Wavlink's new Thunderbolt 5 dock is way more affordable than the competition — it's now my favorite budget option if you need extra ports

I've been on a mission of late to test all of the new Thunderbolt 5 docking stations that come my way, and my latest subject is Wavlink's Thunderbolt 5 Thunderlight Dock (WL-UTD58).

It's significantly more affordable than the last few docks I reviewed — including Dell's Pro Thunderbolt 5 Smart Dock, CalDigit's TS5 and TS5 Plus, and Kensington's SD7100T5 EQ Pro — but can you live without as many ports and features as the truly premium options can offer?

I've had Wavlink's new Thunderbolt 5 dock on my desk for the past couple of weeks to find out where it excels and where it can do better.

Why you can trust me

Why you can trust me

Cale Hunt

Some might say I'm a little too interested in docking stations, but my years of testing and reviewing the latest hardware gives me a good idea of what works, what doesn't work, and what's ultimately not worth your time or money.

A durable aluminum design and a useful selection of ports

A lot of Thunderbolt 5 docks look similar, and Wavlink's new device isn't completely innocent. However, it sets itself apart with some nifty cutouts on the top aluminum panel. These cutouts give way to wide heatspreaders sitting just below the surface, which help the built-in fan dissipate heat. That dock has had no issues with overheating, and there's no fan noise.

The aluminum frame extends to the entire chassis, and I can't see any plastic in use on the outside of the dock. This gives it plenty of rigidity, and I'd be more worried about my floor than the dock if I happened to drop it off my desk.

Despite the "Thunderlight" naming convention, the dock isn't much lighter than the competition. That's not necessarily a bad thing. Too light, and your dock will be slipping around your desk. In this case, the wide rubber feet on the bottom of the case keep Wavlink's dock firmly in place even with multiple cables attached.

Wavlink has opted for a host Thunderbolt 5 connection on the front of the dock. As with most TB5 hardware, it supports up to 140W of charging for the connected laptop.

Next to the host hookup is a downstream Thunderbolt 5 port with 30W of charging, giving you another option to power a larger device or accessory. Also on the front of the dock are SD and microSD card readers, both hitting the 4.0 (UHS-II) standard that's fast enough for most users.

Rounding out the front port selection are two USB-A 3.2 (Gen 2) ports at 10Gbps each, as well as one 3.5mm audio combo jack. The power button can completely shut down the dock, including its charging capabilities for the host laptop. Rather than unplugging the PC to avoid overcharging, you can simply hit the button when you're finished working.

Turning to the back of the dock, there are two downstream Thunderbolt 5 ports with 15W of charging power each, two more USB-A 3.2 (Gen 2) ports at 10Gbps each, a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port, and a couple of Kensington lock slots for added security. It's a decent mix of ports that I can see being particularly useful for creators.

Supports triple 4K@144Hz using only Thunderbolt 5

You probably already noticed that Wavlink's new dock lacks any native video outputs, whether HDMI or DisplayPort. This isn't entirely uncommon in the docking station world, because Thunderbolt 5 can easily make up the difference. The downside is that you might need to add a dongle or an adapter if you don't have monitors with a USB-C connection.

Despite a lack of native video out, Wavlink's dock supports up to three 4K displays, each at 144Hz. Of course, there are some technicalities required to hit those numbers. First, three displays are only available with Windows laptops that have a Thunderbolt 5 port. Makes sense.

The other requisite for a triple-display setup is Display Stream Compression (DSC). Your monitors require this feature, as does the host laptop. The good news is that most modern laptops have it baked in, but you should indeed check your hardware (both displays and PC) before going to the trouble of getting everything set up.

So much more affordable than the competition

The run of Thunderbolt 5 docks I've been testing of late haven't been easy on the wallet.

CalDigit's TS5 Plus, which I consider to be the best Thunderbolt 5 dock in 2025, retails for around $500. Of course, it boasts 20 total ports, a 10GbE hookup, and dual USB controllers for improved performance. Then there's the CalDigit TS5 for $100 less than the TS5 Plus, bringing 15 ports instead.

Kensington's SD7100T5 EQ Pro at about $450 is another great option with 18 total ports, a three-year warranty, and a built-in M.2 SSD slot for easy external storage for any connected laptops. And finally, the Razer Thunderbolt 5 Dock Chroma with its RGB lighting, M.2 SSD slot, and 10 ports, retails for about $400.

I was honestly shocked to see the sticker price on Wavlink's Thunderbolt 5 dock. Coming in at $299.99 at Amazon with what seems like a near-permanent $60 coupon discount (dropping it to just $239.99), Wavlink's Thunderbolt 5 Thunderlight dock is my new favorite budget option to recommend.

Sure, it lacks a useful built-in M.2 SSD slot, there's no Thunderbolt Share compatibility, and it has a shorter one-year warranty, but the price difference should overshadow those omissions for a lot of users.

WAVLINK Thunderbolt 5 Thunderlight Dock review: My final thoughts

✅You should buy this if ...

• You have a Windows laptop with Thunderbolt 5 support.
• You can make use of SD/microSD card readers, lock slots, and 2.5Gb Ethernet.
• You want to spend (a lot) less than on a competing TB5 dock.

❌You should not buy this if ...

• You want native video out support.
• You don't have a Thunderbolt 5 laptop and don't plan on getting one anytime soon.
• You want a dock with a built-in M.2 SSD slot or Thunderbolt Share compatibility.

Considering the extremely competitive pricing, the varied port selection, the lock slots, and the durable design, Wavlink's Thunderbolt 5 Thunderlight dock should be a top option for any users who don't want to spend nearly as much on some extra ports.

Sure, it lacks an M.2 SSD slot (a feature I've come to love), there's no Thunderbolt Share, and you might need to add some adapters for external displays without USB-C, but overall, this is a stellar dock that created no issues within my workflow.

I can't say for how long the $60 discount coupon will work at Amazon, but even at the regular $299.99 price, it's the most affordable option I've yet tested. If you're in search of a new docking station to pair with your Thunderbolt 5 laptop, this is certainly one to consider.

Follow Windows Central on Google News to keep our latest news, insights, and features at the top of your feeds!