Microsoft has made significant improvements to the new Surface Pro, but one thing remains unchanged and frustrating: the keyboard is still sold separately.

While the iconic design stays the same, Microsoft has packed the Surface Pro with upgrades to compete with Apple’s M-powered devices. These include a brighter OLED screen option, powerful Qualcomm processors for better performance and battery life, and a host of AI features. Even the accessories have seen improvements, with the new Surface Pro Flex Keyboard boasting better rigidity, a larger trackpad, and the ability to detach from the tablet.

However, despite all these advancements, Microsoft continues to sell the keyboard separately, an essential accessory for transforming the tablet into a true 2-in-1 laptop. This practice feels outdated and misleading, especially considering the price point.

The Surface Pro’s appeal lies in its ability to work as both a tablet and a laptop with a detachable keyboard. While it initially aimed to compete with the iPad, Windows’ evolution transformed it into a versatile laptop alternative. From the beginning, Microsoft excluded the keyboard from the base price. Their reasoning might have been the tablet functionality, but later, it was likely because keyboards wouldn’t need upgrades as frequently as the internal hardware.

Over the years, the Surface Pro keyboards have improved, but the new Flex Keyboard is a substantial leap forward. It addresses the previous issues of keyboard bounce and a small trackpad, and the addition of Bluetooth and a battery allows for detached use. This flexibility makes it even more frustrating that the Flex Keyboard isn’t bundled with the Surface Pro.

Microsoft might have data suggesting customers prefer buying the Surface Pro without the keyboard or stylus, but it seems more likely they benefit from the hidden cost. The starting price of $999 might seem competitive with the M3 MacBook Air, but most users will need to factor in the additional $180 for the keyboard, bringing the real cost to at least $1,180. It’s hard to imagine a significant number of users buying a Surface Pro without a keyboard, as it essentially becomes a regular tablet otherwise.

Some might argue that Apple does the same with the M4 iPad Pro and its Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil Pro. However, there’s a key difference: Windows. Despite strides in touchscreen functionality, Windows remains a superior laptop/desktop operating system compared to its tablet mode. On the other hand, iPadOS prioritizes the tablet experience, while attempts like Stage Manager to differentiate iPads from Macs haven’t been entirely successful. This makes the lack of a bundled keyboard more acceptable for the iPad Pro because it functions well as a tablet on its own.

The Surface Pro Flex Keyboard itself is also quite expensive at $350. While its backward compatibility and potentially longer lifespan might justify the price to some extent, it doesn’t make the additional cost of $450 for both the keyboard and the Surface Slim Pen any easier to swallow. This amount could get you a decent laptop on its own or almost buy you Microsoft’s own Surface Laptop Go 3.

Microsoft has undoubtedly improved the Surface Pro experience, but the exclusion of the keyboard remains a glaring issue. It creates a misleading price point and undermines the core functionality of the device as a 2-in-1 laptop. Until Microsoft addresses this, the Surface Pro’s reinvention feels incomplete.