Microsoft's Surface USB-C Dongle Is Outrageously Sized And Priced

by Brandon Hill — Tuesday, June 26, 2018, 09:11 AM EDT

For those of us that have bought new laptops or convertibles in the past two years or so, USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports have become commonplace. While USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 peripherals aren't nearly as ubiquitous as those using USB-A, it's nice to have the ports built-in. Microsoft, however, has been reticent to adding even a single USB-C port to its recent Surface products.

So, Microsoft has come up with the above solution and just look at it -- it's massive! That is a single USB-C port that plugs into Microsoft's proprietary Surface Connect interface on the side of its Surface Pro, Surface Book and Surface Laptop. So not only is this device large and unsightly, but it also cannot be used on any devices that don't have a Microsoft logo on it.

Given the size of this brick, we'd think that Microsoft could fit at least two USB-C ports, but we digress. In addition, it requires its own external power source (25W minimum at 12V). As for support for USB-C displays, Microsoft says "Display output and data throughput capabilities are dependent on the USB-C docking solution used."

According to The Verge, the Surface USB-C done will be available for sale Friday June 29^thpriced at an eye-popping $79.99. We often rag on Apple for its overpriced dongles-- its USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter costs $69 -- but this Surface USB-C Dongle probably takes the cake.

Tags: Microsoft, Surface Pro, (nasdaq:msft), surface book, surface laptop, surface usb-c dongle

Brandon Hill

Brandon received his first PC, an IBM Aptiva 310, in 1994 and hasn’t looked back since. He cut his teeth on computer building/repair working at a mom and pop computer shop as a plucky teen in the mid 90s and went on to join AnandTech as the Senior News Editor in 1999. Brandon would later help to form DailyTech where he served as Editor-in-Chief from 2008 until 2014. Brandon is a tech geek at heart, and family members always know where to turn when they need free tech support. When he isn’t writing about the tech hardware or studying up on the latest in mobile gadgets, you’ll find him browsing forums that cater to his long-running passion: automobiles.

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