It's unclear if the new peripherals will replace current products or if these will be just for Surface computers
There’s no question Surface has become a successful brand for Microsoft. So much so it’s reportedly looking to rename the flailing Lumia smartphone line to Surface Phone next year. So, it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise that peripherals with the Surface name are reportedly coming.
Digital Trends got the scoop on two keyboards and a mouse with the Surface brand courtesy of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group revealing the Surface Ergonomic Keyboard. Separately, there is mention of a keyboard and mouse on the FCC’s website, including photos of the devices.
They keyboard is a thin, chiclet design that looks remarkably like the external keyboards Apple sells for the Mac. It’s not ergonomic, like many Microsoft keyboards, but looks extremely thin and light. That would hint at use with Surface tablets or laptops, since you’d want a keyboard on the go to be as light as possible. Most of Microsoft’s keyboards have an ergonomic design and are large and meant for desktop PCs.
The Surface Keyboard will be based on the Bluetooth 4.2 spec and require two AA batteries that are stored underneath, which Microsoft claims will last up to 12 months. The Surface Mouse is also Bluetooth 4.2-compliant and requires two AAA batteries.
The Surface Mouse looks like the mouse that’s part of Microsoft’s Designer Bluetooth Desktop bundle. It’s a flat device, but gray instead of black like the current device.
The user manual indicates the mouse and keyboard will be sold as a bundle, which Microsoft already does with its PC keyboards and mice.
Both peripherals should be compatible with Android, iOS and macOS in addition to Microsoft’s Windows platform.
