Andrew Cunningham
Microsoft is introducing a brand new model of its Surface Dock, the primary to depend on Thunderbolt 4 as an alternative of Microsoft’s proprietary Surface Connect port. The Microsoft Surface Thunderbolt 4 Dock prices $300 ($40 greater than the common value of the previous-generation Surface Dock 2) and is offered beginning at the moment.
The new dock measures 5.91×2.95×0.84 inches—a bit flatter, wider, and deeper than the Dock 2—and features a complete of three USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 ports, three 5Gbps USB-A ports, a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port, and a headphone jack. The dock can present as much as 96 W of energy to a linked laptop computer, which ought to be ample to energy most laptops that cost over USB-C.
Microsoft solely advertises compatibility with its personal merchandise, however as a result of it makes use of Thunderbolt 4, the dock ought to work with most gadgets that embody USB-C or Thunderbolt ports, together with most PC laptops and MacBooks (although we do not know whether or not macOS consists of drivers for its built-in Ethernet port, and the variety of exterior shows supported might rely on what number of your MacBook natively helps). Microsoft says laptops with plain USB-C ports can drive a single 4K show at 60 Hz, whereas driving two 4K shows at 60 Hz requires Thunderbolt.
Microsoft places one Thunderbolt 4 port and one USB-A port on the entrance; the ability jack, Ethernet port, two extra USB-A ports, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, and the headphone jack are on the again. There’s additionally a lock slot on the precise.
Microsoft
We do not wish to learn an excessive amount of into the introduction of a single accent, however switching from Surface Connect to Thunderbolt 4 for the Surface Dock does counsel that the following Surface gadgets may come and not using a Surface Connect port. The present Surface Connect port dates again to 2014’s Surface Pro 3, guaranteeing interoperability between many generations of Surface chargers and different equipment. Like Apple’s resurrected MagSafe port, it can additionally come indifferent simply if tripped over or pulled on, saving your PC from tumbling to the ground.
Surfaces with USB-C and Thunderbolt ports can typically be charged utilizing these ports or Surface Connect, giving customers the choice to make use of no matter charger they like. But nearly all of new PC laptops cost through USB-C—many solely embody USB-C or Thunderbolt ports—so killing the Surface Connect port brings Microsoft in keeping with what most of its opponents are doing.