OWC Thunderbolt 5 Dock evaluation: Docking station with simply sufficient ports

Value When Reviewed

$329.99

Finest Costs Right this moment: OWC Thunderbolt 5 Dock

Thunderbolt 5 is a a lot greater efficiency shift than Thunderbolt 4 was over Thunderbolt 3, which was just a few Home windows certification modifications plus just a few precise spec updates.

The most recent Thunderbolt 5 (TB5) connection commonplace doubles the bandwidth from 40Gbps to bi-directional 80Gbps, with 120Gbps attainable as enhanced Bandwith Enhance for video. PCIe throughput will increase from 32Gbps to 64Gbps, which is especially helpful for storage akin to high-performance SSDs or RAID gadgets. Energy supply potential over Thunderbolt 5 goes up from 100W to 240W.

OWC is likely one of the main makers of docking stations, so we now have been wanting ahead to testing its first Thunderbolt 5 dock. OWC additionally has a cut-down Thunderbolt 5 Hub, which we will probably be testing quickly.

Other than the brand new, sooner connection commonplace there are just a few variations to the corporate’s Thunderbolt 4 Dock.

Simon Jary

Design

The OWC Thunderbolt 5 Dock is squatter than the TB4 dock however retains the aluminum shell with shiny black high. Whereas the shiny high seems to be modern it’s vulnerable to marks and scratches, so preserve it tucked away in your desk—to be seen, for certain, however not fondled.

It measures 7 x 3.1 x 1.7 inches (17.8 x 7.8 x 4.2cm) and weighs 1.17lb (530g).

The ports are nicely located with the upstream Thunderbolt 5 port that connects to your laptop computer on the again, somewhat than the entrance as was the case with the TB4 mannequin. We want the laptop computer Thunderbolt cable to be hidden on the again, so it is a welcome change from OWC.

On the again are two of the downstream Thunderbolt 5 ports. Some dock makers, akin to CalDigit, compromise with one fewer TB port to make manner for a devoted video port. They argue that dock customers will probably be attaching not less than one exterior show so must use one of many TB ports anyway and likewise require a video adapter cable.

Nevertheless, putting an HDMI or DisplayPort means you both have to make use of that kind of video connection or purchase an adapter in case your monitor makes use of the opposite video connector. And in case your monitor connects by way of USB-C you then’d want to make use of one of many Thunderbolt ports and would depart the video port empty.

OWC’s option to provide the flexibility to determine the way you wish to connect a monitor may imply it’s essential to purchase a USB-C to DisplayPort or HDMI adapter, however you gained’t be losing a invaluable port if you happen to join by way of USB-C/Thunderbolt.

On the entrance are the 2 quick card readers, a 10Gbps USB-A port, the audio jack and an influence button. A latest enhancement added a lip to the microSD slot to make it simpler to get the cardboard out of the dock. It’s not fairly however it works nicely.

Video choices

Whereas we’re speaking video, the OWC Thunderbolt 5 Dock is a superb resolution if you wish to join as much as two displays.

Home windows customers can add as much as three (as much as three 8K shows at 60Hz, or two 8K shows at 120Hz) however Apple limits Thunderbolt docks to simply two. This is similar for all docks with Macs—to join greater than two exterior shows between dock and Mac you’ll want a docking station that helps DisplayLink software program or use the MacBook’s personal Thunderbolt or HDMI port.

Refresh fee is, to a point, decided by whether or not the linked show helps Show Stream Compression (DSC). Non-DSC shows supply decrease refresh charges. At the moment, MacBooks outfitted with the top-end M4 Max assist as much as twin 8K at 60Hz with DSC, whereas all different Apple silicon fashions assist as much as twin 6K at 60Hz with DSC. See our record of the finest shows for Mac.

When it comes to refresh charges, all Apple silicon Macs can drive a single 4K show at 144Hz. Newer fashions, akin to all M4 variations and M2 or M3 Professional and Max chips, can even assist 4K at 240Hz. For twin excessive refresh fee shows, solely M4 Professional and M4 Max fashions can deal with twin 4K at 144Hz.

Wanting past present Mac limitations, the dock itself can assist as much as three 8K shows at 60Hz with DSC for Home windows customers.

Simon Jary

Specs and options

• One upstream Thunderbolt 5 port (80Gbps, 140W)
• Three downstream Thunderbolt 5 ports (80Gbps, 15W)
• Two USB-A ports (10Gbps, 7.5W)
• One USB-A port (5Gbps, 7.5W)
• Ethernet (2.5Gb)
• UHS-II SD card reader (312MBps)
• UHS-II microSD card reader (312MBps)
• 3.5mm combo audio jack (entrance)
• 180W energy provide

11 ports is about common for a docking station. There are docks with extra—the CalDigit TS5 Plus has a staggering 20 together with ten USB—however the OWC roster ought to be wonderful for many customers.

There are three legacy USB-A ports, two at 10GBps and one at 5Gbps. Though Thunderbolt can be utilized as USB-C, we might have favored to see not less than one additional USB-C port at 20W or over to permit for iPhone quick charging. The TB ports assist 15W energy however Apple’s advisable minimal for quick charging is 18W. Another docks supply a front-facing USB-C port with 20W or extra output potential for this goal.

The upstream Thunderbolt 5 port can provide 140W of energy to the laptop computer, which is sufficient to fast-charge even the top-end 16-inch MacBook Professional.

With the three different TB ports rated at 15W and three USB-A at 7.5W, the 180W energy provide won’t be able to deal with all of the ports outputting at their most. The identical is true for a lot of different docks, together with the Sonnet Echo 13 Thunderbolt 5 Dock, and to be honest 180W is increased than you get from some docks and ought to be sufficient for many customers.

The USB-A ports can output as much as 7.5W if you happen to set up the OWC Dock Ejector software program; in any other case, they’re restricted to 4.5W.  Dock Ejector permits customers to shortly unmount storage linked to the dock. The macOS model comprises an elective driver to allow the outdated however nonetheless extensively used Apple SuperDrive DVD author.

When you want extra energy out of your dock, you’ll need to pay a premium for the CalDigit TS5 Plus that maxes at 330W, which is the best we’ve seen.

The 2 card readers are each rated at SD 4.0 UHS-II so can deal with 312MBps switch speeds, sooner than the 250MBps SDXC card slot constructed into Apple’s MacBook Professional. Utilizing these tiny storage playing cards is an affordable manner of boosting your MacBook‘s storage. On the time of writing a 1TB microSD card was priced at underneath $100, though that’s at 104MBps UHS-I velocity. Quicker playing cards will value you extra.

Simon Jary

Community speeds

Nearly all of house networks are nonetheless rated at the usual 1Gb (Gigabit) Ethernet, however extra trendy workplace networks are a lot sooner at 2.5Gb, 5Gb and even 10Gb speeds.

The most recent skilled docks together with a 2.5 gigabit Ethernet (2.5GbE) port as commonplace, and the OWC Thunderbolt 5 Dock is one in every of them. In case your community isn’t as much as this velocity but, don’t fear, because the sooner Ethernet is backwards suitable and future-proofs you for when your community is upgraded.

Value

The OWC Thunderbolt 5 Dock is priced at $329.99 and generally at a reduction at Amazon, which is cheaper than the CalDigit TS5 ($369) and TS5 Plus ($499) however with fewer ports and the Sonnet Echo 13 Thunderbolt 5 Dock (from $439) however with out the built-in SSD storage.

Its foremost competitors is the Plugable Thunderbolt 5 Dock (TBT-UDT3) that’s priced at $299.99. This has an virtually an identical line up of ports and energy, though the OWC dock boasts barely extra highly effective USB-A ports.

A less expensive Thunderbolt 5 possibility is to contemplate a hub somewhat than a full dock. OWC provides its personal, unsurprisingly referred to as the OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub, and priced at $189.99. That will get you a similar variety of Thunderbolt 5 however only one 10Gbps USB-A port. It’s a strong possibility if you happen to don’t want the quick Ethernet or card readers supplied by the complete dock.

Simon Jary

Simon Jary

Take a look at our full suggestions of the finest Thunderbolt docks for MacBook.

Must you purchase the OWC Thunderbolt 5 Dock?

This can be a dock that doesn’t splash round too many ports or push the boat out for even sooner Ethernet and max the ability output. Whereas studio professionals could decide to spend so much extra for a dock that does, the OWC dock may very well be the candy spot for enterprise or house customers who wish to make the most of the Mac’s new super-fast Thunderbolt 5 ports.