Brydge SP MAX Plus is a new accessory that purports to turn the Surface Pro 8 tablet into a rugged laptop

At a starting price of no less than US$229.99, the Brydge SP Max+ costs 1.3 times more than its predecessor the SP+ at the time of writing. However, its OEM defends this difference by touting the up-to-4-foot (or MIL-STD-810H-compatible) drop protection a Surface Pro 8 owner can attain for their tablet by installing it in the 'case' part of this new accessory.

This cover can pair to its matching magnetic keyboard component, which has an easy-clean, "anti-microbial" polycarbonate/ABS build boasting a sizeable "precision" trackpad and tunable backlighting. Brydge also hypes it as having enhanced SecureConnect pins that pair it to a Pro 8 installed into an SP Max+ cover.

Then again, this means the new Brydge "all-in-one keyboard and case" comes without Bluetooth for that price. The OEM proposes to make up for this by having designed the SP Max+ with "unlimited viewing angles" and a Surface Pen-holder placed above the keyboard to keep the stylus in view and safe from loss while in view.

The SP Max+ is available at its new price (with free shipping, at least) on Brydge.com from now.