It’s been a very busy year for Surface, the first under new leadership with Pavan Davuluri at the helm. In March, Microsoft launched its first ever specialized commercial Surface PCs with the Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6, featuring Intel Core Ultra processors and anti-reflective screens.

Just a few short months later, the company unveiled its first ever Copilot+ PCs with the Surface Pro 11 and Surface Laptop 7, both headlining Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon X SoCs along with updated designs and accessories. It's the first time we’ve seen Microsoft ship multiple generations of hardware in such a short time span.

This year was all about AI PCs, specifically Copilot+ AI PCs. The focus was on Microsoft’s hero devices to kickstart this new category of AI-powered Windows computers. I fully expect this trend to continue as we head into 2025 as Microsoft aligns more of the Surface portfolio under the Copilot+ umbrella.

According to my sources, Microsoft is planning to ship new versions of the Surface Pro, Surface Laptop, Surface Laptop Studio, and maybe even a new 11-inch Surface of some kind.

Up first are new versions of the Surface Pro and Surface Laptop, this time with Intel Lunar Lake chips powering things under the hood, joining the Snapdragon X versions already on the market. These devices are expected to ship as Microsoft’s first Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs, something many Surface customers will have been waiting for.

The Surface Laptop with Intel Lunar Lake has already leaked, confirming that its design will remain identical to the existing Surface Laptop 7 with Snapdragon X. This is unsurprising given the Surface Laptop was only just refreshed with a new design, so I don’t expect to see another design update for at least a few years yet. The Surface Pro with Intel Lunar Lake will be a similar affair.

I think Microsoft will bring the anti-reflective coating from the Pro 10 and Laptop 6 to the new Intel Lunar Lake models, which was confusingly missing from the Laptop 7 and Pro 11. I also hear the Surface Laptop with Intel Lunar Lake will be configurable with a card reader, just like the Laptop 6. And for the first time, Microsoft may even offer a variant of Surface Laptop with 5G.

I’m also expecting Microsoft to bring Copilot+ capabilities to other members of the Surface portfolio, such as the Surface Laptop Studio. I'm unsure which chips will power this, it could be Intel or AMD, but for it to be classed as Copilot+ compatible it needs an NPU of 40+ TOPS. I don't expect too much to change in regard to design, but I did hear whispers that a 16-inch model was being considered.

I’ve also heard that Microsoft is working on a new Surface device with a display size of around 11 inches. I'm not fully sure what form factor this will take—my sources have described it as a Surface Go-sized Laptop Go hybrid that uses premium materials and components. UPDATED December 9: I believe this smaller device is a Surface Laptop, likely replacing the Surface Laptop Go. Sources say it will feature premium materials and components, and be powered by an Arm processor.

Lastly, I hear a new Surface Dock is on the way, but I have no idea what’s actually new with it at this time. Microsoft’s last Surface Dock dropped Surface Connect in favor of USB-C, so it will be interesting to see if that change sticks with the new one.

The timing for when all of these products will arrive is uncertain for now. I believe the new Surface Pro and Surface Laptop will likely land in the first quarter of 2025, but the rest of the lineup could arrive from spring to fall.

As always, there may also be some surprises that we're yet to know about. We'll be sure to keep you updated if things change.

Microsoft released the Surface Thunderbolt 4 Dock earlier this year. The device allows you to connect a massive number of accessories to your Surface PC. It features three USB-C ports, three USB-A ports, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port.

With all those ports and support for Thunderbolt 4, it tops our last of the best Surface Pro docks and docking stations. Right now, you can pick one up for 15% off through Amazon. That $45 savings brings the price down to $255. That's close to the lowest price we've ever seen for the dock. The price fluctuates a bit, but it dropped into the general price range it's currently at over the past month.

Microsoft moved away from its proprietary Surface Connect cable when it made the Surface Thunderbolt 4 Dock. That means your PC needs to have a USB-C port. the Surface Pro 9, Surface Laptop 5, and Surface Laptop Studio can all take full advantage of the new Surface Dock.

Assuming your PC can handle it, the Surface Thunderbolt 4 Dock can extend across up to two 4K monitors at 60Hz. It also supports 96W passthrough charging, so your PC will be fully charged when you take it on the go. You can charge additional devices as well, since the dock has a total of 1655W of charging capability (only 96W of which can be used to charge a PC).

The Surface Thunderbolt 4 Dock can work as part of a home setup or an office setup. If you need to use your PC in a public space, you can secure it to the dock's built-in security slot.

While there are more affordable docks on the market, few offer the port selection, charging, and feature set of the Surface Thunderbolt 4 Dock. The case for Microsoft's dock is made stronger with its current 15% discount.

The Surface Dock and Surface Dock 2 are accessories that allow you to connect multiple devices and peripherals to your Surface. You can attach devices like keyboards, mice, and webcams and push your Surface device's display output to multiple external monitors. 

Both docks also have Ethernet ports, allowing you to have a rock-solid connection to the internet. The device allows you to set up dock a permanent environment with of your devices and accessories and then plug the dock into your Surface using the Surface Connect port.

Specifications

The Surface Dock 2 is a few years old now, but has USB-C ports to work with modern devices, has better charging capabilities, and better support for external displays. It even has a longer cable than the original dock to make it easier to connect your Surface to the dock.

The Surface Dock 2 can power two 4K displays at once at 60Hz or two 5K displays at once at 30Hz. It also has a total power delivery of 199W, and 120 of those watts can charge your Surface device. The remaining 79W can help charge accessories attached to the dock.

In contrast, the original Surface Dock has a much lower set of specs. When pushing to external displays, the original Surface Dock caps at 4096x2160 at 30Hz or 2960x1440 at 60Hz. It also has a lower 90W for power delivery. As a result, the Surface Book 2 can sometimes drain power even while charging.

In addition to its better transfer speeds and port selection, the Surface Dock 2 has enterprise management tools that allow admins to allow access to specific sets of ports depending on authentication. Some of the specifications are outlined by Microsoft Mechanics in a video on the Surface Dock 2 if you'd like to see more details.

Compatibility

The downside to the Surface Dock 2 is that it only works with certain Surface devices. To use a Surface Dock 2, you need a Surface device made in 2017 or later. Based on this Microsoft support document, the following Surface devices are supported by the Surface Dock 2:

• Surface Book 3
• Surface Book 2
• Surface Pro 8
• Surface Pro 7+
• Surface Pro 7
• Surface Pro 6
• Surface Pro (5th Gen)
• Surface Pro (5th Gen) with LTE Advanced
• Surface Pro X
• Surface Laptop Studio
• Surface Laptop 4
• Surface Laptop 3
• Surface Laptop 2
• Surface Laptop (1st Gen)
• Surface Laptop Go (1st Gen)
• Surface Laptop Go 2
• Surface Go 3
• Surface Go 2
• Surface Go
• Surface Go 2 with LTE Advanced
• Surface Go with Advanced LTE

The Surface Dock 2 improves upon the original Surface Dock in just about every way. It's faster, has more modern ports, can push more resolution to external displays, supports audio in and out, and has more management tools. The Surface Dock 2 is pricey, but it's only $60 more than the original Surface Dock right now.

For that price difference, you're getting quite a few improvements. The only reason to grab an original Surface Dock is if you use an older Surface device that isn't compatible with the Surface Dock 2 or if you need to use Mini-DisplayPorts.

Be sure to check out our roundup of best Surface PCs too!

Which should you buy?

Ultimately, the Surface Dock you should buy comes down to what Surface you have. If you have a Surface that was made in 2017 and up, grab the Surface Dock 2 as you can guarantee full compatibility. If you've got an older Surface, the original Surface Dock will be your best bet. 

Why get a Kensington SD7000 Docking Station?

The thing that makes the Kensington SD7000 Docking Station so great is that it allows you to turn your Surface device into a minimalist home PC. It's sturdy and well-built, constructed with a combination of plastic and metal, which makes it fantastic for holding your Surface Pro securely in place. In addition, it also has a massive array of ports, including:

• 1x USB Type-C (data only)
• 4x USB Type-A 3.0
• Gigabit Ethernet
• DisplayPort++ v1.2
• HDMI 2.0
• 3.5mm combo audio port

These different ports can be used to connect your Surface to external monitor displays or data storage devices. Lastly, the station has a wide range of movement, which gives you the freedom to adjust the screen angle and height to something that works best for you.

Which Surface Pro works best with this station?

The Kensington SD7000 Docking Station works with several recent Surface Pro devices: the Surface Pro 4, Surface Pro 5, Surface Pro 6, Surface Pro 7, and 2021's Surface Pro 7+.

It does not work with Surface Pro 8.

However, which one should you choose?

All five of these are great, but the Surface Pro that will take advantage of this docking station the most is the Surface Pro 7+ due to the large improvements in processing power and the better GPU. Both of these improvements positively impact everything you do on a computer, so it's worth spending the extra money on the newest Surface model for this reason.

It's important to note that Surface Pro 7 is for consumers, whereas Surface Pro 7+ is more for business, but anyone can buy it. The Pro 7+ has a larger battery and newer 11th Gen Intel CPUs, including an option for LTE, which makes it a better choice over the older Surface Pro 7.

If you want to play some video games, then the Surface Pro 7+'s hardware advantages are a must-have. Previous Surface devices have never been that good for gaming due to the lack of power, but the Surface Pro 7+'s improvements make it the first one that can handle PC games admirably. You won't be able to use the highest graphics options, but you can still make games run great and look good enough to play with some settings tweaks.

Surface Dock 2 improves on the original

Microsoft equipped the Surface Dock 2 with the first-party Surface Connect solution for hooking up to various Surface devices, including Surface Laptop 3.

The previous model was getting a bit long in the tooth, but the updated dock is a much better piece of hardware to buy, not least because it adds USB-C ports into its arsenal of connections.

The front of the dock has two USB-C 3.2 ports, each with 15W of charging power for connected accessories. The back contains Ethernet, dual USB-A 3.2, dual USB-C 3.2, and 3.5mm audio. The side of the dock has a Kensington lock slot for increased security in an office environment.

The rear USB-C ports are also to power external displays, and the Surface Dock 2 is capable of powering up to two 4K displays at 60Hz. The only slight roadblock here is that you'll need either a USB-C equipped monitor or a USB-C to HDMI cable.

But these are minor faults, and combining the connectivity with the increased 120W passthrough to keep your Surface Laptop 3 charged as well as powering all these added devices, you're in excellent hands with the Surface Dock 2. Now is also a great time to pick one up since it's seeing some major discounts over its launch price.

A more affordable alternative

As good as the Surface Dock 2 is, though, it's also quite pricey. The lack of Thunderbolt 3 on the Surface Laptop 3 is a bit of a disappointment, but as it has a USB-C port, you can connect up an alternative dock and save a bit of money. Luckily, there are a lot of great Surface Pro docks and docking stations available.

The Kensington SD4820P offers up to 60W of charging back to your device to keep it topped up, plus you get support for up to two 4K external displays (albeit only at 30hz) if you're setting up at home or in the office. It's jam-packed with ports, including USB-A 3.0, USB-C, two DisplayPort, HDMI, a 3.5mm audio jack, and Ethernet. There's also a Kensington lock slot if you like to be extra secure.

Not only is the SD4820P a little more affordable, but it has standard display outputs so that you won't need any new cables or adapters. You don't even surrender the USB-C port, either, since it gives it back to you. It's a standard-looking black box, but as far as USB docks go, it's excellent value.

Microsoft launched a whole load of new Surface devices today. With the new Surface Book 3, Surface Go 2, and Surface Headphone 2 finally breaking cover, alongside a ton of other products, you're bound to have some questions, and we have answers.

Windows Central's Daniel Rubino and Zac Bowden will go live on YouTube and Mixer today at 1 PM ET to answer any questions you may have about the new Surface gear announced today. We've already had some hands on time with the Surface Go 2, Surface Headphones 2, and Surface Earbuds, but we'll be fielding questions about everything else as well.

You can watch along on this page via the video embed above, or join us directly on YouTube and Mixer starting at 1 PM ET.

What you need to know

• Microsoft announced the new Surface Book 3, Surface Go 2, and Surface Dock 2 today.
• Microsoft Mechanics released a trio of videos diving deeper into the technical specs of each.
• The videos offer some insight into the new chips in each PC, how the Surface Dock 2 performs, and more.

Microsoft unveiled a load of new Surface gear today, and now Microsoft Mechanics is offering a deeper dive into some of the devices. The folks at Microsoft Mechanics took a closer look at the new Surface Book 3, Surface Go 2, and Surface Dock 2 with a trio of new videos, talking more of the technical specs and improvements for each. Check them out in the gallery below.

The Surface Go 2 and Surface Book 3 both received some significant hardware upgrades over their predecessors. The Surface Book 3 now sports 10th Gen Intel chips and up to NVIDIA Quadro graphics. The Surface Go 2, meanwhile, received a new Intel Core m3 option, along with a larger display area and more.

You can preorder the Surface Book 3 and Surface Go 2 from Microsoft now, with prices starting at $399 for the Surface Go 2 and $1,599 for the Surface Book 3. Both are expected to launch in stores on May 12.

Microsoft announces new Surface PCs and accessories for spring 2020

What you need to know

• Microsoft launched its new Surface Dock 2 and USB-C Travel Hub today.
• Both sport USB-C ports, along with USB-A and ethernet ports.
• The Surface Dock 2 and USB-C Travel Hub will be available for $260 and $100, and hit stores on May 26.

Microsoft first started adding USB-C ports to its Surface lineup last year, and now its accessories are catching up. The company debuted the new Surface Dock 2 and USB-C Travel Hub today alongside the launch of the Surface Book 3 and Surface Go 2. Both give you quick access to additional ports for your Surface device, including USB-C, ethernet, USB-A, and more.

Surface Dock 2

The most striking update is the Surface Dock 2, which marks its first major revision in years. Like the original, the new dock supplies power to your Surface while adding additional ports, making it a solid choice for a desk dock you can use when you aren't on the go. According to Microsoft, the new dock "delivers faster charging, higher data transfer rates, and the enterprise management tools people have been asking for."

Here's a look at the ports included on the Surface Dock 2:

• 2x front-facing USB-C ports.
• 2x rear-facing, video-enabled USB-C ports
• 2x rear-facing USB-A 3.2 (10Gbps) ports
• 1x Gigabit ethernet port
• 1x 3.5mm audio in/out port
• Kensington compatible lock

The old Surface Dock delivered 90W of power to Surface devices through the magnetic connector. That presented a problem in some situations for the Surface Book 2, which could draw more power than the dock could supply. The Surface Dock 2 ups power delivery to connected Surface devices to 120 watts, while providing a total of 199 watts to help power any other devices connected to the dock.

Microsoft says the Surface Dock 2 can drive two 4K displays at 60Hz, or two 5K displays at 30Hz.

The Surface Dock 2 can also now be managed in enterprise situations. You can now individually disable USB data, audio, or ethernet on the dock for devices without required certificates. When a managed device with required certificates connects to a dock, it can then unlock additional capabilities. These settings can be managed locally, or through Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager.

The dock also received some tweaks that make it easier to update. It natively supports Windows Update. You also won't have to restart or disconnect and reconnect your device after updating the dock.

As far as compatibility is concerned, Microsoft says the Surface Dock 2 is compatible with Surface Book 3, Surface Pro 7, Surface Pro X, Surface Laptop 3, and Surface Go 2. It is not compatible with Surface Studio, Surface Hub, Surface Pro 3 or 4, or Surface Book (first gen). The dock also supports USB-C Fast Charging.

The Surface Dock 2 is expected to launch in stores on May 26.

Microsoft USB-C Travel Hub

Where the Surface Dock 2 is meant to give you port flexibility at your desk, the new Microsoft USB-C Travel Hub opens up more possibilities on the go. However, whereas the Surface Dock 2 is built specifically for Surface devices with a Surface Connect port, the USB-C Travel Hub works with any modern PC with a USB-C port.

The hub is relatively small, measuring in at 3.5 inches (89mm) long by 1.9 inches (48mm) wide and .59 inches (15mm) thick. It's also pretty light, weighing in at 3.5 ounces (99.2 grams). Despite its portable size, however, you get plenty of ports to work with. Here's a look:

• 1x USB-C (10Gbps data transfers and pass-through accessory charging)
• 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps data transfers and pass-through accessory charging)
• 1x Gigabit ethernet port
• 1x HDMI 2.0 port
• 1x VGA port
• 1x 3.5mm audio in/out jack

Because it operates over a USB-C connection, you can use the Microsoft USB-C Travel Hub with Windows 10, MacOS, Google Chrome, and Android devices. For devices like the Surface Pro X, which only comes with two USB-C ports, the added expandability could come in handy.

The Microsoft USB-C Travel Hub is expected to launch in stores on May 26.

What you need to know

• Surface Pro X owners can't update their Surface Dock firmware.
• The issue comes down to a lack of ARM64 support for the Surface Dock's update package.
• Surface Pro 7 and Surface Laptop 3 were the last devices to get official support with a Surface Dock update.

If you're using a Surface Dock with your Surface Pro X and can't update the firmware, you're not alone. In a Reddit thread discussing issues with the Surface Dock and Surface Pro X, a user pointed out that the firmware for the Surface Dock can't be updated via Microsoft's ARM tablet. The reason comes down to a lack of ARM64 support by the update package.

If you download and attempt to run the latest firmware update package from Microsoft's support site, you'll be greeted with the following error message on a Surface Pro X:

We've tested this out on a Surface Pro X and received the same error message cited in the Reddit thread.

The only way around this is to use another Surface to install the firmware update before resuming using your Surface Dock with the Surface Pro X. The last devices to gain official support with a Surface Dock update were the Surface Pro 7 and Surface Laptop 3, according to Microsoft's release notes.

This is an area where one would expect Microsoft to maintain compatibility across its whole Surface lineup, but it appears support for ARM processors either slipped by or there's some other technical limitation. In the meantime, it's a strange inconvenience for anyone already using a Surface Dock with their Surface Pro X.

Inside Windows Central, we've been having internal debates about the forthcoming Surface Duo's camera. Many of us are betting on it not being great, based on history in the industry.

Late-starters to the smartphone market like Razer or Essential, despite earnest camera attempts, failed to impress potential buyers. The "new" Nokia (HMD Global) can't even recapture that old Lumia camera prowess. (On the other hand, Google proved you could do a lot with one camera and good computational AI.)

Related to this, I simply don't care if the upcoming Surface Duo's camera is not amazing. Why? That's the life of the early adopter.

Early adoption, and the sacrifice to move forward

Technology, for most people, is supposed to be about win-win situations. You don't give up much to move forward. By the time you commit to the thing, the pricing is normalized, and the kinks are all worked out.

You buy it, it works, you don't think much about it, and civilization advances.

Take, for example, TVs. The first 65-inch 4K TV went on sale in 2014 for $10,000. Today? You can get one on Black Friday for $279.99.

The first 8K TV (88-inch) went on sale in 2019 for $42,200. How many years from now will we be buying those for less than $300 – three, five?

The same goes for expensive electric cars, and at first, we had only a few destination recharge stations. That has all changed in 2020 as prices keep dropping, and there are now nearly 16,000 Tesla Super Chargers.

Back in 2005, right as the super-thin Motorola Razr was hitting mainstream success, I got a big, bulky Palm Treo 650. The Treo 650 weighed 179 grams — nearly twice that of the Razer v3 — and it had 100 percent worse battery life. It also didn't look so hot in a front pocket. Hello, belt holster!

Are these examples of products only purchased by early adopters who were dumb and bad with money? Maybe. But the more significant point is without them, those technologies don't move forward.

Surface Duo takes two steps forward, one step back

When it comes to the Surface Duo, the potential promise is clear: a new way to work while mobile.

The idea behind information management and having multiple displays is not lost on anyone who works in an office. For many years, I worked with three screens on my desktop because it made it easier to manage the Windows Central team (via Slack), work on my content (Word, web), and never miss social (Twitter, email).

Using three displays was so compelling, I hated working on laptops; I couldn't wrap my head around moving from three 27-inch displays to one 13-inch one.

That's the promise of Surface Duo. It's not just a "cool" device. Having dual displays where we can have a Skype call on one side and a document or PowerPoint on the other is valuable. Being able to manage email with the list on one screen and open emails on the other is more efficient. The ability to flip the phone into landscape to type while having a full display on top brings back why, for years, we all loved slider smartphones.

And yeah, the older I get, the more I care about making stuff rather than consuming it. I don't listen to podcasts, read a lot of reviews, or watch what content others are making — I'm too busy trying to make own. I need hardware that facilitates that.

I've always been interested in technology that lets me do something new. (As a teenager with a pager back in '95, everyone thought I was a drug dealer.) But early on, all new technologies have had trade-offs.

The first cell phone was $4,000, had 30-minutes of talk time, and basically worked nowhere. The first iPhone? It didn't even have an app platform, let alone apps, by design.

The original Surface was slow, ran too hot, had lousy battery life, and it wasn't a great tablet. Windows Phone had missing apps forever. The amazing new Surface Pro X can't run 64-bit apps. The Treo 650 had to be charged every day versus twice a week for the Razr, and PalmOS was notoriously crashtastic.

I stuck with those technologies not because I love agony, but because those devices let me do things other ones could not. A part of me advanced by using them. Because of that, I'll always defend and proselytize new tech.

An investment in the future

The Surface Duo is the first of a new category device. It's what a smartphone would look like if making phone calls wasn't the essential feature. There are a lot of unknowns including whether it will be any good. That's the fun part.

Yes, the camera is important to me. I'm a hobbyist photographer. I shoot with a Nikon Z6 with a cache of prime Nikkor glass. I, too, like to document the lives of cats and what I eat on Instagram.

But if using the Surface Duo gives me a new capability, lets me do my job more efficiently, and is just fun to use, I can give up that camera. That doesn't mean you have to, and that's OK.

Related: Microsoft's Surface Neo may be niche, but it's definitely not doomed to fail

In a perfect world, I wouldn't have to make a sacrifice. But I'm an early adopter; that's our albatross. All technology starts as two-steps forward, one step back. Every piece of tech you have was likely terrible at first. It didn't get better because no one bought it. That happened because a few people took the risk early on to help the rest move forward. You're welcome.

The Surface Dock is a valuable tool that lets Surface users quickly and easily add connectivity options to their PCs via a single Surface Connect port, including power, Ethernet, audio, USB 3.0, and DisplayPort. Because the Dock features its own internal chipset, Microsoft can release firmware updates to fix issues or enhance functionality. Microsoft says Windows Update can automatically download Surface Dock firmware updates, but for some reason, that doesn't always happen. If Windows Update isn't downloading the latest Surface Dock firmware, or you just want to make sure you have the latest release, you can download the tool and update on your own.

How to tell if your Surface Dock has the latest firmware

Updating the firmware on Microsoft's Surface Dock is easy if you know how to do it and you download the right utility: Microsoft's Surface Dock Updater, which is part of the company's Surface Tools for IT toolset.

One way to ensure your Dock has the latest firmware is to download the tool, set it up and then run it, which will quickly let you know if you need an update. Just follow these easy steps:

1. Visit Microsoft's Surface Tools for IT page and hit the red Download button.
2. Under the list titled "Choose the download you want," check the box next to Surface_Dock_Updater.

1. Hit Next.
2. In your taskbar search field, type "Microsoft Surface Dock Updater". When the application appears in the list click the app to select and open it.
3. A popup will appear and ask you, "Do you want this app to be able to make changes to your device?" Choose Yes.
4. Hit Start.

If you already have the latest version of Surface Dock firmware, the tool will say you're up to date. If not, it will tell you a firmware update is available.

How to update Surface Dock firmware

If you do not have the latest Surface Dock firmware, you can use the Surface Dock Update to download and install it. Just follow these steps:

1. Visit Microsoft's Surface Tools for IT page and hit the red Download button.
2. Under the list titled "Choose the download you want," check the box next to Surface_Dock_Updater.

1. Hit Next.
2. In your taskbar search field, type "Microsoft Surface Dock Updater". When the application appears in the list click the app to select and open it.
3. A popup will appear and ask you, "Do you want this app to be able to make changes to your device?" Choose Yes.
4. Hit the Start button.
5. When the tool informs you that you do not have the latest firmware, click Update to start the download and installation process.
6. On the next screen, Surface Dock Update will tell you that the process could take some time. Click Confirm to continue the process.

1. A confirmation screen warning you not to disconnect your Dock appears, and you should hit OK to begin the process.

1. About halfway through the update, the tool will ask you to disconnect the Dock from your Surface. Unplug the Dock from your Surface Connect port.

1. Wait a few seconds, and plug the Surface Dock into your Surface Connect port once again.
2. After a few minutes, if the update works as intended, you'll see a screen that informs you to unplug your Dock from the Surface Connect port once again, so it can finish the update, which should take about three minutes.
   • Note: While the Surface Dock finishes updating, a small LED within the Surface Dock Ethernet port will blink. When the update is complete, the light will stop blinking and you can plug your Surface Dock back in.

1. If the update is successful, a screen appears and instructs you to reconnect your Dock.

1. When the Dock is appropriately reconnected, you'll see a screen that confirms you have the latest Surface Dock firmware. (As of this writing in late February 2019, the latest firmware is v2.23.139.0.)

How to fix Surface Dock update issues

Depending on the model Surface PC you use, you may encounter issues updating the Dock.

Microsoft's official take on Surface Dock update issues, from a related support page:

So, if for some reason your Dock doesn't want to update properly and you don't have another Surface PC laying around, your best bet might be making your way over to a local Microsoft Store, assuming you live near one.

If you need to make your portable Surface work as a full desktop PC, there's no better way than with a Surface Dock.

If you want a stable and quick internet connection, your best bet is to connect your PC to the web using an Ethernet cable. The Surface Go doesn't have a dedicated Ethernet port like some chunkier hardware, but you can still get that stable connection thanks to devices like a dock or an adapter. Here's how to set it all up.

Products used in this guide

• Microsoft: Surface Dock ($130)
• Uni: USB-C to Ethernet Adapter ($20)
• Amazon: Amazon Basics Cat-6 Ethernet cable ($7)

How to add ethernet to the Surface Go

1. Plug in dongle or dock into the USB-C or Surface Connect port depending on your hardware
2. Connect an Ethernet cable to your router
3. Connect the Ethernet cable into your dock or dongle

You don't need to configure the hardware to connect through an Ethernet connection. Windows 10 handles it smoothly and is plug-and-play. If you do run into any issues you can go to Network Settings in the Settings app.

Our top equipment picks

The Surface Go was kept trim by the people at Microsoft when it comes to ports. However, it does have a USB-C port and a Surface Connect Port and both can be used to add an Ethernet connection to your device.

The Surface Go is great as a portable device, but if you use a Surface Dock, you can set up all of your peripherals at your desk and just plug the dock into the Surface Connect port to get to work.

This dongle works with Gigabit Ethernet, so you'll be able to take advantage of high-speed networks. Thanks to the dongle being USB-C, it can also work with many other devices including other PCs, tablets, and even some phones (though support for phones will vary).

Additional Equipment

A Cat-6 Ethernet cable will handle just about any internet connection speed you throw at it.

Amazon Basics Cat-6 ethernet cable ($7 at Amazon)

This cable supports up to 1Gbps connections, which is more than enough for almost any task.

Surface Dock Updater, a tool for IT administrators to check the firmware status of Surface Docks and perform manual updates, has been updated to support Microsoft's latest devices, the Surface Pro 6 and Surface Laptop 2. The update is included as part of Microsoft's Surface Tools for IT, and ticks the version number up to 2.23.139.0 (via Reddit).

Other than support for the two new Surface devices, the update doesn't bring anything else to the table, at least according to the release notes:

This version of Surface Dock Updater adds support for the following:

• Add support for Surface Pro 6
• Add support for Surface Laptop 2

Surface Dock Updater isn't updated very often, with the last new version coming in July to add support for Surface Go. Prior to that, it saw an update in January that brought updates for the Surface Dock's main chipset and DisplayPort firmware.

In any case, curious IT admins can grab the latest version of Surface Dock Updater by downloading Surface Tools for IT at Microsoft. And if you've had your eye on either the Surface Laptop 2 or Surface Pro 6, both are available to purchase starting today.

• See Surface Laptop 2 at Microsoft
• See Surface Pro 6 at Microsoft

The latest version of the Surface Dock was released more than two years ago. And though it gets the job done for most folks who want to use their Surface PCs to power a desktop workstation, or some extra ports, the Dock is lacking in a few key ways that are becoming more apparent thanks to powerful new Surface hardware, technological advancements, and price drops in 4K display technology.

From our forums: With the Surface Book 2 out, will Microsoft update the Surface dock?

I've been using a Surface Dock daily for the past six months or so, at first with my Surface Pro and now with a Surface Book 2. And while there's a lot to love — it's generally reliable, portable, simple to use and functional — it has a couple of glaring weakness, at least for a subset of advanced Surface users.

Here's a list of reasons why Microsoft needs to release a new Surface Dock, as well as some changes we'd like to see when it does.

See at Microsoft

Surface Dock may not keep Surface Book 2 charged

As noted, I've been using my 15-inch Surface Book 2 with the Surface Dock. And I haven't had any issues during everyday computing. However, the Surface Dock power supply provides only 90 watts (W), and that charge is distributed to the various gadgets you connect to it. The cord that comes with the Surface Book 2 delivers 102W. Even if you use the 102W cord with the Dock, you're not getting as much power as the Surface Book needs in certain situations.

Our Executive Editor Daniel Rubino recently explained why the Surface Dock is not well suited for use with the 15-inch Surface Book 2, despite the fact that Microsoft's Dock page says it supports that laptop and does not mention any potential power limitations.

From Rubino:

Surface Book 2 users who want the best possible experience may want to use it along with a monitor and various other devices. And they may want to enable the device's "Best performance" mode. But the Surface Dock could result in power drainage while the device is plugged in, which is unfortunate, at best, and possibly unacceptable for some users.

Microsoft's Surface Dock is now behind the times, in this regard, and it's not a good look for the company to only offer a Dock that cannot keep up with its highest-end laptop.

Surface Dock's (increasingly) poor port selection

The current Surface Dock has the following ports: two Mini DisplayPorts, one Gigabit Ethernet port, four USB 3.0 ports and one 3.5mm audio-out port. Two years ago, the port array in the Surface Dock was acceptable. Today, not so much.

Why? There is no HDMI. There's no USB-C. And as such, the Dock also doesn't support Thunderbolt 3. All of which are standards these days.

For most Surface users, none of these omissions are deal breakers. But with the release of the Surface Book 2, they start to look like exactly that — omissions — instead of simple design decisions. And as Microsoft updates and releases additional new Surfaces, this will only become more apparent and more unfortunate.

The new Surface Dock needs to have all of these ports, more than one of them in some instances, so that it's "future proof." And Microsoft needs to release it sooner than later, before this becomes an issue for more Surface owners.

What about 4K displays?

Microsoft says the Surface Dock has "two high-definition video ports." But the company is careful to avoid the term 4K. Why?

Though you can connect and use two 4K displays along with your PC via the Surface Dock, the experience is less than ideal. Current Surface devices — not just the Dock, but the PCs themselves — only support 30 frame-per-second (FPS) refresh rates for two displays at true 4K, or at least 3,840 x 2,160 pixels, according to Microsoft.That's not going to provide the experience most people who pay for two 4K displays, and who game or watch 4K content on them, expect, which would require a refresh rate of at least 60 FPS. (The latest Surface PCs can, however, power one 4K display at 60 FPS.)

What's that have to do with the Surface Dock? Right now, not much. But when Microsoft updates some, or all, of its Surface hardware to support true 4K on two or more displays, the Surface Dock needs to be able to keep up.

To sum that all up …

For most Surface users today, the Surface Dock is a suitable, though not perfect, docking solution. To be fair, the current Dock works well for the most part. It's portable and reliable. And it's very easy to set up and use.

But that's not enough. It was released two years ago, and in the tech world, that's a lifetime. It's also quite clunky and doesn't really fit the Surface aesthetic. But those a minor complaints.

The bottom line is that it's time for Microsoft to release an updated version of the Surface Dock, so all the potential problems described in this post become nonissues instead of genuine gripes.

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Surface started out as the tablet that could replace your laptop, but over the years it has grown into so much more. The Surface family offers flexibility in your computing lifestyle that's hard to beat, and thanks to the hardware inside the Pro, Book and Laptop, they're all capable of being your only PC.

Still, you might need a little help with that. As versatile as Surface products are, they have some limitations. That's where the Surface Dock comes in. This little black box has everything you need to turn your portable into a full desktop PC.

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Here are some details on the Surface Dock, directly from Microsoft:

• Works with Surface Pro, Surface Book, Surface Pro 4, and Surface Pro 3.
• 5.12 inches x 2.36 inches x 1.18 inches (130mm x 60mm x 30mm).
• 1.21 lbs. (550 grams).
• Two Mini DisplayPorts.
• One Gigabit Ethernet port.
• Four USB 3.0 ports.
• One audio-out port.
• SurfaceConnect cable.
• External power supply.

The size of the Surface products works against them when it comes to ports. They're thin and light and meticulously designed to be some of the finest-looking premium products on the market. While some ports are available, there aren't many. That's not the case with the Surface Dock.

By hooking up with a single SurfaceConnect cable you transform the Surface into a desktop PC with connections galore. You'll also deliver power to the Surface through the same cable that you're pushing everything else.

The Surface Dock allows you to hook up a pair of monitors, Ethernet and a bunch of USB accessories, just like you could on a regular desktop PC. It's a neat arrangement, with only that solitary cable running to the dock, allowing all the other cables to be managed out of sight.

It's a great product that only has one potential barrier to entry: the price. At $200, the Surface Dock is a significant investment on top of the already premium price you pay for a Surface in the first place.

But that also makes it possible to draw an easy conclusion. Should you buy the Surface Dock? And is it worth $200? Yes, absolutely, but only if you plan to use it frequently to turn your Surface experience into a desktop. If you're enjoying your Surface mobile and have no plans to use it in this way, keep the cash in your pocket. It's that simple.

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While the Surface Pro 3 and Surface Pro 4 were launched in India today, not all the variants of the accessories will be available for customers in India.

Surface Pro 4 Type Cover

Apparently, Microsoft will sell the Surface Pro 4 Type Cover for Surface Pro 4 buyers, but those are the only Type Covers to go on sale. Even if you buy a Surface Pro 3, you'd need to buy the new Type Cover, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. The Type Cover is sold at a price of ₹12,490 ($187).

However, Microsoft would only sell these Type Covers in two colors – Blue and Black. The other colors – Bright Blue, Teal, and Red, won't be available. Also, the Surface Pro 4 Type Cover with a fingerprint reader will not be sold in India.

Surface Pen

While the Surface Pro 4 comes bundled with a Surface Pen, if you are buying a Surface Pro 3, you'd need to buy the Surface Pen separately. The new Surface Pen comes bundled with the Pen Tip Kit. While the new Surface Pen is available in three colors – Silver, Black, and Dark Blue – in the U.S., Indian customers will only be able to purchase the Silver color variant. The Surface Pen costs ₹5,990 ($89).

Surface Dock

Surface Dock instantly transforms the Surface Pro 4 into a desktop PC. All you need to do is to plug in the SurfaceConnect cable to charge your device and access external monitor, keyboard, mouse, and more. The Surface Dock will be aimed at enterprise users, and available for ₹20,990 ($314).

• Pre-order Surface Pro 4 Type Cover
• Pre-order Surface Pen

If you have pre-ordered the Surface Pro 4 tablet and/or the Surface Book notebooks, but want to add more ports, you might want to consider getting Microsoft's Surface Dock that's been made especially for those products. Amazon is now taking pre-orders for the Surface Dock for $184.80, a small decrease from its normal $199.99 price tag.

The Surface Dock, which can also work with the older Surface Pro 3 tablet, contains two Mini DisplayPorts ports, four USB 3.0 ports, a Gigabit Ethernet port and an audio out port. It also includes a magnetic Surface Connect cable which, when attached to the Surface products it supports, allows for transfers of video, audio, and data files from devices that are connected to the Surface Port.

By the way, you can also pre-order the Surface Dock on Microsoft's Store site, but it has a full $199.99 price tag.

• Pre-order the Surface Dock at Amazon / $184.90
• Pre-order the Surface Dock at Microsoft Store / $199.99

Microsoft is in the midst of a companywide re-organization to become a “devices and services” entity. One of those new divisions is the Devices and Studios, which is responsible for the Surface, Xbox, and more within Microsoft. It’s currently led by Julie Larson-Green, but will see Stephen Elop take the reins when Nokia’s Devices and Services division joins that section of Microsoft.

The Devices and Studios division in Microsoft has a few more tricks up its sleeve for the Surface RT and Surface Pro. We’ve had hints of a battery extension for the Surface Pro in the past, but now Paul Thurrott has a few more details on what we can expect with future accessories.

Neowin recently revealed that Microsoft is working on a docking station for the Surface family of devices. Paul Thurrot expanded on their original reveal with more details about what we can expect with the rumored docking station.

The device will be for the Surface Pro and upcoming Surface Pro 2. It won’t work with Surface RT or Surface 2. Why? Compare the bottom of your Surface RT and Surface Pro. You’ll see some pins on the Pro that don’t exist on the RT variant.

The docking station will be fairly large. The Surface Pro will slide in at an angle, being held in place by arms located on that side that pull out to release the tablet. What are you getting with this big docking station?

Video out via a mini Display Port and networking compliments of a 1 Gbps Ethernet port. You’ll get some more USB love from a USB 3.0 port on side with three USB 2.0 ports on the back. You’ll also find a dedicated microphone and headphone/speaker ports.

Neither Paul nor Neowin have any word on pricing or availability, but suspect that it’ll launch with the Surface Pro 2 later this year.

Would you get a docking station for your Surface Pro? It would go well with the rumored “power cover”.

Source: WinSuperSite, Neowin