Samsung's new keyboard costs as much as a decent phone. Reactions are mixed so far

Samsung quietly and without much fanfare launched a new accessory for its flagship tablet. It’s called the Pro Keyboard, it’s designed exclusively for the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra, and it costs a flat 399 dollars in the USA — more than the Apple Magic Keyboard for the 13-inch iPad Pro. In Europe, Samsung set the price at 389.90 € (about 9,600 Czech crowns), but it can be found from independent retailers in Germany for as low as 239 €. You can’t buy the keyboard in the Czech Republic yet.

Bottom half of a laptop for the price of a phone

The Pro Keyboard connects to the tablet via pogo pins on the back — no Bluetooth, no pairing. The keyboard has no internal battery and draws all its power directly from the tablet. Just attach it and it works instantly. When you close it, the tablet sleeps; opening it wakes it up. Essentially, the same as you know from a classic laptop.

The body is made of aluminum, which explains the weight of 636 grams — almost the same as the Tab S11 Ultra itself. Together, this combination weighs approximately 1,300 grams, roughly like a MacBook Air. Samsung equipped the keyboard with a full-sized QWERTY layout with 80 keys, a dedicated key for Galaxy AI, a button to launch DeX mode, and three programmable buttons for quick launching favorite applications. The trackpad is 14.6% larger compared to the previous model.

What’s missing and what are the drawbacks

On paper, it sounds like a solid foundation for transforming a tablet into a work machine. However, initial reviews from abroad reveal unpleasant compromises. The Pro Keyboard lacks keyboard backlighting — which is surprising, to say the least, for an accessory costing almost 10,000 crowns. Furthermore, the keyboard does not protect the back of the tablet, as it uses a narrow aluminum holder instead of a classic case. And one of the first reviewers points out a hinge that, according to them, “is guaranteed to break within a few months.”

There are no additional ports either — no USB, no card slot. Anyone who hoped the keyboard would add connectivity to the tablet will be disappointed. And by the way, the Pro Keyboard works only with the Tab S11 Ultra. Owners of the basic Galaxy Tab S11 are out of luck.

Tablet with a keyboard, or just a laptop?

This raises an uncomfortable question. The Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is sold in the Czech Republic from approximately 28,000 CZK (Wi-Fi variant) to over 40,000 CZK for the highest 5G configuration. Add the price of the Pro Keyboard — even if it were sold domestically for the European price of 390 €, which is roughly 9,800 CZK — and you’re looking at a total investment of around 38,000 to 50,000 CZK. For similar money, you can get a very decent ultrabook with a full-fledged system, a backlit keyboard, and significantly broader software compatibility.

Samsung is betting that the combination of a tablet with an S Pen, a touchscreen, and DeX mode will better meet the needs of creative professionals than a traditional laptop. This might be true for a specific group of users — illustrators, graphic designers, or people who alternate between work and content consumption. For most others, however, it looks more like an expensive experiment.

When will it arrive in the Czech Republic?

Samsung has not yet officially announced the Czech launch. The keyboard is currently available in the USA, Canada, South Korea, Germany, and Hong Kong. Historically, accessories for Galaxy tablets arrive in Czech stores with a delay of several weeks. If Samsung keeps the European price under 10,000 CZK and the idea of a tablet-laptop appeals to you, it’s worth watching the offers from Alza and other major retailers.

But first, compare what you can get for that money in the classic laptop category. The answer might quickly deter you from a keyboard that costs as much as a mid-range phone.

Does the tablet + keyboard combination make sense for you?

Source: Notebookcheck