The HP EliteBook 820 G3 Backlit OEM Keyboard is now in stock at Mascom International for KSh 3,500, brand new and sealed, with lit keys, a silver frame and an integrated pointing stick. It replaces a worn, sticky or dead keyboard on the compact 12.5-inch HP EliteBook 820 G3. OEM means the part comes from the factory supply chain that builds keyboards for HP, sold as a bare spare rather than in an HP retail box. You can inspect the HP EliteBook 820 G3 Backlit OEM Keyboard at Old Mutual Building, First Floor Room 4, Kimathi Street, Nairobi CBD.
Built for lawyers, journalists and consultants who keep working after dark, the HP EliteBook 820 G3 Backlit OEM Keyboard solves one stubborn problem: hitting the right key when the room goes dim. An advocate polishing submissions for Milimani Law Courts at midnight cannot afford typos in a client's name. A reporter filing copy from a matatu after sunset needs to find the backspace without a phone torch. Lit legends let those jobs carry on. A failing keyboard is also a poor reason to retire a laptop that still runs well.
Where many Nairobi electronics shops sell unlabelled copies with patchy lighting and loose keycaps, Mascom International stocks OEM parts you can examine before paying. Buyers throughout Kenya tell us a fresh keyboard made an ageing EliteBook feel dependable again for a small fraction of a new laptop's cost. Bring your 820 G3 to the store and we will hold the HP EliteBook 820 G3 Backlit OEM Keyboard beside it to confirm the layout and fit first. Prefer to stay at your desk? Pay-on-arrival delivery takes the HP EliteBook 820 G3 Backlit OEM Keyboard to all 47 counties, and you pay only once it is in your hands.
Common Questions About the HP EliteBook 820 G3 Backlit OEM Keyboard
Will the HP EliteBook 820 G3 Backlit OEM Keyboard fit my laptop?
It fits the HP EliteBook 820 G3, the 12.5-inch model printed on the label under your laptop. Check that label first, because the 820 G1 and 820 G2 use different keyboards. Parts suppliers list this backlit keyboard family, HP part number 826630, as shared with the 820 G4, 725 G3, 725 G4 and 828 G3. Treat those as likely matches rather than guarantees. The simplest check is to bring your machine to Mascom International in Nairobi CBD and compare the two side by side before you pay.
Is the backlit keyboard worth KSh 1,000 more than the standard 820 G3 version?
For anyone who types after sunset, yes: the extra KSh 1,000 works out to roughly KSh 5.50 a day across the six-month warranty period. Spread across two years of daily use, it drops to about KSh 1.37 a day. That buys lit legends during every evening deadline and every blackout. If you only type in daylit offices, the unlit OEM keyboard at KSh 2,500 does the same typing job. Mascom International stocks both, so you can compare them on the counter in Nairobi.
Does the keyboard light still work during a KPLC blackout?
Yes. The HP EliteBook 820 G3 Backlit OEM Keyboard draws its lighting from the laptop itself, so it keeps glowing on battery when the mains supply drops. You switch it on or off with the function-row key that shows a small keyboard-light icon, pressed together with fn if your settings require it. Turning the light off in bright rooms saves a little battery for long outages. That matters in Kenya, where an evening power cut often arrives exactly when a report is due.
How do I tell whether my 820 G3 needs a UK or US layout?
Look at your Enter key and the 3 key. A US layout has a wide, single-row Enter key and the backslash key sitting above it. A UK layout has a tall, L-shaped Enter key, a pound sign on the 3 key and an extra small key beside the left Shift. Mascom International confirms which layout the unit in stock carries before you order, so send a photo of your current keyboard on WhatsApp to +254 708 852 521 and we will match it.
What does OEM actually mean on this keyboard?
OEM stands for original equipment manufacturer, meaning the keyboard is made to HP's design by the supplier that produces EliteBook keyboards. It shares the shape, key spacing, cable layout and pointing stick of the part fitted at the factory. The difference is packaging: it ships as a bare spare part, not in an HP-branded retail box. For a buyer in Kenya, that usually means factory-correct fit at a price well below what an authorised HP repair desk would quote.
Who should buy the HP EliteBook 820 G3 Backlit OEM Keyboard, and who should skip it?
Buy it if your 820 G3 still runs well but its keys stick, repeat or have stopped responding, and you work in dim rooms. Skip it if your laptop originally came with an unlit keyboard and you are unsure the board has a lighting connector; bring it in and we will check first. Skip it as well if the hinges, screen and battery are also failing. In that case a used business laptop from Mascom International is the smarter spend.
How hard is it to replace the keyboard on an HP EliteBook 820 G3?
It is a technician's job, not a five-minute swap. The keyboard sits inside the laptop, so the base must come off and several internal parts are disconnected before the old keyboard lifts out. Mascom International sells the part only, so choose an experienced repair technician you trust and ask them to handle the thin flex cables gently. Many buyers in Nairobi bring their laptop to our Kimathi Street store first, simply to confirm the fit before the technician opens anything.
How does an OEM keyboard compare with the cheaper copies sold in Nairobi?
The OEM part matches HP's original design, while many low-cost copies vary from batch to batch. Copies commonly show uneven lighting, keycaps that pop off, or a pointing stick that drifts. Some carry printing that fades within weeks of heavy typing, especially in dusty offices along Mombasa Road. Paying KSh 3,500 for the HP EliteBook 820 G3 Backlit OEM Keyboard costs more up front, but it avoids paying a technician twice to open the same laptop.
Technical Specifications
Core Function and Key Lighting
- Backlit keys light every legend from behind, so you can read letters and symbols in dark rooms and vehicles.
- The integrated pointing stick sits between the G, H and B keys, letting you move the cursor without lifting your hands.
- Lighting runs from the laptop's own power, so it works on battery during blackouts without any external cable.
- A function-row key marked with a keyboard-light icon switches the glow on and off as conditions change.
- Fresh key switches restore even, consistent travel, ending the missed letters and double characters a worn keyboard produces.
- The part replaces the complete keyboard deck, not individual keys, so every key returns to the same feel together.
Compatibility and Part Numbers
- Designed for the HP EliteBook 820 G3, HP's 12.5-inch business notebook, as named in the product title.
- Parts suppliers list HP part number 826630 for this backlit keyboard family with pointing stick and silver frame.
- Supplier listings show the US version as 826630-001; other language layouts carry a different three-digit ending after the dash.
- The same listings name the 820 G4, 725 G3, 725 G4 and 828 G3 as sharing this keyboard; confirm before buying.
- Older 820 G1 and 820 G2 notebooks use a different keyboard, so check the model label under your laptop first.
- Bringing your laptop to Mascom International lets us compare the part against your machine before any money changes hands.
Layout and Key Legends
- Layout varies by unit, so Mascom International confirms UK or US on WhatsApp before you place an order.
- A US layout uses a wide, single-row Enter key with the backslash key positioned directly above it.
- A UK layout uses a tall, L-shaped Enter key and adds a pound sign on the 3 key.
- Number-lock overlays print small digits on the right-hand letter keys, giving you a compact keypad for data entry.
- Dedicated Home, End, Page Up and Page Down keys sit around the arrow cluster for faster document navigation.
- Insert, Print Screen and Delete share the top-right corner, keeping screenshot and editing shortcuts within one reach.
Build Quality and Daily Durability
- A silver frame surrounds dark grey keycaps, matching the original look of the EliteBook 820 G3 deck.
- Chiclet-style keys with spaced gaps reduce accidental presses on the narrow 12.5-inch chassis.
- Brand-new keycaps carry crisp legends, so letters stay readable instead of the polished, faded marks worn keyboards show.
- OEM construction follows HP's original mounting points, so the part sits flush rather than bowing or rattling once fitted.
- Supplier shipping weight is listed at 0.11 kg, so the part travels safely by courier to any county.
- Keeping drinks away from the laptop remains the best protection, because liquid damage ends any keyboard's working life quickly.
Inclusions and Fitting Notes
- The keyboard arrives as a bare OEM spare part, without HP retail packaging or printed instructions.
- Flex cables for typing, lighting and the pointing stick come attached to the keyboard itself.
- Screws, tools and adhesive are not included, so your technician should keep the original screws from your laptop.
- Fitting is not part of the price; use a trained repair technician who has opened EliteBook notebooks before.
- Store staff in Nairobi CBD will compare the part with your laptop before payment to rule out a mismatch.
Package Contents
Your HP EliteBook 820 G3 Backlit OEM Keyboard ships the way OEM spares reach professional repair desks, packed to protect the keycaps and cables in transit.
- HP EliteBook 820 G3 Backlit OEM Keyboard with silver frame and pointing stick
- Attached flex cables for keys, lighting and pointing stick
- Protective packing for courier delivery
- Mascom International receipt for warranty claims
No screws, tools or HP-branded retail box are included.
Warranty
The HP EliteBook 820 G3 Backlit OEM Keyboard carries a 6-month Mascom International warranty on manufacturing defects in the keys and backlight. Physical damage, liquid spills and damage caused during fitting by third parties are not covered. Bring claims to our Nairobi CBD store together with your receipt.
Where to Buy the HP EliteBook 820 G3 Backlit OEM Keyboard in Kenya
The HP EliteBook 820 G3 Backlit OEM Keyboard is available now at Mascom International, Old Mutual Building, First Floor Room 4, Kimathi Street, Nairobi CBD. Visit Monday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and bring your laptop so we can confirm the layout and fit before you pay. Available finish: silver frame with dark grey keys.
Order through any of the following:
- Phone/WhatsApp: +254 708 852 521
- Email: info@mascomintl.com
- Website: www.mascomintl.com
Mascom International ships the HP EliteBook 820 G3 Backlit OEM Keyboard across all 47 Kenyan counties with pay-on-arrival delivery, so you pay only when it reaches you. Nairobi and its environs receive same-day delivery. Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret and every other major city and town receive it the next business day. Mandera, Wajir, Marsabit, Lamu, Tana River, and Turkana receive delivery within 2-3 business days.
Every keyboard is backed by the 6-month warranty above, with claims handled at our Nairobi CBD store. Professionals across Kenya rely on Mascom International for honest part details, current pricing and direct after-sales support on every EliteBook spare we stock.
