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Microsoft sure are proud of their patent-pending magnetic USB-C Surface Laptop charger

Pavan Davuluri introducing the magnetic USB-C charger shipping with each Surface Ultra laptop
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Pavan Davuluri introducing the magnetic USB-C charger shipping with each Surface Ultra laptop
The live Microsoft event in San Francisco this week focused on the Surface Ultra powered by the Nvidia Spark platform. However, a good chunk of it was devoted to a feature that both the Surface and MacBook series have had for years.
Laptop Accessory Microsoft

Universal USB-C charging is surely but slowly replacing the old barrel-type chargers of old where individual laptop models would have their own unique AC charging ports. For the upcoming Surface Ultra, Microsoft are looking to make charging even easier by introducing the world's first magnetic USB-C charging cables.

Magnetic USB-C charging cable demonstration on the Surface Laptop Ultra

As shown by the short clip above, the Surface Ultra will ship with a unique USB-C port compatible with the new 140 W magnetic USB-C cable. The cable snaps to the port much like with current MacBook chargers and the older Surface Connect chargers. As mundane as it may sound, the feature will debut only on the Surface Ultra to help distinguish it from the handful of other upcoming Nvidia Spark laptops from MSI, Asus, Lenovo, and others.

There are nonetheless a few limitations to the magnetic USB-C charger. Firstly, while the magnetic USB-C port on the Surface Laptop Ultra itself is universal, the magnetic USB-C cable is not as the connector is slightly thicker than your typical USB-C connector. The special cable will therefore not work on other USB-C devices or smartphones. Microsoft says it's possible for the technology to appear on future PCs, but details are still too early for the time being.

Close-up of magnetic USB-C cable. Note the slightly thicker connector that's incompatible with most other USB-C ports
Close-up of magnetic USB-C cable. Note the slightly thicker connector that's incompatible with most other USB-C ports
The magnetic USB-C cable is reversible in that only one end is magnetic. The magnetic end can attach to the AC adapter to act like a universal USB-C charger for other devices
The magnetic USB-C cable is reversible in that only one end is magnetic. The magnetic end can attach to the AC adapter to act like a universal USB-C charger for other devices

Secondly, only one of the three USB-C ports on the Surface Laptop Ultra is actually compatible with the magnetic charger and so the charger can only connect to the USB-C port along the right edge of the system. All three USB-C ports are otherwise still compatible with most generic USB-C chargers. We don't know why Microsoft didn't design all three USB-C ports to be compatible with the magnetic charger in the first place especially when considering the price of the Surface Laptop Ultra.

And lastly, the magnetic cable is rather wide due to the additional hardware required as shown by the exploded view below. The magnetic USB-C port and cable may therefore obstruct adjacent ports depending on the design of the laptop.

The Surface Laptop Ultra with Nvidia Spark is now available for pre-order starting at $2600.

Small and compact 140 W USB-C AC adapter
Small and compact 140 W USB-C AC adapter
Exploded view of the patent-pending magnetic USB-C cable design
Exploded view of the patent-pending magnetic USB-C cable design
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> Expert reviews and news on laptops, smartphones and tech innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2026 10 > Microsoft sure are proud of their patent-pending magnetic USB-C Surface Laptop charger
Allen Ngo, 2026-10- 8 (Update: 2026-10- 8)