Brydge releases new line of ‘Designed for Surface’ keyboards and accessories

On August 17, Brydge will begin selling a new lineup of Surface accessories featuring the “Designed for Surface” badge, which means they were created in collaboration with Microsoft. The lineup includes keyboards for the Surface Pro and Surface Go, but the most engaging product in the group is the $ 99.99 W-Touch standalone trackpad. It’s apparently the first standalone wireless trackpad created for Windows 10.

The W-Touch is like a Magic Trackpad 2 built for Windows 10 instead, covered in a striking black with an aluminum construction. It has Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity and it supports Precision drivers and multitouch gestures, such as pinch to zoom, and multifinger swipes to switch desktops. This trackpad has a large glass surface to move comfortably in, measuring 5.5 inches across and 3.3 inches deep, so slightly smaller than Apple’s version, but still spacious.

The W-Touch is said to last one month battery life, and it charges via USB-C. One hundred dollars is not cheap for a trackpad, but as the only standalone, wireless option created in collaboration with Microsoft, Brydge gets to set the price. I haven’t had a chance to try it yet, but it can be a great accessory to have if a mouse doesn’t keep up with your workflow.

Photo: Brydge

Brydge also releases the W-Type to complement the W-Touch. It is a full-size wireless keyboard with aluminum detailing and a full range of function keys. Right out of the gate, it looks like an excellent value at $ 59.99. The overall design, and even the printing on the keys, makes it look like an accessory that Microsoft can make – and maybe pay heavily too much. The keys use a screen mechanism and each has 2 mm travel, which Brydge claims is the ‘perfect’ amount of key travel. If it’s something like what the Surface Laptop 3 has built in, there’s enough reason to get excited.

This model has Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity with support for up to four devices, so you can easily switch on the computer where it is connected. Brydge claims it can take up to a month on a charge. If it pops out, you can charge it via USB-C.

Completing the lineup are the new Brydge 12.3 Pro Plus and 10.5 Go Plus keyboards. The $ 149.99 Pro Plus model works with the Surface Pro 4, 5, 6, and 7, while the $ 129.99 Go Plus works with the Surface Go and Go 2. Both have Bluetooth 5.0, backlit keys, Windows Precision trackpads with full multitouch steering support, USB-C ports for charging, and an antimicrobial coating on the deck. Brydge has had a keyboard for the Surface Pro for a while now – this new model has a redesigned handlebar, 70 percent larger trackpad, native multi-touch control in Windows, updated Bluetooth connectivity, and a plastic deck as opposed to aluminum. (The bottom of the keyboard is still metal.) It also weighs 70 grams less.

Photo: Brydge

Like the Brydge Pro Plus keyboard for the iPad Pro, these turn your Surface into a more traditional clamshell laptop that can be easily balanced or locked on your lap and tossed in a bag. If you want to use the Surface as a tablet, you can just pop it out of the cradle of the Brydge and go.

Compared to Microsoft’s Surface keyboards, the Brydge offers a more stable typing experience and longer keystrokes. But it requires roughly every three months and Bluetooth is not as reliable of a connection as the pogo pins that the Surface keyboards use. It also makes the Surface noticeably thicker and heavier, but it’s still a fairly portable package.

All of these products will go on sale starting August 17th, and except for the 10.5 Go Plus which ships the week of September 7th, the others will ship the week of August 31st.