Surface Pro 4 core m3 power supply

Question

I have been told that the power brick for the i5/i7 models is not suitable for the core m3 model because  the core m3 surface pro 4 needs a 15V power brick. But the power brick that was supplied by Microsoft with my core m3 surface pro 4 has the USB charging port like the i5/i7 and is rated at 12V. It charges my core m3 surface fine.  Does the core m3 really need 15V and if so how come it charges OK from the 12V supply that was supplied with it?

Answer 1

As long as your surface is charging you shoudn't have any problem. Have you tried using the usb on the power brick?

Answer 2

Thanks. It does not answer my question though which is should the m3 have a 12V or a 15V power brick? I simply want to know what the spec for the m3 charging device is. Yes the m3 it charges. Yes the USB port charges too. Why do Microsoft say the brick for the m3 does not have USB port? Is it simply because it is cheaper kit or is it a different voltage/current spec? Experience tells me that the 'if it seems to work it must be OK' approach is often asking for trouble.

Answer 3

Btw, who told you that your charger is not suitable for your device? If the charger came with your Surface then nothing is wrong with using it. If you really want to hear it from them, contact support or go to a Microsoft Store.

Answer 4

Thanks but I am perhaps not making myself clear. I did not say my device was unsuitable or that I had been told it was unsuitable. I said that I had been told that a i5/i7 charger was not suitable for an m3 surface, and I want to know what the difference is (if anything other than lack of USB charging port) between an m3 charger and a i5/i7 charger.

The reason I asked is that I wanted to buy a spare charger to take with me and leave the supplied one at home.  I always like to have a charger spare for my laptop, tablet or phone. I could not see an m3 charger for sale on the online Microsoft store, but I have seen many chargers for i5/i7 surface for sale elsewhere, both third party and second user. The people selling these chargers usually say ‘not suitable for an m3’. I was told (I cannot remember by whom) that the m3 needed 15V not 12V hence my puzzlement. It seemed to me odd that Microsoft would say that they supply a different charger (without USB) for the m3 than for the i5/i7 unless there was a good reason, and voltage difference would seem like a good reason. It seemed even odder that they supplied me with what looks like the i5/i7 version (which states 12V on its label)  rather than the one their own publicity material says they supply. Support are not particularly helpful, there is no local Microsoft store, the online Microsoft store does not mention m3 chargers (or at least I cannot find them) so I appear to be stuck. Thanks for your reply anyway.

Answer 5

I just bought (in Germany) a Surface Pro 4 M3 and I already own an i5 model.

I was quite upset to read that the two were supposed to have incompatible power supplies (respectively 15v and 12v).

But actually I compared the two now and they are exactly the same brick: 1625 model, 12v with extra USB power charger.

This is for me great news, but I am puzzled.

Could it be that the 1625 can safely work with both and this is what is bundled in Germany with both Surface models?

Any official information from Microsoft?