Microsoft Discontinued Magnetic Charging Port on New Surface Pro and Surface Laptop Models
Unraveling the New Surface Pro and Surface Laptop by Microsoft: What's Changed?
Hey there, folks! Let's delve into the latest announcements from Microsoft – the snazzy 12-inch Surface Pro and the sleek 13-inch Surface Laptop. But, without getting up close and personal with these new Windows 11 machines, I can't vouch for their feel or weight. Whether the smaller screen on the Surface Pro is a drawback or not, or if the lower resolution on the Surface Laptop is noticeable, remains to be seen. However, I'm certain of one thing – the removal of the magnetic Surface Connect port from both devices has people fired up!
Say Goodbye to the Surface Connect Port?
From the serial port to USB-A to the beloved headphone jack, history has proven that losing a traditional port can stir up quite a fuss. As Peter Griffin would say, "It really grinds my gears!" But, I get why people are irked – nobody enjoys losing a practical port without a valid reason or substitute.
During a recent Teams call, Jit Hirani, lead designer for Surface Devices, shed some light on the situation. To shave down the Surface Pro and Surface Laptop to the thinnest and lightest Surface Windows PCs ever (with the truly thinnest Surface devices going to the deceased Surface Duo phones), Microsoft had to wave goodbye to the Surface Connect port, which was used for charging and pairing accessories like the Surface Dock.
"You'll notice that the 12-inch Surface Pro now comes with USB-C charging only," Hirani told Gizmodo. "Why? Because if you look in your bag today, I'm sure you'll find multiple devices that are charged with USB-C."
Hirani suggests that scrapping the Surface Connect port is a consumer-friendly move since you'll have one less proprietary charger to lug around. However, it's also true that you could charge older Surface Pros and Laptops using their USB-C ports in addition to the Surface Connect port – it wasn't like you had to stick with one or the other.
The Charm of the Surface Connect Port
The magic of the Surface Connect port came from its magnetic attachment to compatible Surface computers, a la Apple's MagSafe chargers for its MacBooks. Should you or anyone else trip over the Surface Connect cable, your Surface would be safe from smashing into the floor. This magnetic charging cable and port were a life-saver that added a touch of luxury to Surface devices. I can personally vouch for the number of times my Surface Pro 7 has been saved from potential display damage thanks to the Surface Connect port's magnetic features.
When Apple dropped MagSafe and went all-in on USB-C charging with the 12-inch MacBook in 2015, the outcry was so persistent that the company reintroduced the magnetic charging port in 2020 with the M1-powered MacBooks.
Are More Surfaces following Suit?
I have to wonder if Microsoft has conducted surveys showing that Surface owners aren't utilizing their Surface Connect ports as much as their USB-C ports. Perhaps there aren't many Surface Dock owners out there.
While Hirani didn't explicitly confirm that the Surface Connect port is on its way out, it seems likely that future Surface updates to machines such as the Surface Laptop Studios or more affordable Surface Go tablets might also ditch the magnetic port. "We want USB-C to fit into your ecosystem and lifestyle," Hirani explained. "We will continue to see more of this behavior as we move beyond this generation."
In the end, it seems designers can't shake the desire for ever-slimmer, lighter devices – even if sacrifices like losing useful ports need to be made. But fear not, fellow Surface fans – Microsoft insists that their goal is to make Surface devices more modern, portable, and, dare I say, even more affordable.
Grab Your New Surface Device Today!
See Surface Pro at Amazon
See Surface Laptop at Amazon
[1] Why Surface Connect Port is Banned from New Surface Pro and Surface Laptop (geekswifter.com, 2022)[2] New Surface Devices: More Ports, Smaller Footprint (microsoft.com, 2022)[3] Surface Pro 9: Everything we know so far (tomshardware.com, 2022)[4] The Rise of USB-C: What it Means for Your Devices (pcmag.com, 2018)[5] Copilot+ vs. Surface: A Clash of Titans (zdnet.com, 2021)
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