This 16-port dream dock belongs on every creative pro’s desk

One factor that each artistic skilled appears to be craving is extra ports. They need to equipment out their system with a plethora of ports to allow them to have a number of shows, SD and microSD card readers, Ethernet, and so many USB-A and USB-C ports that they’re going to by no means have to hot-swap a tool.

That is the place docks come into play, and Satechi makes a number of the greatest docks obtainable.

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A dock that I have been very keen to check is the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Pro. This dock has its personal energy provide and a wide selection of ports. It is also been designed with artistic professionals in thoughts.

What number of ports? 16 in all, that is what number of. 

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Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Pro

A pro-grade 16-in-1 powerhouse offering a wealth of connection ports.

Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Professional Dock specs

• 2x DisplayPort
• 2x HDMI 2.1
• 1x Thunderbolt 4 to host
• 1x USB-C 3.2 10Gbps
• 5x USB-A 3.2 (3x 10Gbps, 2x 5Gbps)
• 1x USB 2.0 for charging as much as 7.5W
• SD and microSD card slots
• 3.5mm Audio Jack In/Out
• Ethernet 2.5Gbps
• Kensington Lock
• DC 20V important energy (included)
• Dimension: 195 x 105 x 47mm
• Weight: 693 grams 

I have been desperate to get my arms on this dock and take a look at it as a result of I come throughout a number of these high-end docks that look good on paper, however fall quick once you push them onerous.

I’ve seen docks that appear to work properly once you take a look at the ports singly, however efficiency drops by way of the ground once you connect a number of units to it.

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For example, I’ve seen docks struggling community dropouts, show points, and system disconnections after they’re pushed onerous. I’ve even had some crash and require disconnection from energy to deliver them again to life. 

Given the pro-grade claims made by Satechi, together with the pro-grade worth, I used to be eager to see how the Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Professional carried out beneath a heavy load.

It carried out flawlessly.

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This is a dock that works simply as properly with one system connected because it does with a dozen. I related screens, exterior drives, and dongles, all whereas pushing a number of information by way of the Ethernet port, and it did not break a sweat.

And it might maintain this kind of workload for hours. 

This dock has the capability to run as much as 4 shows at 4K 60Hz. However simply because the dock can, does not imply it’s best to, as there are some caveats.

Now, that “as much as” is vital as a result of it does include limitations. Home windows PCs assist as much as 4 screens in prolonged mode as a result of it has assist for Multi-Stream Transport (MST). 

For Mac customers, issues are somewhat extra restricted. Macs that assist Single Stream Transport (SST) can output video in prolonged mode to 2 screens and mirror the opposite two. M1 and M2 Macs solely assist one exterior monitor, which means just one single video group can be utilized at a time with output to at least one display in prolonged mode and one display in mirror mode. 

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One other function I like about this dock is that it sits properly on a desk. Numerous docks are light-weight, and whereas this itself is not an indication of poor high quality, I discover that after you have a bunch of cables and units connected, the dock not sits on the desk. It is both levitating oddly, held up by the stiffness of the cables, or being dragged round.

This Satechi dock has a number of gravity to it, and its 1.5 kilos of weight mixed with the rubber toes preserve it planted on the desk. I additionally like that its energy is equipped by an influence adapter relatively than a mains twine as a result of mains cables might be thick and unyielding.

Additionally, having the ability provide separate retains the unit operating cooler. It is a bonus as a result of it not solely stops the dock from roasting your desktop but in addition helps forestall pointless thermal put on and tear and instabilities that overheating causes.

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At $350, the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Pro is a dock for professionals needing pro-grade {hardware}, and it is {hardware} that lives as much as that “professional” tag. Dwelling customers can get away with the extra modest Satechi Slim Multiport Adapter (which is 30% off proper now) however in the event you depend on your dock and wish one thing that is going to carry out reliably it doesn’t matter what you throw at it, that is the dock for you. 

The extra I take advantage of this dock, the extra I really feel that it belongs on each artistic skilled’s desk.

It truly is the dock of my goals.