Microsoft Surface Ergonomic Keyboard Review: High-Quality Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Best Products > Computer Components
Microsoft Surface Ergonomic Keyboard Review
A comfortable, high-quality wireless ergonomic keyboard
By Emily Isaacs Emily Isaacs Writer Monmouth College Western Illinois University Emily Isaacs is an Illinois-based writer specializing in gaming and entertainment. She is passionate about emerging tech and how it enriches daily life. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on January 3, 2020 Tweet Share Email We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. 4.9 Microsoft Surface Ergonomic Keyboard
Lifewire / Emily Isaacs What We Like Comfortable, high-quality ergonomic design Easy setup process Excellent battery life Wireless Easy to clean What We Don't Like Can’t wake PC in sleep mode No backlighting Bottom Line The Microsoft Surface Ergonomic Keyboard is a high-quality Bluetooth keyboard that’s well worth the splurge, particularly for people who spend a lot of time typing on their computers. View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Best Buy 4.9 Microsoft Surface Ergonomic Keyboard
Lifewire / Emily Isaacs View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Best Buy in this article Expand Design Setup Process Features Battery Life Price Competition Final Verdict Specs We purchased the Microsoft Surface Ergonomic Keyboard so our expert reviewer could thoroughly test and assess it. Keep reading for our full product review. Microsoft is no stranger to computers and their accessories, and it’s obvious with the Microsoft Surface Keyboard that they’ve put a considerable amount of thought into its design. This ergonomic keyboard is not only built with high-quality materials to ensure its longevity, but it’s comfortable and intuitive to use. We tested this keyboard over the period of a week, read on to see what we found. Design Sleek and comfortable
The Surface is a sleek ergonomic keyboard and a welcome addition to the Microsoft family. Like many ergonomic keyboards, it’s designed to help your wrists sit at an instinctive, comfortable angle that encourages natural movement to prevent repetitive stress injuries. The keys have a slight divot in the center so fingers naturally conform to their shape, making the keys comfortable and easy to type on. Lifewire / Emily Isaacs The sloped, ergonomic design is built using high-quality, tactile materials that are not only intuitive to type on, but oddly satisfying as well. As with anything new, there’s still a period of adjustment, but we didn’t find the change to be a jarring experience. The Surface has the added bonus of featuring Alcantara fabric, a proprietary Italian material that’s a combination of polyester and polyurethane with a suede-like feel to it. It uses the Alcantara fabric as part of the wrist pad making it not only and soft to the touch, but easy to clean and maintain as well. The Surface keyboard features a split design that’s not dissimilar to the manta ray shape employed by the Microsoft Sculpt, a direct competitor to the Surface. It’s as if Microsoft lifted that product design and built upon it to create something better—and more attractive. The two halves of the keyboard swoop outward and downward, putting hands, wrists, and arms in a natural position. It’s the Goldilocks of keyboards with a fit that feels just right. Unlike some ergonomic keyboards that can hog space, forcing users to overreach for mice which can lead to shoulder injuries in place of wrist injuries, the Surface is wide enough that your hands sit comfortably but small enough that it’s easy to reach for your mouse when you want it. It’s the Goldilocks of keyboards with a fit that feels just right. Setup Process Easy for PCs
The Microsoft Surface Ergonomic Keyboard arrives in a mid-size box containing the Surface itself as well as a small white box tucked underneath it. This contains a product information pamphlet and quick start setup guide. To use the Microsoft Surface Ergonomic Keyboard, we flipped the keyboard over and removed the paper slip from the magnetic battery compartment. Next, we pressed the Bluetooth button and flipped it over to the frontside where a white light flashed above the arrow pad to indicate that it was ready for pairing. On our PC, we navigated to the Bluetooth settings and selected the Microsoft Surface Ergonomic Keyboard. It prompted us to input a numeric code and press enter in order to finalize the setup process. Then, just like that, it was ready for use and setup was complete. Lifewire / Emily Isaacs Features Well-conceived function keys
The Surface has function keys for pausing multimedia, skipping forward or backward in multimedia, increasing or decreasing volume, muting volume, increasing brightness or decreasing brightness, and several others. It really feels like Microsoft thought of every way their users interact with keyboards and tried to meet their needs. Battery Life Excellent but at the expense of backlighting
The keyboard features Bluetooth 4.0 technology, so it’s able to establish a wireless connection of up to 32 feet with Bluetooth-capable devices. It’s worth noting that it does use two AAA alkaline batteries. These offer a shelf life of up to 12 months, so you’re not likely to run out of power anytime soon. If you do need to change them, it’s easy to press the battery compartment lid down so that it pops out to replace them. One drawback to this design, however, is that the keyboard doesn’t feature backlighting. While this isn’t the end of the world by any means, it is something we definitely missed when using it. The keyboard features Bluetooth 4.0 technology, so it’s able to establish a wireless connection of up to 32 feet with Bluetooth-capable devices. Price Expensive but worth it for the quality
Retailing for $129 (MSRP) or around $99 on Amazon, the Surface is a pricey little keyboard. Between the quality of the build materials, the comfort of the keyboard’s design, its wireless capabilities, and its great battery life, the Surface is a worthwhile investment for people who spend a significant amount of time in front of a PC. If you don’t spend much time on your PC, however, a cheaper, non-ergonomic model may be a better fit. Microsoft Surface Ergonomic Keyboard vs Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard
The Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard is a direct competitor to the Surface. Interestingly, the Sculpt seems to have inspired a significant portion of the Surface’s design, with the Surface feeling like a fancier version of the Sculpt thanks to its quality materials and matte finish. This difference shows in their price points as well, with the Sculpt generally retailing for around $80 whereas the Surface retails for around $129 (MSRP) or $100 on Amazon. Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard Review: A Great Value Lifewire / Emily Isaacs A second version of the Sculpt is available for this same $129 price point, the notable difference being that it includes a wireless mouse which associates to the computer through the keyboard’s encrypted dongle. If you have limited USB ports, this may be especially appealing to you. The Sculpt is slightly smaller and made of plastic, although it also features a cushioned wrist pad. The wrist pad in the Sculpt is a bit firm, but it’s not uncomfortable. The Sculpt also comes with an optional magnetic riser that attaches to the bottom of the keyboard. It raises the wrist pad, thus altering the pitch of the keyboard itself into a more neutral position for your wrist. If you prefer to work on a raised surface or at a more neutral angle, the Sculpt is the clear winner. Another notable difference between the two is that the Sculpt offers a detached numpad. If you do a significant amount of work in spreadsheets with numbers, this feature can be a game-changer. The Surface features a split design that’s not dissimilar to the manta ray shape employed by the Microsoft Sculpt, a direct competitor to the Surface. While the Sculpt, like the Surface, is also wireless, it pairs to computers via an encrypted Bluetooth dongle that’s associated with the keyboard when it’s built at the factory. One drawback to this dongle, however, is that if it’s lost or damaged, it’s irreplaceable. If you’re concerned about misplacing the encrypted Bluetooth dongle the Sculpt uses, the Surface is the model for you. Final Verdict An almost flawless keyboard that’s worth the price. The Microsoft Surface Ergonomic Keyboard is a quality, wireless ergonomic keyboard that’s well worth the investment if you spend a significant portion of your time typing on your computer. It’s a splurge to be sure, but it’s worth the price for the quality you receive. Specs
Product Name Surface Ergonomic Keyboard Product Brand Microsoft Price $129.99 Weight 2.23 lbs. Product Dimensions 18.11 x 9.02 x 1.36 in. Product Number 3RA-00022 Compatibility Surface Pro 4, Surface Book, Surface Studio and other Windows devices, Mac OS 10.10.5 and higher Mobile Compatibility Android 4.2 and above, iOS 8 & 9 Bluetooth T 4.0 Range 32 ft. Battery 2 AAA Alkaline batteries (included) Battery Life Up to 12 months Warranty 1-year limited warranty Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire Microsoft's Surface Pro 9 Shows That the Future Is ARM, Not Intel Which Microsoft Surface Is Best for You? The 8 Best Ergonomic Keyboards The 9 Best Keyboards, Tested by Experts Fellowes Microban Wired Keyboard Review: The Best Budget Option 8 Things to Consider Before Buying a Computer Mouse Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard Review: A Great Value 5 Things to Consider When Buying a Keyboard The Next Microsoft Surface Event: Date, News, Announcements, Rumors, and More Microsoft Surface Trio: News and Expected Price, Release Date, Specs; and More Rumors The 8 Best Keyboard Wrist Rests of 2022 Freestyle2 Blue (Mac) Review: Perfect for Apple Users Logitech Marathon Mouse M705: A Customizable Wireless Mouse with Above-Average Battery Cloud Nine C989M Ergonomic Mechanical Keyboard: Comfort and Gaming Limited by Size and Software How to Connect a Mouse and Keyboard to Steam Deck The 6 Best Mac Keyboards of 2022 Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies