Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra Pro Keyboard vs Book Cover Keyboard

Quick summary: I compared Samsung’s two keyboards for the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra. The Pro Keyboard ($399 for the Ultra, $349 for the S12+) adds a trackpad, backlighting and an aluminum laptop-style build. The Book Cover Keyboard Slim (about $210) is cheaper and covers the whole tablet. For me, the Pro is worth the extra money.

Key takeaways

• Neither keyboard comes with the tablet, unless you catch a bundle deal.
• Both are powered by the tablet, so there’s nothing to charge.
• Pro: aluminum, backlit, AI key, responsive trackpad with gestures, strong magnets. It leaves the back and camera exposed.
• Book Cover Slim: plastic, no backlight, no trackpad, but it covers and protects the whole tablet.
• The Pro is also compatible with the Tab S11 Ultra.
• I’ve seen a deal for about 30% off the keyboard when bought with the tablet.

Pro Keyboard

It’s super slim and built really well in aluminum. It connects magnetically to the back of the tablet and closes like a laptop. It looks stealthy and beautiful, and works like a real laptop:

• Backlit keys and an AI button.
• A trackpad you can tap or press, with gestures: pinch to zoom, two fingers to scroll, three fingers to go home.
• Strong magnets. I held it upside down and it stayed on.
• Stable on your lap. It works great on a table or in bed.

The downside: closed, the back and rear camera are exposed. I’d consider a camera lens protector if you carry it like that. Typing is very comfortable, even for me as a chicken-pecker, and the trackpad is a killer feature I wouldn’t want to live without. I love it more than I thought I would, and I’m a big iPad Pro keyboard fan.

Book Cover Keyboard Slim

It snaps on and gives the tablet a different stand angle. It has the same plug-and-play setup and key layout, but no backlight and no trackpad. You tab between fields or tap the screen, which felt like a handicap after the Pro. It’s made of plastic that picks up fingerprints. But it’s almost $200 cheaper, it protects the tablet all the way around, and it held on well when I turned it upside down.

Which should you get?

If you just need keys, save almost $200 with the Book Cover. For me, the Pro is a must-have with the huge Tab S12 Ultra, and I’d still get it for the S12+.

• Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra Pro Keyboard
• Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra Book Cover Keyboard Slim
• Galaxy Tab S12+ Pro Keyboard
• Galaxy Tab S12+ Book Cover Keyboard Slim
• Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra / S12+ at Samsung or Best Buy