Microsoft's refreshed Surface 2 and Surface 2 Pro tablets launched late last year and at the time, the Redmond-based company promised to provide battery-extending Power Covers in the not-too-distant future. That time is now upon us as Microsoft has revealed the new Power Covers will arrive later this month.
Microsoft made the announcement via Twitter and also opened up pre-orders. According to a post on ZDNet (which claims the tech specs on Microsoft's page are incorrect), the Power Cover weighs in at 1.2 pounds and is double the thickness of the listed 9.75mm - so, 19.5mm.
That's a lot of extra weight and girth but according to the company, the cover will extend battery life by up to 70 percent. That's better than the 50 percent claims the company made when the tablets launched and could certainly make a difference in terms of productivity for road warriors or those that frequently take long flights.
The Power Covers will be available in the US, Canada and Japan starting March 19 for $199.99. That may sound like a lot of coin for added battery capacity but it is worth pointing out that the covers also include a Type-style keyboard. If you happen to need a physical keyboard as well, you could essentially kill two birds with one stone here.
A spokesperson for Microsoft did not confirm when or if the covers would make their way to other regions.