Why is the Surface Pro Charger Such an Awful Design? What is Microsoft doing to fix this?

Question

The charging cable/cord for my Surface Pro has been problematic from the start. Such an awful design in that the weird tubular plug/connector to the Surface Pro comes out all the time and the thin cord bends to have to connect the weird tubular plug to the Surface Pro, it is always coming out. When i go to close my Surface Pro, the direction of the cord then has to bend in a 180 degree manner from when it it open to when it closes, which creates such stress and wear on the cord. Every time I have to deal with it I am thinking, why would such tech geniuses create such an awful component? The strange design of the tubular plug and cord makes the cord bend, fray, and is unsafe in addition to being soooo frustrating to deal with it disconnecting all the time. I think there should be a redesign and recall on this component for all customers (similar to what Meta did for their VR headset linings that were causing rashes); this causes so much frustration and extra expense to replace and by the comments on this thread over the last few years, Microsoft stands to lose many customers for any future purchases - this one included.

Answer 1

Hello Lisa,

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A.

 

As a support Specialist for Microsoft Q&A, I cannot respond to your question on behalf of Microsoft, but I don't think this is a problem.

 

Perhaps you can unplug the power adapter when you close your Surface Pro, since you don't need to charge your Surface Pro all the time. Or after closing your Surface Pro, flip the Connect port on the charger 180 degrees and then connect your Surface Pro.

 

In my opinion, Microsoft is unlikely to redesign their power adapter in the short term. After all, they have been using this design since the release of Surface. The Connect port dedicated to Surface is only compatible with Surface and cannot be used on laptops of other brands. However, with the iteration of models, at least the newer versions of Surface Pro have begun to support charging via USB-C:

USB-C and Fast Charging for Surface - Microsoft Support

 

So, if you are really not satisfied with the design of this charger, perhaps you can try charging your Surface using the USB-C port. However, it is essential to ensure that the PD charger you are using has a power and voltage no lower than that of the original power adapter, as too low a power or voltage may result in no charging or slow charging.

 

Best Regards,

Ami | Microsoft Q&A Support Specialist