[Discussion] Introducing the Surface Thunderbolt 4 Dock: The Beginning of the End to the Surface Connect Port

[Uncrowned Guard]

Microsoft has taken the wraps off its new Surface Thunderbolt 4 Dock, a versatile device boasting an impressive array of ports for connecting various accessories and peripherals. The dock enables simultaneous connectivity to two 4K monitors at 60Hz and brings Thunderbolt 4 support to devices like the Surface Pro 9, Surface Laptop 5, and Surface Laptop Studio.

An eBay listing leaked details of the dock just a day ahead of Microsoft's official announcement, stealing some of the company's thunder.

The Surface Thunderbolt 4 Dock connects via USB-C with Thunderbolt 4, rather than using Microsoft's proprietary Surface Connect port. When connected, PCs can extend their displays across two 4K monitors at 60Hz. The dock also supplies 96W of power, along with an additional 165W for accessories.

In terms of port options, the Surface Thunderbolt 4 Dock features three USB-C ports, three USB-A ports, a 3.5mm audio jack, a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port, and a security lock slot. To simplify usage, the dock includes front and rear-facing ports with tactile indicators for easy identification.

Microsoft has also integrated several IT and commercial-focused features into the Surface Thunderbolt 4 Dock, such as firmware updates through Windows Update, Wake on LAN from Modern Standby, and MAC Address Passthrough‎. Additionally, the dock supports Surface Enterprise Management Mode (SEMM).

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