Best Thunderbolt 4 Docks for Windows Laptops – Guide
Thunderbolt docks are becoming more popular as laptop manufacturers add Thunderbolt ports to their machines. These docks provide a faster, more powerful alternative to USB-C hubs that add extra ports to your laptop. You can use them to connect your laptop to monitors, external drives, keyboards and mice. They’re also great for uploading your laptop and smartphone! ..
Laptops are getting thinner and thinner, with more and more premium laptops opting for a “clean” look that removes all old ports. The choice here is between a USB-C hub and a Thunderbolt dock. ..
USB-C hubs are significantly cheaper, but they also offer much lower bandwidth than Thunderbolt. This is especially important for monitors, but it can also affect the number and type of external hard drives, SSDs, and other peripherals your PC can connect to. While a USB-C hub can support a single 4K display at a tiresome 30Hz refresh rate, often with limited ports for additional devices, Thunderbolt inputs can support up to two comfortable 60 Hz 4K monitors. You can also use Thunderbolt to enable an external GPU for your PC. ..
If your laptop has a Thunderbolt port, it is likely to support either Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4 standard, both offering 40 Gbps. Thunderbolt 4’s bandwidth is enough to drive the monitors and move data back and forth between peripherals without screen flicker or video stream flickering.
CalDigit Element Hub
The CalDigit Element Hub is a Thunderbolt 4 laptop docking station that is smaller in size and cheaper than some of the other Thunderbolt 4 options. It requires a substantial AC adapter, so it may not be the best choice if you’re traveling with it.
The new MacBook Pro with a USB-C port has seven extra ports on the side, four of which are USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 with speeds of 10Gbps and 7.5W of charging power. The rear edge also has an AC input and three Thunderbolt 4 ports with speeds of 40 Gbps and 15 W of charging power. When connected, the MacBook Pro will receive up to 60W of charging power. ..
OWC Thunderbolt Hub
The Thunderbolt Hub from OWC offers one Thunderbolt 4 upstream port, three Thunderbolt 4 downstream ports, and an extra USB-A port. This hub is the lowest price we’ve seen for one of these newer Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 hubs.
The Thunderbolt 4 is a new type of port that allows you to connect more devices at once. It has 40 Gbps bandwidth and 15 W charging, and a 3.2 Gen.2 USB-A port. You can also use the TB4 ports to add SSDs and other USB-C devices, or an external monitor. The Thunderbolt 4 also has a 110W power supply, which is all you need for the number of ports available.
Razer Thunderbolt 4 Dock Chroma
Razer has a version of just about any peripheral you can imagine, including a Thunderbolt 4 dock. And true to Razer’s vision, it’s a high-performance option embedded in RGB. Yes, even your docking station can have a smooth Chroma underglow to make your office even cooler.
The dock is a full-size Thunderbolt 4 dock that drops the USB-A 2.0 port at the front. It has three Thunderbolt 4 downstream ports, 3.5mm audio jack, a UHS-II SD card reader, and three USB-A 3.2 (Gen 2) ports. The Mercury option now available allows you to change the color of the dock to black if you don’t want the normal black color.
Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station
The Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station is a great way to add more ports to your computer, and it’s also great for connecting peripherals like a printer or camera. The Thunderbolt 4 ports are fast and the SD card reader is great for loading files quickly. The audio jack is also great for connecting headphones or other audio devices.
The power supply on the Hub and Dock is great for powering multiple devices connected to the dock. There are useful lights that let you know when the dock is on and when it’s plugged in, and we like to turn it on/off button, also. We think it’s worth paying a little extra for this dock, especially when you consider the three-year warranty.
Sonnettech Echo 11 Thunderbolt 4 Dock
The Sonnettech Echo 11 Thunderbolt 4 Dock has a full range of ports, including, of course, the four important T4 connections. You’ll find the same number of Thunderbolt 4 ports on much cheaper hubs, but you won’t find the Gigabit Ethernet, SD card slot and headphone jack on this dock.
Adapters can be added to hubs to include them, but this increases the overall cost. Another advantage for large laptop owners is the dock’s ability to charge at 90W instead of the hub’s maximum 60W. ..
Anker Apex Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station
The Anker Apex Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station is a great choice if you need to connect more than one external monitor to yours. The Thunderbolt 4 ports are great for video connections, so if you want two external displays, you will miss two of the three TB4 downstream ports. If the monitors have a USB-C connection, then you can use the Thunderbolt ports to connect them together.
Anker’s inclusion of two HDMI ports means you don’t need any adapters to connect monitors. There’s only one TB4 downstream port, but that’s all you’d have left if you connected two monitors to one of the other docks or hubs. If you’re not planning on adding two screens, this dock is less flexible than other hubs and docks where TB4 ports can be used for display or anything else you like.
Thunderbolt 4 docks can now support up to three displays, with two HDMI and one TB4 port. This is great news for Windows laptop owners, as they can now connect up to three monitors to their device. Mac owners will need to add third-party DisplayLink software in order to get the same functionality. Additionally, an extra power button in front of the dock will help keep your laptop charged when not in use and keep it cool overnight. ..
Final note
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