Knowledgeable’s Score
Professionals
- 9 ports
- Constructed-in speedy SSD enclosure
- Zero footprint docking station
Cons
- USB ports can’t cost gadgets
- No card reader
Our Verdict
In the event you use your MacBook’s personal keyboard and want as much as two high quality exterior shows and wish to extend your base storage with quick SSD drives, the Satechi Twin Dock Stand is a neat, zero-footprint docking station that matches your MacBook for fashion and provides 9 helpful ports.
Finest Costs Right this moment: Satechi Twin Dock Stand
Laptop computer docking stations are a fantastic device for including a number of USB, video and networking ports to your MacBook, and this dock from Satechi goes a step additional by including an SSD enclosure so you’ll be able to add reasonably priced quick storage with out having to connect a separate exhausting drive.
As its title suggests, the Satechi Twin Dock Stand additionally identifies as a laptop computer stand. It actually raises the MacBook that rests on it to a extra agreeable angle for typing but it surely isn’t a stand that may elevate your MacBook to a extra ergonomic top. Nonetheless, in case you are utilizing the MacBook’s keyboard relatively than an exterior one, it’s extra snug than leaving the laptop computer flat on the desk.
Satechi
Specs and options
The Satechi Twin Dock Stand options 9 ports and an underside SSD enclosure.
- Twin-USB-C upstream connector to laptop computer (75W PD 3.0)
- Passthrough energy USB-C port
- 2x USB-C (one at 10Gbps, one at 5Gbps)
- 2x USB-A (one at 10Gbps, one at 5Gbps)
- 1x DisplayPort 1.4
- 2x HDMI 2.1 ports
- Gigabit Ethernet
The bonus SSD enclosure is the true star of the present. Positioned on the underside of the dock, that is simply accessed and helps each NVMe and SATA SSDs. This characteristic alone locations it in our listing of the greatest USB-C docks for MacBook.
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SSDs are Stable State Drives which are smaller and sooner, extra sturdy and use much less vitality than old-school spinning exhausting disk drives (HDD). HDD’s benefits are which you can get a lot bigger capacities, and they’re lots cheaper.
However SSDs are the best way to go for quick information transfers, backups information, restoration, and exterior storage except you’re comfortable ready for disks to whirr to life each time you attempt to entry them.
NVMe SSDs assist as much as 10Gbps switch pace—the utmost this dock provides the MacBook with.
Whereas SATA SSDs have as much as 4 instances the bandwidth of HDDs, they’re restricted to 6Gbps. Except you have got a spare SATA SSD hanging round, we advocate you purchase the sooner NVME selection. (Notice that some older gadgets might not be appropriate with NVMe, however any Mac after 2018 must be advantageous.)
You might want to purchase the SSD individually. Amazon is promoting NVME SSDs for round $50 (1TB), $80 (2TB) or $300 (4TB), however notice that storage costs might be fairly unstable.
Evaluate that to including SSD storage to a brand new MacBook at level of buy, the place Apple will cost you an additional $400 for a 2TB drive and $1,000 for 4TB!
Vents ought to preserve the dock cool whereas in use.
The Satechi Twin Dock Stand connects to your laptop computer through USB-C—in reality, a twin 10Gbps USB-C connector for max bandwidth and passthrough energy.
MacBooks use sooner Sort-C–appropriate Thunderbolt connectors (40Gbps) however sticking with 10Gbps USB-C will prevent cash. The Sonnet Echo 20 Thunderbolt 4 SuperDock contains an SSD enclosure and makes use of the sooner connection normal, plus boasts twice as many ports, however is twice the worth.
Satechi
Twin show assist
With one DisplayPort 1.4 and two HDMI 2.0 ports, you’ll be able to join as much as two 4K shows in Prolonged mode at an honest 60Hz refresh price. Notice that Macs with plain (non-Professional/Max) M1 or M2 chips are restricted—by Apple—to only one exterior monitor in prolonged mode. Nonetheless, there are answers if you wish to join multiple monitor to an M1 or M2 Mac.
The Echo 20 has only one video port. Though that port is the superior HDMI 2.1, you must add a second exterior display screen through one of many Thunderbolt ports, which would require an adapter.
Satechi
USB energy plus and minus
The Satechi Twin Dock Stand options 5 USB ports.
One USB-C port is for passthrough PD energy at as much as 75W to the laptop computer, which is sufficient for all however the 16-inch MacBook Professional at full pelt. Even that mannequin will cost advantageous—simply slower than smaller MacBooks. Notice that you’ll want to attach your individual USB-C charger to the dock: take a look at our really useful MacBook chargers.
Then there are two USB-C and two USB-A ports—considered one of every at 10Gbps, and considered one of every at 5Gbps.
None of those non-PD USB ports, nevertheless, can cost a related system. Most docks and hubs enable a little bit—perhaps 7.5W—to maintain related gadgets powered up, or perhaps simply to cost your iPhone whereas engaged on the MacBook. This isn’t an issue for small flash drives, keyboard or mice however does imply related storage drives would possibly require secondary energy.
Additionally missing is an SD or MicroSD card reader for extra transportable storage, however the built-in SSD greater than makes up for this omission.
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Design
This House Grey MacBook dock calls itself a stand, and it’s true that it sits beneath the laptop computer, elevating it barely at an angle. Because the MacBook sits on high, this dock takes up no area in your desk.
The angle helps with snug typing, but it surely doesn’t push the laptop computer display screen to a extra ergonomic top appropriate for video calls, as an example, if you wish to use the MacBook’s built-in webcam. For that you’ll require an honest laptop computer stand—helpfully, we’ve examined the greatest MacBook stands already.
Because the hooked up upstream cable is kind of brief, you’ll be able to’t tidily preserve it related to the dock and transfer it on to a stand if you would like that additional top. An extended or removable cable connection might need served higher within the regard.
However in case you are proud of the laptop computer at a cushty sitting stage—for instance, when you use the MacBook open and utilizing its keyboard—and perhaps have a webcam in or in your related exterior show, this niggle shouldn’t trouble you, and also you’ll admire the typing angle.
Whereas it’s geared toward Mac customers, the Satechi Twin Dock Stand will work with Home windows laptops that characteristic a dual-USB-C port setup, such because the Microsoft Floor Professional 9, Floor Laptop computer Studio, Dell XPS 15 and Lenovo Yoga 7.
Value
The MSRP of the Satechi Twin Dock Stand is $149.99, which is a really affordable worth for a twin 4K 60Hz USB-C docking station. The addition of the SSD enclosure makes the worth appear even higher worth, though keep in mind that it’s essential buy the precise SSD individually, plus have a robust USB-C charger at hand.
The closest dock that we’ve examined, the Sonnet Echo. 20 is superior in vary of ports and Thunderbolt 4 connection however is available in at $300.
Verdict
In the event you use your MacBook’s personal keyboard and want as much as two high quality exterior show, plus want to extend your base storage with quick SSD drives, the Satechi Twin Dock Stand is a neat, zero-footprint docking station that matches your MacBook for fashion and provides 9 helpful ports.
