Satechi’s New Thuderbolt4 Docking Station Is Very Well Connected

The new Satechi Thunderbolt4 docking station turns a laptop into a workstation.

The market for computer docking stations is red hot now, with almost every computer accessory brand launching a Thunderbolt dock. A good docking station can turn a laptop or desktop into a high-end workstation by providing multiple monitor outputs, extra USB ports, a charging function, memory card slots, headset jack and a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port. All these connections can be had using a single Thunderbolt4 or USB4 cable from a compatible Mac or PC. Without a docking station, you could be limited to just a couple of USB Type-C ports.

The latest brand to join the docking party is Satechi. The company’s new Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Pro Dock is the brand’s most sophisticated docking product so far. It is finished to a very high standard with aluminum casing and a substantial 130W power supply for charging a host laptop and powering the dock.

On the docking station is front are a USB-A 3.2 10Gbps port and a USB-2 Type A dock for charging a smartphone or hosting a Bluetooth dongle. The front panel also has slots for SD and microSD cards, a 3.5mm combo jack for use with headsets or headphones, and a Thunderbolt4 port for connecting and charging the host laptop. Finally, a handy power switch turns the dock on and off.

The new Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Pro Dock includes a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port and four video outputs.

At the rear of the Satechi docking station are a couple of USB-A 3.2 10Gbps ports, a pair of USB-A 3.2 5Gbps ports, two DisplayPorts and two HDMI ports. There’s also a USB-C Type 3.2 10Gbps port and a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port.

The dock’s Thunderbolt4/USB4 connection to the host computer provides enough bandwidth to drive all the connections properly and the power supply can furnish 96W of power to the host computer. The power supply is rated at 130W, sufficient to charge and power a laptop and provide enough juice to power the docking station’s functions.

With two HDMI ports and two DisplayPorts, the Satechi docking station can run up to four external displays in extended mode using MST. This configuration only applies to compatible Windows PCs because Macs using Apple silicon are limited to driving just one extended display. At the same time, the other three video outputs are restricted to mirroring displays because Apple silicon can’t support MST.

At the rear of the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Pro Dock are four USB-A ports, a USB-C ... [+] connections, Ethernet, plus two HDMIU and two Displayport adapters.

The Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Pro Dock can be used flat on a desk, but if you are restricted for space, it can be used vertically with the stand provided in the box. Also included is the 130W power supply and a Thunderbolt 4 cable for the host computer.

Verdict: The Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Pro Dock is a handy piece of kit that can make any compatible laptop much more versatile. With the ability to run four displays and a good selection of USB ports, this docking station is up there with the best. The Ethernet port is future-proofed with 2.5Gbps speed and the memory slots and audio combo port are so handy. However, if you want a dock with a bit more wattage, you might like to consider Plugable’s new UB-VPD USB4 Docking Station. The Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Pro Dock is the perfect desktop partner for most users' needs.

Pricing & Availability: The Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Pro Dock is available now from Amazon for $349.99.

More info: www.satechi.net

Tech Specs: