Brydge 12.3 Pro Bluetooth Keyboard with Trackpad for Microsoft Surface Pro (Black)

Those of us who own Microsoft Surface tablets love and loath them. We love them because they are powerful, thin, light, and fun to use. We loath them because they aren't quite a laptop, even with the MS clip-on keyboard cover. The kickstand idea looks good on paper, but how many of us really use tablets as tablets and not like ad-hoc laptops? Without a keyboard, you are basically wasting 80% of the Surface's power. Just go buy an iPad if all you want is a tablet. You'll be happier with it if all you're doing is watching streaming video or reading books. But if what you want is a modular tablet/keyboard combo to get you the power of a laptop with the versatility of a laptop, you really only have a couple of options. a) You buy Micro$oft's keyboard/cover combo, which is decent enough, but doesn't really solve that painful kickstand problem when you try to use it as a pseudo-laptop... or b) You buy a bluetooth keyboard/folio combo, which is usually a major kludge and chock full of compromises. Performance suffers and the whole thing just looks cheap. Why spend $800 on a Surface when it winds up looking like you stuffed it into a cheap pleather case with a crappy bluetooth keyboard. Enter option c) The Brydge 12.3 Pro+ bluetooth keyboard. This is the first and only (to my knowledge) keyboard that actually makes the Surface act more like a SurfaceBook. You slip the Surface into the clips that hold it snugly to the keyboard, you pair up the Bluetooth, you get typing. I'm typing this review on it, BTW. In the world of keyboard options the Brydge 12.3 Pro+ is... a) An incredible keyboard (super comfortable with a decent amount of spring to the keys) b) Well balanced (it has enough weight to keep the tablet part from tipping it over) c) Seems very stable as far as the Bluetooth connection is concerned The pros are obvious. For the first time the Surface behaves like a true laptop without the cheap pleathery case/combo feel. The cons are a little tougher to define, but they get down to the central issue. If you want a true SurfaceBook, get ready to spring another $500 to get into the ballpark. This does not make the Surface a SurfaceBook. The surface doesn't "clip" into the Brydge the way the MS keyboard/cover clips onto the Surface. The Brydge uses small-ish tabs at the lower corners of the surface to "cinch" the Surface into place. They are silicone coated clips that provide a snug, but not "clicked" point of connection with the tablet. In other words, the tablet *can* slip free, especially if you do what I did and try to add a sticker to the back of your Surface to protect that beautiful aluminum case from scratches. Then, what you'll wind up doing is also what I did, cutting away pieces of that beautiful skin so the clips maintain perfect, flat contact with the back of the Surface. After I put the skin on and tried to clip the Surface into the Brydge, the clips failed to make perfect contact, so the silicone coating wouldn't grip and the tablet slipped right out. But, if you do buy a skin and spend a few moments creating a template to cut the corners out before you apply it to your Surface, the silicone clips on the Brydge will maintain a reasonably snug connection with the tablet and you will have all the functionality of a slim, powerful laptop with a solid, author-approved keyboard. Bottom line, the Brydge 12.3 Pro+ keyboard for the Microsoft Surface Pro line of tablets is an incredible value, a solid performer, and perfectly funtional. Just buy a decent skin for the back of your Surface and make sure the silicone-covered pads that hold the Surface in place have complete contact with the tablet case and you'll enjoy the best of both worlds. The tablet functionality of the Surface when you need it, and the keyboard comfort of a laptop for the 80% of real world purposes that we buy a Surface for in the first place. Highly recommended.

UPDATE: After a couple of more months of use, I still like this keyboard a lot, and still recommend it as a great buy. Yes, it sometimes briefly loses the Bluetooth connection, which is not a problem, but sometimes that lost connection can last for several minutes, which can be frustrating. Occasionally it will double-type a letter. It's not a problem if you proofread, as most people do, but it can happen. Finally, a tiny screw came out of the back (one of 16 screws there, so it had no effect), but I mention it so the company can have a talk with their manufacturer. A screw falling out isn't a good look. MY PREVIOUS REVIEW: Yes, as some have noted, it's heavy, but that's because it's a solidly built, impressive keyboard. My old original (and light) Surface keyboard was literally shredding at the edges and the letters on often-used keys had literally disappeared, so I needed a new keyboard. This Brydge was the least expensive by far, but seemed worth a try... and I'm glad I got it. I've used it frequently and for long periods for more than a week, so it's gotten a good workout. Setup was quick, easy, and intuitive. Both the keyboard and the trackpad have been immediately responsive: no lags at all (and just as instant as on Microsoft's original keyboard). The battery life has been very impressive (still strong after a week of frequent use). On the downside, it lost contact with the computer a couple of times, but it was easily and quickly restored (once it re-contacted itself after a short pause). And it is much heavier than Microsoft's original flimsy keyboard, as others have noted. This keyboard is NOT flimsy. On the plus side, after you attach it (which also was very easy, and it fit perfectly) you really feel like you have a brand new laptop (because it's heavier than the Surface "tablet" you had gotten used to. Bottom line: It works, it's well-made, and it looks like it cost well over $100. I recommend it.

I wanted something to keep my surface upright. I had a normal Microsoft keyboard but I hated it because it would just constantly close on me, especially if I had it on my lap. It would only work really if it was on a flat surface. And even then, it was at a fixed angle which didn't work for me. I decided to try this out. It was on sale and I said why not? Here's what I think about it: PROS: works as expected. The fixed angle is no longer a problem, as it can go as far down or as far up as you need it. The keyboard is nice to use, feels very well made and easy to use. When the case is closed, it folds down flat and doesn't damage anything. CONS: The main issue I have with this case is that the Bluetooth takes way too long to connect to my computer. I have to sit there constantly pressing the space bar after I turn my computer on. It takes longer than it should. Another frustrating thing is that the trackpad makes the mouse move very slow almost? It feels glitchy and choppy. It's not smooth if that makes sense. Also, you can tell that the sides where the clamps are holding the screen kind of put pressure on the corners. You can tell that it's doing that when you turn the computer on and the black screen starts the startup, and the corners have a whiter color due to the pressure. Other than those things, this case is almost perfect. I wish that the Bluetooth and the trackpad were better, but compared to the old system that I had, this is a lot better. If you can live with the issues mentioned above like I can, I think you should go for it.

Writing this on second day of delivery Build quality is really good. Comes in nice packaging. First impressions are very convincing

This is a great Bluetooth keyboard with trackpad that will work (to varying degrees) with almost any computer. I am typing this on one of these paired with an ASUS ProArt PZ13 Surface-style tablet, have used it with an Android tablet, in Linux, and also paired to an iPad. On iPad I recall the trackpad not working for some strange reason that I would, perhaps falsely, attribute to Apple. Brydge went out of business, was bought out, and is sort of still a thing. This keyboard, a significant upgrade from the Brydge 12.3 for older Surfaces, is a bit of an abandoned product, for sure. But. It's selling for $60CDN vs $130USD, works with everything I've thrown at it, and is of quite high quality. If, in 2025, you are on the fence about this, just go for it. It is better than anything similar for $60. Even as a backup for a standard Surface keyboard, it's great. I have a bunch of Brydge keyboards that I've purchased on heavy discount in the last year or so. They are all great. No regrets.

Brilliant product and must have for surface pro owners. It seamlessly converts tablet to a laptop with much better look and feel than microsoft keyboard

La tastiera è di ottima qualità, il risultato estetico ottenuto sembra quello di un normale laptop, buona corsa dei tasti (anche se molto piccoli ed è necessario abituarsi), ma è davvero molto pesante e raddoppia (se non triplica) il peso del mio Surface Pro 4. Un altro aspetto da tenere in conto è che ha il layout americano, risolvibile con adesivi (da comprare a parte) oppure abituandosi alla corrispondenza dei tasti. Una nota sull'accensione: basta premere il tasto Fn contemporaneamente a del/power per un solo secondo e la tastiera si attiva, non c'è un led di accensione fisso (si accende solo mentre premi e per 1/2 secondi dopo, in verde, ma poi scompare): Se non si è consapevoli, sembra che non sia accesa, ma lo è! Su amazon usa e su alcuni forum internazionali, viene riportato il rischio di rompere lo schermo dove sono posti i fermi, nel chiudere il laptop. Spero non accada. Non mi esprimo sulla durata della batteria, perché l'acquisto è troppo recente.

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