Microsoft has unveiled its latest innovation, the Surface USB4 Dock, which is designed to be more compact and lightweight compared to its predecessor, the Thunderbolt 4 Dock. Priced at $199, this new docking station weighs a mere 206 grams, making it almost 50% lighter than the previous model. Its dimensions are a sleek 120 x 60 x 15 mm, significantly smaller than the Thunderbolt 4 Dock, which measures at 150 x 75 x 21.3 mm.
Despite its reduced size, the Surface USB4 Dock still packs a punch with its features. It includes crucial connectivity options such as Gigabit Ethernet and HDMI 2.1 as part of its array of input and output ports. Although it sacrifices some ports like the traditional 3.5 mm jack to maintain its svelte profile, it still offers formidable connectivity with two USB4 Gen 3 ports that support data transfer speeds of up to 40 Gbps.
The dock delivers up to 65 watts of power to connected devices, ensuring robust performance, while its 100-watt power supply unit ensures adequate power delivery to support extensive device charging. Additional functionalities like MAC address passthrough and the Wake on LAN feature enable efficient network management and quick device wake-ups from sleep modes.
Available now for pre-order at $199.99, the Surface USB4 Dock will begin shipping on February 18. This release is set to add a highly portable option to Microsoft’s lineup of docking solutions, appealing to users who prioritize space-saving without compromising on connectivity.
