A brand new leak suggests the subsequent Floor Dock would possibly use Thunderbolt 4 over USB-C to connect with Microsoft’s laptop computer lineup, quite than the corporate’s proprietary Floor connector. Home windows Central reviews that the system is codenamed Bergamo, and says photos of it have leaked through this eBay itemizing.
Whereas different accent producers have embraced USB-C as the only connector of alternative, Microsoft nonetheless prefers to make use of its personal Floor connector to dock its laptops with exterior screens and different equipment. It’s meant that units just like the $259.99 Floor Dock 2 solely work with Microsoft’s personal gear, an unlucky limitation given the fee.
However on the laptop computer facet, Microsoft’s current units have more and more shipped with each connection sorts. Final yr’s Floor Laptop computer 5 and Intel-based Floor Professional 9 each supported Thunderbolt 4 along with Floor Join, which signifies that theoretically they’re already geared up to work with this leaked Floor dock. It’s unclear whether or not future Floor units will proceed to make use of Microsoft’s proprietary connector if the corporate releases a Floor-branded Thunderbolt 4 dock, or whether or not they’ll drop it completely in favor of USB-C.
Away from its USB-C connector, the unannounced Floor Dock seems to be barely slimmer than the Floor Dock 2, and there’s at the very least one minor port change. One of many USB-C ports on the entrance of the second-gen dock seems to have been changed with a USB-A port (which appears wise given the quantity of USB-A equipment that also exist). Round again the I/O choice is comparable with an influence enter, Ethernet port, 3.5mm jack, two USB-A and two USB-C ports.
It’s unclear whether or not this new dock can be totally supported on non-Microsoft units, but it surely appears attainable given the corporate’s different units like mice and keyboards don’t have any downside with different producer’s {hardware}. Ditching the proprietary Microsoft connector can be nice information for anybody who doesn’t need to be locked right into a single {hardware} ecosystem.
A spokesperson for Microsoft didn’t instantly reply to The Verge’s request for remark.