Microsoft Modern Mouse and Modern Keyboard with fingerprint ID review
A TEST REPORT from David Haydl 
on August 19, 2018, 13:00 pm | Write a comment
Lately I've been grappling with buying a mouse and a keyboard again and again, until at some point I stumbled across the Microsoft Modern Mouse and the Modern Keyboard with Fingerprint ID. My test.
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Packaging and setup
Both packages are made of blue and white cardboard, have some lettering and show a Microsoft logo. The shape of the packs is based on the design of the two peripheral devices. The packaging for the mouse includes the mouse itself and some instructions on how to connect it to the laptop or PC. In the packaging of the keyboard you will find the keyboard, a microUSB cable and also some instructions.
Setting up the two devices is pretty straightforward. With the mouse you first have to pull out the tab on the underside, long press the button on the underside and pair the device with the laptop or PC via the Bluetooth settings.
The contents of both packages (picture: TechnikNews)
To connect the keyboard, you also have to pull out a tab and establish a connection to the computer using the included microUSB cable. You will now be asked whether you want to connect the keyboard to the device. This has to be confirmed. Then in the future - just like with the mouse - the connection will be established via Bluetooth.
Design
Both devices are made of gray plastic. The workmanship is very good - at no point did I have the feeling that anything could be broken here.
The compartment for the batteries is located on the underside of the mouse and is protected by a magnetically attached plate. There is a gray Microsoft logo where you place the palm of your hand. The mouse does not have any function keys; you have to make do with the two navigation keys and the scroll wheel.
The keyboard has an integrated numeric keypad on the right side, to the left of which there are several control keys, including the DEL key. The Windows Hello fingerprint sensor has been integrated under a key that is located next to the space bar. In order for the sensor to read the fingerprint, you have to press the button. The F keys have been assigned shortcuts. In order to be able to use this, you have to switch the mode with the FN-Key. Otherwise you can only use the normal functions of the F-keys. Pure shortcuts are located above the numeric keypad. These include, for example, a button to lock the laptop or PC. The microUSB port and an on / off switch are located on the back of the keyboard.
The keyboard even has a fingerprint sensor (picture: TechnikNews)
Experience using both devices
When using both devices, I noticed several things. The mouse reacts very accurately and precisely. However, there is no immediate answer if the peripheral device is not used for about two minutes.
I was able to type very quickly on the keyboard - I found the key drop to be very pleasant. I also often benefited from the double assignment of the F keys described above. However, I noticed two things negatively: The fingerprint sensor often takes a long time to read the finger. Then it bothered me that the keys are not backlit.
What I noticed positively with both input devices was that I never had to change the batteries and never had to charge the battery.
Summary and Conclusion
I don't regret buying the Modern Mouse and the Modern Keyboard. Both devices are perfectly processed. In addition, the input works - with a few exceptions with the Modern Mouse - exactly and precisely. I also like that you don't have to change batteries or charge the battery so quickly.
I didn't like the somewhat cumbersome setup of the keyboard, the frequent unreliability of the fingerprint sensor, and the fact that the mouse often doesn't respond immediately if you don't use it for about two minutes.
Prices and availability
The Modern Mouse and Modern Keyboard are available from Amazon and Microsoft itself. The MSRP for the mouse is € 34, while the MSRP for the keyboard is € 105.
