As much as I enjoy using numerous Samsung hardware and software products, one of the areas I very much dislike about the company's mobile business is how it markets keyboard cover accessories for Galaxy tablets.
In short, I think Samsung's tablet keyboard cover accessories are ridiculously pricey. I've complained about this before, but now that I'm using Samsung DeX exclusively almost every day, this problem has become even more apparent.
Samsung DeX has great potential, and it's become my go-to environment for everyday tasks. One of the best ways of using DeX is on a tablet connected to an official keyboard cover. It's as close to a laptop replacement as you can get, all the while benefitting from the touch-based One UI interface whenever you're not using the tablet as a laptop.
The problem is that most Galaxy Tab users either can't afford a keyboard cover or don't want to spend a ridiculous amount of money on these accessories. Which, in turn, only hinders the usability and popularity of DeX. Samsung DeX could be one of the greatest assets the company has to promote its Android tablets. But the abysmal keyboard cover prices are holding back all that potential in terms of both marketing appeal and real-world usability for customers.
Samsung needs to slash tablet keyboard cover prices and let DeX thrive
Samsung's Galaxy tablet keyboard covers are nothing special. The Tab S8 Ultra model has full-size backlit keys, while the other variants do not. Slim models don't have trackpads, either. Prices start at $138 for the least capable, smallest model designed for the base Tab S7 and Tab S8 but can go as high as $350 for the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra keyboard cover.
These are essentially simple tablet covers with slim keyboards attached to them, and they sometimes have a touchpad. They have no special features, and they can't even hold the tablets upright without using a traditional kickstand. Yet Samsung believes it is reasonable to charge upwards of $350 for one of these accessories. And it seems like the only reason it does this is that Apple does it too.
Samsung is keeping the DeX environment away from the hands of more Galaxy tablet customers and it is essentially limiting the reach of this software feature that has great potential, only to earn some cash from an overpriced accessory that few people buy.
So, what should the company do to salvage this operation? Well, asking for a free keyboard attachment to be bundled with the upcoming Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra (assuming there will be one) might be too hopeful. But if Samsung wants DeX to become a selling point for tablets, as it should, then it must at least cut keyboard cover prices once and for all.
But assuming you still want to buy a keyboard cover for your tablet, despite the ridiculous prices, you can buy the Tab S7 / S8 Book Cover Keyboard Slim for $139.99, the Tab S7 / S8 Book Cover Keyboard for $199.99, the Tab S7 FE / S7+ / S8+ Book Cover Keyboard Slim for $159.99, or the Tab S7+ / Tab S8+ Book Cover Keyboard for $229.99. If you need the one and only keyboard accessory for the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra, you'll need to pay $349.99. And if you use one of these links, we may earn a commission, and maybe I will eventually be able to buy a Cover Keyboard for my own Galaxy tablet.
