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Apple Silicon MacBook Pro Q&A
Update Published December 10, 2024
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What is the best "dock" to add more ports to the Apple Silicon MacBook Pro?
By default, 13" Apple Silicon MacBook Pro models have two Thunderbolt 3/USB 4 ports and a 3.5" analog audio output/headphone jack. 14" and 16" Apple Silicon MacBook Pro models have two or three Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4, or Thunderbolt 5 ports; an HDMI 2.0 or 2.1 port; and a 3.5" headphone jack as well as an SDXC-capable SD card slot.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (Apple Silicon MacBook Pro)
For those with basic connectivity needs, the standard ports on the Apple Silicon MacBook Pro might be enough, but if you need to connect more to your notebook than simple adapters can provide, a full-fledged "dock" or "docking station" to use at your desk can be quite helpful.
Best Apple Silicon MacBook Pro Docking Stations
Although there are others to choose from, three quality docks to add more ports to an Apple Silicon MacBook Pro model from site sponsor Other World Computing include the simple OWC Thunderbolt Hub, more comprehensive OWC 11-Port Thunderbolt Dock, and fastest OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub.
13" Apple Silicon MacBook Pro Dock
Photo Credit: OWC (Thunderbolt Hub)
With support for three independent daisy chains, the relatively compact OWC Thunderbolt Hub provides four Thunderbolt 4 (40Gb/s) ports (one front-mounted and three rear-mounted; one to connect to your computer), one USB-A (10Gb/s) port, and a security slot. It provides up to 60 watts of charging power, which makes it best suited for 13" Apple Silicon MacBook Pro models.
14" & 16" Apple Silicon MacBook Pro Dock (M1, M2, M3 & M4)
Photo Credit: OWC (11-Port Thunderbolt Dock)
For those with massive connectivity needs (and a mix of recent and older hardware), and a 14" or 16" MacBook Pro with Thunderbolt 4 ports, the OWC 11-Port Thunderbolt Dock provides even more ports and additional charging power.
The OWC 11-Port Thunderbolt Dock has four Thunderbolt 4 (40Gb/s) ports (one front-mounted and three rear-mounted; one to connect to your computer), three USB-A (10Gb/s) ports, one USB 2.0 port, Gigabit Ethernet, a 3.5 mm audio jack, an SD card slot, and security slots. It provides up to 96 watts of charging power.
14" & 16" Apple Silicon MacBook Pro Dock (M4 Pro/M4 Max)
Photo Credit: OWC (Thunderbolt 5 Hub)
For those with the latest "2024" 14" and 16" Apple Silicon MacBook Pro models with M4 Pro and M4 Max processors, which are equipped with very fast Thunderbolt 5 ports, the best option is the OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub.
Note that the entry-level MacBook Pro "M4" 10 CPU/10 GPU 14" only has Thunderbolt 4 ports, but for all other "2024" MacBook Pro models, this dock is just about perfect for those who want speed more than legacy ports.
The OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub provides the most charging power of any of these docks -- up to 140 watts, perfect for the higher-end "2024" MacBook Pro models -- and simply adds four ultrafast Thunderbolt 5 ports (one front-mounted and three rear-mounted; one to connect to your computer) as well as a single USB-A port. It supports up to 80 Gb/s of bidirectional data and up to 120 Gb/s for higher display bandwidth needs. It can support up to three 8K displays. With three gigantic displays, you may need a bigger desk, though!
These docks cost more than a single adapter and are are significantly larger, but are very helpful for those who can put the connectivity to good use.
Site sponsor OWC sells the OWC Thunderbolt Hub, 11-Port Thunderbolt Dock, and Thunderbolt 5 Hub worldwide.
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