Brydge unveils new firmware to make Pro Plus iPad Keyboard trackpad usable

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Ipad Pro 2020 Brydge Hero
Ipad Pro 2020 Brydge Hero (Image credit: Christine Romero-Chan / iMore)

What you need to know

  • Brydge's Pro+ keyboard for iPad Pro was released last year, but the trackpad was not great.
  • This upcoming firmware release will fix all the trackpad issues, making it more like Apple's Magic Keyboard for iPad.
  • The Pro+ keyboard is on sale, and Brydge's keyboard case collaboration with OtterBox will cost $130 and can be pre-ordered today.

Brydge just announced a new firmware update for the Pro+ iPad keyboards that should vastly improve the overall trackpad experience, according to The Verge. The Pro+ Keyboard was released last year, which is supposed to help turn your iPad Pro into a pseudo-laptop. The keyboard features a trackpad, and it was one of the first iPad keyboards to have a trackpad before Apple's own Magic Keyboard for iPad.

However, the trackpad experience was a little lackluster when compared to Apple's multitouch implementation with the Magic Keyboard. With this new firmware update, the Pro+ Keyboard should fall more in line with Apple's Magic Keyboard for iPad with support for multi-finger gestures.

To go along with this new firmware update, Brydge is also putting the Pro+ Keyboards on sale, making it a much more affordable alternative to Apple's Magic Keyboard for iPad. The sale knocks $60 off the 12.9-inch model, making it $169.99, while the 11-inch version shaves $40 off the price tag to bring it down to $159.99.

But that's not all the news from Brydge today. The company is also announcing a brand new, trackpad-equipped iPad keyboard in collaboration with OtterBox. This was originally announced sometime last year, but it's finally coming to fruition. The new 10.2-inch Max Plus Keyboard Case is made for the 7th and 8th generation iPads that have 10.2-inch displays. The keyboard comes with a fully detachable case that protects your iPad from drops up to 4-feet. The keyboard case will be available to pre-order today and costs $129.99.

For those who already have the Pro+ Keyboard for iPad Pro, Brydge is opening up public signups for the new firmware on its website. The new firmware update requires the iPadOS 14.5 public beta. This firmware update program starts on March 3, but those who sign up for early access will have it available on February 24.

Brydge Pro+ Keyboard
Brydge Pro Plus iPad Keyboard


The Brydge Pro+ Keyboard for iPad turns your iPad Pro into a pseudo-laptop experience with the keyboard and trackpad.

Christine Chan
Christine Chan

Christine Romero-Chan was formerly a Senior Editor for iMore. She has been writing about technology, specifically Apple, for over a decade at a variety of websites. She is currently part of the Digital Trends team, and has been using Apple’s smartphone since the original iPhone back in 2007. While her main speciality is the iPhone, she also covers Apple Watch, iPad, and Mac when needed. When she isn’t writing about Apple, Christine can often be found at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, as she is a passholder and obsessed with all things Disney, especially Star Wars. Christine also enjoys coffee, food, photography, mechanical keyboards, and spending as much time with her new daughter as possible.