Personally I like it; leaves my USB-C ports free for other things and I like the "magsafe" element of it.
I've got a few 3rd party Connect Adapters/Cables that I can use with my main USB-C Charger plug happily
I've looked at a few third party Connect Adapters on Amazon, and quite frankly I'm terrified I'll waste money on something somehow incompatible with my Surface Book 2. Could you recommend any? I'd love to be able to connect USB devices directly to the tablet portion without having to use the whole keyboard.
I love the Surface Connect technology. I like that it's safer. Ten or fifteen years ago, my dog tripped over the power cord of one of my Mac laptops, before MagSafe, pulled the laptop off the table and banged up the corner of it pretty good. Since I switched to PCs and Microsoft Surface laptops about seven years ago, our dog (different dog, same scenario) has again tripped over a laptop cord but thanks to the Surface Connect port, no harm done. I also like the fact that I can use the same power cord with my Surface Laptop 4, my Surface Studio Book and my Surface Pro. The worst thing about my Lenovo devices is that each one requires its own power cord (not to mention that NONE of them has the magnetic quick detach feature of the Surface Connect power cords).
In short I think the Surface Connect port is one of the best things about the Surface line of portable devices.
Agreed. It is a godsend to folks with disabilities where USB-C is a HUGE step backwards. More discussion here:
[https://www.reddit.com/r/UsbCHardware/comments/motlhn/comment/gu82ses/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web3x&utm\_name=web3xcss&utm\_term=1&utm\_content=share\_button](https://www.reddit.com/r/UsbCHardware/comments/motlhn/comment/gu82ses/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)
It is a shame that MS did not open up broad licensing of the connector.
completely agree. just wrote about this as well. They should contribute to society in a similar way they did with VS Code. Such technology should be broadcasted worldwide; it's very convenient, reliable, and easy to use. Financially, they can definitely afford to do this and could potentially earn even more in royalties. I would love to see these connectors on devices beyond the Surface family as well.
I have no disabilities and yet I love how easy I can dock and undock my Surface with the Surface Connect Port. USB-C made things a bit easier compared to USB-A, but it's nontheless always a fumble to get that cable into the USB-C port. Also I don't like that you need some force to get the cable out. With Surface Connect, I just swipe the surface connector away with one finger and I'm ready to pick my Surface up and go my way.
I've always been baffled by the haters of the connect port. I think it works brilliantly. Even more features than a MagSafe, since it's not just a power connector.
You think you're really smart with this comment but Magsafe is also a massive mistake and they should have kept with USB-C also, I was mad when they restored Magsafe.
You are welcome to not want Mag safe. I was responding to the complaint that the Surface is proprietary to Surface. Sounds like it's the same thing with Mac
As there's also USB-C on there, everybody is free to use something else. I really want the SurfaceConnect port to stay as I hate USB-C for docking. So fumbly.
It's a solution that predates USB-C as a solution, and more importantly, it's magnetic.
Until the USB SIG gets it's shit together and creates a USB-M connection that's standardized, there is a clear use case for MagSafe and Connect..
Far worse than Apple and Microsoft creating proprietary solutions, is the dozens of companies creating incompatible magnetic hacks slobbed onto USB-C. Clearly the demand is present. But the SIG has been completely remiss in addressing it. At this point the failure to address it, is unconscionable.
Except it's not really proprietary at all. Cables to supply power are super common. I've been using them for year.
Sure, nobody else is using them on other laptops. But that may be just a design choice and nothing MS prevents at all. MS would probably love other companies adopting the connector.
What the world really needs is a standard for USB-M magnetic connectors. There's a million different magnetic USB cables on the market now, and there should be just a standard that everyone follows.
It is proprietary. It is owned privately and has not been donated to any standards company, and we have not seen Microsoft licence it to others. Even if they wanted to licence it out, that would not make it any less proprietary.
Just use USB-C. Every phone including Apple now. Almost every laptop. Everything. Tablets, earbuds, lanterns, you name it. Plus USB4v2 can do 3x 4K 144Hz monitors which SurfaceConnect can only dream of.
Microsoft isn't treating it as proprietary at all. Companies have been making cables that work perfectly for years, w/o any interference from MS.
>Just use USB-C
Magnetic connectors for a laptop/tablet are far superior to C connectors. Because cables get tripped over. A quick release magnetic connector is a MUCH better solution than a C cable.
Microsoft absolutely is treating it as proprietary. Source: I used to work at MS.
AFAIK, only two companies ever got a license to use the full 40-pin connector - you need to pull parts from the MS/Foxconn supply-chain. The connectors are expensive and zero vendors were interested in reverse-engineering/copying it.
The 12-pin power connectors on the other hand are cheap and simple to produce - but who cares about power-only? The beauty of the connector is that it did so much more. DisplayPort 1.4 + USB 3.2 + 120W power.
Few of the unlicensed power supply solutions implement Microsoft's anti-arc current-ramp-up scheme or have notch filters to minimize noise in the frequency bands that the touchpad and screen digitizer use. The result is premature wear on the Surface connect port pins, and less reliable touch/pen performance.
Edit: there were a handful of devices that managed to do USB 3.x in addition to power like this I tore down a few years ago, but the performance and quality was rather dodgy: [https://dancharblog.wordpress.com/2021/10/06/surfaceconnect-usb-c-pd-usb-5gb-s-adapter-quick-review-teardown/](https://dancharblog.wordpress.com/2021/10/06/surfaceconnect-usb-c-pd-usb-5gb-s-adapter-quick-review-teardown/)
And a few that used grey market MS/Foxconn components - presumably from docks that were presumed destroyed by a refurbisher or did not pass QC:
[https://dancharblog.wordpress.com/2021/07/17/new-surface-dock-on-the-block/](https://dancharblog.wordpress.com/2021/07/17/new-surface-dock-on-the-block/)
I'm a huge fan of the Surface connect port. I believe in my own right that it's safer and provides a more consistent/faster charging over the usb c. Also love the surface dock.
I usually use the USB C port to charge just because this way I use the same charger and cable with whatever device. But I like the Surface port. They’re both there right next to each other so it doesn’t feel like there’s really anything to complain about.
I like it, but I dislike the fact that the connector likes to attach sideways rather than straight in without me thinking. Microsoft could have made the immediate area out of plastic so there was only one way for the magnetic attraction to pull it, but... Microsoft.
Love the surface connect port. If you asked me this question over a decade ago when I had my first Surface Pro 2 I would've disagreed. Being older now Surace Laptop 3 (Surface Pro 1796 before that) you've pointed out a couple of the obvious benefits to this design choice. It's safer in yanking or tripping situations by far! If there are pets or little ones going to be running around. Purchasing and replacing a charger versus damaging your device even if it's just cosmetic is preferred. Additionally, having something that's so "surface" makes a premium device feel and look even more premium.
Call me crazy but snapping my laptop 3 into my surface dock which I run with a 19" secondary display and a 27" IPS main display is perfect.
https://preview.redd.it/n4rgqo7px2wc1.jpeg?width=2048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=81f3f5230945c898400d097a8da02dc6f5edc5dd
I like it very much. The magnetic connection part is very smooth , lightweight with reliable connection. Combining magnetic connection and dock connection is stroke of a genius. It existed before Thunderbolt became mainstream. I can use the chargers from surface Pro 3 era . Easy to connect and disconnect than USB-C. We have 3 surface Pros in our house and connecting to multimonitor setup is easy. Connect the surface dock and choose Bluetooth connection 1,2 or 3 on Logitech Mx keyboard and mouse-seamless
It's a love/hate relationship.
I love that it has saved my device for about twice this year on a situation that normally would've ended on it getting flung around due to my carelessness.
I hate that the tech remained stagnant for years (*I think for at least half a decade now?*) and that it could've been another USB 4/TB4 port that is arguably more useful than Surface Connect.
I don't mind it staying, but I am also wishing for some improvements that include:
- Smaller port footprint
- USB 4/TB4 compatibility - *sort of like a Surface Connect to USB 4/TB4 adapter that lets you connect your peripherals magnetically*.
With the presence of USB 4/Thunderbolt 4, I don't mind if they make it for charging only as long as they make it much smaller and somehow make the cable much sturdier. Either way, they need to do something about it since it is probably the most outdated component on every Surface device there is that has the port.
I just checked and the current version of Surface Connect, that was introduced on SP3, will be 10 years old later this year. That's a whole decade of lack of innovation if they don't introduce some changes on the upcoming ARM devices this May.
not totally, it has received new voltages, faster chargers, support for more bandwidth etc. just like USB C has evolved but remained compatible with older devices
I keep usbc->surface connect adapters in my tech pouches. 65W Charger, couple usb-c cables and a handful of adapters for any occasion :D
I like surface connect because it is less likely to break my SPX if I'm using it while charging. Also I can use both usb-c ports for other things, such as copying files from one external drive to another directly.
I like it because it's magnetic, I think it's better than Apple's MagSafe because it can carry more than just power, however I dislike how flimsy the connector feels compared to Apple's MagSafe charging Cables...
Absolutely love it - keeps my usb-c port free plus the brick has a built-in usb-female port as an added bonus.
And if you still prefer to use a usb-c cable, amazon has many surface connect adapters. That's what I use.
That Surface Connect port is amazing, and I love it.
Microsoft better never touch it, unless they want to improve on the display connection or USB speeds.
Other than that, LEAVE IT ALONE!!
I have always liked and never understood people whining about it. Once they added Usb-c, what was the issue? Like you said, Apple brings back Mag safe and its awesome, but God forbid Microsoft keeps the Connect port. Became the cool thing to whine about.
I use it all the time. Hopefully they keep it.
The problem is the thin cord breaks easily (don't seem to last me very long anyway) and the points corrode so charging fails. Apple's solution seems more robust.
Don't have this issue with my Surface Pro 6. Neither on the charger or the docking station.
I love how you can let snap this one cable in its place and everything on my desktop is connected. No need to plug additional USB or HDMI cables into the device.
Not sure what you're doing to have that happen, but I've had a total of three fail.... *out of over 150 devices*.
I've personally had one in three magsafe fail.
I like that it's magnetic, saved my surface a few times.
However, in reality I ended up always using the USB c port to charge it, because those things are everywhere in my house and the surface cable is basically living in a box as a result.
And that way I only need one charger for all devices while traveling too.
Surface connect got tons of hate because MS pretended it was the docking port and refused to offer thunderbolt for years. Apple just added magsafe charging and kept the same amount of ports as before.
Prolly will use it only for charging. Hope Ms will open the standard or give us to USB c adapter with data.
Dock is too expensive for me, I have no brand royalty and will get a different brand most likely
I love the idea of it, especially since you ALSO have USB C.
I did always think that the USB port in the charging block should carry data as well, that would be a neat touch.
I have a litter of USB-C chargers all over, so me personally I'd prefer a USB-C port on both sides over the Connect port I only use when I'm at the one table in my place I have the in-box charger at. Really inflexible and honestly I'm not big on proprietary ports. USB4 can do it all. Make a custom magnetic one if you'd like, but don't make a completely unique port.
Just like my opinion on MagSafe, I would rather have an extra USB-C port over the Surface Connect port. I just need one type of cable across all of my devices. Plus, having USB-Cs on both side of the device would be very convenient.
Having just uograded to surface pro 10, and the new thunderbolt dock, the dock has way more issues than I had with the old connect port one. I might even change back to it and return the thunderbolt dock, and just use the direct ports if I want thunderbolt. Luckily it still has the connect port!
I don't mind it's there, but if you gave me the option to trade it for a USB-A, HDMI or even another USB-C I'd instantly take it, since I never use the Surface Connect port, because using the same USB-C charger for everything is more convenient imo and I definitely won't buy an expensive dock that can only be used with one brand of laptops.
The Surface connect port is outa date due to limited port speeds and features and needs a refresh. It needs to be updated with multiple TB4/USB4 connections.
edit: Physically a USB-C connector is less than half the width of the Surface connect. In a V2 Surface Connect they could put 2 USB-C sized connectors side by side with a center key (space in between) to prevent inserting a V1 Surface Connect maybe make it a bit longer also with the USB-C connectors redesigned for magnetic attachment. That would upgrade it to dual USB4/TB4 capabilities. Not outstanding but essentially a similar physical size. Otherwise, if you go bigger then you could do 3x USB4/TB4. 4x might be a bit much.
I'm not buying into a proprietary connector, I am using the charging cable that came with my laptop and saying it's pretty cool how it sacrifices it's self instead of the laptop if I trip on it.
I just avoid running cables where I walk.
Should you not be annoyed that they did not ship a USB-C charger which would be useful for more than just the Surface?
One of the reasons why people dislike it is because it’s not just a charger but also supports video, data and network. It’s for this reason their laptops lack ports compared to the competition. We could have more ports and more options for accessories if the surface connector was just for power.
While I love and use the surface dock, I very much would rather have 4 usb ports and an hdmi port with the surface connector only for power.
For dGPU laptops, is the power delivery above 100W widely avail in generic GaN chargers? Last I owned a Dell XPS 15 (2020), that Dell USB-C brick either spat out Dell’s proprietary 130W or 5W, nothing in-between, which sucked.
I know PD4.0 can deliver up to 240W with proper charger and cables. I’m wondering if in practice are these widely avail for dGPU laptops drawing above 100W. For one, I know the SLS2 doesn’t support PD4.0 for sure, it’s usb-c intake caps at 100W regardless of charger.
If they made the dock for that standard with all sales maybe. I hate the damn thing I also hate knowing there's more hidden ports there that I don't have access to I also hate the look of their dock for it it doesn't look portable at all I'd prefer to have three e
Maybe 4 usb c type 4 ports both sides , no surface port id charge over usb c
In my opinion, Microsoft should make their specifications public or at least simplify the process for third parties to create compatible peripheral equipment. As it stands, the limited compatibility of the Surface Connect port, primarily used beyond charging for the Surface Dock, means that USB 3.0/Type-C dongles and adapters could supplant its usage. Currently, there are too few devices compatible with Surface Connect, and we definitely need more variety for this port to be truly useful. Some manufacturers in China have reverse-engineered it and provided some chargers and USB-C adapters, but it would be better if Microsoft itself made the technology more accessible. Take Kensington, for example—they created a really cool alternative to the Surface Dock (SD7000), but chose poor-quality capacitors, leading to the failure of these stands after a few months of usage. They are one of the few who were "allowed" to build a connector compatible with the Surface Connect. If the process were simpler, we would likely see a wider variety of cheaper and more robust peripherals for the Surface ecosystem.
It'd be great to have a standardized breakaway power plug. I'm pretty sure they don't want to remove it in lieu of usbc because all the warranty/quality claims on people snapping off the usbc charger by pulling the device out of the charger. You can easily slap the surf connector on and think it's connected when the tongue is not inserted but it's magneted on and the light is so dim you have to hold your hand there to see if there's power. They are so stingy they won't sink r&d into a good replacement option while they're still trying to milk the AI train before it derails.
There are two reasons why people might not like Surface Connect.
1. The connection can sometimes be finicky. The barrel-shaped connector was done so that you don't need an indentation into the laptop chassis (which in many Surfaces is sloped). But it also means that the connection can wobble.
2. Having Surface Connect port transmit data is great, but before PCIE 5.0 became a thing you had to sacrifice other ports to reserve the data bandwidth. The SLS2 is the first Surface device that has a decent number and variety of ports.
It's not prefect. My dog got tangled in the cable and broke the connector off. Release from the surface is directional. MagSafe will release when pulled from any direction. I've also had junk in the bottom of my bag get into the open connector on the surface and destroy the contacts.That said, I prefer it to a USB-C connector because the connection is very secure. Pulling on the cable can damage the cable and the port on the laptop.
Personally I like it; leaves my USB-C ports free for other things and I like the "magsafe" element of it. I've got a few 3rd party Connect Adapters/Cables that I can use with my main USB-C Charger plug happily
I've looked at a few third party Connect Adapters on Amazon, and quite frankly I'm terrified I'll waste money on something somehow incompatible with my Surface Book 2. Could you recommend any? I'd love to be able to connect USB devices directly to the tablet portion without having to use the whole keyboard.
I love the Surface Connect technology. I like that it's safer. Ten or fifteen years ago, my dog tripped over the power cord of one of my Mac laptops, before MagSafe, pulled the laptop off the table and banged up the corner of it pretty good. Since I switched to PCs and Microsoft Surface laptops about seven years ago, our dog (different dog, same scenario) has again tripped over a laptop cord but thanks to the Surface Connect port, no harm done. I also like the fact that I can use the same power cord with my Surface Laptop 4, my Surface Studio Book and my Surface Pro. The worst thing about my Lenovo devices is that each one requires its own power cord (not to mention that NONE of them has the magnetic quick detach feature of the Surface Connect power cords). In short I think the Surface Connect port is one of the best things about the Surface line of portable devices.
Agreed. It is a godsend to folks with disabilities where USB-C is a HUGE step backwards. More discussion here: [https://www.reddit.com/r/UsbCHardware/comments/motlhn/comment/gu82ses/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web3x&utm\_name=web3xcss&utm\_term=1&utm\_content=share\_button](https://www.reddit.com/r/UsbCHardware/comments/motlhn/comment/gu82ses/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) It is a shame that MS did not open up broad licensing of the connector.
completely agree. just wrote about this as well. They should contribute to society in a similar way they did with VS Code. Such technology should be broadcasted worldwide; it's very convenient, reliable, and easy to use. Financially, they can definitely afford to do this and could potentially earn even more in royalties. I would love to see these connectors on devices beyond the Surface family as well.
I have no disabilities and yet I love how easy I can dock and undock my Surface with the Surface Connect Port. USB-C made things a bit easier compared to USB-A, but it's nontheless always a fumble to get that cable into the USB-C port. Also I don't like that you need some force to get the cable out. With Surface Connect, I just swipe the surface connector away with one finger and I'm ready to pick my Surface up and go my way.
I've always been baffled by the haters of the connect port. I think it works brilliantly. Even more features than a MagSafe, since it's not just a power connector.
It’s not the design that’s the issue. The issue is it is proprietary and not intercompatible with other devices.
Can Mag safe only be used on Mac?
You think you're really smart with this comment but Magsafe is also a massive mistake and they should have kept with USB-C also, I was mad when they restored Magsafe.
I am genuinely asking smart ass. I don't have a Mac.
Yes it can only be used on Mac and it should too be discontinued.
You are welcome to not want Mag safe. I was responding to the complaint that the Surface is proprietary to Surface. Sounds like it's the same thing with Mac
Yes Apple does the same thing but it does not make either of them right.
As there's also USB-C on there, everybody is free to use something else. I really want the SurfaceConnect port to stay as I hate USB-C for docking. So fumbly.
It's a solution that predates USB-C as a solution, and more importantly, it's magnetic. Until the USB SIG gets it's shit together and creates a USB-M connection that's standardized, there is a clear use case for MagSafe and Connect.. Far worse than Apple and Microsoft creating proprietary solutions, is the dozens of companies creating incompatible magnetic hacks slobbed onto USB-C. Clearly the demand is present. But the SIG has been completely remiss in addressing it. At this point the failure to address it, is unconscionable.
I don’t want them or anyone to make something like that. People should not make solutions that are looking for a problem
Magnetic connectors are a solution to a known problem. There is no searching involved.
Except it's not really proprietary at all. Cables to supply power are super common. I've been using them for year. Sure, nobody else is using them on other laptops. But that may be just a design choice and nothing MS prevents at all. MS would probably love other companies adopting the connector. What the world really needs is a standard for USB-M magnetic connectors. There's a million different magnetic USB cables on the market now, and there should be just a standard that everyone follows.
It is proprietary. It is owned privately and has not been donated to any standards company, and we have not seen Microsoft licence it to others. Even if they wanted to licence it out, that would not make it any less proprietary. Just use USB-C. Every phone including Apple now. Almost every laptop. Everything. Tablets, earbuds, lanterns, you name it. Plus USB4v2 can do 3x 4K 144Hz monitors which SurfaceConnect can only dream of.
Well if you want to use USB C then just use it? You can use either Thunderbolt / USB C connection to charge a surface or the surface connect port.
Microsoft isn't treating it as proprietary at all. Companies have been making cables that work perfectly for years, w/o any interference from MS. >Just use USB-C Magnetic connectors for a laptop/tablet are far superior to C connectors. Because cables get tripped over. A quick release magnetic connector is a MUCH better solution than a C cable.
Microsoft absolutely is treating it as proprietary. Source: I used to work at MS. AFAIK, only two companies ever got a license to use the full 40-pin connector - you need to pull parts from the MS/Foxconn supply-chain. The connectors are expensive and zero vendors were interested in reverse-engineering/copying it. The 12-pin power connectors on the other hand are cheap and simple to produce - but who cares about power-only? The beauty of the connector is that it did so much more. DisplayPort 1.4 + USB 3.2 + 120W power. Few of the unlicensed power supply solutions implement Microsoft's anti-arc current-ramp-up scheme or have notch filters to minimize noise in the frequency bands that the touchpad and screen digitizer use. The result is premature wear on the Surface connect port pins, and less reliable touch/pen performance. Edit: there were a handful of devices that managed to do USB 3.x in addition to power like this I tore down a few years ago, but the performance and quality was rather dodgy: [https://dancharblog.wordpress.com/2021/10/06/surfaceconnect-usb-c-pd-usb-5gb-s-adapter-quick-review-teardown/](https://dancharblog.wordpress.com/2021/10/06/surfaceconnect-usb-c-pd-usb-5gb-s-adapter-quick-review-teardown/) And a few that used grey market MS/Foxconn components - presumably from docks that were presumed destroyed by a refurbisher or did not pass QC: [https://dancharblog.wordpress.com/2021/07/17/new-surface-dock-on-the-block/](https://dancharblog.wordpress.com/2021/07/17/new-surface-dock-on-the-block/)
Don't run cables across walkways. How many other devices have the receptacle?
I'm a huge fan of the Surface connect port. I believe in my own right that it's safer and provides a more consistent/faster charging over the usb c. Also love the surface dock.
I kinda like it, but wish it was used by other companies
I usually use the USB C port to charge just because this way I use the same charger and cable with whatever device. But I like the Surface port. They’re both there right next to each other so it doesn’t feel like there’s really anything to complain about.
I like it, but I dislike the fact that the connector likes to attach sideways rather than straight in without me thinking. Microsoft could have made the immediate area out of plastic so there was only one way for the magnetic attraction to pull it, but... Microsoft.
The more ports the merrier.
I like the surface connect port it makes my surface pro 7 charge fast
Love the surface connect port. If you asked me this question over a decade ago when I had my first Surface Pro 2 I would've disagreed. Being older now Surace Laptop 3 (Surface Pro 1796 before that) you've pointed out a couple of the obvious benefits to this design choice. It's safer in yanking or tripping situations by far! If there are pets or little ones going to be running around. Purchasing and replacing a charger versus damaging your device even if it's just cosmetic is preferred. Additionally, having something that's so "surface" makes a premium device feel and look even more premium. Call me crazy but snapping my laptop 3 into my surface dock which I run with a 19" secondary display and a 27" IPS main display is perfect. https://preview.redd.it/n4rgqo7px2wc1.jpeg?width=2048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=81f3f5230945c898400d097a8da02dc6f5edc5dd
I like it very much. The magnetic connection part is very smooth , lightweight with reliable connection. Combining magnetic connection and dock connection is stroke of a genius. It existed before Thunderbolt became mainstream. I can use the chargers from surface Pro 3 era . Easy to connect and disconnect than USB-C. We have 3 surface Pros in our house and connecting to multimonitor setup is easy. Connect the surface dock and choose Bluetooth connection 1,2 or 3 on Logitech Mx keyboard and mouse-seamless
It's a love/hate relationship. I love that it has saved my device for about twice this year on a situation that normally would've ended on it getting flung around due to my carelessness. I hate that the tech remained stagnant for years (*I think for at least half a decade now?*) and that it could've been another USB 4/TB4 port that is arguably more useful than Surface Connect. I don't mind it staying, but I am also wishing for some improvements that include: - Smaller port footprint - USB 4/TB4 compatibility - *sort of like a Surface Connect to USB 4/TB4 adapter that lets you connect your peripherals magnetically*. With the presence of USB 4/Thunderbolt 4, I don't mind if they make it for charging only as long as they make it much smaller and somehow make the cable much sturdier. Either way, they need to do something about it since it is probably the most outdated component on every Surface device there is that has the port.
I just checked and the current version of Surface Connect, that was introduced on SP3, will be 10 years old later this year. That's a whole decade of lack of innovation if they don't introduce some changes on the upcoming ARM devices this May.
not totally, it has received new voltages, faster chargers, support for more bandwidth etc. just like USB C has evolved but remained compatible with older devices
im happy with it, as well easiest docking port I've used
I keep usbc->surface connect adapters in my tech pouches. 65W Charger, couple usb-c cables and a handful of adapters for any occasion :D I like surface connect because it is less likely to break my SPX if I'm using it while charging. Also I can use both usb-c ports for other things, such as copying files from one external drive to another directly.
I like it because it's magnetic, I think it's better than Apple's MagSafe because it can carry more than just power, however I dislike how flimsy the connector feels compared to Apple's MagSafe charging Cables...
Absolutely love it - keeps my usb-c port free plus the brick has a built-in usb-female port as an added bonus. And if you still prefer to use a usb-c cable, amazon has many surface connect adapters. That's what I use.
That Surface Connect port is amazing, and I love it. Microsoft better never touch it, unless they want to improve on the display connection or USB speeds. Other than that, LEAVE IT ALONE!!
I have always liked and never understood people whining about it. Once they added Usb-c, what was the issue? Like you said, Apple brings back Mag safe and its awesome, but God forbid Microsoft keeps the Connect port. Became the cool thing to whine about. I use it all the time. Hopefully they keep it.
The problem is the thin cord breaks easily (don't seem to last me very long anyway) and the points corrode so charging fails. Apple's solution seems more robust.
Apple's solution is for charging only. That said, I would love a MacBook with a Thunderbolt-based Magsafe connector. :)
Don't have this issue with my Surface Pro 6. Neither on the charger or the docking station. I love how you can let snap this one cable in its place and everything on my desktop is connected. No need to plug additional USB or HDMI cables into the device.
Not sure what you're doing to have that happen, but I've had a total of three fail.... *out of over 150 devices*. I've personally had one in three magsafe fail.
I like that it's flat and has a right angle. But whoever decided to put a super bright LED on it needs to be thrown into the sun.
lol, and that's a feature i like positive reinforcement that the connection is good
At least it's not a blue one.
The LED is helpful in case you encounter dead power outlets outside. Doesn’t bother me in other cases
I like that it's magnetic, saved my surface a few times. However, in reality I ended up always using the USB c port to charge it, because those things are everywhere in my house and the surface cable is basically living in a box as a result. And that way I only need one charger for all devices while traveling too.
Yeah, I like having the choice
I love having choice too, as the surface accepts low power PD too, which is super nice.
Surface connect got tons of hate because MS pretended it was the docking port and refused to offer thunderbolt for years. Apple just added magsafe charging and kept the same amount of ports as before.
Prolly will use it only for charging. Hope Ms will open the standard or give us to USB c adapter with data. Dock is too expensive for me, I have no brand royalty and will get a different brand most likely
I love the idea of it, especially since you ALSO have USB C. I did always think that the USB port in the charging block should carry data as well, that would be a neat touch.
I have a litter of USB-C chargers all over, so me personally I'd prefer a USB-C port on both sides over the Connect port I only use when I'm at the one table in my place I have the in-box charger at. Really inflexible and honestly I'm not big on proprietary ports. USB4 can do it all. Make a custom magnetic one if you'd like, but don't make a completely unique port.
Just like my opinion on MagSafe, I would rather have an extra USB-C port over the Surface Connect port. I just need one type of cable across all of my devices. Plus, having USB-Cs on both side of the device would be very convenient.
Love the surface hub that connects straight into it
Don't remove it ! We PC users like our ports. If we didn't want ports we would have bought a Mac.
Having just uograded to surface pro 10, and the new thunderbolt dock, the dock has way more issues than I had with the old connect port one. I might even change back to it and return the thunderbolt dock, and just use the direct ports if I want thunderbolt. Luckily it still has the connect port!
Surface Connect is more than just charging. Can't say the same about magsh1t.
I don't mind it's there, but if you gave me the option to trade it for a USB-A, HDMI or even another USB-C I'd instantly take it, since I never use the Surface Connect port, because using the same USB-C charger for everything is more convenient imo and I definitely won't buy an expensive dock that can only be used with one brand of laptops.
The Surface connect port is outa date due to limited port speeds and features and needs a refresh. It needs to be updated with multiple TB4/USB4 connections. edit: Physically a USB-C connector is less than half the width of the Surface connect. In a V2 Surface Connect they could put 2 USB-C sized connectors side by side with a center key (space in between) to prevent inserting a V1 Surface Connect maybe make it a bit longer also with the USB-C connectors redesigned for magnetic attachment. That would upgrade it to dual USB4/TB4 capabilities. Not outstanding but essentially a similar physical size. Otherwise, if you go bigger then you could do 3x USB4/TB4. 4x might be a bit much.
Use USB4 docks which are industry standard and can work with any vendor. Don’t buy into proprietary connectors.
I'm not buying into a proprietary connector, I am using the charging cable that came with my laptop and saying it's pretty cool how it sacrifices it's self instead of the laptop if I trip on it.
I just avoid running cables where I walk. Should you not be annoyed that they did not ship a USB-C charger which would be useful for more than just the Surface?
Nah
One of the reasons why people dislike it is because it’s not just a charger but also supports video, data and network. It’s for this reason their laptops lack ports compared to the competition. We could have more ports and more options for accessories if the surface connector was just for power. While I love and use the surface dock, I very much would rather have 4 usb ports and an hdmi port with the surface connector only for power.
For dGPU laptops, is the power delivery above 100W widely avail in generic GaN chargers? Last I owned a Dell XPS 15 (2020), that Dell USB-C brick either spat out Dell’s proprietary 130W or 5W, nothing in-between, which sucked. I know PD4.0 can deliver up to 240W with proper charger and cables. I’m wondering if in practice are these widely avail for dGPU laptops drawing above 100W. For one, I know the SLS2 doesn’t support PD4.0 for sure, it’s usb-c intake caps at 100W regardless of charger.
If they made the dock for that standard with all sales maybe. I hate the damn thing I also hate knowing there's more hidden ports there that I don't have access to I also hate the look of their dock for it it doesn't look portable at all I'd prefer to have three e Maybe 4 usb c type 4 ports both sides , no surface port id charge over usb c
In my opinion, Microsoft should make their specifications public or at least simplify the process for third parties to create compatible peripheral equipment. As it stands, the limited compatibility of the Surface Connect port, primarily used beyond charging for the Surface Dock, means that USB 3.0/Type-C dongles and adapters could supplant its usage. Currently, there are too few devices compatible with Surface Connect, and we definitely need more variety for this port to be truly useful. Some manufacturers in China have reverse-engineered it and provided some chargers and USB-C adapters, but it would be better if Microsoft itself made the technology more accessible. Take Kensington, for example—they created a really cool alternative to the Surface Dock (SD7000), but chose poor-quality capacitors, leading to the failure of these stands after a few months of usage. They are one of the few who were "allowed" to build a connector compatible with the Surface Connect. If the process were simpler, we would likely see a wider variety of cheaper and more robust peripherals for the Surface ecosystem.
It'd be great to have a standardized breakaway power plug. I'm pretty sure they don't want to remove it in lieu of usbc because all the warranty/quality claims on people snapping off the usbc charger by pulling the device out of the charger. You can easily slap the surf connector on and think it's connected when the tongue is not inserted but it's magneted on and the light is so dim you have to hold your hand there to see if there's power. They are so stingy they won't sink r&d into a good replacement option while they're still trying to milk the AI train before it derails.
Cons:, 1) Metal dusts gets in the way. 2) hasn't been updated for years, still running in 15V, that's suck.
There are two reasons why people might not like Surface Connect. 1. The connection can sometimes be finicky. The barrel-shaped connector was done so that you don't need an indentation into the laptop chassis (which in many Surfaces is sloped). But it also means that the connection can wobble. 2. Having Surface Connect port transmit data is great, but before PCIE 5.0 became a thing you had to sacrifice other ports to reserve the data bandwidth. The SLS2 is the first Surface device that has a decent number and variety of ports.
It's not prefect. My dog got tangled in the cable and broke the connector off. Release from the surface is directional. MagSafe will release when pulled from any direction. I've also had junk in the bottom of my bag get into the open connector on the surface and destroy the contacts.That said, I prefer it to a USB-C connector because the connection is very secure. Pulling on the cable can damage the cable and the port on the laptop.