Microsoft’s Surface USB-C dongle launches on June 29th for $79.99

Microsoft’s Surface USB-C dongle will be available to business customers later this week. A Microsoft spokesperson tells The Verge that it’s pricing the dongle at $79.99 for commercial users, and it will be available through typical business purchasing channels on June 29th. The dongle will plug into the new Surface Pro and Surface Laptop devices, and provide USB-C support for accessories.

Microsoft’s existing range of Surface Pro and Surface Laptop devices do not currently support USB-C, and only the Surface Book 2 has the relevant connector. Microsoft’s USB-C dongle will slot into the Surface Connector charging port on existing devices, allowing Surface users to connect USB-C peripherals or charge from a USB-C charger. Microsoft originally unveiled the dongle more than a year ago, and Surface chief Panos Panay joked the connector is a dongle for “people who love dongles.”

The actual connector itself is rather large, with similar dimensions to a standard Surface charger. Microsoft says “display output and data throughput capabilities are dependent on the USB-C docking solution used,” and that the adapter will require an external power source with a minimum power output of 27W and 12V to power displays and the laptop. Microsoft’s USB-C adapter will only work on the latest Surface Pro and Surface Laptop models.

Microsoft isn’t revealing exactly when the USB-C dongle will be available in retail stores and sold directly to consumers. Either way, it’s likely that anyone will be able to buy the connector when it launches on Friday. Microsoft previously limited its Surface Pro LTE to commercial channels before, but anyone could simply buy it from Microsoft’s online store.

Update, March 25th 4PM ET: Microsoft have released an image of the dongle, and we’ve updated the article to include more information on it.