Hi OzBargainers,
I have the Late 2017 MacBook Pro 15 inch w/ TouchBar. I recently purchased 2 QHD Displays.
I'd like a nice dock to sit on my desk (i.e portability is not a requirement - I already have the Satechi Pro Hub for on-the-go).
Requirements
- Connect and extend to 2 QHD Displays (i.e not mirror)
- Charge my laptop (ideally with 85W but okay if charging is slightly slower)
- Good selection of ports (USB-A, Ethernet etc)
- (If possible) SD Card Reader
I've seen that some docks can (impressively) achieve all of this with a single Thunderbolt 3 cable to the laptop. This would be nice but it won't be a dealbreaker for me if multiple connections are required.
Most reviewers I've come across end up recommending the CalDigit TS3 Plus dock which is currently $459 or thereabouts depending on where you look.
I can see that even this OzBargainer went with this one.
Before shelling out half a grand for a dock, I'd like to see what other people have been using and what their thoughts are.
I'd ideally not want to spend this much on the dock so am willingly to make a few compromises where necessary.
Any advice/things to be aware of/recommendations are most welcome.
Cheers!
PS: This is my first forum post. Please let me know if I've messed up.
I think any dock that gives you 2x QHD (or 4K) display outputs is going to be expensive, but apart from the CalDigit dock you might want to have a look at:
HyperDrive USB C Hub for $208.35 from Amazon AU, but check its rather specific dual USB-C Port configuration to make sure it fits your particular MacBook. This is also (from their product details) the only one to do 100W charging, the other two only do 85W, if that's relevant. Other options:
Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Express Dock for $529 from Harvey Norman (I'd look to see if it's cheaper elsewhere); or
Kensington Sd5000T Thunderbolt 3 Dock for $437.30 from Amazon AU (should be the cheapest price, but check anyway).