Microsoft's bold move: Expensive Surface Laptop 13 now ships without a charger
We're currently reviewing Microsoft's new Surface Laptop 13, and upon unboxing, we were surprised that only a USB-C cable was included, with no power adapter in sight. A quick look at the official German website revealed that Microsoft has indeed removed the charger from the new Surface Laptop, Surface Pro 12 and also from the older Surface Pro 13. These can now be bought as optional extras, as the 45W power adapter is priced at €59, while the 65W adapter costs an additional €89.
Microsoft officially states that this move supports EU initiatives to reduce electronic waste. That might be a viable reason, but consumers might find themselves in a bind. Unlike small 15-watt chargers for smartphones, not everyone has a 45-watt power adapter lying around. Thus, it looks like Microsoft is trying to save money and maximize profits in this case.
Frankly, Microsoft's current pricing strategy as a whole is rather baffling, especially when looking at the Surface Laptop 13. Microsoft is actually asking for more money for the much slower Surface Laptop 13. For comparison, the Surface Laptop 13.8 has a faster processor, a 120Hz display and still comes with a power adapter, yet it's €20 cheaper at the company’s official store. On Amazon Germany, the Surface Laptop 13.8 base configuration is currently on sale for just €949. If this price discrepancy doesn’t change soon, Microsoft probably won't sell many units of its new Surface Laptop 13. Our detailed review of the new notebook will be published in a few days.
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