Satechi’s new Thunderbolt 4 Multi-Display Docking Station is a great accessory for laptop owners — especially MacBook Pro owners. I’ve been using one with my 16-inch MacBook Pro, and it’s very handy for dealing with lots of accessories.
Satechi says the docking station can support up to four external monitors. I’ll take their word for it since I don’t have that many displays. It provides up to 40 Gbps transfer speeds, and delivers up to 8K/60Hz video output and 96W of charging to the host device. The 96W of charging is very handy for the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros.
Satechi’s new docking station stands out from the Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Pro Dock launched by the brand in 2023 by providing Thunderbolt 4 downstream ports and DisplayLink software that enables additional external monitors (four, as previously mentioned). Plus, like its predecessor, it’s a solid option for those with legacy products as it prioritizes USB-A ports.
Speaking of ports, Satechi’s docking station features ports that allow for two monitors to be connected via Thunderbolt 4 and two to be connected via HDMI using DisplayLink software. The embedded DisplayLink software resolves the single-display limitation of Apple M1/M2 and MacBook Pro M3 processors, allowing M1/M2 and MacBook Pro M3 users to connect up to three external monitors. The MacBook Air M3 will be able to extend up to four external monitors when used in clamshell mode.
In addition to the 96W delivery to the host device and up to 15W in each of its three Thunderbolt 4 downstream ports, the Thunderbolt 4 Multi-Display Docking Station can be used too charge devices such as phones, tablets, and other peripherals.
Two ports at a time can be used for charging. The docking station’s single-cable connection is conveniently located on the side of the dock.
The Thunderbolt 4 Multi-Display Docking Station is a fine aesthetic match for the MacBook Pro thanks to its space grey design and construction from aircraft-grade aluminum. Its chamfered edges, labeled ports, and slim profile contributes to efficiency in a small form factor that doesn’t occupy too much desktop space. Also adding to its appeal is its ability to be used as a vertical dock.
The three Thunderbolt 4 downstream ports support data transfers up to 40Gbps joined by two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports that support 10Gbps. The docking station allows you to daisy-chain up to six devices at once and provides 32Gbps native PCIe support for external GPUs and Thunderbolt-based external storage devices. It also sports a UHS-II card reader that can transfer up to 312MB/s.
Satechi’s Thunderbolt 4 Multi-Display Docking Station is available on Satechi.net for US$299.99. As I said, it’s a sweet accessory for those using Mac laptops — especially the Pro laptops — with a plethora of peripherals.
Apple World Today rating (out of 5 stars): ★★★★★
