HP Elite x2 G8 Keyboard is now in stock at Mascom International for KSh 18,500, brand new and sealed as an original HP part, number 55G42AA. It is the detachable keyboard base built for the HP Elite x2 G8, the 13-inch 3:2 Windows tablet HP released in 2021. The HP Elite x2 G8 Keyboard carries backlit keys, a spill-resistant DuraKeys coating, a glass-style ClickPad and an aluminium deck weighing about 360 grams. Collect yours from Old Mutual Building, First Floor Room 4, Kimathi Street, Nairobi CBD, or order it for delivery anywhere in Kenya.
Built for business executives, consultants and NGO managers, the HP Elite x2 G8 Keyboard fixes a problem that strands an expensive tablet. A cover gets left behind in a hotel conference room, cracks inside a bag on the Upper Hill run, or takes a full cup of chai across the keys. Without it, the tablet becomes an awkward touchscreen with an on-screen keyboard covering half your spreadsheet. Clicking a genuine replacement back on restores the full laptop setup, so board papers, donor reports and KRA iTax returns get typed properly again.
Unlike other electronics retailers in Kenya that push a generic Bluetooth keyboard as the fix, Mascom International supplies the original part HP designed for this exact tablet. A Bluetooth board needs charging, pairing and a separate stand, and it leaves your tablet propped up loosely on the desk. The HP Elite x2 G8 Keyboard draws power through the tablet's pogo connector, doubles as a screen cover and travels as one unit with the tablet. Customers across Nairobi tell us the backlight alone justifies the switch for evening work. Walk in to inspect the HP Elite x2 G8 Keyboard before paying, or order for pay-on-arrival delivery.
Common Questions About the HP Elite x2 G8 Keyboard
Will the HP Elite x2 G8 Keyboard fit my tablet?
The HP Elite x2 G8 Keyboard fits the HP Elite x2 G8 Tablet PC, and HP's own datasheet lists no other supported model. Before ordering, open Settings, then System, then About in Windows and check that your tablet's model name ends in G8. Mascom International cannot confirm a fit on earlier tablets in the same HP family, so their owners should not assume a match. Send us a photo of that About screen on WhatsApp and our team confirms compatibility within minutes.
Is this HP Elite x2 G8 Keyboard an original HP part?
Yes, Mascom International sells this HP Elite x2 G8 Keyboard as an original, genuine HP part under HP part number 55G42AA, not a third-party copy. That matters because the keyboard connects through the tablet's 8-pin pogo connector and sits flush against the tablet edge. HP built this board to exact dimensions of 287 by 229.2 millimetres for that fit. Walk-in buyers at Kimathi Street can inspect the unit in hand, and online buyers can request photos before paying.
Do I need a technician to fit the HP Elite x2 G8 Keyboard?
No technician is needed, because the HP Elite x2 G8 Keyboard simply clicks onto the tablet's 8-pin pogo connector along the bottom edge. There is no Bluetooth pairing, no USB receiver and no battery to charge, since power and data pass through the pogo pins. Detaching it takes the same few seconds, so you can hand the tablet to a client to sign a form. Then click the keyboard back on and carry on typing exactly where you left off.
Is the HP Elite x2 G8 Keyboard backlit, and which layout does it use?
Yes, the HP Elite x2 G8 Keyboard has backlit keys lit by a white LED, so typing stays easy in a dim boardroom or during a KPLC power cut. HP lists the board as an island-style layout of 81 or 82 keys depending on the version, with a full row of function keys. Layouts differ between regional versions, so Mascom International does not promise one here. Confirm the layout of the unit in stock on WhatsApp before you pay.
HP Elite x2 G8 Keyboard vs a generic Bluetooth keyboard, which is better?
For an Elite x2 G8 owner, the HP Elite x2 G8 Keyboard is the better choice because it attaches to the tablet and turns it into a laptop. A generic Bluetooth keyboard costs less, but it needs its own charging or batteries, pairing, and a separate stand for the tablet. It also leaves your screen without a cover inside a bag. The genuine board adds a ClickPad with multi-touch gestures, so you stop carrying a mouse as well.
How does the HP Elite x2 G8 Keyboard handle spills, dust and long field days in Kenya?
The HP Elite x2 G8 Keyboard uses spill-resistant DuraKeys-coated keys on an aluminium deck, suiting consultants and NGO managers moving between Gigiri offices and field sites around Kisumu. Spill resistance buys you time to wipe up a splash of tea. It does not make the keyboard waterproof, so dry it at once. With no battery of its own, there is nothing extra to charge away from a socket. Wipe dust off the pogo pins weekly with a dry cloth.
Is the HP Elite x2 G8 Keyboard worth KSh 18,500 in Kenya?
For anyone with a working HP Elite x2 G8 tablet, KSh 18,500 for the HP Elite x2 G8 Keyboard costs far less than replacing the whole tablet to get a laptop back. Spread across one year of daily use, the price works out to about KSh 51 a day, roughly a short matatu ride across town. You also keep the tablet's 13-inch 3:2 touchscreen, your installed software and your files in service instead of in a drawer.
Who should buy the HP Elite x2 G8 Keyboard, and who should skip it?
Buy the HP Elite x2 G8 Keyboard if you own an Elite x2 G8 tablet and have lost, cracked or spilled on its original keyboard. It also suits owners whose current cover has dead keys or an unresponsive touchpad. Skip it if your tablet is an earlier HP detachable, a Microsoft Surface or another brand, because HP lists the G8 as its only match. Buyers without any tablet are better served by a used HP EliteBook from Mascom International.
Technical Specifications
Typing Hardware and Backlighting
- Full-size island-style keyboard with 81 or 82 keys, so touch typists keep their normal speed on long reports.
- Backlit keys lit by a single white LED, making late-evening typing in dim hotel rooms or cars practical.
- Spill-resistant DuraKeys-coated keys give you time to wipe up a splashed drink before liquid reaches deeper parts.
- Full row of function keys handles brightness, volume and media shortcuts without digging through Windows menus.
- Layout varies between regional versions, so confirm the exact layout with Mascom International on WhatsApp before ordering.
- Island-style key spacing reduces mistyped neighbouring keys, which helps when drafting long emails on a moving vehicle seat.
Touchpad and Navigation
- ClickPad with an image sensor gives precise pointer control for spreadsheet cells and slide edits without a mouse.
- Multi-touch gestures are enabled, so two-finger scrolling and pinch zoom behave the way they do on an EliteBook.
- Glass-style touchpad surface feels smooth under your fingertips during long editing sessions on contracts or budgets.
- Keys and touchpad share one deck, so the tablet behaves like a conventional laptop on a desk or table.
- Integrated pointing removes the need to pack a separate mouse, receiver or spare AA batteries for travel.
Connection and Power
- 8-pin pogo pin connector carries power and data directly between the keyboard and the HP Elite x2 G8 tablet.
- No Bluetooth pairing is required, so the keyboard responds the moment it seats against the tablet edge.
- No internal battery means one less device to charge after a long day of meetings and site visits.
- No USB receiver or cable to lose, keeping your laptop bag lighter and your desk free of clutter.
- Clicks on and off by hand, so switching between tablet mode and laptop mode takes only seconds.
- Direct wired contact avoids the input lag and dropouts that wireless keyboards suffer in crowded office Wi-Fi.
Compatibility
- Designed for the HP Elite x2 G8 Tablet PC, the 13-inch 3:2 detachable HP released in 2021.
- HP's datasheet names the HP Elite x2 G8 Tablet PC as the only supported tablet for this keyboard.
- Owners of earlier HP detachable tablets should send their exact tablet model to Mascom International on WhatsApp first.
- Not built for Microsoft Surface or other brands' detachable tablets, which use different connectors and body sizes.
- Original HP part number 55G42AA helps company IT teams match the purchase against their asset records quickly.
Build Quality and Daily Durability
- Aluminium deck that HP describes as sturdy yet lightweight, holding firm under heavy typing on a lap.
- Silver-grey frame with black keys matches the business finish of the tablet it attaches to.
- Doubles as a screen cover when closed, shielding the 13-inch touchscreen from keys and pens inside a bag.
- Spill-resistant key coating adds a margin of safety around tea, coffee and water on busy desks.
- Thickness of just 4.9 millimetres keeps the tablet and keyboard pair slim enough for a document sleeve.
- Genuine HP construction means the deck lines up with the tablet edge, so nothing overhangs or snags in a bag.
Dimensions and Weight
- Measures 287 by 229.2 by 4.9 millimetres, sized to line up with the edge of the tablet.
- Imperial measurements of 11.31 by 9.02 by 0.19 inches help when ordering a sleeve or case online.
- Weighs about 360 grams, plus or minus 20 grams, which is lighter than a 500ml bottle of water.
- Adds little bulk to a daily commute bag compared with carrying a second laptop for typing work.
- Combined with the tablet, the pair still fits inside a standard 13-inch laptop sleeve for daily travel.
Package Contents
Mascom International supplies the HP Elite x2 G8 Keyboard as a self-contained part that needs nothing extra to work:
- HP Elite x2 G8 Keyboard, original HP part 55G42AA, brand new
- No charging cable, battery or USB receiver required, since power comes through the pogo connector
The HP Elite x2 G8 tablet itself is not included. Share your tablet's model details when you order so our team can confirm the fit before you pay.
Warranty
The HP Elite x2 G8 Keyboard carries a 6-month Mascom International warranty on manufacturing defects. Coverage applies under normal use from the date of purchase. Bring the keyboard and your receipt to our Nairobi CBD service desk, or start a claim on WhatsApp, and our team assesses the fault directly with you.
Buying the HP Elite x2 G8 Keyboard from Mascom International
Mascom International stocks the HP Elite x2 G8 Keyboard in a silver-grey finish with black keys at our Nairobi CBD location: Old Mutual Building, First Floor Room 4, Kimathi Street. Walk in Monday through Saturday between 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM to handle the keyboard and, if you bring your tablet, click it on before committing.
Three ways to order:
- Call/WhatsApp +254 708 852 521
- Email info@mascomintl.com
- Order through www.mascomintl.com
Pay-on-arrival delivery reaches every Kenyan county. Nairobi and its environs receive the HP Elite x2 G8 Keyboard the same day. Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, and all other major towns receive it within 1 business day. Mandera, Wajir, Marsabit, Lamu, Tana River, and Turkana receive delivery within 2-3 business days. You inspect the keyboard and pay only when it arrives.
The HP Elite x2 G8 Keyboard comes with the 6-month Mascom warranty stated above.
Corporate IT managers ordering replacements for several staff tablets can request a quote on WhatsApp. Buyers across Kenya rely on Mascom International for genuine parts, honest specifications and direct after-sales help from a real Nairobi CBD store.
