Microsoft has opened pre-orders for the Surface Laptop Ultra, a 15-inch flagship starting at $2,599, with shipping from October 16. The laptop features Nvidia’s RTX Spark chip, a mini-LED touchscreen and up to 128GB of unified memory. Microsoft also introduced Magnetic Connect, a built-in magnetic USB-C charging system that detaches when the cable is pulled.

Microsoft has opened pre-orders for the Surface Laptop Ultra, a 15-inch flagship built on Nvidia's RTX Spark chip, starting at $2,599 (about Rs 2.3 lakh). It ships on October 16. At a Windows and Surface event, the company also introduced Magnetic Connect, which it calls the 'world's first built-in magnetic USB-C charging experience'.

How Magnetic Connect works

Surface Connect, Microsoft's proprietary magnetic charger, was dropped from the 12-inch Surface Pro and 13-inch Surface Laptop last year. Magnetic Connect revives the idea on a standard port. A cable attaches by magnet to the USB-C port on the laptop's right side, and the connector detaches if the cable is yanked. Microsoft's Windows and Surface chief, Pavan Davuluri, said users can "bring the connector close, and it snaps right into place."

There are caveats. The cable connector is thicker than a standard USB-C plug, so it won't fit phones or other devices. Only the right-side port is magnetised, though all three USB-C ports accept ordinary USB-C chargers. The port still carries video and data. A 140W magnetic cable and adapter are reportedly included in the box. The 'built-in' qualifier matters, as aftermarket magnetic USB-C adapters have existed for years. What is new is a laptop maker doing it natively.