This alone makes it easier to use, even though it doesn’t seem to be any more responsive than before. It’s glass now, and much smoother than the Pro 3 Type Cover’s textured plastic. With that in mind, the new glass trackpad is bigger and better. The new Type Cover looks nearly identical to the old, complete with same sloping design. Given that the trackpad is right below it and accomplishes the same task with a simple click, we question its usefulness. The Pro 4 also has a new key next to the cursor keys that doubles as a right-mouse click. There are also still no keys for controlling screen brightness, just two for the keyboard backlight. Print screen is a nice option given that the old Windows key+volume down is no longer an option (the Pro 4 doesn’t have a Windows key) for screenshots, but we would have liked to see the settings shortcut retained. Looking at the keys, the Pro 4 Type Cover ditches the Windows 8 Search, Charms, Share, and settings keys in favor of volume controls, PrtScn, and Ins. The new Type Cover also has one more key, 78 to 77. The Chiclet keys are a bit smaller, but not enough to make a negative difference. The new Type Cover has a glass trackpad that is better, but still not good enough.Ĭomparing the two Type Covers side by side reveals the Pro 4’s has a lot less wasted space the edges. Keystroke travel seems about the same on both Type Covers, but the Pro 4’s is crisper, snapping back quickly. It’s more comfortable and accurate, with less errant keystrokes. Having 78 individual keys instead of a large block of keys makes a noticeable difference in typing. Going with a Chiclet key design is the best thing Microsoft could have done. Like the Pro 3 Type Cover, the Pro 4 Type Cover features magnets in its upper portion to create the sloping effect, which aids typing comfort. It has the same felt-like covering, with the “Surface” branding replaced with “Microsoft.” The optional pen loop is no more, as the Surface Pro 4 has a magnetic dock for the Surface Pen. 64 pounds, making it about the same size as the Pro 3 Type Cover. It measures 11.60 x 8.50 x 0.19 inches, and weighs. The Type Cover is available in black, blue, bright blue, red, and teal, while the Type Cover with Fingerprint ID is only available in onyx, which is exactly the same as black. The new Type Cover has 78 backlit keys, each with ample spacing between them, just above the glass trackpad, with the optional fingerprint sensor on the lower right portion.

Surface Pro 3 owners should especially welcome this news, as both the Pro 4 and Pro 3 are the same size, and the new Type Cover works perfectly well with the older Surface. Microsoft Surface Pro 4 Type Cover has 78 backlit and Chiclet-style keys.

Surface pro fingerprint keyboard setup