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  1. Table of Contents
  2. Top
  3. Main Differences
  4. Design
    1. Dimensions
    2. Build Quality
    3. Ergonomics
    4. Hardware Customizability
    5. Backlight Features
    6. Backlight Clarity
    7. Cable & Connector
    8. Wireless Versatility
    9. Macro Keys And Programming
    10. Extra Features
    11. In The Box
  5. Typing Experience
    1. Typing Quality
    2. Typing Noise
    3. Switches
    4. Keystrokes
    5. Latency
  6. Performance
    1. Single-Key Latency
    2. Multi-Key Latency
    3. Data Transmission
    4. Chord Split
  7. Software and Operating System
    1. Configuration Software
    2. Computer Compatibility
    3. Wireless Mobile Compatibility
  8. Comments

Microsoft Surface Keyboard vs Microsoft Bluetooth Keyboard

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Microsoft Surface Keyboard
Microsoft Bluetooth Keyboard

Tested using Methodology v1.2

Updated Jun 21, 2023 04:42 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Aug 26, 2024 10:05 PM

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Amazon.com
Microsoft Surface Keyboard Picture
Microsoft Bluetooth Keyboard Picture
ConnectivityWireless
Size
Full-size (100%)
Switch Type
Scissor
Hot-Swappable Switches
No
ConnectivityWireless
Size
Full-size (100%)
Switch Type
Scissor
N-Key Rollover (NKRO)
No
Hot-Swappable Switches
No

Variants

  • Surface Keyboard (Gray)
  • Bluetooth Keyboard (Black)

Review

See Microsoft Surface Keyboard Review
See Microsoft Bluetooth Keyboard Review
0 
2 

Our Verdict

Microsoft Surface Keyboard

Microsoft Bluetooth Keyboard

The Microsoft Surface Keyboard is much more premium than the Microsoft Bluetooth Keyboard. It's better built, and the scissor switches offer a better typing experience than the mushy rubber dome switches on the Bluetooth keyboard. On the other hand, you can set a few macros on the F4-F7 keys of the Bluetooth Keyboard, which you can't do on the Surface Keyboard.

0 

Check Price

Gray
Surface Keyboard
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Bluetooth Keyboard
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
Black
Bluetooth Keyboard
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
Black
Bluetooth Keyboard
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
Black
Bluetooth Keyboard
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
Black
Bluetooth Keyboard
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
Black
Bluetooth Keyboard
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
Black
Bluetooth Keyboard
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
Black
Bluetooth Keyboard
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Read more

Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

6.7
6.3

Build Quality 
 

8.5
7.5

Macro Keys And Programming 
 

0.0
4.0

Operating Force 
 

63 gf
66 gf

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

Microsoft Surface Keyboard Top Picture
Microsoft Bluetooth Keyboard Top Picture

Size 
 

Full-size (100%)
Full-size (100%)

Height 
 

0.7" (1.8 cm)
0.7" (1.9 cm)

Width  

16.5" (42.0 cm)
17.1" (43.5 cm)

Depth 
 

4.4" (11.2 cm)
4.9" (12.4 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

N/A
N/A

Weight 
 

0.88 lbs (0.400 kg)
1.04 lbs (0.470 kg)
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

8.5
7.5

Build Quality Close Up  

Microsoft Surface Keyboard Build Quality Close Up
Microsoft Bluetooth Keyboard Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

ABS
ABS
Show Text 

Ergonomics 
 

7.0
7.0

Side Picture  

Microsoft Surface Keyboard Side Picture
Microsoft Bluetooth Keyboard Side Picture

Curved/Angled 
 

No
No

Split Keyboard 
 

No
No

Key Alignment 
 

Staggered
Staggered

Minimum Incline 
 

5°
2°

Medium Incline 
 

N/A
N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

N/A
N/A

Home Row Height 
 

13.7 mm (0.5")
16.8 mm (0.7")
Show Text 

Hardware Customizability 
 

0.0
0.0

Customizability Overview  

Microsoft Surface Keyboard Customizability Overview
Microsoft Bluetooth Keyboard Customizability Overview

Replaceable Cherry Stabilizers 
 

No
No

Stabilizer Fixation 
 

Non-Customizable Design
Non-Customizable Design

Spacebar Stabilizer Size 
 

Non-Customizable Design
Non-Customizable Design

Size Of Right Mod Keys 
 

Non-Standard
Non-Standard

Hot-Swappable Switches 
 

No
No

Switch Stem Shape 
 

Non-Customizable Design
Non-Customizable Design

Switch PCB Socket 
 

Non-Customizable Design
Non-Customizable Design

North-Facing Cherry MX Interference 
 

Non-Customizable Design
Non-Customizable Design

Backlight Features 
 

0.0
0.0

Backlighting Picture  

Microsoft Surface Keyboard Backlighting Picture
Microsoft Bluetooth Keyboard Backlighting Picture

Brightness Max  

Microsoft Surface Keyboard Brightness Max
Microsoft Bluetooth Keyboard Brightness Max

Backlighting  

No
No

Brightness Min  

Microsoft Surface Keyboard Brightness Min
Microsoft Bluetooth Keyboard Brightness Min

RGB 
 

No
No

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

No
No

Effects 
 

No
No

Software Controllable 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Backlight Clarity 
 

0.0
0.0

White Shot  

Microsoft Surface Keyboard White Shot
Microsoft Bluetooth Keyboard White Shot

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wireless
Wireless

Detachable 
 

No
No

Length  

N/A
N/A

Connector (Keyboard side) 
 

No Cable
No Cable
Show Text 

Wireless Versatility 
 

7.3
7.3

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
Yes

Bluetooth Multi-Device Pairing 
 

No
No

Proprietary Receiver 
 

No
No

Battery Type 
 

2x AAA
2x AAA
Show Text 

Macro Keys And Programming 
 

0.0
4.0

Dedicated Macro Keys Count  

0
0

Onboard Macro Programming 
 

No
No

Macro Programming With Software 
 

No
Yes

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

Microsoft Surface Keyboard Extra Features
Microsoft Bluetooth Keyboard Extra Features

Media Keys 
 

Non-Dedicated
Non-Dedicated

Trackpad / Trackball  

No
No

Scroll Wheel 
 

No
No

Control Knob 
 

No
No

USB Passthrough 
 

No
No

Numpad  

Yes
Yes

Windows Key Lock 
 

No
No

Lock Indicator  

Caps, Scroll & Num lock
No Indicator
Show Text 

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

Microsoft Surface Keyboard Bundle Picture
Microsoft Bluetooth Keyboard Bundle Picture
Show Text 
Typing Experience

Typing Quality 
 

8.0
7.5

Key Spacing 
 

19.0 mm (0.748")
Show Text 

Typing Noise 
 

9.7
9.9

Typing Sample  

Average Loudness 
 

38.7 dBA
35.4 dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Switch Name 
 

No Marketed Name
No Marketed Name

Switch Type 
 

Scissor
Scissor

Feel 
 

Tactile
Tactile

Analog 
 

No

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Operating Force 
 

63 gf
66 gf

Actuation Force 
 

39 gf
49 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

1.5 mm
1.8 mm

Total Travel 
 

2.2 mm
2.1 mm
Show Text 

Latency 
 

6.4
6.9

Latency Video  

Latency Wired 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency Bluetooth 
 

25.9 ms
22.0 ms
Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

6.4
6.9

Single-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool

Best Connection 
 

22.0 ms

Best Connection Std Dev  

±3.3 ms

Wired 
 

N/A
N/A

Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

25.9 ms
22.0 ms

PCB (Estimated) 
 

20.7 ms

Multi-Key Latency 
 

6.4

Latency Video  

Multi-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool

Connection Evaluated  

Bluetooth

Key Press 
 

20.0 ms

Key Release 
 

45.7 ms

Data Transmission 
 

5.6

Multi-Key Raw USB  

Microsoft Bluetooth Keyboard Multi-Key Raw USB

Connection Evaluated  

Bluetooth

USB Polling Rate 
 

N/A

Effective Update Rate 
 

125 Hz

N-Key Rollover (NKRO) 
 

No

Multiple Keys Per USB Report 
 

Yes

Chord Split 
 

9.4

Chord Split Graph  

See details on graph tool

4 Chord Split Delay 
 

1.7 ms

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

6.8 ms
Show Text 
Software and Operating System

Configuration Software 
 

Software Tour  

Software Name  

No Software
Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center

Software Windows Compatible 
 

No
Yes

Software macOS Compatible 
 

No
No

Onboard Memory 
 

No
No

Profiles 
 

No Profile
6+
Show Text 

Computer Compatibility 
 

10
10

Windows 
 

Fully Compatible
Fully Compatible

macOS 
 

Fully Compatible
Fully Compatible

Linux (Ubuntu 22) 
 

Fully Compatible
Fully Compatible

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Windows, MacOS & Linux
Windows, MacOS & Linux
Show Text 

Wireless Mobile Compatibility 
 

10
10

Android 
 

Fully Compatible
Fully Compatible

iOS 
 

Fully Compatible
Fully Compatible

iPadOS 
 

Fully Compatible
Fully Compatible

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Android, iPhone & iPad
Android, iPhone & iPad
Show Text 

Check Price

Gray
Surface Keyboard
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Bluetooth Keyboard
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
Black
Bluetooth Keyboard
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
Black
Bluetooth Keyboard
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
Black
Bluetooth Keyboard
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
Black
Bluetooth Keyboard
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
Black
Bluetooth Keyboard
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
Black
Bluetooth Keyboard
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
Black
Bluetooth Keyboard
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Back to Top

Microsoft Surface Keyboard

Microsoft Bluetooth Keyboard

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

Microsoft Surface Keyboard vs Microsoft Bluetooth Keyboard: Main Discussion

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