0:00
We all like to carry our gadgets around with us, but there are definitely times when you'll
0:04
want to be ultra portable and just take along, say, your iPad on vacation
0:09
Or perhaps you'll want to get some writing done in the local coffee shop. We all know those trendy ones have tiny tables which aren't big enough for a full laptop
0:17
This ultra portable bridge keyboard is a fantastic match for your iPad Air, allowing you to be
0:21
a bit more productive than you would without an actual keyboard, turning your iPad into
0:26
a small MacBook-like, laptop-style tablet. There's two versions of this Bluetooth keyboard available, the Air and the Mini, designed
0:33
for, you guessed it, the iPad Air and Mini. I have the Air version here, but the Mini version is just that
0:40
So everything I'm going to say about the Air stands for the Mini. It's also got a few tricks up its sleeve to edge in front of the competition, including
0:47
integrated speakers, backlit keys similar to the MacBook Pro, and a 180 degree hinge
0:53
which means there's no annoying docking system. You can simply lift the lid, the same way you would on a laptop
0:58
The key layout will be familiar to anyone who has typed away on the standard Mac keyboard
1:02
with a very similar size which helps when touch typing. Although the keys are a little more sensitive than what I'm used to, resulting in a few
1:09
typing errors here and there. But after a few hours, I managed to develop my muscle memory to compensate
1:14
It looks fairly similar to a lot of iPad keyboards out there, which is understandable as they're
1:19
all aiming to look like the MacBook. Not only does it come in this space grey, which I have here, it also comes in silver
1:24
and gold. It's made out of aluminium, which matches the rear of the iPad beautifully, almost looking
1:30
like Apple themselves have milled the chassis. Overall, it feels solid and is definitely not going to fall apart when throwing it into
1:36
your bag. The top keys are occupied by the shortcut keys, such as the home button, brightness
1:41
and volume, and even a Siri key. As I mentioned earlier, the keys are backlit, to help in darker situations
1:48
Due to the compact size though, it doesn't feature a sensor to be aware of the room brightness
1:53
Instead, it features a key to turn them on which is really handy, which I personally
1:57
prefer, as I can decide when I need the keys to be lit and hopefully save a little battery
2:02
The feature that first interested me about the Brydge Air keyboard are the hinges
2:06
A lot of keyboards rely on magnets or a docking system, which can make it a little awkward
2:11
when wanting to store it for transporting from home to the office. Whereas, the hinges clamp your iPad for a secure fit, and clings onto your iPad for
2:18
dear life. They also allow you to specify the angle of the iPad, rather than a predefined angle
2:23
which otherwise can be awkward when working on different tables and desks
2:27
The keyboard features rubber feet on the bottom to keep it in place, and there's also these
2:31
two rubber pads on top to keep your iPad from making contact with the metal keyboard, preventing
2:36
the screen from getting scratched. Speakers are a feature usually overlooked by most keyboard cases, but that isn't the
2:43
case here. It took me a few minutes to figure out that I had to pair the speakers independently from
2:48
the keyboard, which you do by holding down the speaker button for a few seconds, then
2:52
selecting it from the list in the Bluetooth settings. But, once paired, I was actually surprised at how much louder they were compared to the
2:58
iPad's standalone speakers, which is a great improvement for watching back films and YouTube
3:03
videos whilst I'm on the move. And for the size and price, they sound pretty decent
3:08
Connecting both the speakers and the keyboard does mean the iPad takes a bit of a hit when
3:11
it comes to battery life, reducing mine by about 2 or 3 hours with extensive use
3:16
But, by being able to connect the keyboard and speakers independently, this means you
3:20
can be smart about preserving your battery. Overall, the Brydge Air is by far the best keyboard case I've ever used
3:26
It looks and feels great, and is a pleasure to type on. In fact, I wrote the majority of this video down using it
3:32
The speakers are okay, and the backlit keys are a great advantage when typing in low light conditions
3:37
If you're looking to bridge the gap between your MacBook and your iPhone, the Brydge Air
3:42
could be the keyboard case to do just that. Well, that's it for this video
3:46
The Brydge Air is available now for $149, with the Brydge Mini coming in at $129
3:52
If you'd like to read more about it, or maybe pick one up, I'll leave a link in the description
3:57
down below. If you enjoyed this video, hit that like button as it really does help me out
4:02
And if you haven't already, hit the subscribe button so you don't miss a single video from
4:06
Cult of Mac. I'll see you next time
