With the increasing availability of Thunderbolt ports on both Macs and PCs, the market for docking stations that can leverage this high-speed computer connection is heating up right now. Thanks to Thunderbolt ports, you can unlock a laptop’s full potential by adding lots of extra ports, video displays and other peripherals all through a single cable.
CableTime is a relatively new computer accessory brand I have written about before and the company’s new 20-in-1 DisplayLink Thunderbolt 4 Dock is its most sophisticated and feature-packed yet. This new dock has been made with power users in mind and provides the muscle for getting the most out of a laptop or desktop with Thunderbolt ports.
Engineered from aircraft-grade aluminum, the CableTime Thunderbolt 4 triple monitor dock is relatively compact but still offers optimal heat dissipation. The CNC-milled chassis has a sleek look, while the built-in power switch, LED indicator and anti-slip rubber pad make it easy to control and plug in items, even on a polished or glass surface.
Up to 90W Laptop Charging
The 20-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Dock offers an impressive 20 ports and delivers ultra-fast data transfers thanks to Thunderbolt’s 40Gbps bandwidth. The dock also has 90W charging. Thanks to DisplayLink technology, users can transform a compatible Mac into a triple 4K workstation.
Up to three external displays can be connected using a Thunderbolt 4 port and any mix of HDMI or DisplayPort. The docking station works with Intel, M1, and M2 Macs—including models that typically only support a single external display. The docking station will work with Apple silicon MacBooks and Mac minis.
With compatible Windows computers, it’s possible to attach up to four external displays using Thunderbolt 4. The docking station can support up to five 4K displays running with a 60Hz refresh rate using a single Thunderbolt port, one HDMI port, one DisplayPort, and flexible additional HDMI/DP combinations. Users can configure their setups as single, dual, triple or quadruple displays making them suitable for creative professionals, traders and control centers.
Three Displays On A Mac
The docking station is equipped with 1 x HDMI 4K @ 60Hz, 1 x DP 4K @ 60Hz, 2 x HDMI and 2 x DisplayLink, 2 x Thunderbolt 4 40Gbps ports, 1x USB-C 3.2 10Gbps, 6 x USB-A 3.2 10Gbps, SD/TF card readers, a 2.5Gbps Ethernet LAN port, plus a combi audio/mic port with a 3.5mm stereo jack.
Users can keep their devices powered with CableTime’s DisplayLink Thunderbolt 4 which comes with a 150W power adapter. The front port delivers up to 90W for powering a laptop and the rear port has 15W for smartphones or accessories.
Looking at all the ports in a little more detail, there are two Thunderbolt 4 ports providing speeds of 40Gbps speed, plus there is a high-speed USB-C port and six USB-A ports at 10Gbps. Users can connect a mouse, keyboard, flash drives, external hard drives and more. Built-in SD/TF 4.0 slots for reading memory cards deliver fast transfers up to 312MB/s, making it fast to move photos, videos and files.
2.5Gbps Ethernet Port
For computers without an Ethernet port, the CableTime DisplayLink Thunderbolt 4 docking station has a LAN port with a speed of 2.5Gbps. Users can get faster streaming, downloads and stable wired connections for video conferencing.
Some laptops don’t offer a headphone or microphone jack so this docking station has a single 3.5mm audio and mic connection. Users can plug in their headphones, microphone or headset for clear sound, making it suitable for online meetings, gaming, or content creation.
Because docking stations are expensive and highly desirable pieces of equipment there is a risk of them disappearing when used for hot desking. For this reason, the CableTime DisplayLink Thunderbolt 4 docking station has an integrated Kensington lock slot that can be used to attach a cable lock, ensuring the dock stays exactly where it should be.
The new Thunderbolt 4 docking station from CableTime is compatible with Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3, USB4, or USB-C devices, including MacBook Pros (macOS 11.4+), Windows laptops (Windows 10+), iPads, and other USB-C tablets if the USB-C port supports DisplayPort Alt Mode.
Pricing and Availability:
The CableTime DisplayLink Thunderbolt 4 docking station is shipping now from cabletimetech.com and other online outlets priced at $339.
Tech Specs:
- Input: USB C (Support Win and Mac MST).
Output: 1x HDMI 4K @ 60Hz, 1x DP 4K @ 60Hz, 2x HDMI 4K @ 60Hz (DisplayLink), 2 x DisplayPort4K@ 60Hz (DisplayLink), 2 x Thunderbolt 4 40Gbps, 1 x USB-C 3.2 10Gbps, 6 x USB-A 3.2 10Gbps, 1 x SD 4.0 1 x TF 4.0, 1×LAN 2.5Gbps, 1 x DC PD 150W, 1 x Audio/Mic 3.5mm.
Material: Aluminum shell.
Accessories: Thunderbolt 4 Cable (0.5m), 150W DC Charger.
Warranty: 2-year.
