Do older Surface Pro Type Covers work with Surface Pro 8?

Best answer: No! Unfortunately for current Surface Pro Type Cover owners, the Surface Pro 8 uses an all-new connector due to the new blueprint and shape. Information technology does, however, work with the newer Surface Pro X Type Cover. You'll have to grab the new $99 Surface Pro Type Encompass if you want to hammer out some docs on this thing.

Why do I need a new Blazon Cover for the Surface Pro 8?

In the by, Microsoft has by and large offered backwards and forrad compatibility with the Surface Type Cover line, letting you utilise previous-gen Type Covers on the Surface Pro 7, for example. This year'southward Surface Pro 8 revision is 1 of the biggest we've had in recent years, yet, with a refreshed chassis and design profile.

The new size and shape of the Surface Pro 8 simply don't lend themselves to the current slate of Surface Pro Type Covers. However, information technology does work with the Surface Pro X Type Cover, which has a bay for the new Surface Slim Pen.

The Surface Pro 8 follows the design language of the Surface Pro Ten a little more closely than its previous incarnations, so it makes sense that Microsoft would autumn back on the Pro 10 Type Embrace instead. Although, it's a little frustrating also, given that the Pro 10 Blazon Comprehend is anywhere up to $40 more expensive than the previous-gen standard Surface Type Covers.

Can I purchase a cheaper third-party Surface Pro X Type Cover?

The marketplace for third-party Surface Pro X Type Covers correct at present is practically not-real. The Surface Pro X wasn't the most pop incarnation of the Surface line, owing to its ARM-based architecture. In the right hands, the Surface Pro X is a truly cracking PC, but it potentially isn't ready to go fully mainstream yet. Withal, the arrival of the Surface Pro 8 and its Pro X Blazon Comprehend requirement means that manufacturers will be looking to adapt their designs for the new market. It'southward off-white to assume that the Surface Pro ix and 10 will also use this new connector way, so we can expect some 3rd-party options to announced in the coming weeks and months ahead.

If you don't want to blow an additional $130 dollars on a Pro X Type Cover, you tin can just apply a regular Bluetooth or standard USB-based keyboard with the Surface Pro 8, since it is, at the end of the twenty-four hours, just another Windows PC. Take a await at our best Bluetooth keyboards roundup for some options.

Our choice

Surface Go Signature Type Cover

Surface Pro X Blazon Cover

Not cheap, only necessary

Unless you plan to use the Surface Pro 8 entirely equally a tablet, a Surface Type Cover is a pretty essential piece of kit. Sadly, it'due south not cheap, but y'all can use basically any keyboard you want with the Surface Pro 8, thanks to USB and Bluetooth back up.

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Protect your Surface Pro with one of these great cases

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Protect your Surface Pro with i of these bang-up cases

Yous have a Surface Pro in your hands and y'all desire to protect information technology. This roundup of cases compatible with Pro four, Pro (2017), Pro 6, Pro 7, and Pro vii Plus covers rugged and stylish options so that you lot observe something you similar.