OWC 5 Port Thunderbolt Hub - 60W Charging, Thunderbolt 4, USB 3.2, Compatible with Macs and PCs

Although this product is called a "hub" I use it as a docking station to have a single cable connection to my MacBook for power in and data out. On its downstream side, it connects to my monitor and my Time Machine SSD, both via USB-C. It works great with my old 2018 Macbook Pro as well as my new MacBook Air M4. When using it with a Thunderbolt 4 SSD, I get identical read and write speeds with the drive connected to either the hub or directly to my laptop.Price is significantly lower than most Thunderbolt 4 hubs or docking stations.Other reviews complain about cables falling out, but I don't have that problem.Highly recommended!

I have had one of these for a year and another one purchased a week ago. Both have worked perfectly. In both cases, I used these more as docks and chargers than anything. If it works in your use case as a dock, it’s half the price to get those functions covered as the thunderbolt docks made by various companies (including OWC).USE CASE ONE: At one of my offices, I do not keep a computer but bring in either my MacBook Air M1 or my Dell XPS13. Both computers are great. At my desk, I have a 27 inch Dell 4k monitor, a stand for a laptop to the side (to also serve as second monitor), and this OWC Thunderbolt Doc. I take out which laptop I want to use for that day (one is better than other for certain things and vice versa). I plug it into this Thunderbolt Hub by one connection (the Thunderbolt 4 cable that comes with the OWC Hub). That one plug in charges laptop and connects it, of course, to all the things the hub is connected two. Those are:- TB out 1: connected to 27 4k monitor (works wonderfully), using Thunderbolt cable to display port input on monitor. I always get great resents going T4 to DP.- TB out 2: connect one of the other Thunderbolt ports (USB-C format) to a 10 outlet USB-A USB 3.1 hub. Into that I have plugged in connections to audio speakers, printer, Bluetooth dongle for mouse and MC Logitech Keyboard (fabulous keyboard), and my circle light for zoom calls, and my Logitech 922c 1080p camera.- TB out 3: connects to a TB3 cable that I use to connect external SSDs when I need one connected.I use the front facing USB-A port to connect flash drives or other temporary peripherals.This all works flawlessly, and has so for a year. Again, I open laptop, plug in one cable, and my computer is connected to, and driving, everything, and I’m ready to work with full monitor, keyboard, mouse, and other accessories. And, it’s worked every time.My TB Hub has not had the problem with the cables coming out to easily that some have commented on and I believe has fixed. This is all working so well and it’s a lot less money than a Thunderbolt Doc. But if you need the dock, I bet OWC’s i is a good one. Of course, Caldigjt makes a nice one.USE CASE TWO: In this case, I’m asking less of the hub. I use it to plug the same Dell XPS 13 noted above in at my other office. That changes computer and also connected by Thunderbolt cable to another Dell monitor which is 24 in 4k. Again, TB cable to display port in on the monitor. I have a receiver for a wireless mouse I like a lot plugged into one of the rear farting other TB ports on a dongle. Yeah, doesn’t need the bandwidth but does just what I need. That leavers a USB-C TB port out for connected an external SSD and an option USB-A port on front for whatever flash drive or other need some up. Again, I pull out my DellXPS13 and plug in one cable and it’s powered, charging, and connected to a 4k monitor and other things I use.These are great devices. They have worked well, no brainer type working well, every time.Very pleased with these devices..

As with all things USB-C and Thunderbolt related the varying capabilities between your computer(s), dock, and devices will mean that almost nothing can be a silver bullet. That said, this little device is very close and sometimes on a decent sale.The Good- Usually the 2nd most expensive dock of this type with frequent sales below $100.- If you have Thunderbolt 3 or USB/Thunderbolt 4 this will mostly likely connect as many devices as your computer can support*. Unique to this type of hub/dock is the support for multiple extended displays for Mac computers.- Connected displays do not need to be Thunderbolt which means passive adapters (such as a Type-C to HDMI or DisplayPort dongles) are supported - even for multiple extended displays on Mac computers.- Metal body gives the dock a premium feel.- Provides clear details on compatibility and capabilities in this product page and on their website.Be Aware (if this is the right device for you these won't be a big deal)- This is only a USB Hub with Charging, you get no other dock features such as a network or audio connections.- 60W charging for the upstream computer is fairly standard for this type of device, but could be higher.- Downstream devices support 15W (the minimum for USB-C & Thunderbolt) as is common with such hubs.- There are no mounting options for the dock (as is common).- This uses an external 20V power adapter with a barrel plug. This adapter is bigger than the dock itself.- The dock cannot be powered by the upstream computer or any devices, it must have power from the 20V barrel plug.The Bad- This device does not provide a multi-stream connection for legacy USB-C devices (i.e. non-Thunderbolt USB 3). This means that when using DP-ALT mode only one monitor can be connected regardless of the resolution or your devices support*. Note that this is common for all devices of this type (since they are likely using the same chips internally), but since it is a common functionality in other USB-C docks I consider this a negative.- Of the docks of a similar size this is slightly thicker and has acrylic (plastic) top and bottom panels (instead of all our 4-sided metal in other docks).- The status lights are a large OWC logo on top of the device. There is a small button to control its brightness, but this seems gauche and could be harder to see than the status lights on the front of other devices depending on the location of the device.

Got it on sale only $99 Works great as expected. Very high qualtiy product. I don't like that the uplink port is on the front but I can live with it.