OWC 12 Port Thunderbolt 2 Dock

Product Information

Windows Central is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. USB-A, USB-C, Thunderbolt 3 or 4: The “standard” USB-A port is still the most common input for peripherals—including external drives, wired keyboards, and more—and most Thunderbolt docks have several of them. If you plan on loading up every port for peak performance: Kensington’s SD5700T has the exact same port selection and layout as the OWC Thunderbolt Dock but costs significantly more due to how it distributes power.

We think such a situation is rare enough that we have no qualms about recommending the OWC model, but if you have heavy-duty needs, note that we were otherwise impressed with the more expensive Kensington.

This model has three Thunderbolt 3 passthrough ports, which you can also use as USB-C connectors or for hooking up monitors with the right adapters. The SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 dock is another great choice if you're looking for a permanent solution and have ample space on your desk. When the dock was connected to two 4K monitors, we measured a proper 60 Hz refresh rate on both displays; one was connected directly to the DisplayPort, while the other was attached through a USB-C–to–DisplayPort cable plugged into the Thunderbolt port.

When I did the CalDigit Element Hub review, I found it to be the perfect high-performance accessory to handle everything from an eGPU to a RAID storage setup to multiple high-res displays. Ethernet: We verified the connection speed in Network Utility on a Mac, which displays the link speed.OWC ClingOn custom cable stabilizers (sold separately) screw into the OWC 11-Port Thunderbolt Dock’s housing to secure your Thunderbolt (USB-C) connections so you can work with confidence in even the highest foot traffic environments. A Kensington lock slot is great for use in an office if you want to secure the device to a desk for added safety. Another Wirecutter editor has experienced wake-from-sleep problems with a similar LG display, the 27GN950-B, using direct connections from a PC. A Thunderbolt dock is useful if your port-equipped computer—whether Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4, or USB4—doesn’t have enough ports and connections, or if those connections are inconveniently located. The OWC 14-Port Thunderbolt 3 Dock has the same ports as our top pick from CalDigit, plus a microSD card slot.