Microsoft’s new Surface devices ditch magnetic charging port for USB-C


Microsoft has just announced two new Surface devices, and neither comes with the company’s Surface Connect charging port. The Surface Pro 12-inch and Surface Laptop 13-inch can now only be charged through USB-C ports on the devices, after years of Microsoft equipping its Surface laptops and tablets with the company’s proprietary magnetic charging port.
While this isn’t the first time Microsoft has ditched the Surface Connect port on a new device, it does feel like the company is now finally happy with charging over USB-C. This all but confirms that the next iterations of the larger Surface Pro and Surface Laptop models will also ship without the magnetic charging port.
The Surface 3 shipped with just Micro USB charging, but the company has always included the Surface Connect on its Surface Pro line of devices. The compatibility has meant you can use an existing Surface charger across a wide variety of Microsoft’s hardware dating back many generations.
Microsoft also no longer ships a charger in the box for its latest Surface devices, in compliance with EU initiatives to reduce e-waste. The switch to just USB-C charging on Surface devices comes nearly eight years after Microsoft was originally under pressure to add USB-C ports to its hardware. At the time, Microsoft created a USB-C dongle instead with former Surface chief Panos Panay joking that it was for “people who love dongles.”
Microsoft has just announced two new Surface devices, and neither comes with the company’s Surface Connect charging port. The Surface Pro 12-inch and Surface Laptop 13-inch can now only be charged through USB-C ports on the devices, after years of Microsoft equipping its Surface laptops and tablets with the company’s…
Recent Posts
- Microsoft’s new Surface devices ditch magnetic charging port for USB-C
- Roku Streaming Stick Plus review: Powered by the TV and perfect for travel
- ‘We will raise prices’: Canon sends camera price hike warning as DJI’s best vlogging camera doubles in price due to US tariffs
- Windows 11 could soon get a nifty new privacy feature that tells you when people are sneakily looking at your laptop screen
- UNA Watch celebrates $330,000 in Kickstarter backing as consumers and developers clamor for a sustainable alternative to the Apple Watch
Archives
- May 2025
- April 2025
- March 2025
- February 2025
- January 2025
- December 2024
- November 2024
- October 2024
- September 2024
- August 2024
- July 2024
- June 2024
- May 2024
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- September 2018
- October 2017
- December 2011
- August 2010