bright and has big visible letters. The keys are well spaced, have good travel and provide a nice reassuring click. The hinges move about 160 degrees and have smooth travel. The Bluetooth doesn't interfere with other connected Bluetooth headphones. Dislikes: The track pad is too small, it can sometimes lag and has a sharp edge that catches on your fingertips. The Bluetooth can sometimes be laggie and every so often it will repeat a keystroke multiple times ie. ssssssssssssssss. Overall its a good keyboard that solves one of the surfaces shortcomings.