Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days gross sales supply one of many yr’s greatest alternatives to attain offers on USB-C hubs and docks and their extra highly effective cousins, Thunderbolt docking stations. All supply vital, needed methods to increase your laptop computer’s ports and join legacy units like printers and mice.
What we name the October Prime Day occasion kicks off in the present day, October 7 and can final by way of October 8.
I write, check, and suggest the best USB-C hubs and dongles, and do the identical for the best Thunderbolt docks. For the previous a number of years, I’ve been liable for searching for out the perfect offers in each classes for Amazon’s Prime Days, Black Friday, and extra. I feel it’s honest to say that you simply’ll discover the perfect USB-C and Thunderbolt docking station offers proper right here. Confused? Check the FAQ, under.
Below, you’ll discover a listing of offers, in addition to an inventory of frequently-asked questions explaining what you need to search for. I don’t anticipate something uncommon by way of USB-C hub costs. Thunderbolt docks, nonetheless, are a special story: Thunderbolt 5 is arriving out there, and older Thunderbolt 3 merchandise (that are nonetheless considerably viable) are being phased out. Tariffs additionally have an impact.
Best October Prime Day offers on Thunderbolt docks
- Ugreen Revodok Max 208 8-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Dock, 85W charging, $169.99 (32% off at Amazon)
- Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station, 90W charging, $169.99 (23% off at Amazon)
- StarTech USB4/Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station, 98W charging, $209.99 (8% off at Amazon)
- CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock, 98W charging, $303.99 (32% off at Amazon)
- VisionTek VT4500 12-in-1 Docking Station, 60W charging, $142.39, (45% off at Amazon)
- Belkin Connect Thunderbolt 4 5-in-1 Docking Station, 96W charging, $125.99 (16% off at Amazon)
I worth flexibility in my docking station decisions, and proper now StarTech’s dock affords probably the most port flexibility. I actually like Ugreen’s {hardware} as nicely, however the 208 is extra of a hub, and also you’ll want to purchase show cables that take its USB-C video connections and translate them to HDMI. Those are about $18 per cable. (The 213 has a show port, but it surely’s additionally dearer.) Kensington’s SD5700T falls beneath the identical class, sadly.
I’ve reviewed the VisionTek VT7000, which was stable — simply too expensive. A reduction on the cheaper mannequin is a welcome sight.
TechAdvisor, our sister website, loved the CalDigit TS4, which continues to be costly however on a good sale.
Belkin’s Connect TB4 dock is fairly primary, however actually affords most of what you need. The low cost isn’t distinctive, nonetheless.
Best October Prime Day offers on USB-C dongles and hubs
The variety of offers has expanded, so I’m separating out the standard “dongles” from the others, under. Ugreen is a top-rated model that I’ve personally used, so simply choose no matter suits your funds.
Best October Prime Day offers on USB-C docking stations
These are extra conventional, chunkier docking stations to your desktop, and one thing you may desire for those who’d like extra ports or in some circumstances devoted energy.
I’ve reviewed the Baseus Spacemate 11-in-1 dock listed right here, and I moderately preferred it, regardless that it felt a bit unnecessarily over-engineered. Note that the worth once I reviewed it was $199.99, so the low cost is a bit deceiving — it’s nearer to half off the preliminary value. Note that the 11-in-1 provides its personal charger; the 9-in-1 hub doesn’t.
Plugable’s docking station is fascinating. It solely helps 1080p shows, however 4 of them. So for those who’re a spreadsheet guru or monetary analyst trying to assemble an array of shows for monitoring shares, this dock is perhaps what you want.
I’ve by no means used Benfei’s laptop computer stand, however that’s an intriguing discover. If you suppose you may use a laptop computer stand, test it out.
Best October Prime Day offers on DisplayHyperlink docking stations
All of those are DisplayLink docking stations, which signifies that you should utilize them with a laptop computer with a generic USB-C port. You’ll simply have to put in a software program driver first. (The linked story has a fuller rationalization.) They’re primarily extra highly effective variations of a generic USB-C docking station just like the Belkin 11-in-1 GaN dock.
I dominated out a number of offers as a result of retailers are unloading previous docks, which join at outdated resolutions like 1080p. The Plugable adapter is fascinating; it simply affords two 4K HDMI shows, and that’s it. It’s a bit novel, however connecting to shows is what a dock does greatest. The Kensington and Revodok docks are extra conventional choices.
Other nice October Prime Day offers
These aren’t the one October Prime Day offers being tracked by the PCWorld staff. If you’re trying to supercharge your property setup with the juiciest tech gross sales, hit the hyperlinks for under the perfect expert-curated picks we’ve discovered.
FAQ
Why ought to I purchase a USB-C hub or Thunderbolt docking station?
Laptops have typically begun changing all the legacy ports (the boxy USB-A plug, HDMI, SD card slots, and extra) with generic USB-C ports. That’s high-quality, however what when you have a wired printer or mouse or exterior SSD? You’ll want to attach it to your laptop computer, and also you may want the fitting bodily port connector.
If you may have a quick exterior SSD or laborious drive, the exterior throughput will definitely make it easier to get probably the most out of your peripheral. And if you wish to join a number of shows, you’ll want a USB-C hub (and ideally a docking station) with assist for 2 show connectors.
How do I do know whether or not to purchase a USB-C hub or a Thunderbolt docking station?
USB-C hubs and Thunderbolt docks use the identical bodily USB-C connection. A USB-C port (and USB-C hub or dongle) use a primary 10Gbps connection, whereas a Thunderbolt port will increase the throughput to 40Gbps. Ideally, you need to see a small “lightning bolt” icon sign a Thunderbolt port, whereas an unmarked port could also be only a generic USB-C port.
Manufacturers, although, aren’t compelled to label their ports. Your greatest wager is to haul out your laptop computer’s handbook and verify.
Thunderbolt docks will solely work with a Thunderbolt connection. You should purchase a USB-C hub or dongle and join it to a Thunderbolt port, however it’s going to solely run on the 10Gbps velocity.
USB-C hubs, dongles, and docking stations: what’s the distinction?
I exploit hubs and dongles interchangeably to explain the small units that cling off your USB-C port with a brief cable. A docking station is mostly massive and heavy sufficient that it’ll stay in your desk. Virtually all Thunderbolt units are massive sufficient to be thought-about docking stations.
You should purchase USB-C docking stations that lack Thunderbolt connections, however these are a bit rarer. A docking station additionally normally features a charger so you should utilize it as an alternative of your laptop computer charger. I additionally affiliate a docking station as one thing that resides in your desk, on a regular basis.
My laptop computer has USB4, not Thunderbolt. Can I exploit a Thunderbolt dock?
USB4 and Thunderbolt 4 are functionally the identical. Intel refuses to certify non-Intel platforms like AMD’s Ryzen for Thunderbolt, and the brand new Copilot+ PCs from Microsoft powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chips are in the identical boat.
USB-C hubs work with mainly something with a USB-C port on it. Don’t fear about these in any respect.
How do I do know whether or not to purchase Thunderbolt 3, 4, or 5?
Thunderbolt is backwards-compatible, so you’ll be able to personal a laptop computer with Thunderbolt 4 and join it to a Thunderbolt 4 or Thunderbolt 3 dock with out fear. It’s not forward-compatible, nonetheless. While Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4 each switch 40Gbps, you’re most likely greatest to play it secure and match the specs of your port to the specs of the machine. Thunderbolt 5 has been largely confined to gaming laptops, and doesn’t look to increase to the mainstream anytime quickly.
How will tariffs have an effect on the costs of Thunderbolt docks and USB-C hubs throughout Prime Day gross sales?
This is the massive wild card.
Many hubs and docks are made in China, which has been a major tariff goal for this administration. On the opposite hand, dock makers like Plugable have particularly advised me that they’ve moved manufacturing out of China, too. But contemplate: CalDigit announced its TS4 docking station in 2022 for $359.95. Its present listing value: $449.95, and it’s “on sale” at Amazon for $379.
You’ll most likely go loopy making an attempt to determine tariffs. Just purchase the worth.
Some of those docks have had dangerous opinions on buying websites. Why?
While Macs adopted Thunderbolt first, among the Apple M1 silicon couldn’t sustain with Intel Thunderbolt controllers utilized by Windows PCs, and the Apple MacOS expertise suffered consequently. If you see a unfavorable remark, try to decide if it’s a Windows person making it. The expertise could also be completely completely different.
Are the perfect Thunderbolt dock and USB-C dongle offers at Amazon?
Historically, sure. I verify different websites, however over the previous few years Amazon has persistently supplied the perfect offers on these two product classes. Thats not at all times the case; Best Buy, for instance, is usually very aggressive in Chromebooks.