14 DAY TRIAL // As promised in late 2013, Microsoft is getting ready to launch the Surface Power Covers, a new accessory for its tablet family that can extend battery life by up to 70 percent, according to preliminary figures.
The new Surface Power Cover can be yours for $199.99 (€150) and will ship starting March 19, the company said in a new webpage published this morning. It weighs in only .55 pounds (249 grams) and is 9.75 mm thick.
As compared to the traditional Type and Touch Covers for the second-generation Surface family, the Power Cover doesn’t come with backlighting, so it’s only supposed to extend the autonomy of your tablet, while also acting as a protective cover.
“Work with the speed and functionality of a classic laptop keyboard while extending the battery life of your Surface up to 70% with the Power Cover. It also recharges your Surface's battery while you work. You'll have plenty of juice to stay unplugged all day in the office, during a full day of classes, or on a cross-country flight,” Microsoft says in the official description of the Power Cover.
The Power Cover has basically the same key configuration as the Type Cover, with the major difference represented by the additional external battery that can recharge your tablet while you work.
The new accessory is only compatible with the Surface Pro, the Surface Pro 2 and the Surface 2, which means that you won’t be able to use it in case you’ve purchased the first-generation Surface RT.
“Fold the Power Cover back like a book cover to get the full touchscreen experience—the keys are disabled when the cover is flipped back. When closed, the Power Cover shuts down your display to preserve battery life, and helps protect the screen from bumps and scratches when you’re on the move,” Microsoft adds.
At first, the Power Cover would only be available in black, but there are no other details as to whether the software giant is planning to offer some other color options as well.
According to a report by ZDNet, the Power Cover will initially be sold in the United States, Canada, and Japan, while some other markets could receive it at a later date. Of course, no other details are known at this point, but expect the software giant to share more details in the coming days, as we get closer to the public launch of the new Surface tablet accessory.