Hello, Guys welcome back here you will know our best Best Thunderbolt 4 Docks for Windows Laptops. Thunderbolt 4 is the latest flavour in the world of connectivity, and boy does it pack a punch. It’s extremely fast (it has a bidirectional bandwidth of 40Gbps), and the best thing is that it works via USB-C. Despite the fact that it was announced in early 2020, quite a few Windows laptops now have the aforementioned port. So, if you want to get the most out of your Thunderbolt Windows PC, it makes sense to connect it to a Thunderbolt 4 laptop docking station.
These docks, in addition to additional USB ports, HDMI connectors, and card readers, allow you to connect your Windows laptop to two 4K screens. More importantly, a laptop dock eliminates the need to plug multiple items into your laptop. Simply connect your laptop to the docking station using a single connection.
So, if you have a new laptop, such as the Dell XPS 13 or the Asus Zenbook 14 UX425EA, here are some of the best Thunderbolt 4 docks available. But first and foremost,
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1. CALDIGIT THUNDERBOLT 4 ELEMENT HUB
- Ports: 4 x Thunderbolt 4, 4 x USB 3.2
- Power Delivery: 60W
The Element Hub from CalDigit is all about Thunderbolt ports. This dock includes a number of Thunderbolt and USB 3.2 connectors. One of the Thunderbolt 4 ports also serves as a power output, capable of delivering up to 60W of power. The best part about this dock is that, despite its power, it is compact and has a small footprint.
It also has a smart design. Thunderbolt and USB connections are located on either side of the dock, making it easy to connect monitors or peripherals. At the same time, the rubberized feet keep the dock from slipping even while all of the ports are in use. Surprisingly, the dock can power the connected peripherals even while the laptop is turned off.
This CalDigit dock performs admirably in terms of performance. The people at Windows Central put this laptop dock through its paces by connecting it to a 4K display and a slew of peripherals such as a mouse and an external SSD, and it performed admirably without breaking a sweat. For the record, Thunderbolt 4 is easily capable of supporting a single 4K display. Two 4K screens can be connected to a single connection.
It is not without flaws. Even though the dock has a small form factor, the adaptor takes up a significant amount of space. It only includes Thunderbolt and USB connections, leaving out other connectivity such as Ethernet and HDMI. As a result, you’ll already need a Thunderbolt-compatible monitor to connect to.
2. ANKER APEX 12-IN-1 THUNDERBOLT 4 DOCK
- Ports: 1 x Thunderbolt 4 (upstream), 1 x Thunderbolt 4 (downstream), 4 x USB-A, 1 x USB-C PD, 2 x HDMI, 1 x Ethernet port, 1 x SD card, 1 x 3.5mm audio
- Power Delivery: 90W
The Anker Apex overcomes one of the primary shortcomings of the CalDigit dock mentioned above. In addition to Thunderbolt 4 connectors, it includes USB-A, HDMI, and an ethernet port. These allow you to connect as many peripherals as you like, whether they’re as simple as a connected keyboard or as sophisticated as an SD card reader. Despite having a dozen ports, the Apex is compact, and chances are it won’t take up much space on your desk.
The Anker Apex has a high-end appearance. It features groovings on the side that make it look like a toy luggage. I’m not kidding!
The dock intelligently positions all 12 ports for easy connection and removal of cables. And, yes, it is lightweight, weighing only about a pound.
When compared to the CalDigit dock, this one has a larger power output of 90W, which is sufficient to power compatible laptops. You can also use the Thunderbolt port to transfer data.
Surprisingly, this laptop dock is powered by a 120W adapter. It charges enough and manages to keep all connected peripherals running smoothly and without glitches or lags. Plus, even if you fill up all the ports, you won’t notice the dock getting hot or your mouse moving slowly on the screen.
3. KENSINGTON SD5700T THUNDERBOLT 4 DOCKING STATION
- Ports: 1 x Thunderbolt 4, 3 x Thunderbolt 4, 1 x Gigabit Ethernet, 3 x USB-A Gen2, 1 x USB-A, 1 x UHS II SD 4.0 card reader, 1 x 3.5mm audio
- Power Delivery: 90W
The Kensington SD5700T is more expensive than the docks mentioned above, but it performs admirably. This laptop dock has a bevvy of connectors and a handy Kensington lock on the side. It has a smaller footprint and is lighter than its predecessor.
As previously stated, this dock can handle resource-intensive tasks with ease, such as connecting to external monitors or transmitting data. The latter is made easier by the SD5700inclusion T’s of a UHS-II card reader.
More importantly, the abundance of ports allows you to connect a variety of devices, both old and modern. The folks at Laptop Mag used the dock to connect a Corsair keyboard, HyperX wireless headphones, and a Razer Naga Pro mouse, and all of them functioned flawlessly with no lags.
It is not without flaws. There are no HDMI or DisplayPort ports, for example. To connect your laptop to the screens, you’ll need a USB-C or Thunderbolt monitor.
FAST AND FRUSTRATED
The best thing about Thunderbolt 4 connections is that they are backward compatible, meaning they can be used with earlier USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 connectors.
With new laptops and ultrabooks eschewing input ports by the minute, a laptop dock is the only way to avoid the headache of plugging and unplugging tens of wires every day. They also provide a more lasting and clutter-free appearance.