Ugreen Revodok Max 208 Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station review

The Ugreen Revodok Max 208 calls itself a docking station however might be higher described as a Thunderbolt 4 hub with added Ethernet—or perhaps a Thunderbolt mini dock.

It is going to definitely perform properly as a versatile dock but it surely’s nearer in nature to lots of the hubs we now have examined and reviewed however with one key distinction: the flexibility to hook your laptop computer as much as a wired community with out the necessity for an adapter. See our roundup of the very best Thunderbolt docking stations and Macworld’s best docks for Mac for options, and we discover choices later on this evaluation.

As its different ports are all USB or Thunderbolt, if you join an exterior show you will have an adapter if the monitor doesn’t help a straight USB-C connection.

Specs and options

The Ugreen Revodok Max 208 has 8 ports—not loads for one thing calling itself a full-blown docking station however nonetheless surprisingly versatile.

• Upstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40Gbps, 85W)
• Three downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports (40Gbps, 15W)
• Three USB-A ports (10Gbps)
• Gigabit Ethernet
• 140W energy provide

Eight ports is just not loads for a docking station however loads for a Thunderbolt 4 hub. It could be sufficient for a lot of customers, nonetheless, as these three downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports are quick, highly effective and versatile.

A Thunderbolt 4 port presents fast-data switch, 15W of energy supply and can be utilized to attach on to USB-C displays, storage gadgets and adapters for nearly all the pieces else, and might daisy-chain Thunderbolt 4 gadgets.

You need to use as much as two of those Thunderbolt 4 ports to connect exterior shows.

Your choices are two 4K show at 60Hz (Mac or Home windows) or a single 8K show at 30Hz for Home windows solely. Don’t blame Ugreen, because it’s Apple’s personal limitations that imply you may’t run 8K off a Mac-connected dock.

Plain M1 and M2 Macs (these with out a Professional or Max processor) are restricted to only one exterior show, though there are workarounds utilizing third-party DisplayLink software program: learn our recommendation on how to connect two or more displays to an M1 or M2 Mac.

On the entrance of the dock are three quick (10Gbps) USB-A ports for older system connections, reminiscence sticks and perhaps a mouse and keyboard in the event you don’t have wi-fi enter gadgets or use the laptop computer’s keyboard and trackpad.

These USB ports don’t have any charging capability, so storage gadgets would require their very own energy provide as none can be output from the dock itself, in contrast to with the 15W Thunderbolt ports.

This hub/dock’s particular characteristic is the Gigabit Ethernet port. We haven’t seen this on any Thunderbolt hub, though it’s a mainstay on docking stations. If you would like the speediest community speeds, a wired community is sort of at all times sooner and positively extra steady than counting on Wi-Fi.

As a dock it seems to be gentle on different options, nonetheless, comparable to a card reader for including reasonably priced moveable storage, and an audio jack for audio system, headphones or a microphone.

Missing these would possibly flip you away from the Revodok Max 208, however when you have no want, then why pay for them?

Many people have wi-fi audio system and earbuds, and use the laptop computer’s webcam as a mic. In case your laptop computer’s storage is ok for you or you’ll be including a quick SSD through Thunderbolt and the cloud covers all of your backup, then a card reader is helpful however not important.

Design

Compact, the Ugreen Revodok Max 208 is just a little bigger than a Thunderbolt hub.

Made from aluminum with a pleated space, the Revodok Max 208 ought to preserve cool.

The Thunderbolt ports are ranged alongside the again of the dock with the Ethernet port. On the entrance, you’ll have easy accessibility to the three USB-A ports and the ability button.

We just like the dock’s energy button, which makes it easy to cease powering your linked laptop computer all day and evening with out having to tug out the Thunderbolt connection if you’ll be away from it for an honest length.

Worth

At $279.99, the Ugreen Revodok Max 208 isn’t as low-cost as a Thunderbolt 4 hub, which begin at round $150 however lack the Ethernet port.

Various thunderbolt docks and hubs

One of the best comparability and closest in specs is the $199 Caldigit Thunderbolt 4 Factor Hub, which boasts 4 TB4 and 4 of 10Gbps USB-A ports—yet one more USB-A than the $279 Ugreen. You possibly can add an Ethernet adapter to the Factor Hub’s further USB-A port for below $20—for instance, utilizing Ugreen’s own USB 3.0 to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter.

The place the Revodok Max 208 beats the Factor Hub is on energy to the laptop computer. Whereas the Caldigit has an analogous total energy provide, it may possibly cost the host laptop computer at solely 60W, in comparison with the Revodok’s 85W that’s nearer to what a 14-inch or bigger laptop computer would require.

As such, we’d suggest the Revodok Mac 208 over the Caldigit Thunderbolt 4 Factor Hub in case your laptop computer is 14 inches or bigger. In any other case, avoid wasting money and add an Ethernet adapter to the Caldigit in the event you need wired Web.

On the similar $199 price ticket because the Caldigit are the Belkin Join Thunderbolt 4 Core Hub and Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Slim Hub Professional, each of which have the identical 4 TB4 ports however only one 10Gbps USB-A, and supply 96W of energy to the laptop computer, so higher selections for a 16-inch or bigger laptop computer. In the event you don’t want plenty of USB-A ports these are good choices, though it’s nonetheless troublesome to see previous the Caldigit hub for port worth.

There are even cheaper Thunderbolt 4 hubs, such because the $130 OWC Thunderbolt Hub, which additionally hosts 4 Thunderbolt 4 ports however just one USB-A. It too loses out to the Ugreen when it comes to energy to the laptop computer (60W vs 85W).

Because it calls itself a docking station, we actually ought to examine it to a rival Thunderbolt 4 dock, and right here the Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station presents a compelling different. It too has 4 TB4 and three 10Gbps USB-A ports, but in addition an additional 7.5W however sluggish 480Mbps USB-A port, Gigabit Ethernet, a quick UHS-II SD card reader, and a 3.5mm audio jack. It additionally has a beefier 180W energy provide and might channel 90W of that to the laptop computer.

The SD5700T has a a lot larger $350 retail worth however can typically be discovered promoting for $299 and typically for lower than $200 on line. Verify our Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station evaluation for the very best costs.

Verdict

At first sight, the Ugreen Revodok Max 208 seems to be underpowered for a full docking station, missing card readers and an audio jack. However its three downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports are highly effective and adaptable, three USB-A ports helpful when you have a bunch of older gadgets or reminiscence sticks, and built-in Ethernet is helpful for direct community connections.

If you will discover the Kensington SD5700T cheaper, we’d suggest that fuller docking station, however as a brilliant Thunderbolt 4 hub or mini dock the Revodok Max 208 presents multi-port flexibility.