Thunderbolt 4 Docks is a new flavor of connecting the world, and it brings an impact. It is very fast (it has a two-way bandwidth of 40Gbps), and the best part is that it can work through USBC. Although it was launched in early 2020, there are quite a few Windows laptops on the market that have such ports. Therefore, if you want to make the most of your Thunderbolt Windows PC, it makes sense to connect it to a laptop docking station that supports Thunderbolt 4.
In addition to USB ports, HDMI connectors, and additional card readers, these ports can easily connect your Windows laptop to dual 4K displays. More importantly, the laptop base eliminates the hassle of connecting various things to the laptop. All you need to do is to use a cable to connect your laptop to the docking station.
5So if you have a new laptop such as Dell XPS 13 or Asus Zenbook 14 UX425EA, these are the best Thunderbolt 4 docking stations you can buy. But first,
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1. CALDIGIT THUNDERBOLT 4 ELEMENT HUB
- Ports: 4 x Thunderbolt 4, 4 x USB 3.2
- Power Delivery: 60W
- CalDigit Thunderbolt 4 Element Hub ( Check Latest price at Amazon. )

CalDigit’s Element Hub is about Thunderbolt ports. This docking station includes multiple Thunderbolt and USB 3.2 ports. One of the Thunderbolt 4 ports can also be used as a power outlet, providing up to 60W of power. The best thing about this spring is that although the force under the hood is very compact, it takes up very little space.
In addition, it has a smart structure. Thunderbolt and USB ports are located on both sides of the docking station for easy connection of monitors or peripherals. At the same time, the rubber feet ensure that the spring does not slip even when all ports are used. Interestingly, even if the laptop is not plugged into a power source, the docking station can provide power to connected peripherals.
In terms of performance, this CalDigit foundation does a pretty good job. The staff at Windows Central tested this laptop docking station by plugging it into a 4K monitor and a series of peripherals such as a mouse and external SSD, and it worked flawlessly without sweating. For the record, Thunderbolt 4 can easily support a single 4K display. One connection can support two 4K displays.
It has its flaws. For example, even if the docking station has a compact form factor, the adapter will take up considerable space. It only includes Thunderbolt and USB ports, and does not include other connectors such as Ethernet and HDMI ports. The latter means that you already need a Thunderbolt-compatible monitor to connect.
2. ANKER APEX 12-IN-1 THUNDERBOLT 4 DOCK
- Ports: 1 x Thunderbolt 4 (upstream), 1 x Thunderbolt 4 (downstream), 4 x USB-A, 1 x USB-C PD, 2 x HDMI, 1 x Ethernet port, 1 x SD card, 1 x 3.5mm audio
- Power Delivery: 90W
- Anker Apex 12-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Dock ( Check Latest price at Amazon. )

Anker Apex solves one of the main limitations of the CalDigit docking station mentioned above. In addition to the Thunderbolt 4 port, it also includes USBA, HDMI, and an Ethernet port. These allow you to connect as many peripherals as you need, be it a simple wired keyboard or an SD card reader. However, despite having a dozen ports, Apex is very slim and may not take up much space on your desk.
Anker Apex looks very elegant. It has grooves on the sides to give it the appearance of a toy suitcase. It is not a joke!
The docking station has all 12 cleverly placed ports for easy cable connection or removal. Yes, it is very light, it only weighs about 1 pound.
Compared to the previous CalDigit docking station, you can get a higher output power of 90W, giving you enough power to run a compatible laptop. Also, you can use the Thunderbolt port to transfer data.
Interestingly, a 120 W adapter powers this laptop docking station. It can charge normally and keep all connected peripherals working normally without failure or delay. In addition, even if you fill up all the ports, you will not see the base getting hot or seeing the mouse slowly moving on the screen.
3. KENSINGTON SD5700T THUNDERBOLT 4 DOCKING STATION
- Ports: 1 x Thunderbolt 4, 3 x Thunderbolt 4, 1 x Gigabit Ethernet, 3 x USB-A Gen2, 1 x USB-A, 1 x UHS II SD 4.0 card reader, 1 x 3.5mm audio
- Power Delivery: 90W
- Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station ( Check Latest price at Amazon. )

Kensington SD5700T is more expensive than previous springs, but it achieves incredible performance. This laptop docking station has many ports and a convenient Kensington lock on the side. Like the previous similar products, it occupies a smaller space and is lighter in weight.
As mentioned above, this docking station can work elegantly with performance by connecting to an external monitor or transferring data. SD5700T also includes a UHSII card reader, which provides convenience for the latter.
More importantly, a large number of ports means you can connect a variety of new and old devices. Employees at Laptop Mag connected Corsair keyboards, HyperX wireless headphones, and Razer Naga Pro mice via the docking station, all of which worked smoothly and without delay.
It is not without its problems. For example, there is no HDMI or DisplayPort connector. This means you need a USBC or Thunderbolt monitor to connect your laptop to the old monitor.
FAST AND FURIOUS
The best part of Thunderbolt 4 ports is that they are backward compatible and can be used with older USBC or Thunderbolt 3 connectors.
With new laptops and ultrabooks avoiding input ports every minute, the laptop dock can save you the trouble of plugging and unplugging dozens of cables every day. In addition, they also provide a longer lasting and neat appearance.
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