One thing all creative professionals seem to crave is more ports. They want to equip their system with a multitude of ports so that they can have multiple screens, SD and Micro SD card drives, Ethernet, and so many USB-A and USB-C ports that they’ll never need to hot-swap a device.
That’s where docks come in, and Satechi offers some of the best docks available.
Also: It’s the first app I install on every new Mac
A dock that I was very excited to test is the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Pro. This docking station has its own power supply and a wide range of ports. It was also designed for creative professionals.
How many ports? 16 in total, that’s how many.
RECOMMENDS ZDNET
Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Pro
A professional-grade 16-in-1 powerhouse offering a multitude of connection ports.
Pro Thunderbolt 4 Media Dock Specifications
- 2x DisplayPort
- 2x HDMI 2.1
- 1x Thunderbolt 4 for hosting
- 1x USB-C 3.2 10 Gbps
- 5x USB-A 3.2 (3x 10 Gbps, 2x 5 Gbps)
- 1x USB 2.0 for charging up to 7.5W
- SD and microSD card slots
- 3.5mm audio in/out
- 2.5 Gbps Ethernet
- Kensington lock
- Main power supply DC 20V (included)
- Size: 195x105x47mm
- Weight: 693 grams
I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this dock and test it out because I come across a lot of these high-end docks that look good on paper, but don’t cut it when you push them hard.
I’ve seen docks that seem to work fine when you test the ports individually, but performance drops when you connect multiple devices to them.
Also: The Best Laptop Docking Stations to Upgrade Your Work-From-Home Setup
For example, I’ve seen docks suffer from network outages, display issues, and device disconnections when under heavy load. I’ve even had accidents and need a mains disconnect to bring them back to life.
Given Satechi’s pro-grade claims, as well as the pro-grade price, I was eager to see how the Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Pro performed under heavy load.
It worked perfectly.
Also: Are you traveling soon? Take this 6-port charger with you
Here’s a docking station that works just as well with one connected device as it does with a dozen. I connected monitors, external drives, and dongles, while transmitting lots of data through the Ethernet port, and it didn’t break a sweat.
And it could support that kind of workload for hours.
This dock has the ability to run up to four displays at 4K 60Hz. But just because the dock can doesn’t mean you should, as there are a few caveats.
Now, this “until” is important because it has limits. Windows PCs support up to four displays in extended mode because they support Multi-Stream Transport (MST).
For Mac users, things are a little more limited. Macs that support Single Stream Transport (SST) can stream video in extended mode to two displays and mirror the other two. The M1 and M2 Macs only support a single external monitor, which means that only one video group can be used at a time with output to an extended mode display and a mirrored mode display.
Also: If “everything but the kitchen sink” was a laptop accessory, this would be it
Another feature I like about this dock is that it sits nicely on a desk. Many docks are lightweight, and while that in itself isn’t a sign of poor quality, I find that once you’ve connected a bunch of cables and devices, the dock doesn’t rests more on the desk. Either he is levitating strangely, held by the rigidity of the cables, or he is being dragged.
This Satechi dock has plenty of gravity, and its 1.5 pound weight combined with the rubber feet keeps it planted on the desk. I also like that its power is supplied by an AC adapter rather than an AC cord as AC cables can be thick and inflexible.
Additionally, having a separate power supply allows the unit to run cooler. This is a benefit because it not only prevents the dock from frying your desktop, but also helps prevent unnecessary thermal wear and instabilities caused by overheating.
Also: This 3-in-1 MagSafe dock will charge your Apple devices while keeping them cool
At $350, the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Pro is a docking station for professionals who need professional-grade hardware, and it’s hardware that lives up to that “pro” label. Home users can get by with the more modest Satechi Slim Multiport Adapter (which is 30% off right now) but if you rely on your dock and need something that will work reliably no matter what you throw at it, this dock is made for YOU.
The more I use this docking station, the more I feel like it belongs on any creative professional’s desk.
This is truly the dock of my dreams.