If you've ever owned a Microsoft Surface device, you're likely familiar with the Surface Connect port. But it does much more than just provide power.

The Surface Connect port, sometimes simply called the Surface port or Connect port, is a proprietary Microsoft connector found on some Surface devices. It snaps into place and is held in place by magnets. In practice, the connection is strong enough that you can pick up and move your device without worrying about the cable coming loose, but if the cable gets caught on something, the connection will release to prevent damage to the port, connector, or the device itself.

In many ways, this port is similar to the MagSafe charger you find on some MacBooks. But unlike those connectors, the Surface port is capable of transferring both power and data.

What can the Surface Connect port do?

This port is designed as a versatile port, just like USB-C.

Because it's a proprietary connector, we don't know its exact technical specifications, nor do we know how the standard has changed since it was first introduced with the Surface Pro 3 in 2014.

• Electricity supply
• The fastest Surface charger available is capable of outputting up to 127W, which is probably close to the maximum power that this port and connector can handle. 127W isn't bad — that's more than enough to run most laptops under heavy load, and it's a little over half the power provided by USB Power Delivery 3.1.

• Video support
• The Surface Dock supports video transmission via DisplayPort. According to Microsoft, the original Surface Dock (a peripheral hub) was able to drive two external monitors with resolutions up to 4096 x 2160 pixels (that's 4K) at 30Hz, which means the original Surface Connect port supported at least DisplayPort version 1.2. The Surface Dock 2 is capable of driving two 4K monitors at 60Hz, which at least suggests that the latest version of the Surface Dock supports DisplayPort version 1.4.

• Data transfer
• The Surface Dock also has impressive data transfer capabilities. While we don't know the exact details, the Surface Dock 2's specs give us a good idea. In addition to video support, the Dock 2 has two USB 3.2 Type-A ports, each capable of transferring data at 10 gigabits per second (Gbps). The dock also includes four USB-C ports, which Microsoft says can each transfer data at 10 Gbps. If all of these can be run simultaneously, the maximum bandwidth would be close to 60 Gbps. That's exceptionally fast, even faster than Thunderbolt 4, which tops out at 40 Gbps. Hands-on testing suggests that you probably won't be able to fully utilize all of this, though that may be a limitation of the Surface device itself, rather than a limitation of the connector or port.

Reason for phasing out the Surface port

When it was released in 2014, it was competitive with other power and data ports available. Its form factor, slightly thinner than a full SD card, made perfect sense for the Surface Pro series, especially since USB-C didn't exist yet.

However, Thunderbolt and USB-C can now offer all the capabilities of the Surface Connect port in a near-universal format. That means better support for keyboards, mice, phones, docks, and any other peripherals you might want to connect. Thunderbolt 5 is also definitely faster. While the Surface port may support speeds of up to 60Gbps, Thunderbolt 5 can definitely offer speeds of up to 80Gbps, and in some cases up to 120Gbps, which is enough to run a very powerful eGPU.

While the magnetic charging port is a bit outdated as a multi-purpose data port, I wouldn't be upset if it remained on Surface devices. It stays securely in place, but it detaches as soon as you pull it. This feature has prevented my Surface from falling on at least two occasions, and probably saved me the cost of replacing it. Plus, the Surface Connect is much easier to put back in place because of the magnetic connection, and I'm less likely to make mistakes.

Microsoft may be removing my favorite charger forever

We've known for a while that Microsoft is preparing two new small computers: a new Surface Pro and a new Surface Laptop, both of which will have displays around 12 inches. These devices are intended to complement the larger Surface Pro 11 and Surface Laptop 7 models, which have similar specs and build quality. Microsoft has been quiet on the subject, but rumors suggest they'll be released in the spring.

In a recent episode of the Windows Central podcast, host Zac Bowden provided some new information about these upcoming Surface products — both models are said to be coming without support for Microsoft's proprietary magnetic charging standard, Surface Connect. If true, this could be a sign of a widespread removal of Surface Connect in the future.

… Despite my interest in the universality of USB Type-C, I've also been interested in Surface Connect for a long time.

This decline in Surface Connect's importance has been confirmed by the release of the Surface Dock 3 and, more recently, the Dock 4. Microsoft has opted to use USB Type-C ports on both of these I/O hubs instead of its magnetic charging standard. Meanwhile, the company has begun removing Surface Connect cables from Surface devices to comply with the EU's Common Charger Directive.

External pressure from the European Union to prioritize USB Type-C, combined with Microsoft's previous (and likely future) actions, looks bleak for the Surface Connect. Needless to say, I'm not happy — despite my appreciation for the universality of USB-C, I've long been a fan of the Surface Connect.

Surface Connect is the best magnetic charging standard

Microsoft did great from the start.

The idea of a magnetic charging connector makes a lot of sense. Magnets are great for automatically aligning cables with their respective ports, reducing friction when plugging in. Additionally, magnetic charging solutions are easy to detach, reducing the chance of someone tripping over the cable and dropping their device.

Apple was the first computer company to take this approach, introducing MagSafe for the Mac in 2006. Microsoft also got into the game in 2014 with the Surface Connect port. It's notable that no other computer manufacturer has joined the standard, instead using conventional chargers with cylindrical plugs or, more recently, USB-C.

… Not only is the Surface Connect the only non-Mac charger of its kind, it's arguably better than MagSafe.

I have to say that despite the lack of magnets, I definitely like USB-C charging, as it allows for charging multiple devices with a unified standard. I'm glad that modern Surface and Mac computers have USB-C pass-through charging in addition to their own magnetic solutions. In other words, I'm happy with the current status quo and don't want to lose any of the charging options.

Still, the prospect of a future without Surface Connect makes me sad — not only is Surface Connect the only non-Mac charger of its kind, it's also likely better than MagSafe. In my personal experience, I prefer its magnetic lock and tactile feel, and its cable extends out to the side (unlike MagSafe, which extends outward). It may have taken Microsoft years to catch up to Apple in magnetic charging technology, but it's managed to land a great hit on its first attempt.

Surface Connect needs to keep up with the times

The magnetic connector itself is great, but it needs to be better integrated with today's USB-C era.

It's clear to me that for the most part, the widespread adoption of USB Type-C has made it a more convenient charging option for the majority of PC users. However, I hate the idea of Microsoft wasting all the hard work it put into developing and engineering the Surface Connect. As a middle ground, my ideal solution would be for the Surface Connect to embrace and adapt to USB-C rather than oppose it.

My biggest gripe with the current Surface Connect setup is that its proprietary cable is permanently attached to the power adapter. I appreciate the USB-A port for charging a second device, but I would much prefer to be able to detach the magnetic charger and plug it into any regular USB-C wall adapter. This is exactly the approach Apple took with its new MagSafe 3, and Microsoft should adopt the same approach.

Amazon and other e-commerce sites are full of Surface Connect to USB-C adapters and charging cables. I can't vouch for the quality of these products, but they give a picture of what I'm describing.

Apple has gone this route before.

Today MagSafe is alive and well.

It's unclear whether Microsoft will completely remove Surface Connect in the coming months or years, but we have a great technological precedent for this situation. Apple controversially removed MagSafe from its MacBooks in 2016, but brought it back in 2021. At the time, there was a lot of backlash over the loss of this iconic part of the Mac user experience.

The truth is, Microsoft's Surface Connect has never been as popular or acclaimed as MagSafe, so perhaps Microsoft thinks removing it won't upset its users.

Personally, I disagree: Surface is a specific, custom line of computers with proprietary hardware and internal settings. Surface Connect is an integral part of the overall Surface story, and removing it would not only hurt the brand's reputation, but also the philosophy of providing a luxury experience to the end user.

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