Microsoft is ditching the Surface connector with the launch of a new Surface dock. This has all the ports you need, but only works via USB Type-C.

Microsoft launches the Microsoft Surface Thunderbolt 4 Dock. The main thing that sets this dock apart is what it doesn’t have: a Surface Connect port. Ten years after introducing the Surface Connector, Microsoft is ready to let go of the proprietary port. The result is a universally relevant dock that naturally also works perfectly with modern Surface devices.

Goodbye Surface Connect

In 2013, Microsoft equipped its Surface Pro with a Surface Connect port for the first time. Then the connection was a good idea. Microsoft’s proprietary connector brought many of the features we find in USB-C today, but before the advent of this standard. However, with the advent of Type-C, Surface Connect became obsolete. Microsoft has been equipping its PCs with USB-C and a Surface connector for some time, but had to continue to support the ecosystem it created itself.

This is gradually coming to an end with the launch of the Thunderbolt 4 Dock. The dock works with USB Type-C and supports USB 4 and Thunderbolt 4. This allows you to connect it to any modern Surface device or any other Windows laptop with the right port. The dock accommodates three USB Type-A ports, Ethernet (2.5 Gigabit), a 3.5mm audio cable, and two additional USB-C ports. Microsoft offers support for the Power Delivery standard up to and including 96 watts.

The dock allows you to connect up to two displays with 4K resolution at 60 Hz. Microsoft does point out that Windows 11 will remember what settings were used with the dock, so things like screen resolution are right every time you connect a laptop.

Modern jetty

On paper, the Microsoft Thunderbolt 4 Dock is a high-quality dock that supports the most modern standards. Other than that, it’s not that special, other than marking the end of support for the Surface connector. Microsoft states that it will continue to offer older hardware with the connector for a while. The new dock costs 365.99 euros including VAT. That’s not much better than Kensington’s newly launched alternative, which is less powerful.