CES 2023: Plugable's New Thunderbolt 4 Dock for MacBook Pro Features 16 Ports

[saulinpa]

This appears to be the same design as all the other ones in my prior post:

Yes, but it is "Slim" hub. That makes all the difference! Probably not a new chipset as wasn't mentioned anywhere.

 

[Artemis70]

The either/or is "old way" - give me back the sort of mixture of dedicated ports I had on my 2011 PC - vs "new way" - give me as many TB/USB4 ports as possible so I can use adapters to connect whatever I want.

If the new way means that I have to connect docks to docks to get all my peripherals connected, or have to connect multiple docks to my laptop, I'm not interested in the new way. I'm interested in a single dock that connects my two 24" Full HD screens, up to two USB-C devices and up to three USB-A devices. The two displays, one USB-C device (camera) and two USB-A devices (keyboard and mouse) will always be connected.

Bear in mind that if you're running two 4k displays then they are already continuously using the lion's share of the host port's bandwidth - so by the time you've connected a fast SSD or 2.5G Ethernet to the third TB port you've pretty much "used up" that host port.

Yes, this is a limitation indeed of any (TB4) dock. You can only use a subset of the connections, and how many depends on what you have connected.

With the "Old school" docks you've typically got either a DP or HDMI port and a single "daisy chain" TB port which will also drive a display with the appropriate adapter. This particular one has probably sacrificed the TB "daisy chain" port in order to provide the extra dedicated display outputs.

Apple has unfortunately decided not to support daisy chaining of displays. This means that I need a dock that allows me to connect two displays using HDMI or DP. If needed I understand that I can get conversion cables or docks, but that is less than ideal in my view.

I think people tend to assume that a Thunderbolt dock somehow has access to infinite bandwidth (it doesn't) or at least total flexibility and intelligence in how it allocates the 40Gb bandwidth to whatever permutation of devices is connected (it doesn't).

I fully understand that the throughput is limited. Two 4K screens is already pushing it. A dock with two TB4 inputs would be good .

 

[theluggage]

If the new way means that I have to connect docks to docks to get all my peripherals connected, or have to connect multiple docks to my laptop, I'm not interested in the new way.

Yup, that's the new way all right. Didn't say I liked it.

 

[xraydoc]

I tried this and it works great!

How did you get a picture of the back of my desk?!

 

[mrmacuser69]

Why on planet earth are we still putting USB-A on products in 2023. Especially this many, for a USB-C device, and ZERO front panel USB-C ports. For a product marketed at a consumer likely to have mostly, if not only USB-C compatible accessories. It's INSANE!

 

[saulinpa]

Why on planet earth are we still putting USB-A on products in 2023. Especially this many, for a USB-C device, and ZERO front panel USB-C ports. For a product marketed at a consumer likely to have mostly, if not only USB-C compatible accessories. It's INSANE!

Not everyone has moved over. Hyundai is coming out with their IONIQ 6 EV that has a single USB-A port in the console (next to a wireless charging pad).

 

[Artemis70]

Why on planet earth are we still putting USB-A on products in 2023. Especially this many, for a USB-C device, and ZERO front panel USB-C ports. For a product marketed at a consumer likely to have mostly, if not only USB-C compatible accessories. It's INSANE!

Because many people still have more devices with USB-A connections than USB-C connections. Unlike some on MacRumors, most people are not replacing perfectly good devices and therefore still have many with USB-A.

 

[fctx]

Plugable today unveiled a new Thunderbolt 4 dock that is ideal for use with the latest 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models. The dock features 16 ports and will be available to purchase for $299 on Amazon starting January 17.

The dock is equipped with six USB-A ports (three 10 Gbps, two 5 Gbps, and one 480 Mbps), two USB-C ports (one 10 Gbps and one that provides up to 100W of charging to a MacBook Pro or other device connected), two HDMI ports, two DisplayPorts, an Ethernet port (2.5 Gbps), SD and microSD card readers (UHS-II), and an audio in/out jack. The dock has a separate power supply and connects to a MacBook Pro with a Thunderbolt 4 cable.

The dock can be used to connect up to two 4K displays at 60Hz to the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M1 Pro and M1 Max chips.

A variety of brands have released Thunderbolt 4 docks for the Mac over the past few years, including OWC, CalDigit, Belkin, Satechi, and others. The selection of ports and pricing varies for each dock, so it may be worth shopping around.

Plugable also introduced an 11-in-1 USB-C hub, available now for $79 on Amazon. The hub can be used with the MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iPad Pro, iPad Air, and other Apple devices equipped with USB-C ports. Plugable will showcase both the Thunderbolt 4 dock and USB-C hub at the CES 2023 event Pepcom in Las Vegas later today.

Article Link: CES 2023: Plugable's New Thunderbolt 4 Dock for MacBook Pro Features 16 Ports

Funny .. and a bit outdated, isn' it?

Releasing 2023 Docking station only in 4K HDMI where 8k become to be available ..
I'm using 2x LG 27" IPS 5K .. to date, no docking to connect them both the same way (TB4 connector to TB4 connector) with/trough a single TB4 cable to my M1 max ..

Then I'm oblige to continue to connect 3x TB4 cables to my MBPM1Max instead of a single one as promised by Thunderbolt technology ..
Yes, a bit frustrated ..

Frederic

 

[saulinpa]

Funny .. and a bit outdated, isn' it?

Releasing 2023 Docking station only in 4K HDMI where 8k become to be available ..
I'm using 2x LG 27" IPS 5K .. to date, no docking to connect them both the same way (TB4 connector to TB4 connector) with/trough a single TB4 cable to my M1 max ..

Then I'm oblige to continue to connect 3x TB4 cables to my MBPM1Max instead of a single one as promised by Thunderbolt technology ..
Yes, a bit frustrated ..

Frederic

What you're describing is not really a dock issue but an issue with TB4. Its maximum bandwidth is 40GB/s. HDMI 2.1 spec needs 48. One LG 5K needs 22.

 

[fctx]

What you're describing is not really a dock issue but an issue with TB4. Its maximum bandwidth is 40GB/s. HDMI 2.1 spec needs 48. One LG 5K needs 22.

Of course it is not a docking issue .. it is a product management and marketing issue. Why do not build product that fit the customers needs & the power and specs of existing computer?
Technically, there is no problem either: the components exist

F.

 

[Flight Plan]

Not everyone has moved over. Hyundai is coming out with their IONIQ 6 EV that has a single USB-A port in the console (next to a wireless charging pad).

My 2020 Nissan has a USB-C and USB-A port in the dashboard area.