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Microsoft's Magnetic Connect Takes on MagSafe With a USB-C Magnetic Charging Port

Microsoft's Surface Laptop Ultra introduces Magnetic Connect, a magnetic charging port built on USB-C Power Delivery that can also carry data and peripherals, unlike Apple's proprietary MagSafe.

AI News Feed · 2026-10-12 22:15

The Surface Laptop Ultra is powered by NVIDIA's RTX Spark platform and supports up to 128GB of shared system and graphics RAM. In a demonstration, Microsoft showed the laptop running apps like DaVinci Resolve and Gears of War: E-Day simultaneously without missing a beat. The event was heavily focused on AI, but Microsoft still devoted part of the presentation to the charging technology.

According to Engadget, the cable's connector aligns with the port automatically and uses a funnel-shaped tip to slide in smoothly. Because the port remains a USB-C port, it can be used for other functions when not charging. Users can connect an external monitor, a keyboard, a smartphone or other peripherals. The Surface Laptop Ultra also has two additional USB-C ports, plus HDMI, USB-A, an SD card reader and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Microsoft said at the event that it hopes to lead the ecosystem, though it did not explicitly mention licensing Magnetic Connect to other manufacturers. Engadget reported that broader adoption could give users access to a wider variety of interchangeable accessories, even if Surface devices would no longer be unique. Presumably, few people would buy the Ultra solely for its charging options.

Apple's MagSafe is proprietary. Third-party MagSafe cables are available, but Engadget reported that they are unlicensed, and the only sanctioned, fully reliable ones come from Apple at $49 each. Since Magnetic Connect is just USB-C plus magnets, even knockoff products are likely to function properly.

Magnets address the risk of tripping over a charging cable and sending a laptop to the floor, and they remove the need to align a connector. There is no wireless transmission involved, and non-magnetic charging gear can still plug into the Ultra. If Magnetic Connect gains traction beyond Microsoft, Engadget reported, it could improve laptop design by freeing up the port space it occupies. Apple may face pressure to follow, especially since European Union mobile charging regulations helped push USB-C to the iPhone.

Engadget reported that Magnetic Connect is unlikely to become a truly universal standard because USB Power Delivery tops out at 240W. That is enough for most laptops, but some gaming models require more power to support high-end CPUs and GPUs, meaning custom ports and large charging bricks remain necessary for those machines.