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Thunderbolt 4 is pushing apart Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C, because the backwards-compatible and future-proof connecting generation you will have to be striking your bets on.
We’ve examined a number of smaller Thunderbolt 4 hubs, however just a few Thunderbolt 4 docking stations.
Anker is a well known logo that makes certainly one of our favorite Thunderbolt 3 (TB3) docks, the PowerExpand Elite 12-in-1 Thunderbolt 3 Dock.
Its Apex Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station has a couple of surprises and can attraction to other folks searching so as to add more than one exterior shows to their computer setup.
Specifications and lines
The Apex Thunderbolt 4 Dock options one 40Gbps upstream TB4 port (that connects to the pc with the incorporated Thunderbolt 4 cable) and one 40Gbps downstream TB4 port for different units, comparable to a quick SSD garage power.
The upstream Thunderbolt port can provide as much as 90W of energy for your computer, whilst the downstream port can fee different units at 15W.
The entire energy provide is 120W, so leaving 30W to energy hooked up units when charging a computer at its complete 90W.
On the entrance, there’s a 10Gbps USB-C port that may fast-charge at an excellent 20W.
At the again, there are 4 USB-A ports: two at 10GBps and two less-able USB 2.0 at 480Mbps. The weaker two will likely be advantageous for stressed keyboard and mouse, or any tool that doesn’t require immediate knowledge switch.
All 4 USB-A ports fee at 4.5W.
We have been shocked on the scarcity of Thunderbolt 4 ports. TB4 can strengthen as much as 4 on a hub or dock (one upstream, 3 downstream), and that’s what you in finding in Anker’s personal PowerExpand 5-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Mini Dock. Why does the whole, non-mini dock have simply two TB4 ports?
The solution is almost definitely house and tool provide – 3 hooked up and charging TB4 ports will call for 45W of energy, which will require a bigger energy provide.
And the gap the place we’d have anticipated the opposite two TB4 ports to move gives one thing we haven’t observed on a Thunderbolt 4 docking station prior to: two HDMI ports to hook up with exterior shows.
Different TB4 docks we’ve examined have relied only at the Thunderbolt 4 ports for show connections.
Anker’s inclusion of 2 HDMI ports is much less versatile than we’ve observed somewhere else however will please HDMI show house owners, who gained’t wish to purchase USB-C-to-HDMI adapters.
The only real downstream TB4 port will also be sued to attach an exterior visual display unit, so it’s conceivable to have as many as 3 shows operating out of the dock: two HDMI and one TB4.
Show choices come with connecting a unmarried visual display unit: 8K at 30Hz by means of the Thunderbolt 4 downstream port, or two 4K at 60Hz by means of both the HDMI ports or one HDMI and the TB4.
You’ll even attach 3 4K displays the usage of the HDMI ports (each at 30Hz) and 4K at 60Hz by means of the Thunderbolt 4 downstream port.
Notice that Apple’s M1 Macs strengthen only one exterior show, and also you’ll wish to set up third-party DisplayLink device to regulate 3 displays on an Intel Apple computer.
Additionally at the entrance of the Anker dock is an SD Card slot for reasonably priced transportable garage, a combo 3.5mm Audio In and Out jack, and an influence button.
Anker appears to be the one producer so as to add an influence button to its docks, and I applaud this as leaving a computer completely charged doesn’t do its batteries any nice.
At the again with the twin HDMI, quad USB-A, and TB4 port is Gigabit Ethernet for quick, solid stressed Web get entry to – one thing else you gained’t get on a more practical Thunderbolt 4 hub.
The dock works with Home windows 10 or 11 laptops supplied with Thunderbolt 4 (now not Thunderbolt 3), and Macs operating macOS 11 (Giant Sur) or later. Anker warns that it doesn’t paintings with M1 MacBooks, which could be very extraordinary certainly. We all know there’s a irritating one-monitor limitation for the M1 MacBooks so possibly M1 house owners wouldn’t fancy this dual-HDMI dock anyway.
(*4*)
Design and construct
Whilst Anker’s TB3 dock is a compact vertical structure, its TB4 dock is narrow and horizontal, even supposing you’ll be able to acquire a separate, if overpriced, stand ($29.99; £19.99) that sits it upright to avoid wasting table house.
It’s a handsome dock that, like maximum others, sadly, puts the upstream computer-connecting Thunderbolt 4 port at the entrance, which, in my thoughts no less than, spoils the glance and the specified cable will get in the way in which.
Anker isn’t on my own on this, so there’s no actual selection at this time, apart from for the Caldigit Thunderbolt 4 Component Hub (with 4 TB4 and 4 10Gbps USB-A) that situates the upstream TB4 port on one facet.
Value
The Anker Apex Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station is priced at $299.99 or £279.99.
That is about $100 greater than a extra elementary Thunderbolt 4 hub however does boast many extra ports, comparable to Gigabit Ethernet, SD Card reader, audio jack, and let’s now not omit the ones two HDMI ports.
When compared, the Sonnettech Echo 11 Thunderbolt 4 Dock prices $319.99 or £384.
The Apex ships with a 2.3ft Thunderbolt 4 cable.
Verdict
The Anker Apex TB4 dock raises eyebrows with its sole downstream Thunderbolt 4 port, however it makes up for this with its two HDMI ports. In case your exterior show setup makes use of HDMI somewhat than USB-C displays, this will fit you higher than a dock with 3 downstream TB4 ports that may require show adapters.
It’s a well-priced dock – even supposing we’d have preferred the stand being a part of the package deal – with the whole thing you’d be expecting of a computer docking station and robust computer and tool charging functions.
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