Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 hubs and docks are the latest technologies in computer connectivity and expansion. They take over from Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C hubs and docks, with significant future-proof benefits while staying backwards compatible with the older connectivity standards.
Hubs and docks allow you to add more types of connections to your main computer if it lacks them itself—particularly with laptops that might have just a few ports on the side.
Desktop PCs and Macs usually have a decent set of ports at front and back, but laptops and tablets often have just a couple.
You will therefore need to connect a multifunction adapter, hub or a more able docking station that includes the ports and slots you need to add extra devices such as hard drives, memory sticks, storage-card readers, printers and so on, as well as wired input tools such as a keyboard or mouse.
They are also the best way to add an external display or two to your more mobile computer, plus Gigabit (or faster) Ethernet for wired Internet access.
All the docks and hubs tested here support at least two external 4K displays at 60Hz; a single 8K display (Windows); or a single 6K display (Mac).
Here are some quick links to our favorites but read on for more tips on dock and hub features plus all our Thunderbolt dock recommendations.
- Best HDMI Thunderbolt 4 dock: Sonnet Echo 20 Thunderbolt 4 SuperDock – check on Amazon
- Best DisplayPort Thunderbolt 4 dock: CalDigit TS4 – check on Amazon
- Best Thunderbolt 4 hub: Caldigit Thunderbolt 4 Element Hub – check on Amazon
Thunderbolt 4 and USB4
The latest connection standards are Thunderbolt 4 and USB4, which are both based on the neat reversible USB-C connector seen on most new computing devices.
Learn more about the differences between USB-C, USB4, Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4.
They supersede older USB 3.0/USB-A connectors and also slower USB-C variants in terms of speed, but are backwards compatible with USB-C and Thunderbolt 3.
USB-A (the old rectangular connector that had to go in one way, usually not the first way you tried) usually maxed at a bandwidth of 5Gbps (USB 3.0) but could be as slow as 480MBps (USB 2.0). Many of the models tested here include faster 10GBps USB-A. Look out for device charging potential, too, with up to 7.5W on offer with some docks and hubs.
USB-C started at 5Gbps but is also available at up to 20Gbps, although 10Gbps is more common at the upper end. Again, look for high device-charging–20W is the best we’ve seen from USB-C.
Thunderbolt 3 (TB3) can reach 40Gbps, but, unlike Apple, some Windows PC manufacturers didn’t choose to offer all TB3’s benefits.
Thunderbolt 4 (TB4) and USB4 require manufacturers to comply with all the technology’s benefits (such as 40Gbps bandwidth) to be certified, which makes TB4 much more trustworthy to PC users than TB3.
Apple users won’t see much difference between TB3 and TB4, but there are extra benefits such as the ability to better daisy-chain devices. With TB3 a device chain could be disrupted with the removal of any but the final device in the chain.
Many hub and dock manufacturers advise Windows users that their device needs to be certified for Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 due to previous connectivity-standard inconsistency. Mac users will be fine with older USB-C (12in MacBook) and Thunderbolt 3 systems.
You can still use Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C docking stations, but you’ll miss out on Thunderbolt 4’s advancements.
TB4/USB4 also offers faster PCIe (peripheral component interconnect express) at 32Gbps for storage speeds up to 3,000MBps—double the minimum requirements of Thunderbolt 3, although more recent MacBooks have this already. Some of the early TB3 MacBooks had less bandwidth available on the right-hand-side Thunderbolt ports.
If you’ve heard of Thunderbolt 5, with its 80Gbps (120Gbps video) advances, note that a rush of docks with TB5 won’t come onto the market until mid 2025, and TB4 docks and hubs will still work with TB5 laptops when they hit the shelves. See our updates on Thunderbolt 5 release dates and benefits.
After our roundup of the best Thunderbolt 4 hubs and docks, we go into more detail about each type of port or connection that you need.
Sonnet Echo 20 Thunderbolt 4 SuperDock – Best HDMI Thunderbolt 4 dock
Pros
- Thunderbolt 4
- 19 ports
- Built-in SSD enclosure
- 100W PD
- 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet
Cons
- Only two downstream TB4 ports
Price When Reviewed:
£359
- One upstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40Gbps, 100W)
- Two downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports (40Gbps, 15W)
- One HDMI 2.1 video port
- Four USB-A ports (10Gbps, 7.5W)
- Four USB-C ports (10Gbps, 7.5W)
- Internal M.2 NVMe SSD slot
- 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet
- UHS-II SD card reader (312MBps)
- 3.5mm combo audio jack (front)
- 3.5mm microphone jack (back)
- Two (right and left channels) line out RCA jacks (back)
- 150W power supply
The Sonnet Echo 20 SuperDock justifies its “Super” name by having the most ports of any Thunderbolt 4 dock we’ve tested, including something missing from most others.
It matches the excellent Caldigit TS4 on port speed with 10Gbps US-A and USB-C, UHS-II SD card reader and 2.5Gb Ethernet alongside the two downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports— differing mainly by its choice of the more popular HDMI video port compared to the TS4’s DisplayPort.
Where once DisplayPort 1.4 was superior to HDMI, HDMI 2.1, as seen here, is as powerful if not more so than the top DisplayPort.
What makes the Echo 20 extra special, I mean Super, is its built-in SSD enclosure that allows you to add up to 8TB of internal storage via your choice of M.2 NVMe (the SSD itself is included with the dock). If you need extra storage for your laptop, this is a great feature, and is much cheaper than configuring the laptop with such a large capacity at purchase.
Of course, the storage doesn’t move with you when you’re uncoupled from the dock, but it’s useful for off-laptop backups and archiving when the laptop’s internal storage is limited.
If you want more portable storage, you can use the SD card reader. The TS4 does win here with both SD and MicroSD readers but most MicroSD cards come with an SD adapter so the Echo 20’s lack of the smallest format matters little.
If you need to keep all your connected devices powered up at the same time as your laptop, the Echo 20’s 150W power supply should suffice but is nowhere near the TS4’s mighty 230W supply.
Read our full
Sonnet Echo 20 Thunderbolt 4 SuperDock review
Caldigit Thunderbolt Station 4 – Best DisplayPort Thunderbolt 4 dock
Pros
- 18 top-end ports
- 2.5Gb Ethernet
- 230W power
- DisplayPort 1.4 handles high 4K refresh rates
- Flexible design
Cons
- Only two downstream TB4 ports
- Expensive
Price When Reviewed:
£399.99
• One upstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40Gbps, 98W)
• Two downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports (40Gbps, 15W)
• One DisplayPort 1.4 video port
• Five USB-A ports (10Gbps, 7.5W)
• One USB-C port (10Gbps, 20W)
• Two USB-C ports (10Gbps, 7.5W)
• 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet
• UHS-II SD and microSD card readers (312MBps)
• 3.5mm combo audio jack (front)
• 3.5mm Audio In and Audio Out ports (back)
• 230W power supply
For years, Caldigit ruled the Thunderbolt 3 roost with its compact but powerful Thunderbolt Station 3 Plus (TS3 Plus). Its Thunderbolt 4 successor, the Thunderbolt Station 4 (TS4) is physically and stylistically similar but boasts even more ports at even faster speeds.
All the USB (5x USB-A, 3x USB-C) and Thunderbolt ports (3x TB4) are super fast and offer impressive device charging—at the front, there’s a USB-C port with 20W power.
Caldigit has sacrificed one of the TB4 ports for a dedicated DisplayPort, which is fine if you need that video port but not as flexible as leaving three downstream TB4 ports with which you can add adapters for external displays.
Windows users with a TB4 or USB4 computer can connect a single 8K display at 60Hz, or two 4K at 60Hz; Mac users, a single 6K display at 60Hz, or 2 4K at 60Hz—Macs using an M2 Ultra chip support up to a 8K single display. Older Intel Macs and newer M1 Pro and M1 Max MacBooks can connect two 4K displays at 60Hz, although plain M1 MacBooks are sadly limited to just the one external display. Boasting version 1.4 of DisplayPort, this dock can support very high refresh rates on a single monitor: 144Hz on 4K, and 240Hz at 2560×1440-pixel resolution.
Wired Internet is 2.5 times faster than you’ll find on any other dock or hub tested here, if you have 2.5GbE (or above) compatible devices.
The 230W power supply is the most powerful of any dock we’ve tested, and the dock can charge a laptop at 98W.
The Caldigit TS4 matches the Sonnet Echo 20 Thunderbolt 4 SuperDock for most ports at the fastest speeds. It lacks the Echo 20’s SSD enclosure but boasts the greatest power.
Read our full
CalDigit Thunderbolt Station 4 (TS4) review
Caldigit Thunderbolt 4 Element Hub – Best Thunderbolt 4 hub
Pros
- Four Thunderbolt 4 ports
- Four fast USB-A ports with 7.5W charging
- 150W power supply
Cons
- 60W laptop charging could be light for larger laptops
Price When Reviewed:
£199.99
• One upstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40Gbps, 60W)
• Three downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports (40Gbps, 15W)
• Four USB-A ports (10Gbps, 7.5W)
• 150W power supply
You won’t find any more modern USB ports on a hub or docking station than you get with Caldigit’s compact and well-priced Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 Element Hub, and they are all rated at top speeds.
It boasts four Thunderbolt 4 (all at 40Gbps bandwidth and 15W charging) and four USB-A 3.2 Gen.2 (10Gbps and 7.5W) ports. That’s more than any other Thunderbolt 4 hub we have seen or tested.
One of the TB4 ports is Upstream, for connection to your computer. The other three are Downstream, for connecting other devices.
Caldigit’s Thunderbolt 4 Element Hub is not a docking station by strict definition but it has so many USB ports (both Type A and Type C) that it can certainly be used as a dock if you have the right external device ports or adapters for adding external displays.
If used as a dock, the Element Hub is one of the smallest you’ll find with its own power supply
At 150W, the power supply should accommodate most of your needs, with up to 60W reserved for powering the laptop or tablet—enough for all but the biggest, meanest laptops.
Read our full
Caldigit Thunderbolt 4 Element Hub review
Wavlink Thunderbolt 4 Triple Display Docking Station – Best value Thunderbolt 4 dock
Pros
- 13 fast ports
- 2.5Gb Ethernet
- Two HDMI 2.1
- 30W USB-C port
- Affordable
Price When Reviewed:
£169.99
- One upstream USB4 port (40Gbps, 96W)
- One downstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40Gbps, 15W)
- Two HDMI 2.1 video ports
- One USB-C port (10Gbps, 30W)
- Two USB-A ports (10Gbps, 4.5W)
- Two USB-A ports (5Gbps, 4.5W)
- 2.5Gb Ethernet
- UHS-II SD Card reader (312MBps)
- UHS-II MicroSD Card reader (312MBps)
- 3.5mm audio jack
- 160W power supply
The well-priced Wavlink Thunderbolt 4 Triple Display Docking Station has one upstream Thunderbolt 4 port to connect to your computer, and just one downstream Thunderbolt 4 port to connect other devices, including external displays.
Two of the Thunderbolt ports have been sacrificed for dedicated HDMI 2.1 ports For Macs, the dock will support three 4K displays at 60Hz, but one of the two monitors connected via HDMI will only mirror the screen of the other while the other two will display extended screens. Windows TB4 laptops support three Extended Mode 4K 60Hz displays or one monitor at 8K 60Hz.
While it may lack many downstream Thunderbolt ports, the Wavlink dock does offer up five fast USB ports alongside the single TB4 port—two at 10Gbps and two at 5Gbps—and a front-located 10Gbps USB-C port that can output up to 30W, enough to fast-charge a phone.
Wired Internet access can be as fast as 2.5Gb Ethernet if your network is rated at this speed, but it’s backwards compatible with more standard Gigabit Ethernet.
Our sister site Macworld has a full Wavlink Thunderbolt 4 Triple Display Docking Station review.
Plugable USB4 Dual HDMI Docking Station (UD-4VPD) – Best value 40Gbps USB4 dock
Pros
- 11 fast ports
- Great value
- 2x 4K at 120Hz displays
- 2.5Gb Ethernet
- 100W PD, 20W USB-C
Cons
- No downstream 40Gbps ports
- Not for Macs
Price When Reviewed:
£209
- One upstream USB4 port (40Gbps, 100W)
- Two HDMI 2.1 video ports
- Two USB-A ports (10Gbps)
- One USB-A port (5Gbps)
- One USB-C port (10Gbps, 20W)
- 2.5Gb Gigabit Ethernet
- UHS-II SD card reader (312MBps)
- UHS-II MicroSD card reader (312MBps)
- 3.5mm combo audio jack (front)
- 170W power supply
Although it’s not full Thunderbolt and lacks any downstream 40Gbps ports, the Plugable US-4VPD is a great-value USB4 docking station that offers both 40Gbps upstream data and 100W power to the host, plus some seriously top-end features.
USB4 and Thunderbolt 4 are functionally equivalent, but a laptop with a Thunderbolt 3 connection probably won’t work with this dock and it’s not recommended to work with Macs. That market should look at the Thunderbolt 4 docks reviewed here or Plugable’s Thunderbolt 4 & USB4 HDMI Docking Station (TBT4-UDX1).
One market that will sit up and take notice is the gaming community, who will appreciate the opportunity to connect two external 4K displays at a speedy 120Hz refresh rate—a big step up on most other docks tested here. Alternatively, you can connect one monitor at 8K 60Hz. 3D artists and video professionals will also enjoy the higher display ratings.
That aside, the US-4VPD is a tempting offer, with 2.5Gb Ethernet future-proofing for fast wired network access as it becomes more mainstream.
We would have preferred to swap one of the USB-A ports for a second USB-C, but appreciate the powerful 20W charging capability of that USB-C—enough to fast-charge a phone or other smaller device.
The SD and MicroSD card readers are also top-spec, and the 170W power supply is impressive.
Read our full
Plugable USB4 Dual HDMI Docking Station (UD-4VPD) review
Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station – Best Thunderbolt 4 hub for TB4 ports
Pros
- 11 fast ports, inc 4 TB4 ports
- 180W power supply
- Quality build
Cons
- 4.5W USB-A ports
- May require display adapters
Price When Reviewed:
£239
• One upstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40Gbps, 90W)
• Three Thunderbolt 4 ports (40Gbps, 15W)
• Three USB-A ports (10Gbps, 4.5W)
• One USB-A port (480MBps, 7.5W)
• Gigabit Ethernet
• UHS-II SD Card reader (312MBps)
• 3.5mm audio jack
• 180W power supply
As you’d expect from Kensington, the SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station is a quality build with everything a dock should have: four TB4 ports, three fast USB-A and one slow one (that at least boasts 7.5W charging power compared to the faster USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports’ 4.5W), Gigabit Ethernet, SD Card reader, and audio jack.
At 180W, the power supply is great if you are powering multiple devices connected to the dock. Only the Caldigit TS4 has a more impressive power supply.
There are useful lights telling you when the dock is powered and when it’s connected, and we like the On/Off button, too.
We think paying a little extra for this dock is worthwhile, especially when you factor in the three-year warranty.
In the US there is another variant model, the Kensington SD5780T dock, that drops one of the three downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports in favor of an HDMI 2.1 port. Power via the host Thunderbolt 4 port also slightly increases, from 90W to 96W, but it’s also $50 more expensive.
Read our full
Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station review
Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Multi-Display Docking Station – Best DisplayLink dock
Pros
- 11 top-end ports
- Supports up to four 4K displays (Windows & Mac)
- Dedicated HDMI ports via DisplayLink software
- 8K at 30Hz for Windows
- 96W PD
Price When Reviewed:
About £250 inc shipping
- One upstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40Gbps, 96W)
- Three Thunderbolt 4 ports (40Gbps, 15W)
- Two USB-A ports (10Gbps)
- Gigabit Ethernet
- UHS-II SD Card reader (312MBps)
- 3.5mm audio jack
- 180W power supply
This dock relies on you installing DisplayLink software to take advantage of its multiple display options. This is especially valuable for Mac users, and particularly those with a plain M1, M2 or M3 processor, which usually restricts such MacBooks to just one external display. With DisplayLink, this dock gives M1 and M2 MacBook Air users access to three displays (one 6K at 60Hz via one of the Thunderbolt ports, and two 4K at 60Hz via the two HDMI ports).
It offers three downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports and two DisplayLink-enabled HDMI 2,0 ports. Only one other dock offers that many Thunderbolt ports and more than one video port, and that’s the mighty dual-chip iVanky FusionDock Max 1, reviewed below, that will set you back $500/£500.
Its ports are topped out with GigabIt Ethernet, fast SD Card reader, two speedy USB-A, and an audio jack.
As such the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Multi-Display Docking Station offers great value for money for Mac users in search of multiple external displays. Even owners of M1/M2/M3 Pro MacBook Pros benefit from three instead of their usual two supported displays.
It represents good value for owners of Thunderbolt 4 Windows laptops, too, although such people should also consider the company’s Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Pro Dock, reviewed below. That model is more expensive but it doesn’t require DisplayLink software to run four displays on compatible Windows PCs, offers a choice of dedicated video ports, and boasts faster Ethernet (if your network supports it).
However, the DisplayLink Satechi dock is cheaper, also runs four 4K displays (with DisplayLink installed) and hosts three 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4 ports and faster USB-A.
Pros
- 16 top-end ports
- 2.5Gb Ethernet
- Supports up to four displays (Windows)
- Dedicated HDMI & DisplayPorts
- 96W PD
Cons
- Video ports mean no downstream TB4 ports
- Few device-charging ports
- Macs limited to two displays
- One upstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40Gbps, 96W)
- Two DisplayPort 1.4 video ports
- Two HDMI 2.1 video ports
- Three USB-A ports (10Gbps, 5.5W)
- Two USB-A ports (5Gbps, 5.5W)
- One USB-A ports (480MBbps, 7.5W)
- One USB-C port (10Gbps, 7.5W)
- 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet
- UHS-II SD and microSD card readers (312MBps)
- 3.5mm combo audio jack (front)
- 135W power supply
This Thunderbolt 4 docking station differs from most others reviewed here in one very specific way: it lacks any downstream Thunderbolt ports. This may strike you as crazy, but there’s a very good reason for the missing TB4 ports—it’s built for multiple-screen setups using both HDMI and DisplayPort rather than Thunderbolt/USB-C monitor connections, and can handle up to four external displays (Windows only).
Windows users with Thunderbolt 4 and many USB4 laptops can connect up to four 4K (3840×2160) 60Hz displays using this dock, mixing the display connectors as they see fit.
Windows and Mac users can connect a single display at 8K (7680-x-4320) at 30Hz.
MacBook Pro (M1/M2 Pro and M1/M2 Max) users and owners of less advanced Windows laptops, on the other hand, are limited to at most two 4K 60Hz displays. And plain M1 and M2 Macs are limited to just one external display, so this is not the dock you are looking for if you own a Mac.
The Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Pro Dock looks almost identical to Plugable’s TBT4-UDZ reviewed below, but its DisplayPorts are the superior 1.4 standard rather than 1.2 and HDMI 2.1 rather than 2.0.
The other 11 ports include super-fast 2.5Gb Ethernet, fast SD, audio and seven USB connectors, so it is specced out at the top end, although we would have preferred more USB-C ports than USB-A.
Read our full
Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Pro Dock review
iVANKY FusionDock Max 1 – Ultimate Thunderbolt 4 dock for Macs
Pros
- 21 ports
- Two Thunderbolt 4 chips
- Up to four 6K displays at 60Hz
- 2.5 gigabit ethernet
Price When Reviewed:
£519
- Two upstream Thunderbolt 4 ports (40Gbps, 96W)
- Four downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports (40Gbps, 15W)
- One HDMI 2.0 video ports
- Six USB-A ports (10Gbps, 7.5W)
- Two USB-C ports (10Gbps, one at 30W and one at 7.5W)
- 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet
- UHS-II SD card reader (312MBps)
- UHS-II MicroSD card reader (312MBps)
- 3.5mm combo audio jack (front)
- 3.5mm microphone jack (back)
- Optical Audio
- 180W power supply
This dock is for Mac users only and comes into its own when paired with a top-end M1/M2/M3 Max MacBook Pro. A MacBook with an M1/M2/M3 Pro can support only two monitors. You need a Max to get four external displays connected, or look to a dock that works with DisplayLink, such as the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Multi-Display Docking Station reviewed higher up this chart.
A Max-level MacBook twinned with this dock supports four 6K displays, and has plenty of ports left over to play with.
It has two video ports and four downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports—more than other docks that offer either three downstream TB4 ports or two downstream TB4 and a video port. The FusionDock Max 1 has so many spare Thunderbolt ports because it has dual built-in Thunderbolt 4 chips.
All this comes at a price—at $500 it’s the priciest docking station we’ve tested. If your requirements are very high, and you own a $3,000 MacBook Pro with an M1/M2/M3 Max processor., this is the ultimate Mac dock for four high-resolution external displays.
More details and a full iVanky FusionDock Max 1 review over at Macworld.
Plugable Thunderbolt 4 & USB4 Quad Display Docking Station
Pros
- 16 ports
- Supports four 4K displays
- 2.5Gb Ethernet
Cons
- No downstream TB4 ports
- Macs limited to dual display
- One upstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40Gbps, 98W)
- Two DisplayPort 1.2 video ports
- Two HDMI 2.0 video ports
- Three USB-A ports (10Gbps, 4.5W)
- Two USB-A ports (5Gbps, 4.5W)
- One USB-A ports (480MBbps, 7.5W)
- One USB-C port (10Gbps, 7.5W)
- 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet
- UHS-II SD and microSD card readers (312MBps)
- 3.5mm combo audio jack (front)
- 135W power supply
This Thunderbolt 4 docking station looks very similar to the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Pro Dock reviewed above. Connected Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 Windows laptops can be linked up to up to four external 4K displays at 60Hz.
However, the TBT4-UDZ’s DisplayPorts are 1.2 rather than 1.4, so can’t connect a single display at 5K, 6K or 8K. This dock is for multiple high-resolution displays rather than fewer super-resolution screens.
We appreciate the power button, which makes preserving the laptop’s battery life an easier task.
It’s cheaper than the Satechi—we prefer the other dock’s more impressive video port specifications, but if 4K at 60Hz is more than enough for you, then the price saving makes sense.
Read our full
Plugable Thunderbolt 4 & USB4 Quad Display Docking Station (TBT4-UDZ) review
OWC Thunderbolt Hub – Best budget Thunderbolt 4 hub
Pros
- Four Thunderbolt 4 ports
- 10Gbps USB-A port with 7.5W charging
Cons
- 60W laptop charging could be light for larger laptops
Price When Reviewed:
£179
• One upstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40Gbps, 60W)
• Three Thunderbolt 4 ports (40Gbps, 15W)
• One USB-A port (10Gbps, 7.5W)
• 110W power supply
The OWC Thunderbolt Hub delivers with an upstream Thunderbolt 4 port, three downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports, and an extra USB-A port thrown in for good measure.
The price is the lowest we’ve seen for one of these latest Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 hubs.
All four Thunderbolt 4 are rated at 40Gbps bandwidth and 15W charging, and one USB-A 3.2 Gen.2 (10Gbps and 7.5W) port. The TB4 ports can be used for adding SSDs and other USB-C, TB3 or TB4 devices or external displays, depending on your needs.
It has a 110W power supply, which is all you should need for the number of ports on offer, and it can charge a laptop at up to 60W.
Read our full
OWC Thunderbolt Hub review
Belkin Connect Thunderbolt 4 Core Hub – Best Thunderbolt 4 hub for laptop charging
Pros
- Four Thunderbolt 4 ports
- 96W laptop PD charging
- 10Gbps USB-A port
- 150W total output
Price When Reviewed:
£199.99
• One upstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40Gbps, 96W)
• Three Thunderbolt 4 ports (40Gbps, 15W)
• One USB-A port (10Gbps, 4.5W)
• 150W power supply
The Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Core Hub offers the standard upstream Thunderbolt 4 port, three downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports, and a USB-A port. Where it differs from the other Thunderbolt 4 hubs reviewed here is its 96W laptop-charging, backed up with an external 150W power supply.
It is priced the same as the Caldigit Element Hub, which is still our favorite Thunderbolt 4 hub, with its four 40Gbps/18W Thunderbolt 4 and four 10Gbps/7.5W USB-A ports. However, if you own a large power-hungry laptop, the Belkin’s 96W USB PD charging will impress.
Full docking stations offer similar power, but a hub is smaller and generally cheaper if all you need is extra TB4 ports.
The 10Gbps USB-A port is fast for data transfer but offers little device-charging output—4.5W is enough for a smartwatch, headphones, keyboard or mouse but little else. The TB4 ports can be used for adding two 4K external displays at 60Hz, with one spare for SSDs and other USB-C, TB3 or TB4 devices, or an Ethernet adapter if you want to mimic a dock’s wired access suport.
Read our full
Belkin Connect Thunderbolt 4 5-in-1 Core Hub review
OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock – Best full-size portable Thunderbolt 4 dock
Pros
- 11 fast ports
- 120W built-in power supply
- Upstream port at side
- 2.5Gb Ethernet
Cons
- HDMI means just two downstream TB4 ports
- Front USB-A port rated USB 2.0
- Hefty
- One upstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40Gbps, 90W)
- Two downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports (40Gbps, 15W)
- HDMI 2.1 video port
- Two USB-A ports (10Gbps, 10W)
- One USB-A port (480MBps, 7.5W)
- One USB-C port (10Gbps, 15W)
- 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet
- UHS-II SD and microSD card readers (312MBps)
- 3.5mm combo audio jack (front)
- 120W power supply
A Thunderbolt hub supplies as many Thunderbolt ports as the connection technology allows, but only a full docking station comes with dedicated video ports, wired Internet access, card readers and more USB ports—although the Calldigit Thunderbolt Element Hub packs four TB4 and four fast USB-A ports. With the right adapters and a decent power connection, that might be all you need.
The “Go” in OWC’s Thunderbolt Go Dock signifies that this fully equipped dock is more portable than other docking stations, as it doesn’t require a cumbersome external power brick to be carried with it. Instead, it has its own 120W power supply built into its case.
This does make it reasonably hefty but still much easier to travel with, and is perfect for laptop professionals often on the move and working on location.
It’s range of ports is impressive, including super-speedy 2.5Gb Ethernet.
Read our full
OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock review
Anker 568 USB-C Docking Station – Best USB4 dock for charging and displays
Pros
- Supports three external 4K displays
- Two 10Gbps USB-C ports with 30W
- 180W power supply
Cons
- No downstream 40Gbps ports
- No card reader
- No audio port
- Not for Macs
Price When Reviewed:
£299.99
- One upstream USB4 port (40Gbps, 100W)
- HDMI 2.0 video port (4K at 60Hz)
- Two DisplayPort 1.4 video ports (8K at 30Hz)
- Two USB-C ports (10Gbps, 30W)
- Two USB-A ports (5Gbps)
- Two USB-A ports (480MBps)
- Gigabit Ethernet
- 180W power supply
This 11-port USB4 dock is compatible with Thunderbolt computers, and is built for multiple-display solutions rather than Thunderbolt expansion as it has three video ports (two DisplayPort 1.4 ports, and a single HDMI 2.0 video port) but no downstream 40Gbps ports.
Either of the DisplayPort connections supports 8K resolutions at 30Hz. You’re probably considering this dock for a 4K display, however, and you can connect two 4K displays at 60Hz resolution to any two of the dock’s video ports. You can even connect a 4K display to each of the three ports, though only less comfortable 30Hz refresh rates are available under that scenario.
There are two front-mounted USB-C ports but at 10Gbps rather than 40Gbps. Each can power a connected device at up to 30W, enough for a large tablet and any phone. With its 180W power supply, this dock can power a laptop at 100W and two 30W devices using all its Type-C connectors.
We like the side-mounting of the upstream USB4 port, compared to some docks that insist on the upstream port being messily positioned at the front.
This is not the dock for you if you are using a Mac or want the fastest downstream data connections, but it works well for multiple displays and accessible 10GBps 30W USB-C ports.
Read our full
Anker 568 USB-C Docking Station review
Anker PowerExpand 5-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Mini Dock
Pros
- Four Thunderbolt 4 ports
- 85W laptop charging
- 10Gbps USB-A port
- Power button
Cons
- Low overall 100W power supply
- No device charging on the USB-A port
Price When Reviewed:
£199.99
• One upstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40Gbps, 85W)
• Three downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports (40Gbps, 15W)
• One USB-A port (10Gbps)
• 100W power supply
The Anker PowerExpand 5-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Mini Dock is similar to the other Thunderbolt 4 hubs but calls itself a “mini dock”, which is fine as all the hubs can act as docks if you have the right adapters for Ethernet and external displays.
It beats most similar Thunderbolt 4 hubs with its 85W laptop-charging power (compared to 60W elsewhere). That said, its total 100W external power supply feels a little light given the potential 67.5W power drain if all the ports required charging simultaneously.
Read our full
Anker PowerExpand 5-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Mini Dock review
Plugable USB4 and Thunderbolt 4 Hub (USB4-HUB3A) – Slimmest TB4 hub
Pros
- Four Thunderbolt 4 ports
- 10Gbps USB-A port
- USB-C-to-HDMI adapter included
- Slim
Cons
- 60W laptop charging could be light for larger laptops
- No device charging on the USB-A port
- Low overall 100W power supply
• One upstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40Gbps, 60W)
• Three Thunderbolt 4 ports (40Gbps, 15W)
• One USB-A port (10Gbps)
• 100W power supply
Plugable’s USB4-HUB3A calls itself a USB4 hub but, as the branding on the front suggests, is also a fully certified Thunderbolt 4 hub that is competitively priced and boasts a fast USB-A port as well as the one upstream and three downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports. in that respect, it is a better solution than the company’s more expensive TBT4-HUB3C, reviewed later on.
It costs around the same as the OWC Thunderbolt Hub, reviewed above, and matches that hub on ports, with the only difference being that the OWC’s 10Gbps USB-A port can charge a device at 7.5W, while Plugable’s USB-A port is equally fast but doesn’t offer device charging. For that, OWC’s hub wins our best budget recommendation.
The USB4-HUB3A is still a fine Thunderbolt 4 hub, though, and is one of our favorites tested here. It’s noticeably slimmer than the OWC so if portability is high on your list of requirements, then this might appeal to you—although like the others it comes with a fairly hefty power supply.
Belkin Pro Thunderbolt 4 Dock
Pros
- 12 ports, inc 18W USB-C
- 2x HDMI
- Great looks
Cons
- Just one downstream TB4 port
- Macs can’t use both HDMI ports
- Low-charge USB-A ports
Price When Reviewed:
£399.99
• One upstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40Gbps, 90W)
• One downstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40Gbps, 15W)
• Two HDMI 2.0 video ports (4K at 60Hz)
• Two USB-A ports (10Gbps, 4.5W)
• Two USB-A ports (480MBps, 2.5W)
• One USB-C port (10Gbps, 18W)
• Gigabit Ethernet
• UHS-II SD card reader (312MBps)
• 3.5mm combo audio jack (front)
• 120W power supply
The Belkin Pro Thunderbolt 4 Dock is a gorgeous-looking but pricey laptop docking station, boasting 12 ports including two HDMI for Windows users to quickly add up to three external displays. Mac users, however, should stay away.
It sullies its Pro title, however, with a couple of the ports being rather average, and the power supply could do with being higher, but it is otherwise well equipped.
Belkin has included two HDMI ports as most users want to connect a couple of external displays to get past the limitations of their laptop screen space. However, that means that there is just one downstream Thunderbolt 4 port. If you want more flexibility, look for a dock with less dedicated display connections and more TB4 ports.
Windows users can add up to three displays, using the two HDMI and one Thunderbolt 4 port. The TB4 port can attach directly to a USB-C monitor or you can buy a USB-C adapter to connect to a DisplayPort or HDMI display. One 8K display can run at 30Hz, or you can have two 4K at 60Hz. Video resolution for up to three displays is dependent on your laptop’s capabilities.
The lack of port flexibility is worse for Mac users, as they can’t use both HDMI due to the way Macs handle video.
Read our full
Belkin Pro Thunderbolt 4 Dock review
Anker Apex Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station
Pros
- 12 ports, inc two HDMI ports and Gigabit Ethernet
- 20W USB-C
- Power button
Cons
- Only one downstream TB4 port
- 4.5W USB-A ports
- Macs can’t use both HDMI
- Not for M1/M2 Macs
Price When Reviewed:
£329.99
• One upstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40Gbps, 90W)
• One downstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40Gbps, 15W)
• One USB-C port (10Gbps, 20W)
• Two USB-A ports (10Gbps, 4.5W)
• Two USB-A ports (480MBps, 4.5W)
• Two HDMI 2.0 ports (4K at 60Hz)
• Gigabit Ethernet
• UHS-II SD Card reader (312MBps)
• 3.5mm audio jack
• 120W power supply
The Anker Apex Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station is a great choice if you need to connect more than one external display to a Windows laptop—less so for Mac users.
Other Thunderbolt 4 docks we’ve tested rely solely on the TB4 ports for display connections. This means that if you want two external screens, you lose two of the three downstream TB4 ports, plus you will need HDMI or DisplayPort adapters unless the displays have a USB-C connection.
Anker’s inclusion of two HDMI ports means you don’t need any adapters to connect displays. There’s just one downstream TB4 port, but that’s all you’d have left if you connected two displays to one of the other docks or hubs.
There’s a snag for Mac users, however. They can use only one of the HDMI ports, so having two on the dock rather than another TB4 port is just a waste of space. Windows users can use both, and, indeed, the spare TB4 port to connect up to three displays.
If you aren’t planning on adding two screens, this dock is less flexible than other hubs and docks where the TB4 ports can be used for display or whatever else you desire.
The sole downstream TB4 port can also be used to connect an external monitor, so it’s possible for owners of Thunderbolt 4 Windows laptops to have as many as three displays running out of the dock: two HDMI and one TB4. Mac owners will need to add third-party DisplayLink software to achieve three displays.
If you need to power devices via the USB-A ports, look for a dock with superior charging specs as these ports are really for data only, and even then two of them are slow USB 2.0.
An extra mark for adding a power button on the front so that your laptop isn’t receiving a potential charge when it’s not needed, and keeping the dock’s temperature down at night.
Read our full
Anker Apex 777 12-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Dock review
Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Slim Hub Pro
Pros
- Four Thunderbolt 4 ports
- 10Gbps USB-A port
- 96W laptop charging on Pro model
- 150W power supply
- Slim
Cons
- No device charging on the USB-A port
• One upstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40Gbps, 96W)
• Three Thunderbolt 4 ports (40Gbps, 15W)
• One USB-A port (10Gbps)
• 150W power supply
It’s tricky to tell some Thunderbolt 4 hubs from the next. Specifications are often identical, and so differentials come down to build quality and price.
The Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Slim Hub comes from one of our favorite manufacturers and the build and design are premium. It’s slim (less deep but a little longer than the Caldigit Element Hub) and its Thunderbolt 4 ports are all present with a speedy USB-A port at the front.
It’s as slim as the Plugable USB4-HUB3A, reviewed above.
In the US only at the moment, Satechi sells the improved Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Slim Hub, which has the same impressive Thunderbolt and USB specs but can now power a laptop at up to 96W.
Other countries still offer the non-Pro model, so check on the 96W PD laptop charging and 150W power supply if you want the best version. The older, non-Pro Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Slim Hub can charge at 60W and has a 100W power supply. The 60W on offer will be fine for most medium-sized laptops but, if you can find the Pro version it is priced the same and more powerful.
Read our full
Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Slim Hub Pro review
Alogic Thunderbolt 4 Blaze Docking Station
Pros
- 11 ports
- 96W PD
- Affordable
Cons
- May require display adapters
Price When Reviewed:
£289.99
• One upstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40Gbps, 96W)
• Three Thunderbolt 4 ports (40Gbps, 15W)
• Three USB-A ports (10Gbps, 5.5W)
• One USB-A port (480MBps, 7.5W)
• Gigabit Ethernet
• UHS-II SD Card reader (312MBps)
• 3.5mm audio jack
• 135W power supply
The Alogic Thunderbolt 4 Blaze Docking Station is a great and affordable TB4 dock with everything you should need—except for any display adapters to use with the three downstream ports.
The three back-mounted USB-A ports are rated at 10Gbps and offer reasonable 5.5W charging, although you’ll probably use the front 7.5W USB-A port for powering your phone, but certainly not for data transfer as it’s pretty weedy at 480MBps.
Gigabit Ethernet frees you from dodgy Wi-Fi and the fast SD card reader is a great way to add inexpensive portable storage.
It’s a well built and good looking docking station.
Like most of the docks reviewed here, the upstream port is on the front, which we can’t fathom but maybe we’re alone in wanting that tidied away at the back with the power supply port.
Read our full
Alogic Thunderbolt 4 Blaze Docking Station review
Sonnet Echo 5 Thunderbolt 4 Hub
Pros
- Four Thunderbolt 4 ports
- 10Gbps USB-A port with 7.5W charging
- 85W PD
- Power button
Cons
- Expensive
- Low overall 100W power supply
Price When Reviewed:
£258.49
• One upstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40Gbps, 85W)
• Three Thunderbolt 4 ports (40Gbps, 15W)
• One USB-A port (10Gbps, 7.5W)
• 100W power supply
The Sonnet Echo 5 Thunderbolt 4 Hub offers impressive 85W laptop charging, which is among the highest we’ve seen with a humble dock.
Not that three downstream 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4 ports and a 10Gbps USB-A port (with 7.5W charging power) are all that humble.
There’s a power button at the back, which we appreciate, although we’d have preferred the upstream TB4 port to be tucked away there, too. That said, this hub is dinky so there simply isn’t the space to fit four in at the back unless maybe the power button and upstream port were swapped round.
There are two handy LEDs at the front that show when the hub is powered and when it’s connected.
Plugable Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 Hub
Pros
- Four Thunderbolt 4 ports
- USB-C-to-HDMI adapter included
Price When Reviewed:
£239
• One upstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40Gbps, 60W)
• Three Thunderbolt 4 ports (40Gbps, 15W)
• 110W power supply
Plugable’s Thunderbolt 4 Hub includes the maximum Thunderbolt 4 ports (one upstream to the computer, and three downstream for other devices) but nothing else.
Handily there’s a USB-C-to-HDMI-2.0 adapter that you can use to attach an external display. Other hubs require you to buy such an adapter.
Read our full
Plugable Thunderbolt 4 Hub review
Alogic Thunderbolt 4 Blaze Hub
Pros
- Four Thunderbolt 4 ports
- 10Gbps USB-A port with 7.5W charging
Cons
- 60W laptop charging could be light for larger laptops
Price When Reviewed:
£190
• One upstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40Gbps, 60W)
• Three Thunderbolt 4 ports (40Gbps, 15W)
• One USB-A port (10Gbps, 7.5W)
• 110W power supply
The Alogic Thunderbolt 4 Blaze Hub is a cut-down version of the company’s Blaze Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station.
Instead of 11 ports, the Blaze Hub has just five, but they are all state of the art, including one upstream and three downstream 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4 ports and a front-mounted 10Gbps USB-A port for older devices.
Some people don’t need a full docking station and a hub such as this is cheaper and much more compact—although like most hubs it will charge a laptop at 60W, which isn’t a lot of larger laptops.
It’s one of the smarter Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 hubs in looks.
Read our full
Alogic Thunderbolt 4 Blaze Hub review
OWC Thunderbolt Dock
Cons
- May require display adapters
Price When Reviewed:
£220
• One upstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40Gbps, 90W)
• Three Thunderbolt 4 ports (40Gbps, 15W)
• Three USB-A ports (10Gbps, 4.5W)
• One USB-A port (480MBps, 7.5W)
• Gigabit Ethernet
• UHS-II SD Card reader (312MBps)
• Front-facing 3.5mm audio jack
• 135W power supply
OWC doesn’t include Thunderbolt 4 in the name of its Thunderbolt 4 Dock, which may confuse some buyers. I understand what it’s doing: it is saying this universal USB-C/Thunderbolt docking station works with TB3 and TB4 (as well as USB4 and USB-C).
It doesn’t consider swapping a TB4 port for HDMI or DisplayPort, instead allowing you to choose either a direct USB-C display—or one of the other video connections via a third-party adapter.
You can add up to two 4K displays at 60Hz or a single 5K/6K/8K monitor.
This is a well-built and sturdy docking station with all the ports you’re likely to need
Read our full
OWC Thunderbolt 4 Dock review
Razer Thunderbolt 4 Dock Chroma – Best Thunderbolt 4 dock for gamers
Pros
- 10 ports
- 90W PD
- RGB light show
Cons
- Fewer ports than some docks
Price When Reviewed:
£329.99
• One upstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40Gbps, 90W)
• Three Thunderbolt 4 ports (40Gbps)
• Three USB-A ports (10Gbps)
• Gigabit Ethernet
• UHS-II SD Card reader (312MBps)
• 3.5mm audio jack
• 135W power supply
With its glowing underbelly, the 10-port Razer Thunderbolt 4 Dock Chroma looks different to most of the docks and hubs we tested.
Razer is well-known for making tech kits popular with gamers, who like the fastest experience matched with glow-in-the-dark lighting, and this dock will fit right in with the aesthetic.
It has the same port arrangement (including Gigabit Ethernet, fast SD card reader and a bunch of USB-A ports) as many of the docks we have tested but misses a front-mounted USB-A port for phone charging.
Like many TB4 docks and hubs you will need a display adapter or two if your monitors don’t have a USB-C connector.
Razer looks at power distribution differently from other manufacturers and we still can’t quite understand how each port shares its charging capacity, but it worked well in testing.
The RGB light show will delight gamers but others might have preferred another port instead.
Read our full
Razer Thunderbolt 4 Dock Chroma review
What is the difference between adapters, hubs and docks?
These terms are used quite fluidly, but there are official definitions.
A hub usually combines multiples of the same type of port—for example, old-school USB-A connections—but often collects a few different ports in a compact form, frequently with a power supply.
A multi-format adapter adds different kinds of ports, usually in a very portable format that can either draw power from the host computer or channel pass-through power delivery via a USB-C port and your USB-C charger.
A docking station (or dock) is a larger beast with its own bulky power supply and a range of different ports that should cover all your connection and charging needs.
The definitions have merged somewhat and are now often more about the size and format rather than the capabilities.
Which ports do you need?
To connect the hub or dock, your computer will need to include either a Thunderbolt 4 port for a separate cable connection (often included with the hub/dock) or an integrated T4/USB4 cable.
Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 ports The TB4/USB4 technology allows for four of these ports on a hub or dock–one of which is reserved for the computer connection (called the ‘Upstream” connection, compared to the “Downstream TB4 ports that you use to connect new devices). Previously, TB3 allowed for only two in total.
These are very adaptable ports that can connect to a USB-C display or a display adapter—for example, USB-C-to-HDMI or DisplayPort.
Modern SSDs and other devices also have USB-C or Thunderbolt connections, and so you can attach these using the hub when your laptop or tablet has just one or two.
Look out for the charging capabilities of these ports—many can offer 15W power, enough for most smartphones, SSDs etc.
USB-A This is the old-school, frustratingly non-reversible USB that is common with memory sticks and older devices and chargers. If you still have a few of these hanging around, make sure your hub has one or two to hand. Look for faster USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports that have a decent 10Gbps bandwidth. 5Gbps is fine, but faster is usually appreciated.
If you want to use one for charging, check out the wattage—7.5W is common and enough to slowly power up a phone. Some USB-A ports are of the older, slower USB-2.0 variety, which can muster a mere 480MBps, and so are mostly used for weedy 2.5W charging rather than data sync, but are also capable of 4.5W or 7.5W charging. If you plan to use these ports for charging, check out the wattages on each hub or dock.
Display ports Less common on hubs than docks, look out for one or two HDMI or DisplayPorts. You can use the TB4/USB4 ports to connect to a USB-C display or use USB-C (to DisplayPort or HDMI) video adapters if the hub/dock doesn’t include these, but that will use up your spare downstream ports.
Display adapters are inexpensive, costing under $10/£10 each for an unbranded adapter or around $15/£15 for one from Anker. For example, this generic USB-C to HDMI adapter is priced at £8.99/$8.99, while you can buy slightly dearer adapters from Anker or Lention. USB-C-to-DisplayPort adapters are available, such as this generic adapter.
Or you can really splash out with an Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter for $69/£75 that comes with a further USB-A port. Belkin has an HDMI adapter priced somewhere in between.
Check that the adapter cable you are using supports 4K at 60Hz if that is your requirement.
Look out for DisplayPort 1.4 or HDMI 2.1 for the best resolutions. Gamers and video professionals should consider docks that offer a higher refresh rate—the Plugable UD-4VPD supports two 4K displays at 120Hz.
Ethernet For wired Internet access you need an Ethernet port, at least rated as Gigabit Ethernet (1Gbps). You can also get faster 5Gbps or 10Gbps Ethernet ports as adapters for the TB4 ports. If you have the right setup, 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet will significantly boost your network speed and is becoming more mainstream on Thunderbolt and USB4 docks.
SD and MicroSD Card Readers Known mainly for camera cards, these slots also offer affordable access to extra storage, with 500GB cards costing around $60/£60, and capacities up to 1TB. Look for faster UHS-II card readers that transfer data at 312MBps rather than UHS-I’s 104MBps.
Audio jacks Headphone and microphone jacks are also handy ports on a hub or dock to save you locating the same on your computer if it even exists.
Some docking stations include higher-quality digital audio connections for serious audio technologies.
Power and charging
Most hubs and docks ship with their own power supply (or “power brick”) to charge the connected laptop or tablet and power the devices attached to it.
Laptops will require a minimum of 60W for charging at a decent rate, but larger laptops need more like 90W. You are more likely to see higher laptop charging on the docking stations rather than the smaller hubs.
The remaining power is shared among the ports, so look for a decent power supply with around 150W total if you plan on using all the ports at the same time.
Hub and dock designs
Think about how and where the dock or hub will sit on your desk. A vertical format will save desk space compared to a slim horizontal one, although most of the hubs we’ve seen are nicely compact.
Also, consider what you want on the front or back of the device. I’m not a fan of hubs that have the upstream computer connection on the front, which can be ugly and inconvenient, although you might prefer it.
None of the hubs or docks we have tested is particularly portable – not because of the size of the hub, but the bulk of the external power supply. Of course, if you buy a second power supply, you could have one at home and one at the office.
Cables
Most of the hubs and docks tested and reviewed here come with at least one short (0.8m) Thunderbolt 4 cable to connect the upstream ports to your computer, but with up to three downstream ports you may well need some more. See our list of the best Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 cables.
Thunderbolt 4 compatibility
Thunderbolt 4 is here and you should consider buying a certified Thunderbolt 4 dock even if you have a Thunderbolt 3 computer because it’s both backwards compatible with older USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 and future-proof—at least until Thunderbolt 5 becomes mainstream, which could be a couple of years off yet.
That’s why OWC calls its Thunderbolt 4 docking station just the “Thunderbolt Dock” as it works with TB3 and TB4, although not the distant TB2. If your computer has TB2, you need a new computer.
Note, though, that manufacturers of Windows computers didn’t always follow the guidelines for Thunderbolt 3 and so most TB4 hubs and docking stations are not recommended for TB3 PC users. They require a properly certified Thunderbolt 4 laptop.
Apple was much better at certification, though, so TB4 hubs and docks will work with all Thunderbolt 3 Macs, which means any from the past few years (2017 and later) are good to go.
Apple’s plain M1/M2/M3-based 13in MacBooks (those without a Pro or Max-level M-series chip) still have Thunderbolt 3 ports, even though the company calls them “Thunderbolt / USB 4”. If you connect a TB4 dock or hub to an M1/M2 MacBook, you won’t lose any benefits as long as you are using macOS Big Sur or above. But bear in mind that, right now, plain M1/M2 Macs can officially connect to only one external display. There are, however, workarounds to make M1 and M2 Macs connect to two or more external displays.
Apple’s 14in and 16in MacBook Pro models—using the M1/M2/M3 Pro or Max chips, and even the plain M4 MacBook Pro—do have Thunderbolt 4 ports and can support multiple external displays–they also come with more varied side ports that might even mean you don’t need a hub or a port. The latest M4 Pro and M4 Max MacBooks feature Thunderbolt 5 ports, although there are few TB5 devices actually available right now—thankfully they are backwards compatible with TB4/TB3/USB-C.
Macworld has its own Mac-dedicated roundup of the best Thunderbolt docks for Mac.
#Thunderbolt #USB4 #hubs #docks
source: https://www.techadvisor.com/article/725034/best-thunderbolt-4-and-usb4-hubs-and-docks.html
