Why did it take so long for someone to make a magnetic USB-C port? [Video]

In launching its new Surface Laptop Ultra this week, Microsoft showed off its magnetic USB-C port and I immediately want it on everything.

The Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra is a full-on powerhouse with Nvidia’s RTX Spark chipset, up to 128GB of RAM, and plenty of ports. But it’s one of those ports that is the most unique new features.

“Magnetic Connect” is Microsoft’s name for “the world’s first built-in magnetic USB-C” charging port. The USB-C port itself functions as normal with any standard cable, but the included charger is specially designed to magnetically attach akin to Apple’s MagSafe or any other number of magnetic charging connectors.

I want it.

The “how” here is that the charging portion of the cable uses super-strong magnets to align and latch on the charger so the port connects properly, but the charger itself also tapers the edges of the USB-C port so it can more easily slide into place. As such, that end won’t securely connect to your phone or other devices, as it needs that magnet to hold itself in place.

The Vergeshows it in action in a video on YouTube:

Microsoft is apparently hoping this idea will catch on and show up on other laptops, and I sure hope that’s the case! As for phones, the size of the magnets implies it probably won’t be feasible in a standard smartphone, but I really hope this idea starts showing up everywhere! Certainly I hope it at least shows up on a laptop that doesn’t cost $2,600 — Surface Laptop Ultra pre-orders are open now.

What do you think?

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