You just spent nearly a thousand dollars on a brand-new Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra or maybe a S10. It’s thin. It’s gorgeous. Then you see the price tag for the Samsung book cover keyboard and you flinch. It’s a lot of money for what looks like a skinny piece of plastic and some magnets. But here’s the thing: after using every iteration of this peripheral since the early Tab S4 days, I’ve realized that most people treat it like a cheap iPad clone when it's actually the only thing standing between your tablet being a "giant phone" and a legitimate laptop replacement.
Samsung’s approach to the keyboard cover is weirdly fragmented. You’ve got the Slim version, the full-fat "Book Cover Keyboard" with the trackpad, and now the AI-integrated versions that have a dedicated Galaxy AI key. It’s confusing. Honestly, if you buy the wrong one, you’ve basically wasted your money.
The Magnetic Love-Hate Relationship
The first thing you’ll notice is that this isn't a "case" in the traditional sense. It’s a two-piece system. There is a back plate that snaps onto the tablet with magnets and a separate keyboard deck. Samsung’s magnets are incredibly strong—sometimes too strong. I’ve seen people nearly chip a fingernail trying to pry the back cover off.
That back cover is the secret sauce.
It features the "freestop" hinge. This is the same tech concept Samsung uses in their Fold series phones. It lets you angle the tablet at almost any degree. You want it nearly flat for drawing? Cool. You want it upright for a Netflix binge in a cramped airplane seat? It does that too. Most third-party covers from brands like Fintie or Spigen use a "tri-fold" method that gives you maybe two viewing angles. They’re fine, but they lack the granular control of the official Samsung book cover keyboard.
However, there is a massive caveat.
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Lappability. It’s a terrible word, but a necessary one. Because the keyboard is thin and the back relies on a kickstand, typing on your actual lap is a nightmare. It wobbles. The kickstand digs into your thighs. If you’re a digital nomad who works primarily from park benches or soft couches, this design might actually drive you insane. You need a flat surface.
DeX Mode is the Real Reason This Exists
If you aren't using Samsung DeX, don't buy the keyboard. Just don't. Use a Bluetooth mechanical keyboard instead.
Samsung DeX (Desktop Experience) transforms the Android interface into something that looks like Windows or macOS. You get floating windows. You get a taskbar. When you snap the Samsung book cover keyboard onto the Pogo pins—those little gold dots on the side of your tablet—the software can be set to launch DeX automatically. This is where the magic happens.
The integration is seamless. You don’t have to worry about Bluetooth lag or charging a separate battery for the keyboard. It draws a tiny amount of power directly from the tablet.
What about the trackpad?
It's glass-coated. It's smooth. But it’s small. Compared to a MacBook trackpad, it feels like a postage stamp.
Yet, Samsung has baked in gestures that actually work. A three-finger swipe up opens your recent apps. A three-finger swipe left or right switches between them. In 2024 and 2025, Samsung updated the firmware to make palm rejection significantly better, but it’s still not perfect. You’ll occasionally be typing a long email and your thumb will graze the pad, sending your cursor flying into a different paragraph. It happens. You’ll curse. You’ll move on.
The "Slim" vs. The Pro: A Genuine Dilemma
Samsung sells two main versions. Let’s break down why you might choose one over the other without the marketing fluff.
The Book Cover Keyboard Slim is lighter. It doesn't have a trackpad. It wraps around the tablet in a single piece. If you are a student taking notes in a lecture hall and you primarily use the S Pen, the Slim is probably better. It keeps the profile thin.
The full Book Cover Keyboard is for the person who actually wants to leave their laptop at home. It has the trackpad. It has the detachable back. Interestingly, the keys on the full version have slightly more travel—about 1.1mm. It’s not a mechanical keyboard feel, obviously, but it’s tactile enough that you can hit 80+ words per minute without much effort.
One thing people miss: The full version allows you to detach the keyboard and just keep the kickstand back on. This is huge for artists. You keep the protection and the stand, but get the bulky keyboard out of the way. The Slim version doesn’t let you do that. You’re either all in, or the keyboard is folded awkwardly behind the screen where your fingers press against the keys while you hold it. It feels gross.
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The AI Key: Innovation or Gimmick?
On the newer models for the Tab S10 series, Samsung replaced the right-hand "Lang" or "Control" key with a dedicated Galaxy AI key.
Press it, and you get a pop-up for Bixby or Google Gemini.
Is it useful? Rarely.
Most power users would have preferred a dedicated ESC key. Samsung’s keyboard layout is notoriously missing a physical ESC key in the top left. You have to use a combination of keys or the "Home" gesture to exit full-screen apps. It’s a weird oversight that has persisted for years. Adding an AI button before fixing the ESC key is a very "2020s tech company" move.
Durability Realities After 12 Months
Let's talk about the wear and tear.
The material is a sort of "polyurethane leather" feel. It’s grippy. It looks professional in a boardroom. But it is a magnet for skin oils. If you eat a bag of chips and then type, those marks are staying there for a while.
The edges also tend to fray. Because the keyboard is so thin, the bonded layers at the corners can start to split if you’re constantly shoving it into a tight backpack. I’ve noticed that the magnets can also attract tiny bits of metal debris. If a small metal filing gets caught between the keyboard and your screen when you close it... crack. Always wipe the keyboard deck before closing the lid.
The Third-Party Problem
You’ll see keyboards on Amazon for $40. The official Samsung one is $200+. Is the "Samsung Tax" real?
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Yes and no.
Third-party keyboards almost always use Bluetooth. This means:
- You have to charge them separately.
- There is a micro-delay (latency) when typing.
- They are significantly heavier because they need their own internal battery.
- They don't have the Pogo pin connection.
The Pogo pins on the Samsung book cover keyboard are the "secret sauce." There is zero lag. The connection is physical. For anyone doing actual work—coding in Termux, writing a thesis, or managing a Shopify store—that lack of lag is the difference between a tool and a toy.
Specific Specs and Compatibility
Compatibility is a minefield. Samsung changes the camera cutout or the magnet placement just enough every year to make your old keyboard useless for your new tablet.
- Tab S9 Ultra Keyboard: Fits the S9 Ultra and the S10 Ultra.
- Tab S9 / S10+ Keyboards: Generally cross-compatible within their size classes (11-inch vs 12.4-inch).
- Backwards compatibility: Rarely works. Trying to put a Tab S7 keyboard on a Tab S9 usually results in the magnets not aligning or the camera being blocked.
The S Pen holder is another highlight. On the back of the cover, there’s a little "hump" or a flip-cover that secures the pen. Since the S Pen charges wirelessly on the back of the tablet, this cover is essential. Without it, that $50 stylus is falling off in your bag within five minutes.
Is It Worth the Price?
Honestly, if you find it on sale for $150 or less, it’s a no-brainer. At the full $350 MSRP for the Ultra models? That’s a tough pill to swallow.
You have to ask yourself what your tablet is. If it’s a glorified Netflix machine, get a $15 silicone case and call it a day. But if you’re trying to move away from a heavy laptop, the Samsung book cover keyboard is the only accessory that actually bridges the gap. It turns a tablet into a workstation.
The keyboard isn't perfect. The lack of a backlight on some models is insulting at this price point. The "lappability" is poor. But the integration with DeX and the quality of the kickstand make it the best-in-class option for the Android ecosystem.
Actionable Steps for New Owners
- Check your settings immediately: Go to Settings > Advanced Features > Accessories and ensure "Auto-launch DeX" is toggled on when the keyboard is attached.
- Master the shortcuts: Alt + Tab works just like on a PC. Use Cmd (Search) + Enter to open your app drawer instantly.
- Clean the Pogo pins: If the keyboard stops responding, don't panic. Take a Q-tip with a tiny drop of rubbing alcohol and clean the gold dots on the tablet and the pins on the keyboard. Dust and skin oils often break the connection.
- Mind the hinge: When using the kickstand at extreme angles, ensure the surface isn't slippery. While the magnets are strong, a sudden slip on a glass table can cause the tablet to "pop" out of the back shell.
- Ignore the AI key: If you find the new AI button annoying, you can often remap certain functions using third-party apps like "Buttons Remapper," though your mileage may vary depending on the latest One UI security updates.
Stop treating your Galaxy Tab like a phone. Put it in the keyboard, hit DeX mode, and actually use the screen real estate you paid for. It’s a much more powerful machine than you’re giving it credit for.