Bryz, a company that sells high-quality keyboards for the iPad, has expanded its keyboard lineup with a new Bryzmini model designed to work with the iPad mini 1, 2 and 3. , the iPad mini becomes a miniature MacBook – albeit with a much narrower typing surface.
Like all Brydge keyboards, the BrydgeMini is made from aluminum that matches the iPad’s finish. It is available in Silver, Space Gray and Gold and the build quality is excellent. Brydge charges a lot for its keyboards, but they’re almost always worth it. The BrydgeMini isn’t a keyboard case — it’s just a keyboard, with two silicone-lined tabs that hold the iPad Mini in place. The BrydgeMini has a limited number of viewing angles as the tabs can be angled slightly forwards or backwards, but due to the design, it cannot be used in portrait mode with the iPad.
The BrydgeMini is identical to the BrydgeAir but scaled down, so if you use a BrydgeAir keyboard, the BrydgeMini will be familiar.
It doesn’t fold back to allow the iPad to be used in tablet mode while the keyboard is attached, but it’s easy enough to remove the iPad mini from the tabs. It sports a clamshell-style design for travel, but in this mode, it’s going to add a lot of bulk to Apple’s smallest tablet. It weighs 300 grams or .66 pounds, essentially double the weight of the iPad mini. The iPad mini weighs 331 grams or 0.73 pounds.
The BrydgeMini is also quite thick, so when in clamshell mode, it’s going to double the thickness of the iPad Mini. It’ll still fit comfortably in a bag or backpack, but it’s definitely negating the iPad’s slim profile.
The bottom has four silicone feet to keep it stable on a flat surface, and with its rigid design and the way the iPad Mini fits into it, the BridgeMini can even be used on a lap. This isn’t always possible with other keyboards, so this is a nice feature.
Setup is easy enough. Turn it on, hold down the keyboard button at the bottom edge, and go to the Bluetooth section of the Settings app on the iPad mini to connect. I had no problem getting it to pair and it did pair while in use.
The entire length of the BrydgeMini is dedicated to the keyboard, but the iPad mini is only 7.87 inches long, so the keys on the keyboard are cramped. It takes time to adjust to the small size of the iPad Mini keys coming from a larger keyboard, but I can type at a reasonable speed. It doesn’t match the speed I get on a full-size keyboard, and I wouldn’t want to use the BrydgeMini for full term papers or anything long, but it works for email and short writing.
On the keyboard, the biggest problem is the cramped Shift, Return, and Punctuation keys. They’re small, so it’s easy to hit the wrong key if you’re not looking at the keyboard. As for the keys, they have plenty of power and travel when pressed, but there was one problem I couldn’t fix – they squeak. There is a distinct squeaking sound when hitting some keys, which I found distracting. It doesn’t happen all the time or with all keys (it’s primarily a space bar issue), and I’m not sure if it’s something that will go away over time, but it hasn’t subsided in my week of testing the keyboard (update: it turns out I have a faulty Unit was — a second unit didn’t scream. See end of review for more information).
At the top of the keyboard, there are several quick action keys that go to the iPad’s home screen, lock it, bring up search, launch the on-screen keyboard, and control media playback and screen brightness. Most iPad keyboards have these features, but they’re worth highlighting. The BrydgeMini also includes backlighting below the keys, a feature that isn’t very common. The backlighting is excellent for typing in a dark room, and there are three adjustable levels of brightness.
The Bridge keyboard I tested for the iPad Air 2 held my iPad tightly, with the Bridgemini iPad Mini 2 a much looser fit than the one I used it with. Placed upside down, it falls over, and it also has a tendency to move around a bit when I’m typing when it’s not on a flat surface. This is a problem due to the aforementioned tabs that keep the iPad mini in place – they often shift to cover some of the side screen. It only obscures the tiniest part of the screen, but it’s also a distraction when using clear silicon chips inside.
Update: Bridge advised me that squeezing the tabs that hold the iPad mini makes them tighter. It worked and alleviated the problem I had with the iPad mini keyboard falling out of the case. My iPad mini no longer shifts around, but the tabs that hold the iPad in place cover a small portion of the screen even though they are properly aligned. This is less noticeable with clear silicone tab liners.
I also had some issues with the hinge allowing the iPad mini to angle slightly forward or backward. When angled back, it tends to snap flat, so the limited viewing angles I get with the Bridgemini are even more limited.
The BrydgeMini charges via micro-USB, and according to Brydge, you’ll need a charge once every few months, depending on your usage level. I didn’t need to charge it during my testing period and didn’t notice any significant battery drain issues.
bottom line
The BrydgeMini is an excellent keyboard, but like any keyboard for the iPad mini, it’s small and can be difficult to type on. My first recommendation for iPad mini users is a larger standalone keyboard that offers more room for comfortable typing, but if you want something more compact that turns the iPad mini into a mini MacBook, the Bridgemini is a solid choice.
It has a solid key feel, built-in backlighting for use at night, is made of the same quality aluminum as the iPad mini, and has consistent viewing angles, so you’re getting plenty of bells and whistles with this keyboard.
I don’t recommend getting the Bryzmini if you plan to update your iPad in the next year or so. It’s $130, which is a pricey add-on on an iPad that starts at $399, and it doesn’t work with the new iPad mini 4, so it won’t work with later iPad models either.
It’s a product that’s late to the market, coming on the heels of the iPad mini 4, even though the iPad mini has been available for several years. Bridge is also taking pre-orders for a version of the iPad mini 4, which will ship in January.
I did a more in-depth review of the BrydgeAir Keyboard for the iPad Air 2, which is worth checking out for some more details on the BrydgeMini. The two keyboards are similar in design, the Bridgemini is a smaller version of the BridgeAir. The only notable difference is the BrydgeMini’s lack of built-in speakers.
Benefits:
- Backlighting
- The keys feel great
- Good build quality
Disadvantages:
- expensive
- Adds a lot to the iPad mini
- Tabs occupy a small portion of the screen
- The tendency to snap backwards makes it difficult to adjust the angle
How to buy
The BrydgeMini is available from the Brydge website for $129.99.
Update: Based on the fact that the first BrydgeMini iPad mini keyboard I received was defective, Brydge sent me a second unit to test. On the second unit, I didn’t run into the piercing keys on the first unit, so maybe that unit was damaged in shipping. BrydgeMini buyers should be aware that squeaking is not normal with BrydgeMini keyboards, so if you start experiencing that problem, be sure to contact Brydge for a replacement unit because it abnormal behavior
