Ever since ultrabooks i.e light and thin laptops have gained popularity, the existence of legacy ports has come to almost end. 6e1s54
In professional-grade laptops, Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C ports are being replaced with VGA, USB-A, HDMI and in many cases even SD card slots have been removed.
While the latest version of MacBook Pro is more portable and powerful, there do exist people who want more of a desktop system, with loads of peripherals and a big LCD.
Well, with the development of Thunderbolt 3 technology, you can now enjoy both facilities in one.
There are some major differences between Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C ports despite looking identical. Thunderbolt 3 plugs in a compliant port and can overcome the problem by supplying USB, HDMI, etc.
In this article, we are going to provide you with a list of 8 best thunderbolt 3 Docks that are highly compatible for your MacBook Pro.
1- CalDigit TS3 Plus Thunderbolt 3 Dock 3t616e
The number one recommendation we have for you is CalDigit TS3 Thunderbolt 3 Dock.
With this Thunderbolt 3 Dock by your side, you don’t need to worry about power brick and cable.
CalDigist provides you with the power of up to 85 watts which is adequate for most MacBook Pro models at max power.
Moreover, for downstream devices, an extra Thunderbolt 3 port provides the power of up to 15 watts.
The best part about buying this Thunderbolt 3 Dock is that you can get up to 15 ports of connectivity which includes two USB-C 3.1 ports and 5 USB-A 3.1 ports.
Another interesting feature about this dock is that now you can connect even a dual 4K monitor at 60HZ or a single 5K 60HZ display with the availability of Displayport 1.2 port.
You also get an SD card reader for sharing videos and photos.
Other ports include Gigabit Ethernet and audio in/out. Thus, this is an all in one package for you that is going to provide a great value to your money.
2- OWC Thunderbolt 3 Pro Dock 3w572k
This is an ideal Thunderbolt 3 Dock, if you are associated with procreative workflows, this is specially designed for this purpose.
You get a number of ports options in this Thunderbolt 3 Dock that includes 10Gb Ethernet connection, two Thunderbolt 3, a DisplayPort 1.2 connection, frontside CFast and three USB 3.1 ports for peripherals.
With this device, you get a power of up to 60 watts, which for a 13-inch MacBook Pro is the maximum power.
The best part about this device is that you get to connect two 4K monitors or one 5K monitor with the help of DisplayPort 1.2 port.
Other interesting features include fast media import at up to 370MB/s with the help of CFast 2.0 Card Reader.
Moreover, the design of the dock’s power connection is protected, so you will not have disconnection problems.
You also get a limited OWC 2 year warranty and 24/7 customer care .
3- Plugable Thunderbolt 3 Dock 3i1l6b
You are provided with up to 60 watts of power with a thunderbolt 3 dock on this device.
This is the maximum power level for most 13-inch MacBook Pro. It can also be used to pump up a version of 15-inch.
It does not charge as soon as it does with the 87-watt power adapter offered by Apple.
It saves space on your desk since the dock can be used horizontally or vertically.
In addition to a DisplayPort at the back of the chain, there is also an additional Thunderbolt 3 port to connect another dock to the daisy chain.
Next to four USB A 3.0 ports for other peripherals is the Gigabit Ethernet interface.
A single USB-A 3.0 port and a headphone jack are on the front of the device.
4- Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Express Dock HD 1t193m
Next in line, we have for you is this amazing Thunderbolt 3 Express Dock by Belkin that provides the power of up to 85 watts with a single Thunderbolt 3 cable. Enough power to charge a 15-inch MacBook Pro at full speed.
It allows you to connect multiple devices to your MacBook Pro through the dock.
You can connect two 4k monitors or one 5k monitor with DisplayPort at 60 HZ.
The best part about this device is that it is ideal for multimedia professionals because it daisy chains up to an additional five thunderbolt devices via individual thunderbolt ports.
Other than that you get other ports connectivity as well which includes two audio ports, two USB-A 3.0 ports, two Thunderbolt 3 ports and a Gigabit Ethernet port.
Thus, this is a versatile device that is going to provide great convenience.
5- Promise Technology Thunderbolt 3 Dock 4a1w1e
If you are a photographer and in search of a compatible thunderbolt 3 dock then you can never go wrong with Promise Technology Thunderbolt 3 Dock. It features a built-in SD card reader.
With this device, you can easily connect one 5k or two 4k monitors ed by macOS and Windows 10.
In this device, you will find a single HDMI 2.0 port on the reader instead of Display Port. Other additional ports include; two USB-A 3.0 ports, an audio in/out jack, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, three USB-A 3.0 ports, and a Gigabit Ethernet port.
Moreover, one of these ports provides power supply of up to 60 watts which is more than enough for your MacBook Pro.
Overall, this is a great thing for you to invest in and it will not disappoint you.
6- Kensington SD5000T Thunderbolt 3 Docking Station 4f1o3x
The Thunderbolt 3 Docking Station, Kensington SD5000 T, is the perfect choice for any MacBook Pro, with 85 watts of power.
You can purchase an extra mounting plate to position the dock at the back of any VESA-compatible display to reduce clutter if you have limited space in the desk.
There is also a locking slot on the back to prevent the port from stealing.
The SD5000 T is fitted with USB-C and USB-A 3.0 port on the front.
The USB-C port has a power of up to 15 watts, while the 2.1A version is easy to charge. Other additional ports include; a USB-A 3.0 port, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, Gigabit Ethernet port, audio in and out ports and a DisplayPort plug.
7- StarTech.com Thunderbolt 3 Dock 5a2u3s
StarTech is the economical option on this list if you want to save some money.
Although it does not compromise on quality and number of features it does have a feature missing and that is the ability to charge a MackBook Pro quickly without an additional cable or power brick because it only provides a power of up to 15 watts.
The ports connectivity it provides includes; USB-A 3.0 and USB-C port. The back of the device provides different port ; one USB-A 3.0, two Thunderbolt 3, Gigabit Ethernet, and a DisplayPort.
This is an ideal thunderbolt 3 dock for you if you are not working on a large scale.
8- CalDigit Thunderbolt 3 Mini Dock 6v3k12
The CalDigit Thunderbolt 3 Mini Dock is a versatile port that is just not limited to home use. If you travel frequently, then this is the ideal port for you. Just plug the built-in Thunderbolt 3 cable into your MacBook Pro.
An additional power plug is not required. And the dock has Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, instead of battling dodgy or non-existent Wi-Fi.
You can connect up to two 4 K displays simultaneously at 60Hz with dual HDMI connections.
A USB-A 3.0 and a USB-A 2.0 port for other older computers are available.
Moreover, a single USB 3.0 port, Gigabit Ethernet and dual DisplayPorts connectivity are included
Thunderbolt 3 Dock is definitely a great innovation that allows you to turn your MacBac Pro into a desktop powerhouse.
Besides, thunderbolt 3 technology is not just limited to docking but it is a fast way to store your important data into an external storage device.
Having said that, we come to the end of our review about 8 best Thunderbolt 3 docks. We hoped that you have liked our recommendation and have found the dock that you wanted.