Microsoft's new and expensive Modern Keyboard has a hidden fingerprint sensor

Last year, when Microsoft announced the Surface Studio, it also introduced the Surface Keyboard to go along with the all-in-one PC. While the Surface Studio isn’t available here in Singapore, the Surface Keyboard is, and is going for S$159 on the online Microsoft Store and at retail.

Late last week however, the Redmond company has quietly introduced a new keyboard called the Microsoft Modern Keyboard with Fingerprint ID. From the pictures, it looks just like the Surface Keyboard: it has the same key layout, the same gray finish, the same aluminum frame.

But there are differences, of course. For a start, the new keyboard has a fingerprint sensor that masquerades itself as a key and takes the place of the second Windows key on the right of the keyboard. Like the Surface Keyboard, the Modern Keyboard works in wireless Bluetooth mode; but unlike the former, it can also be used in wired mode.

To go along with this new Modern Keyboard, Microsoft is also making a new Modern Mouse, which, again, looks like the S$79 Surface Mouse that's available here. I’ve looked at the spec sheets, and for the life of me, I couldn't tell what’s changed between the two.

In the U.S., the Microsoft Modern Keyboard with Fingerprint ID and Modern Mouse are priced at US$130 and US$50 respectively. No word yet on whether both would be sold here.

Source: Microsoft Modern Keyboard, Modern Mouse.