It’s been more than a decade since Stuff last used a Samsung laptop. The company still makes them, but it doesn’t sell them here. But, if you can somehow lay your hands on the company’s new Pro Keyboard and you already own the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra, you can make one.
Or you could just head out and buy an entire laptop with the money it’ll cost you. Samsung’s Tab S11 Ultra will drain R27,000 from your bank account. Add the not-available-here Pro Keyboard, and you’ll bump that price up by another R6,800 ($400).
Pro Keyboard user
There’s no denying that Samsung’s newest peripheral is a slick bit of hardware, though. Exceedingly solid construction should convert the company’s already excellent tablet headliner into a very serviceable laptop. That goes right down to the weight, which the keyboard’s 640 grams pushes up to 1.34kg when paired with its compatible hardware. That’s around the same weight as an ultralight like Apple’s MacBook Air.
A highly premium aluminium build, excellent hinges, and a direct connection to Samsung’s tablet are all points in the hardware’s favour. It draws power from the Tab S11 Ultra, and there’s no fiddling about with wireless connections. However, that also means that it’s a monogamous peripheral. It’ll play nice with the Ultra and not much else.
There’s no denying that… just buying a MacBook Air is cheaper, however. A 1TB/16GB 15in MacBook Air comes in, at today’s prices, at R30,200. Upgrading Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra, with its 256GB/12GB configuration, with the keyboard peripheral will run buyers R33,800. And that’s before you figure out how to get it here.
The Samsung Pro Keyboard is currently available in the US and South Korea, where the high price might not make quite as much difference. Here at home, a dedicated laptop is still a better purchase, even if Samsung decides to bring a few to Africa.
