Why the next Surface devices could finally get Thunderbolt

March 2023 · 2 minute read

As we gear up for the annual Surface event coming on September 22, attention has been drawn to rumors that Microsoft may finally be including Thunderbolt support.

Earlier news indicated that the new Surface devices could be upgraded to Windows 11 so we geared up to see what is in store in the upcoming event.

Why you should be excited

At face view, this may seem like a small change but there are more reasons why it is worthy of your time.

For as long as possible, Microsoft has been reluctant to adopt Thunderbolt even though it has been mainstream on PCs. Microsoft has always preferred the standard USB-C on all its devices.

Limited usage

The decision to opt for the USB-C ports on Microsoft devices has been a major deal breaker because users have to pay more for devices whose ports are at slower speeds and have limited docking. 

With thunderbolt, users are at liberty to transmit large datasets at a faster rate. Charging of smartphones is faster with up to 100W.

Security issues

Microsoft has been reluctant to support Thunderbolt because of security issues. Leaked documents in 2020 revealed that Thunderbolt 3 was unsecured. With indirect memory access, Microsoft could not risk users’ data and expose them to hacking.

Another reason could be self-preservation and that Microsoft only believes in promoting its products and services. Thunderbolt on Windows 10 has experienced some bugs and stopped working so it will be interesting to see how it would perform if adopted.

Although Microsoft has yet to make a statement on the same, all clues lead us to believe that Thunderbolt could be on the horizon. We just have to wait and see. After all, it is better to be late than never. Don’t you agree?

What is your preference, USB-C or Thunderbolt? Let us know in the comment section below.

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