What you need to know
- The Surface Duo 2 Pen Cover has a landing spot at the Microsoft Store.
- It has a "Coming soon" placeholder for now.
- It comes in Glacier White or Obsidian black colorways and is in three parts.
- It goes on sale on
October 21November 15 for $64.99.
Update: Windows Central has now heard that the release date for this cover is November 15 and not October 21 as originally reported to us by Microsoft due to a PR mix-up.
One of the most intriguing accessories for Surface Duo 2 is the new Surface Duo 2 Pen Cover, but details, so far, have been thin. Luckily, we can see the cover listed on Microsoft's website, and the company has gotten back to us with pricing and availability.
The Surface Duo 2 Pen Cover clips to the front of Surface Duo 2 and lets you stick Surface Slim Pen 2 to the cover and wirelessly recharge the pen as well. Additionally, two "soft-touch" bumpers fit on the rear panel similar to existing Surface Bumpers.
Windows Central understands the Surface Bumper materials are stiffer and don't pick lint up as easily this time.
Microsoft has a store listing for the Surface Duo 2 Pen Cover, but it is just a placeholder until the company is ready to sell it. Microsoft confirms with Windows Central that the cover will cost $64.99 and be available the same day as Surface Duo 2 on October 21 November 15.
We can learn a few other things from the landing page. For one, the cover works with either the new Surface Slim Pen 2 or the older Surface Slim Pen. That should include charging as it is presumed both pens recharge similarly, but we're not 100 percent certain.
Surface Slim Pen 2 is not included with the cover either, so that users can buy it for extra protection. Microsoft could also release other colors later to help give a more custom feel to Surface Duo 2.
Surface Slim Pen 2 also brings haptic feedback to simulate writing on paper. That has been confirmed to work with Surface Pro 8 and the new Surface Laptop Studio so far. However, we have heard Surface Duo 2 may get an update to enable the haptics, although Microsoft has not publicly confirmed that information.
In our brief time with the Surface Duo 2 Pen Cover, we were impressed with it. It has a textured feel and seems more resistant to fingerprints (making it ideal for the Obsidian Surface Duo 2). When installed, it made Surface Duo 2 feel more substantial and easier to handle while also blending in nicely with the device's curves. The pen sticks very firmly to the cover, making it likely to survive being put into your pockets, which is ideal.
It should be noted you won't need the cover for the pen to stick to the Surface Duo 2, only to stick and recharge while offering more protection.
We'll have more on Surface Duo 2, Slim Pen 2, and this new Pen Cover closer to release in our forthcoming review. Stay tuned.
Extra protection
The Surface Duo 2 Pen Cover is a hard-shell case that clips onto the device's front with smaller bumpers for the rear. Besides protection, it lets the Surface Slim Pen 2 stick to it and even recharge.
