Microsoft-Branded PC Accessories Are Coming Back Under Incase Branding

The Microsoft-branded PC accessories that the company said it was discontinuing last year to focus on Surface-branded accessories are coming back thanks to a new partnership with Incase (via The Verge). The design brand announced today that Microsoft’s PC accessory family, including keyboards, mice, webcams, and headsets are coming back later in 2024 under a new brand, “Incase Designed by Microsoft.”

There will be a total of 23 PC accessories designed by Microsoft available for purchase, including the Sculpt Ergonomic keyboard, the Designer Compact Keyboard, the Modern Mobile Mouse, the Modern Wireless Headset, and the Modern Webcam. “The products will be the same products, but instead of saying Microsoft they’ll say Incase, designed by Microsoft,” said Charlie Tebele, the CEO of Onwards Brands (the parent company of Incase) in an interview with The Verge.

Tebele also teased in an interview that new PC accessories that Microsoft had in the pipeline but didn’t launch are coming. “There’s a new product coming out that Microsoft had under development,” Tebele said. “It’s a new ergonomic keyboard that’s very exciting and we’ll be announcing that under designed by Microsoft as well.”

According to The Verge, Microsoft’s licensing agreement with Incase just allows the company to sell PC accessories designed by Microsoft under the new “Incase Designed by Microsoft” brand, but Incase doesn’t have a license for the entirety of Microsoft’s PC accessories lineup. This opens the door to Microsoft getting back to selling accessories under its own brand, if that’s something the company ever wants to do at some point.

As of today, you may still be able to find Microsoft-branded PC accessories on the market, but Tebele told The Verge that Incase is aiming to start selling its 23 accessories in Q2 2024. This is good news for consumers as Microsoft’s Surface-branded PC accessories probably may not enjoy the same level of consumer loyalty as Microsoft-branded PC accessories.

Over the years, Microsoft has tried to position Surface as a “premium” brand, with prices that often match the ones of Apple accessories. However, if you’ve been following what Paul uses in recent years, Microsoft’s Surface Ergonomic Keyboard didn’t feel as good to use for him as the Microsoft-branded Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard.

Are you happy to see Incase bringing back Microsoft’s PC accessories? Sound off in the comments below.