Amazon Prime Day offers on Thunderbolt docks, USB-C hubs, and dongles transfer to Day 2 of Prime Day 2023, all providing methods to broaden your PC. We’ve rounded up the very best offers, based mostly upon our personal hands-on evaluations and data of the trade.
Below you’ll discover our curated listing of the very best Prime Day bargains on Thunderbolt docks and USB-C hubs from Amazon in addition to different retailers. We’ll additionally clarify why we selected these offers, and provide further recommendation on what to purchase and why. Thunderbolt docks not often go on sale, so these gross sales are each overdue and welcome. Check out our prime picks for the best Thunderbolt docks and the best USB-C hubs for added context and knowledge.
Prime Day offers on Thunderbolt docks
- Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Core, 60W charging, $99.99 (50% off at Amazon)
- Plugable TBT3-UDZ Thunderbolt Dock, 96W charging, $199.96 (23% off at Amazon)
- Anker 777 Apex Docking Station, 90W charging, $199.99 (33% off at Amazon)
- Anker 577 Docking Station, 85W charging, $195.99 (35% off at Amazon)
- Kensington SD2500T Thunderbolt 3 Docking Station, 60W charging, $163.67 (26% off on Amazon)
- Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station, 90W charging, $251.21 (13% off on Amazon)
- OWC Thunderbolt Dock, 96W charging, $200 (20% off with coupon on Amazon)
- Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock, 60W charging, $168.99 (32% off at Best Buy)
- HP Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station, 100W charging, $259.99 (21% off at Best Buy)
- Monoprice Thunderbolt 3 Dual Display Dock, 60W charging, $129.99 (42% off at Target)
Amazon is limiting its finest offers to Prime members, so think about signing up for the free 30-day trial. None of Amazon’s Thunderbolt offers are at their yearly lows, however they’re shut.
We have three prime offers to suggest. Grab that HP Thunderbolt 4 deal now — the discounted HP 4J0A2AA is an Editor’s Choice award-winning dock at a stable low cost. The different standout deal additionally received an Editor’s Choice award: Our evaluation of the Belkin Thunderbolt Dock Core reveals it to be a wonderful little transportable Thunderbolt dock at an enormous low cost. The Belkin Thunderbolt Dock deal is for a barely bulkier dock, and possibly needs to be thought-about a secondary choice. Finally, our third beneficial deal is the “Cadillac of Thunderbolt docks,” the Plugable TBT3-UDZ.
The Kensington SD2500T is the cheaper little brother of the Kensington SD5500T, a much-loved dock which presents extra ports. We haven’t reviewed the Monoprice dock, sadly, however the value is true.
We’re not large followers of the SD5700T deal or the OWC Thunderbolt Dock, due to the shortage of show ports. You’ll must spend money on an middleman cable like this USB-C to HDMI cable, at $17 per cable on Amazon. Here’s our review of OWC’s Thunderbolt Go Dock, a extra sturdy choice. The Anker 777 Apex won a middling score in our review, however its options are top-notch and the worth is nearly at its yearly low.
Prime Day offers on USB-C hubs, docks, and dongles
We haven’t reviewed the Wavlink docking station, however it provides the capabilities of Thunderbolt by way of DisplayLink, a compression technology we’ve been impressed with. The Anker and Plugable docks additionally use the identical expertise. Anker’s value is just a little excessive, however it does embrace laptop computer charging. Wavlink’s deal meets the worth we’ve hoped these gadgets would obtain, although.
We’ve used the Hiearcool dongle earlier than, and it’s stable. We haven’t used the Acasis or Acodot hubs, however the value is true.
What to search for when shopping for a Thunderbolt dock or USB-C hub
Though we think about a Thunderbolt dock and a USB-C hub to be two separate product classes, they share similarities. Both use a USB-C output out of your laptop computer. The distinction is that some laptops use this port as a generic USB-C port, and others route the high-speed Thunderbolt 3 or 4 protocol by way of the USB-C socket. The former permits for usually 10Gbps of throughput, helpful for USB keys, exterior storage, and maybe an exterior show.
Thunderbolt (both Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4) permits for 40Gbps of throughput, designed for high-speed exterior SSDs and a number of shows. Our roundups of the best USB-C hubs and the best Thunderbolt docks clarify additional in a lot larger element. Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4 are shut sufficient which you could get monetary savings by shopping for the older expertise that retailers try to eliminate.
Put merely, USB-C hubs and dongles are comparatively low-cost, not often climbing over $60. Prime Day is a chance to select up a USB-C hub with inputs for USB enlargement, Ethernet, SD playing cards, and extra for little or no — all ports that your laptop computer may lack. Just don’t go too loopy: All of the gadgets that the USB-C connects to will switch knowledge over the identical 10Gbps port. That’s advantageous for a keyboard, mouse, and a tough drive which can energy on, ship knowledge, and switch off. But sending a hearth hose of simultaneous Ethernet, storage, and show knowledge received’t work. You’ll want a Thunderbolt dock (and a laptop computer port) as an alternative.
Thunderbolt docks require extra care. Here, think about what you need to do: join a pair of 4K shows with HDMI? Look for Thunderbolt docks with a pair of HDMI ports. DisplayPort connections will work, however you’ll want an inexpensive middleman cable. Thunderbolt docks have traditionally been in brief provide, so this is a chance to select up a dear accent at a reduction. However, they’re nearly a should for a house workplace.
FAQ
I’ve a USB-C port on my laptop computer. How do I do know what to make use of with it?
Consult your laptop computer’s handbook. A Thunderbolt port could be labeled with a small lightning-bolt emblem, however that icon can typically be used to sign that that port can be utilized for charging, too. If nothing else, a USB-C dongle/hub will all the time work with a USB-C port.
I nonetheless don’t perceive what the distinction is between USB-C and Thunderbolt. How does all of it work?
USB ports have been round for years. USB-C changed USB-A (the sq. port) as a result of USB-C was extra versatile: the port connector was each reversible and allowed for larger speeds. USB-C ports will be rated for both 5Gbps or 10Gbps, identical to a standard USB-A port. Some USB-C ports connect with a Thunderbolt chip inside your laptop computer, although, and this permits the port to run at the next 40Gbps velocity. Physically, the connector appears precisely the identical. It’s simply what it might probably try this’s completely different.
What’s the distinction between a USB-C hub and a Thunderbolt dock?
Speed and options. A USB-C hub connects to a single 4K (or 1080p) show, and supplies a mixture of ports: USB-A, SD card slots, and so forth. You can often plug your laptop computer’s USB-C energy cable (if it makes use of one) proper into it.
A Thunderbolt dock provides much more bandwidth for extra ports. There are two key variations: It has sufficient bandwidth to drive a pair of 4K shows, and lots of docks include their very own energy provide that may cost your laptop computer in addition to your telephone. All that happens by way of the Thunderbolt cable that connects your laptop computer to the dock.
My laptop computer has USB4, not Thunderbolt. Can I exploit a Thunderbolt dock?
Yes and no. Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4, and USB4 all run at 40Gbps throughout the identical connector. USB4 is an identical to Thunderbolt 4. But in case your laptop computer runs USB4, it received’t “understand” Thunderbolt 3 protocols.
USB4 laptops are nonetheless extraordinarily uncommon, and have an AMD Ryzen chip inside.
Is Thunderbolt 4 higher than Thunderbolt 3?
Physically, they use the identical USB-C cable. Functionally, they’re nearly the identical. Thunderbolt 4 was launched nearly as a patch to Thunderbolt 3, guaranteeing that all the pieces labored correctly. If your laptop computer has Thunderbolt, it’s best to most likely be capable to purchase both a Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4 dock with none issues. Since Thunderbolt 3 is being phased out, you’ll most likely discover extra reductions on the older Thunderbolt 3 {hardware}. (For the gory particulars, see our roundup of the best Thunderbolt docks.)
I personal a desktop PC. Do I want a Thunderbolt dock?
Possibly. Historically, the again of a desktop has been chock-full of I/O ports, particularly DIY fashions that you just construct your self. Desktops often have further room for inner SSDs, SD playing cards, and so forth. However, in case your desktop lacks these items, and contains an exterior Thunderbolt port, you may all the time add these further parts externally by way of Thunderbolt.
Some of those docks have had unhealthy evaluations on purchasing websites. What offers?
Read the person evaluations intently. While Macs adopted Thunderbolt first, a few of the Apple M1 silicon couldn’t sustain with Intel Thunderbolt controllers utilized by Windows PCs, and the Apple MacOS expertise suffered in consequence. If a Windows person complains, listen; in any other case, you may dismiss them.
This roundup was up to date on July 12 with the newest Prime Day offers.