Thunderbolt / USB C Dock or Screen as a Dock?

grang on 01/03/2021 - 09:28
Last edited 01/03/2021 - 10:04

I have spent way more time researching thunderbolt docks for the Mac M1 than I have on critical Honey-Do's.

Here is what I learned

  • They are bloody expensive for a few missing ports on the laptop when they include a Power delivery power brick (which I want)
  • The screen connections are variable between the options
  • Some, not all Thunderbolts are backwards compatible with USB C
  • They either have more Thunderbolt ports and no DP/DVI screen ports / or a plethora of ports — including VGA
  • Thunderbold ports at 40 gb/s does sound more future proof than USB-C 3.1/3.2 (5/10 gbs)
  • There are impressive large screens that are native USB-C, with Power Delivery and USB-C ports

So given the top "Rated" dock is now quite old and $370 or another good version same price range

Call Digit (promoted on Apple too) - https://www.macfixit.com.au/caldigit-ts3-plus-thunderbolt-3-…
OWC - https://www.macfixit.com.au/owc-14-port-thunderbolt-3-dock-w… - looks about what I am after with a Mini Display port
Or this more basic USB-C dock - https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/604277

So my question is if the docks are $300 to $500, it sounds like that would be worth investing all that cash in a thunderbolt enabled screen upgrade (e.g. get a neat single cable solution with USB ports! I have not deep-dived into USB C screens value for money. Maybe they are still pricey…

Anyone done a cost / benefit analysis of skipping the dock and go straigh to USB screen? one would only need PD + Screen + a couple of USB 3 (USB A) ports I would guess.

Computing

Comments

  • Switchblade88 on 01/03/2021 - 10:58

    Kogan 34" Ultrawide for $649 seems to fit your needs - I spotted this last night. Given that the non USB-C model is $529, then for your needs the extra $120 is well spent.

  • soan papdi on 01/03/2021 - 11:00

    I recently got myself a Philips 32" 4K USB-C monitor and love the single cable solution, with a 2017 MBP for $749 plus shipping. If you have Prime, you can avoid the shipping costs.

  • Paul Atreides on 01/03/2021 - 11:17

    Yes, single cable solution is great, well worth it if you already have the tech setup. I've got a 2 screen MST setup at home and its great.

    Would be good to understand what you are plugging in before buying a dock. There are "hubs" out there that pass power/data through that are cheaper.

    https://www.blitzwolf.com/BlitzWolf-BW-TH5-7-in-1-USB-C-Data…

  • stirlo on 01/03/2021 - 11:41

    Good luck finding a "thunderbolt enabled screen upgrade" for $300-500 over the cost of a regular screen.

    There's very few Thunderbolt screens and they are all $1k plus. You can get cheaper USB-C models but they are significantly inferior to Thunderbolt offering lower speeds (5 or 10Gbps vs thunderbolts 40Gbps), no passthrough and normally only supporting the screen they are connected to (not allowing daisy chaining).

    As for your requirements:

    They are bloody expensive for a few missing ports on the laptop when they include a Power delivery power brick (which I want)

    There are cheap USB-C hubs with passthrough charging everywhere, If you just need the basics these work great. https://www.amazon.com.au/UGREEN-Charging-Ethernet-Compatibl…

    The screen connections are variable between the options

    Apple M1 based computers only support 1 external display through a dock so this really doesn't matter. Just use one port.

    Some, not all Thunderbolts are backwards compatible with USB C

    Its a requirement of Thunderbolt 3 to support USB-C so all support this. This would be available through the second thunderbolt (passthrough) port and often on the dock itself.

    They either have more Thunderbolt ports and no DP/DVI screen ports / or a plethora of ports — including VGA"

    More thunderbolt ports is actually great. You can convert these ports to HDMI or DisplayPort using a simple cable.

    Thunderbold ports at 40 gb/s does sound more future proof than USB-C 3.1/3.2 (5/10 gbs)

    Yep, and you pay a premium for this. If you don't need it get the cheap dock I posted

    There are impressive large screens that are native USB-C, with Power Delivery and USB-C ports

    But very few with Thunderbolt 3. You will not have the 40Gbps performance with these USB-C only screens.

    If you just want a Thunderbolt 3 dock go with the HP G2 or Dell TB16, both work and are available cheaper than the Apple endorsed ones.

    • tz2102 on 27/05/2021 - 10:06

      Do you know if the TB16 works with the new XPS 13 9305? Can only see that it is compatible with old models released at the same time as the TB16

      • stirlo on 27/05/2021 - 12:23
        +1

        I use a TB16 with my Mac mini M1 despite it not being supported. Thunderbolt is supposed to be a universal standard that works with everything so I imagine it would.

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