OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock review

Greatest Costs At present: OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock

The OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock is a full 11-port Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 docking station that doesn’t require a separate, cumbersome energy provide brick.

With the facility provide constructed into the dock, the entire setup turns into extra moveable, and OWC is aiming the Thunderbolt Go Dock at professionals on the street for whom a brickless Thunderbolt hub just isn’t sufficient.

You’ll be able to join the Thunderbolt Go to your laptop computer or pill so as to add a bunch of quick ports for a full desktop expertise, after which pack in a bag and transfer to the following job or again to the workplace or studio.

Thunderbolt 4 (TB4) means you get the newest and quickest 40Gbps bandwidth plus good machine daisy-chaining and super-fast storage connectivity, in addition to being backwards appropriate with Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C. TB4 additionally presents Intel VT-d DMA machine safety that you just don’t get with all older connectivity requirements.

Specs and options

• One upstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40Gbps, 90W)
• Two downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports (40Gbps, 15W)
• Two USB-A ports (10Gbps, 10W)
• One USB-A port (480MBps, 7.5W)
• One USB-C port (10Gbps, 15W)
• HDMI 2.1 port
• 2.5Gb Ethernet
• UHS-II SD Card reader (320MBps)
• 3.5mm audio jack
• 120W energy provide

The OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock has one upstream Thunderbolt 4 port to connect with your laptop computer or pill, handily mounted to the facet to maintain trailing cables out of your approach on the entrance.

As a result of OWC has included an HDMI port, there are simply two downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports to attach different gadgets, together with exterior shows. These are rated at Thunderbolt 4’s 40Gbps and might cost gadgets at 15W every. The upstream port can cost a related laptop computer at as much as 90W, which is sufficient for many giant laptops.

The inclusion of the HDMI 2.1 port is sensible, although, as you’ll seemingly need to join not less than one show and, with HDMI on the dock, you gained’t want an adapter as you’d should you use one of many TB4 ports to connect with a non-USB-C show. You’ll discover much more HDMI shows than USB-C, so once more that is helpful when taking the OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock with you between jobs.

If you wish to join multiple show, you are able to do so straight by way of the TB4 ports if the displays have a USB-C connection. If not, you’ll require both a USB-C-to-HDMI or USB-C-to-DisplayPort adapter (not included) to connect with the Thunderbolt ports.

HDMI 2.1 presents unimaginable potential—technically it helps a single 10K show at 120Hz. Right here it should help two 4K shows at 60Hz, or a single 5K or 8K monitor at 60Hz; or one 4K show at 120Hz. Mac customers ought to word that solely the M2 Professional and M2 Max MacBook Professional fashions launched in 2023 help 8K shows.

Apple’s plain M1/M2 MacBooks help just one exterior show—M1/M2 Professional and M1/M2 Max help a number of shows—though there are third-party software program and {hardware} workarounds that allow M1/M2 Macs to connect to more than one external display.

On the entrance of the docking station are a quick SD card reader (UHS-II, 320MBps), 3.5mm headphone/microphone jack and two USB ports (one a gradual 480Mbps 2.0 USB-A, and the opposite a quick 10Gbps USB-C). The USB-A is there much less for information switch, as for its 7.5W charging—sufficient to cost a cellphone.

The SD card reader is useful for cheap moveable storage. In case you want microUSB, most of those include an adapter to suit the broader SD format slot.

On the again, there are two 10Gbps USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) ports that may cost gadgets at 10W if OWC Dock Ejector software program is put in to allow the bigger present, in addition to the 2 downstream TB4 ports and the HDMI port.

The Ethernet port is a quick one—rated at 2.5Gb somewhat than the usual 1Gb (Gigabit). That is helpful in quick wired networks and is backwards appropriate with extra frequent Gigabit Ethernet networks. Multi-gig Ethernet is changing into extra of a characteristic in Thunderbolt 4 docks; for instance, 2.5Gb Ethernet can also be included within the Caldigit TS4 dock and the Plugable Thunderbolt 4 & USB4 Quad Show Docking Station.

Tremendous-fast Ethernet can also be helpful when connecting fast-data-access NAS drives.

Constructed-in energy

Compared to different totally ported Thunderbolt docks, the OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock has its energy provide in-built—the others all characteristic a hefty exterior energy provide, usually weighing as a lot because the dock itself and requiring further cabling.

At 120W the Thunderbolt Go Dock’s energy provide is not any match for the 230W of energy you get with the Caldigit TS4 or 180W with the Kensington SD5700T, however is near many different externally powered docks.

90W may be reserved for laptop computer passthrough charging, leaving a lot for related gadgets. See our roundup of one of the best Thunderbolt 4 docks for comparable merchandise.

Foundry

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Design and construct

The OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock is a great design that appears sturdy and heat-efficient in an aerated aluminum skilled data-center rack aesthetic.

We respect the side-mounted upstream TB4 port, which leaves the entrance ports free to help gadgets you may want extra instant entry to, such because the SD card reader and USB-A charger and the quick USB-C port.

With its built-in energy provide, it’s extra simply moveable than competing Thunderbolt docks. Whereas it means you simply want the facility cable and no hefty energy brick, the dock itself weighs a hefty 2.09lb (950g)—noticeably heavier than the TS4 as 1.41lbs (640g), for instance—and bigger at 9.5-x-3.5-x-1.4 inches (24.1-x-9.2-x-3.6cm).

General, although, the OWC dock is a lighter whole package deal, and far simpler to journey with. All you want by way of cabling it’s the included Thunderbolt 4 cable and two-prong “Determine 8” energy twine.

Value

The OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock prices $349.99 or £349.99, which is about common on the premium finish—cheaper than the Caldigit TS4 however pricier than the Kensington SD5700T.

Thunderbolt 4 hubs, somewhat than full docking stations, are cheaper however don’t include Gigabit Ethernet or card readers as normal. The Caldigit Component Hub is our favourite Thunderbolt 4 hub, because it boasts 4 TB4 ports plus 4 10Gbps USB-A ports, though you’d have to make use of a few of these ports for adapters should you require Ethernet or card readers.

Verdict

The OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock is a top quality Thunderbolt 4 docking station that boasts 11 top-rated ports. Its built-in 120W energy provide makes it essentially the most moveable totally featured Thunderbolt 4 docking station, and its 2.5Gb Ethernet presents help for super-fast community entry.