looking for not so expensive thunderbolt or usb 4 docking station.

[tbluhp]

So the macbook air m4 2025 limited by only 2 ports. I need either a thunderbolt 4 or usb 4.0 hub that has thunderbolt and usb speeds of 40gbps. It hard to find one online even amazon that isn’t so expensive.

Like this one

Thunderbolt 4 Element Hub by caldigit.​

Any suggestions please?

 

[PaulD-UK]

It looks like Caldigit have already moved on to selling Thunderbolt 5 products, so you may be able to find a lower priced TB4 Element Hub somewhere in the retail chain...

Thunderbolt products have to be Certified by Intel, and Docks and Hubs use an Intel main chip, which means that there are are no 'cheaper', less expensively built, products for sale.

There are 'Thuderbolt 3/4/5 compatible' (= Uncertified, often USB4) enclosures available from the Far East, but to work well hubs and docks need to use the proper Intel chipset, so are still priced fairly expensively.

You get what you pay for, and quality costs...
But you know that already, because you know what a new Mac costs, and there isn't a similar computer 'that isn't so expensive'.

So, like a Mac, the way to get yourself a cheaper TB4 product is to buy second hand. 😉

 

[filmgirl]

Right now the Satechi TB4 dock is $139.99 at Amazon https://amzn.to/4pB1Lmn

The CalDigit TB5 Element Hub (which replaced the TB4 Element) is on sale for $199.99 — which I realize is expensive, but that’s still 30% off the normal price of $279.99 and about what I paid for my TB4 Element Hub in 2021 or 2022

CalDigit Element 5 Hub

The CalDigit E5 - Element 5 Hub is a truly unique device. It features 9 ports, more ports than any other Thunderbolt hub. It does this while maintaining the exact same compact size as the previous Thunderbolt 4 Element Hub. With a wide selection of powerful ports inluding Thunderbolt 5, USB4, USB...

amzn.to

 

[EugW]

It looks like Caldigit have already moved on to selling Thunderbolt 5 products, so you may be able to find a lower priced TB4 Element Hub somewhere in the retail chain...

Thunderbolt products have to be Certified by Intel, and Docks and Hubs use an Intel main chip, which means that there are are no 'cheaper', less expensively built, products for sale.

The Amazon Basics TB4 hub is cheaper at US$90 and AFAIK it uses the same Intel reference design as everyone else's.

Amazon Basics Thunderbolt4/USB4 Docking Station, 3X Downstream TBT4 (Dual Display), 1xUSB A 3.1, Black, ‎4.76 x 2.84 x 0.86 inches

An Amazon Brand

www.amazon.com

The OWC is even cheaper at $82. My Plugable is an identical design, but costs US$130, although mine came with a separate USB-C to HDMI dongle in the box. The Satechi @filmgirl mentioned above is also the same design, but costs $140.

Actually, the Amazon Basics version has one added feature, a power button. The other ones don't have a power button.

I would actually rather use one of these than that CalDigit Thunderbolt 4 Element hub, as there have been multiple reports of the CalDigit hub burning out.

Amazon Basics also has a multifunction dock for $88, but I read somewhere it uses a Realtek chipset, so I guess USB 4 and "Thunderbolt compatible".

 

[filmgirl]

The Amazon Basics TB4 hub is cheaper at US$90 and AFAIK it uses the same Intel reference design as everyone else's.

Amazon Basics Thunderbolt4/USB4 Docking Station, 3X Downstream TBT4 (Dual Display), 1xUSB A 3.1, Black, ‎4.76 x 2.84 x 0.86 inches

An Amazon Brand

www.amazon.com

The OWC is even cheaper at $82. My Plugable is an identical design, but costs US$130, although mine came with a separate USB-C to HDMI dongle in the box. The Satechi @filmgirl mentioned above is also the same design, but costs $140.

Actually, the Amazon Basics version has one added feature, a power button. The other ones don't have a power button.

I would actually rather use one of these than that CalDigit Thunderbolt 4 Element hub, as there have been multiple reports of the CalDigit hub burning out.

Amazon Basics also has a multifunction dock for $88, but I read somewhere it uses a Realtek chipset, so I guess USB 4 and "Thunderbolt compatible".

That’s excellent pricing on both! I’ve read reports that some of the OWC docks are trash but probably the same trash as everything else. And for $80, we're in very close to “only slightly more than a USB-C dongle” territory, so I’d probably take the risk.

For what it is worth, I have used the CalDigit TB 4 Element Hub for 3 or 4 years (I have the TS4+ or whatever too, and a much older TS3+) with no issues. But I’ll take your word on the burnout reports.

 

[EugW]

The Amazon Basics is a rebrand of the Good Way DBD1010, which states in its description that this "Thunderbolt™ 4 / USB4 4-in-1 Compact Dock leverages Intel’s Thunderbolt 4 solution, Goshen Ridge, for versatile connectivity". We know the Amazon Basics is a rebrand since it looks identical to the Good Way, and it even has the same model number.



Credit: Photo from @shoarthing2

There is some additional info here:

120+ USB4 / Thunderbolt 4 Hubs & Docks compared (January 2024)

Visit the post for more.

dancharblog.wordpress.com

Regarding the TB4 Element Hub burnouts, years back I had been seeing some reports of it running very, very hot and then occasionally burning out, and then saw a video reviewer saying hers burned out too.