Microsoft has recently unveiled two new Surface devices, both of which no longer feature the Surface Connect charging port that the company has traditionally used. The Surface Pro 12-inch and Surface Laptop 13-inch now rely solely on USB-C ports for charging, marking a departure from Microsoft’s magnetic charging port design.
This shift away from the Surface Connect port is not unprecedented for Microsoft, but it does suggest a strategic embrace of USB-C charging moving forward. It seems likely that future iterations of the larger Surface Pro and Surface Laptop models will follow suit and abandon the magnetic charging port as well.
While the Surface 3 previously utilized Micro USB charging, Microsoft has consistently included the Surface Connect port on its Surface Pro line. This compatibility has allowed users to use a single charger across various Microsoft devices spanning multiple generations.
In addition to eliminating the charger from the packaging of its latest Surface devices in compliance with EU environmental initiatives, Microsoft’s transition to USB-C charging comes nearly a decade after facing pressure to incorporate USB-C ports into its hardware. Initially, the company opted to offer a USB-C dongle instead, with former Surface chief Panos Panay humorously referring to it as a solution for “dongle enthusiasts.”
This evolution in Microsoft’s approach to charging technology reflects a broader industry trend towards standardization and sustainability in device design.
