Microsoft has officially unveiled two new Surface devices, both of which lack the company’s Surface Connect charging port. The Surface Pro 12-inch and Surface Laptop 13-inch will now only be powered through USB-C ports, marking a significant shift after years of relying on Microsoft’s proprietary magnetic charging system.
Although Microsoft has previously moved away from the Surface Connect port with other devices, this move suggests a growing confidence in USB-C charging. It seems likely that future models of the larger Surface Pro and Surface Laptop will also follow suit and forego the magnetic charging port.
The Surface 3 was previously limited to Micro USB charging, but the Surface Pro line has typically featured the Surface Connect port. This compatibility allowed users to utilize a single Surface charger across many generations of Microsoft devices.
Additionally, Microsoft will no longer include a charger in the packaging of its latest Surface devices, aligning with EU regulations aimed at reducing electronic waste. The transition to USB-C charging comes almost eight years after Microsoft faced pressure to incorporate USB-C ports into its products. At that time, the company instead introduced a USB-C dongle, with former Surface head Panos Panay humorously referring to it as a solution for “people who love dongles.”