April 14, 2023

Supercharge your Surface with the Surface Thunderbolt™ 4 Dock

Samantha White
Microsoft Surface Sales Team Leader at Data#3
Microsoft Surface products are always designed with versatility at the forefront. From the Surface Pro, a laptop offering the flexibility of a tablet, through to the Surface Laptop studio, a laptop that transitions into a creative canvas – Surface devices allow you to work how you want, wherever you are.

A key part of this versatility is the ability to instantly connect to a desktop setup wherever you may be. A single, fast connection that provides access to external monitors and workspace accessories is vital for being productive in our increasingly digital world. If you find your desk setup cluttered with cords and adaptors, then Microsoft’s latest accessory is sure to be a welcome addition to your device family.

We are excited to announce Microsoft’s newest Surface Dock, Surface Thunderbolt™ 4 Dock.

Surface Thunderbolt 4 Dock is a USB4/Thunderbolt 4 dock that helps maximise workspace, delivers ultra-high speed data transfer and offers the versatility to connect and charge your most important peripherals. This new accessory also carries forward Microsoft’s continuous commitment to technology, accessibility and sustainability.

Let’s take a closer look at how this device can help supercharge your Surface and workspace.

Technology

This new dock connects to your device via USB-C and is designed for use with Surface devices featuring USB4/Thunderbolt 4 (Laptop 5, Surface Laptop Studio, Surface Pro 8 and Surface Pro 9). The Surface Thunderbolt 4 Dock allows you to:

  • Easily connect to two 4K monitors at up to 60Hz
  • Experience fast data transfer speeds of up to 40Gbps
  • Charge your device with power of up to 96W
  • Enjoy extra power to charge accessories

For those of you with other Surface devices, don’t fear – this latest dock is still compatible with any Surface device with a USB-C port, although this will only support one 4K external display at up to 60hz, instead of two.

In terms of ports, the new dock offers an instant connection to three USB-C ports, three USB-A ports, a 3.5mm audio jack and a security lock. Even better, it also offers a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port, which is more than double the Ethernet port of previous Surface docks.

Windows 11 also ensures that settings are retained when connecting, so even if multiple devices use the same dock, each of them will have the display and connection settings that let them get straight to work.

Surface Thunderbolt 4 Dock also improves IT efficiency for commercial customers, with features like Firmware Update through Windows Update, Wake on LAN from Modern Standby, and MAC Address Passthrough. Surface Enterprise Management Mode (SEMM) easily locks down the ports of your dock in mission-critical environments and restricts functionality to specific devices.

Accessibility

Microsoft’s new dock has also been designed to support people of all abilities and needs in the workplace.

The new dock includes not only front-facing ports, but also versatile rear-facing ports with raised tactile indicators. These make ports easier than ever to find, identify and use for each connection type.

Unlike previous Microsoft docks, this dock also has the option of a Cable Matters Desk Mount. This purpose built and Designed for Surface certified desk mount is a win for all Surface users, as it:

  • Facilities single-handed interaction with the Surface Thunderbolt 4 Dock
  • Improves port access through stabilisation
  • Saves desk space through cable management
  • Integrates easily with locking devices for extra security

Sustainability

As with all Surface devices, the newest Surface Dock reflects Microsoft’s commitment to sustainability and a cleaner future.

The dock and the power supply unit enclosures are made up of up to 20% ocean-bound plastic and lighter materials overall than previous Microsoft docks. Surface Thunderbolt 4 Dock’s packaging is also ~99% recyclable and free of single-use plastics.

Microsoft is committed to bringing you cleaner, greener machines, with a goal of having every Surface device and accessory be 100% recyclable by 2030. Here at Data#3, we’re aiming to harness the power of people and technology for a better future by scrutinising the sustainability goals of our partners to ensure we can best meet that goal. This latest, sustainable addition to the Surface accessory portfolio is further proof that Microsoft are moving in the right direction.

We’re Here to Help

Are you excited to get your hands on the latest Surface Thunderbolt 4 Dock?

As Microsoft’s largest Australian Surface partner, and Microsoft’s 2022 Device Distributor/Reseller Partner of the Year, Data#3 are here to help you make the most of this accessory announcement.

Contact a Surface Solution Specialist to learn how you can incorporate the Surface Thunderbolt 4 Dock into your device family.