A new Microsoft patent (spotted by Windows United) has surfaced that shows off a new feature for the company's Type Cover. When you fold it back to use the Surface Pro as a tablet, it will magnetically attach to the back. In other words, you'll no longer have to hold it in place by hand.
The new Type Cover will likely ship alongside of the Surface Pro 7, the redesigned tablet that we're expecting to see this year. It should include a USB Type-C port, Intel's 10nm Ice Lake processors, and a more rounded design like we've seen from the Surface Go. It will be the first major redesign that the product has seen since the Surface Pro 3.
We were already expecting the new Type Cover to be thinner, based on other patents that have shown up. Now, it will apparently be thinner and still have magnets inside of it.
The patent shows four magnets placed in the palm rest of the Type Cover, and another four placed in the back of the Surface Pro. Clearly, you'll need to have the new Surface Pro in order for this feature to work, even though the keyboard itself will likely be compatible with older models (all Type Covers work with all versions of the Surface Pro).
We're expecting the Surface Pro 7, and any related peripherals, to show up later on this year.
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