Surface Duo 2 Pen Cover review: Added protection and a cool way to recharge Surface Slim Pen

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Surface Duo two Pen Cover review: Added protection and a absurd mode to recharge Surface Slim Pen

The Surface Duo 2 Pen Cover is not cheap, only it's the best accessory even if yous don't utilize the pen.

Surface Duo 2 Pen Cover Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Fundamental

At that place aren't many accessories for Microsoft's Surface Duo 2, partially due to the complexity of creating cases and even screen protectors (the new inwards curving displays are tricky). Simply Microsoft did show off the Pen Cover dorsum when the Surface Duo two was announced in October, which looked intriguing.

While it took over a month to come up out hitting the streets on Nov. 15, the $65 improver is unique. Not only does information technology let the Surface Slim Pen more firmly stick to Surface Duo 2, but it tin also recharge the pen via induction. Toss in more protection for the front cover and hide some fingerprints on the otherwise very glossy Obsidian model, and you get a worthy upgrade.

Here's what you demand to know almost information technology after spending a few weeks with it.

Surface Duo 2 Pen Cover Reco

Surface Duo two Pen Cover

Bottom line: While not inexpensive, the Pen Embrace brings some excellent protection and new functionality for Surface Duo 2, specially if you like using the Slim Pen with it.

The Skilful

Recharges Slim Pen
Perfect fit, adds protection
Powerful magnets to secure pen
Hides fingerprints

The Bad

Doesn't protect the back
Adds majority and weight
Expensive

Surface Duo 2 Pen Cover: Cost and availability

Surface Duo 2 Pen Cover Y'all can see the white LED when the pen is initially charging. Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Primal

The Surface Duo 2 Pen Comprehend is now available directly from Microsoft (online) and Best Purchase (in-store pickup or online). Amazon does non nevertheless accept it listed as available.

The cost is $65, and information technology comes in two colors: Obsidian (black) and Glacier (white), matching both color options for Surface Duo ii.

Surface Duo ii Pen Cover: What you lot'll like

Surface Duo 2 Pen Cover Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central

In the box, the Surface Duo ii Pen Cover has three parts: the front end cover and two rear pieces that class the rear bumper. The rear bumper is comprised of the aforementioned 2 pieces from the standalone Surface Duo 2 Bumper Case, which adheres with two-sided tape.

The matte front embrace clicks onto the Surface Duo two with a house press. In that location is no tape needed. Removing it is a bit trickier, as yous need to pry the ends virtually the swivel on both sides to pop it off, but it does come off without too much effort.

Unlike Surface Duo 2 Bumper, the front cover completely protects the phone's lesser side roofing the SIM slot. Microsoft could achieve this preferred design because the cover is removable and does not use tape to stay in identify.

Surface Duo 2 Pen Cover The inside of the white Pen Cover where the scroll and magnets are located. Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central

Inside the front cover, you lot tin can run across a strip of Alcantara that helps protect the front glass of Surface Duo ii from scratches from the encompass'due south plastic. That embrace too houses, presumably, the induction scroll and magnets to recharge and hold the pen in place. Indeed, when the cover is on, information technology is evident that the area where the pen attaches is substantially thicker than the swivel-side, which dramatically tapers downward.

Recharging is uncomplicated: Drop the pen onto the cover, and the magnets hold it into identify. A tiny white LED briefly turns on to let you know information technology is charging. This system works with both the original Surface Slim Pen and Surface Slim Pen 2.

Surface Duo 2 Pen Cover From this bending, you lot tin see how one side is thicker than the other due to the added wireless components. Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Cardinal

Some people doubted my claim that the magnets with the Pen Comprehend are and so powerful that the Slim Pen stays fastened even in your pocket. But I was right. These magnets are much stronger than those built into Surface Duo 2, and the pen is firmly attached (you lot need to pull hard to remove it). If the magnets were any more stiff, it'd be a pain to remove the pen. Case in indicate: Y'all can agree Surface Duo ii (284 grams) past the attached pen and even lightly shake it without dislodging.

Battery drainage from Surface Duo 2 is minimal due to the pocket-size size of the Slim Pen's internal battery and how long it lasts, although your mileage volition vary on how oft you use the pen.

Surface Duo 2 Pen Cover Both Slim Pen 1 & 2 piece of work with the Pen Cover. Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central

Interestingly, information technology seems the pen won't charge if Surface Duo two'due south battery is beneath l%, which is an splendid mode to prioritize the telephone'southward longevity.

The pen'due south battery life tin can exist checked via the Bluetooth settings in Surface Duo 2 when the pen is non recharging.

There is no doubt the forepart of Surface Duo 2 is much more protected with the front embrace both from scratches and potentially calorie-free drops. Additionally, while the plastic picks up fingerprints, they are much fewer than directly onto the Corning Gorilla Glass.

Flipping Surface Duo ii into one-handed manner is no issue with the comprehend. The device snaps nicely into place even with the pen attached. Sure, it'south thicker, simply there are few ways to pull off a more elegant design with today's existing technology.

Surface Duo 2 already felt more robust due to the added thickness, and the Pen Encompass adds to that, removing some of the fragility in having a about all-glass device in your hands.

Surface Duo 2 Pen Cover: What you won't similar

Surface Duo 2 Pen Cover Mixing and matching colors is not a great look. Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central

Merely the forepart of the Pen Cover weighs in at thirty grams. That's not a lot, but when yous add the Slim Pen 2 (14 grams), the whole package with rear bumper brings Surface Duo ii'due south weight from 284 grams to 334 grams making information technology easily i of the heaviest "phones" on the market. It'due south not a dark-and-day deviation, but with the added thickness, Surface Duo 2 feels beefier with this cover and pen.

You lot can put a skin on meridian of the cover or even use one beneath, only yous're ameliorate off using SopiGuard over dBrand as the quondam'southward are much thinner and not the thicker (and ameliorate) 3M variety. The skins interfere slightly with folding the phone into the one-handed manner, but it's not a dealbreaker.

Surface Duo 2 Pen Cover Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central

At that place is no protection for the rear of Surface Duo two. That may seem like a flagrant omission, but information technology'due south not clear you lot could take both sides covered and yet be able to contrary-fold the phone into i-handed mode.

It'southward not brash to mix and match colorways, either. Sure, you lot could slap the white cover on the black Surface Duo two, but the Oreo event is not pleasing.

And no, y'all cannot wirelessly charge Surface Duo two with the Pen Encompass, which would be weird since it is on the front.

Finally, the $65 price is not cheap. Of form, expensive niche accessories are never cheap equally Samsung's own Samsung S Pen Folio Cover is $80, and its Leather Flip Stand Cover is an eye-watering $xc. Even so, the Pen Cover looks similar a bargain compared to the $twoscore Surface Duo ii Bumper Case due to the added protection, fewer fingerprints, and the new functionality in being able to recharge the pen on the become.

Surface Duo 2 Pen Comprehend: Competition

Surface Duo 2 Bumper Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Fundamental

Unlike Samsung products with a larger marketplace share, there are no real alternatives to the Surface Duo two Pen Embrace.

For $40, you can get the Surface Duo 2 Bumper Case, which, while pricey, is an excellent addition for those who want some minor protection and added grip and don't need to recharge the pen.

OtterBox is coming out with an fifty-fifty more rugged case for Surface Duo two; notwithstanding, information technology is not even so available, and it does not offer pen charging.

If you want a cheap way to attach the pen without charging, the Ringke $x pen holder is a peachy solution.

You tin get more than ideas in our best Surface Duo ii accessories guide.

Surface Duo two Pen Cover: Should you buy it?

Surface Duo 2 Pen Cover Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central

You should purchase this if ...

You use Surface Slim Pen 1 or 2 a lot and desire to accuse it
You want added protection
Yous hate fingerprints but don't like skins either

You shouldn't buy this if ...

Using Surface Slim Pen is not a priority
You want the nearly protection for Surface Duo two

In some ways, the Surface Duo 2 Pen Cover is a chip odd. When you buy the Slim Pen 2, there is no way to recharge it unless yous buy the $35 charger. That's a modify from the original Slim Pen (which is still available), simply there is a hidden cost: Slim Pen with charger is $150, while Slim Pen ii without the charger is $130. Slim Pen two adds haptics, has a new design, and improved accuracy making the slight increase in cost worth it for some. While haptics don't piece of work on Surface Duo 2, anecdotal reporting in forums from users says Slim Pen 2 works better than Slim Pen 1 for inking on the device.

All this means if you take Surface Duo two and Surface Slim Pen ii, either the Pen Encompass ($65) or charger ($35) are required. At least Microsoft gives you a choice.

Equally to why Microsoft couldn't build wireless charging for the Slim Pen 2 into Surface Duo 2, it'southward a question of space. Surface Duo 2 already went from four.8mm to 5.5mm, making information technology thicker and heavier than the original Surface Duo. Adding in a wireless roll would have made that even worse, as the Pen Comprehend demonstrates. In that location's also toll, as information technology would have driven up the price even higher, even as Surface Duo 2 is already more expensive.

Surface Duo 2 Pen Cover Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Key

That all makes the Pen Comprehend a bit of a kludge until Microsoft tin can figure out to build in wireless charging for the Slim Pen and wireless charging for the Surface Duo (in the rear) into 1 device without accessories. That'south something nosotros'll probable see in the side by side version, just it's a DIY addition for at present.

Whether you get value from the Surface Duo 2 Pen Cover depends on how much you lot utilize that Slim Pen. Microsoft is slowly just surely building out the usefulness of owning a pen into Surface Duo ii, which is good news. Microsoft just added inking to Outlook and now lets you "mark upwards" photos directly using the pen.

We're as well hearing that Dec's organisation update enables the rear button on the Slim Pen to automatically open up OneNote.

Fifty-fifty if yous don't apply the pen often, the cover is but absurd. Information technology adds protection, hides fingerprints, and makes it grippier to hold. That solitary may be worth it for some people.

Surface Duo 2 Pen Cover Reco

Surface Duo 2 Pen Comprehend

Bottom line: For those who like the idea of using a pen with Surface Duo 2, the Pen Cover is clever and a recommended accessory to make the most out of the combo.

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Daniel Rubino

Daniel Rubino is the Executive Editor of Windows Cardinal. He has been roofing Microsoft here since 2007 back when this site was chosen WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, Surface, laptops, and modern computing. Follow him on Twitter: @daniel_rubino.