Some might say I'm too passionate about laptop docking stations, especially after taking a look at the 5,000+ words I've used to cover in-depth the best Thunderbolt docks and hubs of the year. This stripped-back guide is an antidote, delivering the very best docking stations with the latest prices (including Black Friday discounts), without all the extra fluff.
My top pick for power users with Thunderbolt 5 is CalDigit's TS5, though the high price might turn some away. The standard TS5 is a great alternative, as is the Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro, which comes complete with a built-in M.2 SSD slot for quick and easy removable storage.
FAQ
What is a Thunderbolt dock and why might you need one?
A Thunderbolt dock is built to expand your laptop's connectivity. Whereas desktop PCs traditionally have a large selection of ports to connect external devices to, laptops usually don't. That's where Thunderbolt comes in handy.
By using the USB-C form factor connector, it's possible to have a Thunderbolt 4 or 5 port in even the thinnest of laptops.
What's the difference between USB4 and Thunderbolt 4?
Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 are easy to confuse, not least because both use the same USB-C connector.
The minimum requirements for USB4 are much lower at 20Gbps, while Thunderbolt 4 is at 32Gbps. Likewise, the minimum power requirements for Thunderbolt 4 are double those of USB4, at 15W versus 7.5W.
Some Thunderbolt 4 and 5 docks may well be fully or almost fully compatible with USB4, but it's not necessarily guaranteed. You should always double-check before buying.
Do USB-C hubs work with Thunderbolt 4 or 5?
USB-C and Thunderbolt 4/5 share a similar physical connector, but they serve different purposes, and you need to ensure the dock you are purchasing is advertised as Thunderbolt if you need this compatibility.
Standard USB-C hubs are much cheaper and do not support Thunderbolt-specific features like higher power delivery, transfer speeds, and video delivery through a single cable.
Is Thunderbolt 4 worth it?
Thunderbolt tech is more expensive than USB-C, so its individual worth depends on your specific needs and usage.
Thunderbolt 4 offers high-speed data transfer of up to 40 Gbps (Thunderbolt 5 pushes that to 120Gbps), which is essential for working with large files, high-resolution videos, and demanding applications.
Additionally, if you are a creative professional or designer, the ability to run two or three 4K monitors simultaneously will be appealing.
Should you buy a Thunderbolt 5 dock instead?
Thunderbolt 5 is slowly taking over for Thunderbolt 4, and there are now some great TB5 docks on the market.
The same cannot be said for PCs; not many laptops have TB5 yet, so buying a dock to match should be reserved for those who are future-proofing or those who have some extra money to burn.
Thunderbolt 4 will remain relevant for the foreseeable future, and backward compatibility means it won't stop working even if your laptop upgrades to Thunderbolt 5.
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