Group test
HIGH-END DESKTOP DOCKS FOR MAC
Add ports and power to your Thunderbolt Mac
Reviewed by Hollin Jones
ON
TEST…
> Anker 777 Thunderbolt Docking Station
> Belkin Connect Pro Thunderbolt 4 Dock
> CalDigit Thunderbolt Station 4
> Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dual 4K Docking Station
> Plugable Thunderbolt 3 & USB-C Dual Display Dock
> StarTech Thunderbolt 3 Dock
Every model of Mac has a different set of ports depending on its age and form factor. Desktop Macs tend to have more and laptops fewer due to their more compact size but many of us find ourselves in need of extra ports, often ones that our Mac does not already have. Docks have evolved into remarkably powerful devices that not only expand your USB options but also your display output choices, frequently adding Ethernet, memory card readers and more.
Thanks to the Thunderbolt standard, these docks are able not just to power and charge connected USB devices but also fully power your laptop at the same time. This means a single Thunderbolt cable can handle all data and power needs between dock and laptop. While there are some things to watch out for, such as the inability of some M1–series Macs to power more than a single extra display even via a connected dock, or the differences between Thunderbolts 3 and 4, a dock can be a valuable addition to your setup, especially if you own a MacBook with a limited port selection, such as an M2 MacBook Air or an older MacBook Pro.
How we tested
Hooking each dock up to a late 2019 Intel MacBook Pro, we connected a range of devices including external drives, cameras, displays and audio interfaces. The amount of power on offer was evaluated as well as the speed at which connected devices could be charged. The range of ports was also considered since some docks for example lean more towards display expansion. Where available, extra features such as audio inputs and outputs were also tested.