Amazon’s Prime Day gross sales supply one of many yr’s finest alternatives to attain offers on USB-C hubs and docks and their extra highly effective cousins, Thunderbolt docking stations. All supply vital, crucial methods to increase your laptop computer’s ports and join legacy gadgets like printers and mice.
We’re now on the third day of Prime Day gross sales, which run from Tuesday, July 8, and can run by way of Friday, July 11. Although most of not all the finest gross sales we’ve discovered occur to be on Amazon, have been checking each Amazon and its chief opponents for one of the best offers.
I write, take a look at, 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 in search of out one of the best 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 one of the best 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 a listing of frequently-asked questions explaining what it is best to search for. This is an fascinating transitional interval! I don’t count on something uncommon when it comes to USB-C hub costs. Thunderbolt docks, nonetheless, are a distinct story: Thunderbolt 5 is arriving available in the market, and older Thunderbolt 3 merchandise (that are nonetheless considerably viable) are being phased out. And sure, there are tariffs, that are in flux — though some simply kicked in immediately and extra could take impact on day 2 of Amazon’s Prime Day gross sales.
Best Prime Day offers on Thunderbolt docks
- StarTech USB4/Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station, 98W charging, $248.36 (25% off at Amazon)
- Ugreen Revodok Max 208 8-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Dock, 85W charging, $159.99 (36% off at Amazon)
- Plugable 16-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Dock (TBT4-UDZ), 100W charging, $269.95 (16% off at Amazon)
- Microsoft Surface Thunderbolt 4 Dock, 96W charging, $199.99 (33% off at Amazon)
- Ugreen Revodok Max 2131 13-in-1 Thunderbolt 5 Dock, 140W charging, $299.99 (25% off at Amazon)
- Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station, 90W charging, $158.99 (28% off at Amazon)
- CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock, 98W charging, $303.99 (32% off at Amazon)
- Anker Prime TB5 Docking Station, 14-in-1, 140W charging, $339.99 (15% off at Amazon)
I worth flexibility in my docking station selections, and proper now StarTech’s dock affords probably the most port flexibility, as does Plugable’s TBT4-UDZ, reviewed here. (I reviewed an earlier StarTech dock, however not this one.) I actually like Ugreen’s {hardware} as nicely, however it’s 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 $20 per cable.
Weirdly, I nonetheless haven’t reviewed Microsoft’s Surface docking station. But I’ve both used these particular docks or one which’s very related, and I feel you’ll be pleased with each one on this listing. Just be sure that they provide the ports you want on the worth you need.
TechAdvisor, our sister web site, loved the CalDigit TS4, which continues to be costly however on an honest sale.
Best Prime Day offers on USB-C dongles and hubs
The variety of offers have expanded, so I’m separating out the normal “dongles” from the others, under. Anker and Ugreen are top-rated manufacturers that I’ve personally used, so simply choose no matter matches your finances.
Best Prime Day offers on USB-C docking stations
These are extra conventional, chunkier docking stations on your desktop, and one thing you would possibly favor should you’d like extra ports or in some circumstances devoted energy. Plugable’s 10-in-1 is a stable dock on a stable deal, however it’s a bit extra ungainly than the Baseus Spacemate. I’ve added Wavlink’s dock for its flexibility, as nicely.
I’ve reviewed the Baseus Spacemate 11-in-1 dock listed right here, and I slightly favored it, although it felt a little bit unnecessarily over-engineered. Note that the worth after I reviewed it was $199.99, so the low cost is a little bit deceiving — it’s nearer to half off the preliminary worth. Note that the 11-in-1 provides its personal charger; the 9-in-1 hub doesn’t. Belkin’s dock affords a ton of charging energy.
Best 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 basically extra highly effective variations of a generic USB-C docking station just like the Belkin 11-in-1 GaN dock.
My decide proper now could be the Wavlink, with help for 3 4K shows. Wavlink affords a less expensive mannequin ($112.49 at Amazon) however simply with help for 4K on one show, and 1400p throughout the others. That could also be advantageous, too!
Updated at 12:25 PM PT on July 9.
Other nice Prime Day offers
These aren’t the one Prime Day offers being tracked by the PCWorld workforce. If you’re seeking to supercharge your property setup with the juiciest tech gross sales, hit the hyperlinks for less than one of the best 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 advantageous, however what when you’ve got a wired printer or mouse or exterior SSD? You’ll want to attach it to your laptop computer, and also you would possibly want the proper bodily port connector.
If you could have a quick exterior SSD or laborious drive, the exterior throughput will definitely enable you 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 help 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 fundamental 10Gbps connection, whereas a Thunderbolt port will increase the throughput to 40Gbps. Ideally, it is best 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 finest guess is to haul out your laptop computer’s guide and verify.
Thunderbolt docks will solely work with a Thunderbolt connection. You can purchase a USB-C hub or dongle and join it to a Thunderbolt port, however it should solely run on the 10Gbps pace.
USB-C hubs, dongles, and docking stations: what’s the distinction?
I take advantage of hubs and dongles interchangeably to explain the small gadgets that grasp off your USB-C port with a brief cable. A docking station is usually massive and heavy sufficient that it’ll stay in your desk. Virtually all Thunderbolt gadgets are massive sufficient to be thought of docking stations.
You can purchase USB-C docking stations that lack Thunderbolt connections, however these are a bit rarer. A docking station additionally often features a charger so you should utilize it as a substitute of your laptop computer charger.
My laptop computer has USB4, not Thunderbolt. Can I take advantage of 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 may 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 finest to play it protected and match the specs of your port to the specs of the gadget.
How will tariffs have an effect on the costs of Thunderbolt docks and USB-C hubs throughout Prime Day gross sales?
This is the large wild card. The United States has paused its reciprocal tariffs on overseas items till July 9, the second day of Amazon’s Prime Day offers. At that time, it’s anybody’s guess what is going to occur.
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 instructed me that they’ve moved manufacturing out of China, too. But take into account: CalDigit announced its TS4 docking station in 2022 for $359.95. Its present listing worth: $449.95, and it’s “on sale” at Amazon for $379.
Unfortunately, it’s turn out to be much more sophisticated, virtually in a single day. Some dock and hub makers have moved their manufacturing out of China and Taiwan to Vietnam, and the Trump administration simply set a 20 p.c tariff on items imported from Vietnam, and 40 p.c on items routed by way of the nation. It’s simply not clear precisely which firm makes its merchandise in Vietnam or China, nonetheless.
There’s most likely one positive reply to keep away from tariffs: purchase early to keep away from paying the potential for further import tax.
Some of those docks have had dangerous evaluations on buying websites. Why?
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 consequently. If you see a detrimental remark, attempt to decide if it’s a Windows consumer making it. The expertise could also be completely totally different.
Are one of the best Thunderbolt dock and USB-C dongle offers at Amazon?
Historically, sure. I verify different websites, however over the previous few years Amazon has persistently provided one of the best offers on these two product classes. Thats not at all times the case; Best Buy, for instance, is commonly very aggressive in Chromebooks.