Surface USB-C to HDMI adapter is pricey but works well for Windows Mixed Reality

One outcome, however, is the new Surface Book two needs an HDMI adapter for the current generation of Windows Mixed Reality (WMR) headsets. Microsoft at present has a solution on the market with the Surface USB-C to HDMI adapter. Selling for a massive $39.99, it is not cheap.

Perfect for your Surface

Surface USB-C to HDMI adapter

Starts at $39.99

Bottom line: The Surface Type-C adapter works very well for the Surface Book 2, including for Windows Mixed Reality, merely the price is nearly double that of non-Microsoft branded adapters with similar specifications.

Pros:

Supports HDMI 2.0.
Active format adapter.
Decent size and characteristic fix.

Cons:

Expensive.
Not articulate on all supported specifications.

In the box and specifications

The Microsoft Surface USB-C to HDMI adapter is straightforward. On one end is the USB-C plug, the other a female HDMI adapter. The cord connecting the 2 ends is six inches (15.2 cm) in length, which is long enough for nigh scenarios including WMR.

Microsoft's dongle is HDMI 2.0 uniform and 4K-ready. More interestingly, the company notes that information technology is "an agile-format adapter" that supports AMD Eyefinity and NVIDIA.

This reference to active format adapter is essential and one of the reasons why information technology may toll so much. Active format adapters make upward for sources that do non support dual-mode DisplayPort (as well known as DP++). The adapters take extra hardware on them to do the DP++ conversion, making them more than robust and compatible regardless of the systems existence continued. That also can bulldoze up the price.

AMD Eyefinity and NVIDIA support ties into those visitor'southward own and often proprietary optimization for multi-display setup, which this adapter apparently allows.

Unfortunately, I take not been able to determine if the adapter supports the newer HDCP 2.2 security standard for 4K UHD streaming content. While all HDCP 2.2 adapters support HDMI 2.0, not all HDMI 2.0 parts support HDCP two.2. I've reached out to Microsoft to inquire about support and will update this review appropriately.

Update 1/4/18: Microsoft has now confirmed that the USB-C adapter does support HDCP 2.2.

Finally, it should exist evident that being HDMI 2.0 ipso facto means the forthcoming HDMI ii.ane modification is non here either. That revision won't showtime seeing consumer applications until sometime in 2022, though.

Windows Mixed Reality works beautifully

During my review of the Surface Book ii, I noted that support for WMR seemed like an afterthought for Microsoft.

The reason for the merits was port choice and placement. Would a full HDMI port accept been warranted? Probably not, but it would have helped since WMR headsets exclusively use HDMI adapters for the current generation. I expect to meet that shift over the next few years with USB-C connections instead.

Placement is problematic, too, since the secondary USB-A plug needed for ability commitment to the WMR headset is on the opposite side of the USB-C port. That means the cablevision needs to split and have enough slack to hitting both sides of the Surface Volume 2, which is larger on the 15-inch model.

Additionally, I experienced a flickering outcome when I ran WMR with the Surface Volume 2 at commencement. At the time, all I had was an HP USB-C to HDMI converter, simply Microsoft assured me that it was likely the converter not the laptop causing the problem.

Luckily, the Microsoft Surface USB-C to HDMI adapter had no such issues. I ran a Dell WMR headset, and the feel was fantastic. Scenes were crisp with no odd prototype pulsing. Combined with the power of the NVIDIA GTX 1060 video carte du jour on the Surface Book 2 15, the whole experience was outstanding.

While I still don't love the split-port setup, overall, running WMR on the Surface Book 2 with this adapter is great.

Converting to mixed reality isn't cheap

The Microsoft Surface USB-C to HDMI adapter connected to my 4K OLED LG TV merely fine with sound. Running UHD YouTube videos or content from Microsoft Movies & TV went without a hitch, with splendid color reproduction and full sound. The aforementioned goes for external displays.

The big result with the Microsoft Surface USB-C to HDMI adapter comes down to toll. At $40, information technology is hands one of the most expensive adapters you tin can buy for this functionality. This pricing is not out of the ordinary for Microsoft, which charges the same $39.99 for all its Surface-branded adapters.

The good news is if you do plunk down your money, Microsoft guarantees this will work with the Surface Book 2 (of course, it should work with whatever PC that supports USB-C). Just between it being tested for Surface Book 2 and it working well with Windows Mixed Reality, the price for peace of mind is worth it for some.

For half the cost, Amazon sells a very well-reviewed adapter that likewise includes back up for HDCP two.ii. I'll be reviewing that adapter with Surface Book 2, merely information technology seems unlikely that it volition have negatives compared to the Microsoft-branded version. Nonetheless, HDMI and adapters are catchy, then buyer beware.

See at Microsoft

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