Compatible with both generations of the iPad Air, the BrydgeAir keyboard provides hinges with removable rubber gaskets to fit each model. If you have an iPad Air 2, you'll just remove the iPad Air ones and replace them with the iPad Air 2 ones.
Sliding your iPad Air into the BrydgeAir's hinges is easy enough. You can then adjust for multiple viewing angles and close the hinge completely to transport your iPad and to protect the screen.
Around the front of the BrydgeAir keyboard case is the power, keyboard pair, and speaker button. The back of the BrydgeAir case has dedicated speakers you can use built right into the case. As nice of an idea as that is, the iPad Air 2's built-in speakers offer much better sound quality. The BrydgeAir's speakers sound very flat to me. In other words, I wouldn't consider the speakers a selling point.
The keyboard layout on the BrydgeAir is similar to what you'd find on a MacBook Air. The main difference is the top row of keys that are specific to iOS functions. There are dedicated buttons to turn the volume up and down, lock your iPad, use the Home button, adjust brightness, control music, and more. In the bottom row of keys you also have a dedicated button for Siri too.
As far as battery life goes, I've been running on a full charge for about a week now with about 1 to 2 hours of use a day. BrydgeAir claims up to three months of battery life on a single charge, depending on how much you utilize the backlit key and speaker features.
The backslash key on the keyboard will flash blue slowly if the battery is running low. When plugged in the key will show solid red to indicate charging. While that's sufficient, I do wish there was a way to check battery percentage more specifically. Most keyboard cases do this by integrating a dedicated battery button which pulses a set number of times to indicate a battery range. It isn't a deal breaker for me but anyone who uses keyboard cases heavily may get nervous not knowing where they stand battery wise at any given time.
The good
- Thin profile when closed
- Feels extremely high quality
- Easy enough to remove and replace iPad
- Great keyboard layout similar to what you'd find on a Mac keyboard
- Backlit keys
- Dedicated row of iOS specific buttons
The bad
- Internal speaker is not great quality
- Hinges sit a little closer to the actual screen than I would like
- No rear protection for the iPad
- Not the best battery monitoring system
- Higher price tag than many competing keyboards
The bottom line
I've been typing for a few days on the BrydgeAir keyboard case, including this review, and I type just as fast as I can on my Mac's keyboard. The layout really is one of the best I've used to date. I do however wish the internal speaker and battery monitoring system were better.
These two issues aside, the backlit keyboard and high quality construction makes the BrydgeAir feel much more substantial than many other cover type cases, which can often feel cheap and flimsy. So if you want a case that matches the build quality of your iPad Air 2, the BrydgeAir keyboard case is a solid choice.
- $169 - $189 - Buy now
