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For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with CalDigit to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win a SOHO USB-C Dock that is compatible with Apple's Macs and USB-C iPads. SOHO stands for Small Office Home Office Dock, and it's the perfect companion for those working from home who need access to more ports than Apple's machines provide.

soho-dock-design.jpg

Priced at $100, the bus-powered SOHO Dock offers Gen 2 USB-C transfer speeds of up to 10Gb/s, which is twice as fast as traditional USB-C docks that are limited to USB-C Gen 1, and allows for additional features.

soho-dock-laptop.jpg

The SOHO Dock can connect to a 60Hz 4K display, and on machines that support DisplayPort 1.4, up to two 4K 60Hz monitors can be connected in dual mirrored mode on macOS. On the iPad Air and iPad Pro, a single 4K monitor can be connected. Standard USB-C hubs are limited to a single 4K monitor at 30Hz when used with a Mac.

soho-dock-in-use.jpg

There's an HDMI 2.0b port and a DisplayPort 1.4 port for connecting displays, plus it is equipped with dual gold plated SD card readers that support UHS-II speeds. There's a USB-C port for connecting to a computer, a full speed 10Gb/s USB-C data port, a 10Gb/s USB-A port, and a USB-C port for power delivery.

soho-dock-devices.jpg

Passthrough charging is supported, and the SOHO Dock can charge a MacBook at up to 90W, which is enough power for all of Apple's machines. Charging will vary based on the wattage of the USB-C charger and the number of USB devices attached to the SOHO Dock. Passthrough charging works for laptops, and is also compatible with iPad Pro, Windows tablets, and USB-C smartphones.

soho-dock-display.jpg

The SOHO Dock is made from a high-grade aluminum that allows for heat dissipation, and CalDigit says that it uses high quality components to ensure thermal integrity and device longevity. CalDigit ships the dock with a detachable cable to allow for flexibility should customers need a longer cable length.

soho-dock-ipad.jpg

The SOHO Dock works with the 12-inch MacBook, Thunderbolt 3 Macs that include the MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, Mac mini, and Mac Pro, plus it is compatible with the M1 Macs and Windows PCs with USB-C Gen 1, USB-C Gen 2, Thunderbolt 3, and Thunderbolt 4.

We have 10 of the SOHO Docks to give away to MacRumors readers. To enter to win our giveaway, use the Gleam.io widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.

Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.

The contest will run from today (January 8) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on January 15. The winners will be chosen randomly on January 15 and will be contacted by email. The winners will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before new winners are chosen.

Article Link: MacRumors Giveaway: Win a Super Fast SOHO USB-C Dock From CalDigit
 

Sasparilla

macrumors 68000
Jul 6, 2012
1,908
3,256
Had to add, as I accessed this page, Firefox popped up a notice that it was preventing this website from fingerprinting (my browser?). It would be nice to not be getting those kinds of messages on MacRumors.
 

ajfahey

macrumors 6502a
Jun 28, 2001
675
879
Moorpark, CA
Why develop and produce USB type C products that are not at least Thunderbolt 3 compliant? This really makes no more sense to me than the production of Thunderbolt 3 docks with mostly, even any, USB 3.x type A connectors, especially when some of the docks include any USB 2.0 ports. I wouldn’t even want one for free.

All new modern docking products should be Thunderbolt 3, if not TB 4, and should not include any Type A connectors. All USB Type C connectors on them should be either Thunderbolt 3, 4 or USB 4.0 topology compliant. Time to move fully into the 21st century. USB 2.0 is covered wagon stuff. USB 3.x has evolved into an Edsel. put them both in the rear view mirror or the Smithsonian.
 

TheDailyApple

macrumors 6502a
May 30, 2019
629
2,802
I’d love to win this. It seems to be the best on-the-go option for usb-c laptops (or iPads). I use the TS3+ at my desk.
 

alexjholland

macrumors 6502a
Why develop and produce USB type C products that are not at least Thunderbolt 3 compliant? This really makes no more sense to me than the production of Thunderbolt 3 docks with mostly, even any, USB 3.x type A connectors, especially when some of the docks include any USB 2.0 ports. I wouldn’t even want one for free.

All new modern docking products should be Thunderbolt 3, if not TB 4, and should not include any Type A connectors. All USB Type C connectors on them should be either Thunderbolt 3, 4 or USB 4.0 topology compliant. Time to move fully into the 21st century. USB 2.0 is covered wagon stuff. USB 3.x has evolved into an Edsel. put them both in the rear view mirror or the Smithsonian.
A. Cost. I understand Thunderbolt = royalties to Intel? (Please correct me if I'm wrong.)
B. Compatibility.

I bought the Soho so I can use it with my M1 MacBook Pro AND my PixelBook Go.

PixelBook Go (and many other laptops) don't support Thunderbolt.

USB 3.2 gen 2 strikes a nice balance of power/compatibility.

4K / 60 Hz is fine for me.
 
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Prince134

macrumors 6502
Aug 17, 2010
338
152
I have this dock.

I think this is better with USBC as power passthrough than other products that need external power. When you travel, you only have to take this little SOHO dock with you, while others (eg OWC) you have to carry that huge power brick. I use it to connect with my MBA to a displayport 1.4 to LG 31.5inch ergo monitor, and hdmi 2.0 to my SONY 4k TV, both at 4k 60hz at mirror mode.
 
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Pakaku

macrumors 68030
Aug 29, 2009
2,952
3,901
A. Cost. I understand Thunderbolt = royalties to Intel? (Please correct me if I'm wrong.)
B. Compatibility.

I bought the Soho so I can use it with my M1 MacBook Pro AND my PixelBook Go.

PixelBook Go (and many other laptops) don't support Thunderbolt.

USB 3.2 gen 2 strikes a nice balance of power/compatibility.

4K / 60 Hz is fine for me.
The iPad Pro doesn't support Thunderbolt either, only USB, unless I'm wrong about that. And we can see an iPad displayed prominently in one of the pictures up there.
 
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bwb

macrumors regular
May 25, 2004
164
57
Why develop and produce USB type C products that are not at least Thunderbolt 3 compliant? This really makes no more sense to me than the production of Thunderbolt 3 docks with mostly, even any, USB 3.x type A connectors, especially when some of the docks include any USB 2.0 ports. I wouldn’t even want one for free.

All new modern docking products should be Thunderbolt 3, if not TB 4, and should not include any Type A connectors. All USB Type C connectors on them should be either Thunderbolt 3, 4 or USB 4.0 topology compliant. Time to move fully into the 21st century. USB 2.0 is covered wagon stuff. USB 3.x has evolved into an Edsel. put them both in the rear view mirror or the Smithsonian.

Compatibility with iPad Pro/Air and similar tablets I believe is a big reason. That said, I ordered it off Amazon right after it was released and have had many issues with using this connected to an LG 27UK650 (both DisplayPort and HDMI). I originally thought it was just M1 issues.. then tried on my iMac.. thought it was Big Sur issues.. tried on my Lenovo X1 work laptop. Replacement is on its way, so we'll see.

A big win for travel is that this is pretty compact, can be used bus powered or with any USB-C PD wall adapter, and the USB-C/USB-A ports both have reasonable power output: 1.5A and 1.3A. Not a full 2.1A from many USB-A wall chargers, but still better than 0.9A on OWC's newly announced Travel Dock E.

No joke: I can charge my M1 MBA on one of the 1.5A USB-C ports of the Caldigit TS3+. Not talking about the PD port, the _data_ ports of a dock provide enough power to charge an MBA... I can't concurrently use and charge the laptop with that 1.5A, but it's fully charged overnight like it's a phone.
 

estradar

macrumors newbie
Jan 8, 2021
1
0
would be awesome to win this dock; if I do, ill use it for my first dual monitor setup ?
 

letmefly

macrumors newbie
Sep 24, 2020
19
8
This is very nice. The more I read about this dock from Caldigit; the more I like it. Thanks MR (MacRumors) for all the great content and your constant giving back. I hope 2021 is going to be a great year for everyone.
 

canonical

macrumors regular
Oct 17, 2014
172
257
Critical missing feature is the absence of an ethernet port: which is the main reason for me to buy a hub ... and then use a single cable for power + data. Absence of Thunderbolt also makes me look away to their other models.
 
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