Thunderbolt 3 docks
Elgato Thunderbolt 3 Pro Dock
£339.98 FROM Elgato, elgato.com FEATURES 12 ports, 85W pass-through power
Design ★★★★★
Slightly more compact than its rival, Elgato’s Pro Dock measures 220x82x30mm, and its tapered edges give it a streamlined look. It uses a chunky external power supply, so this is very much a dock that lives on your desktop.
Thunderbolt 3/USB ★★★★★
The Elgato dock has two Thunderbolt 3 ports. It has fewer USB ports than the OWC – just two each for USB-A (3.1) and USB-C, although some people may prefer that extra USB-C port that the OWC lacks.
Extra ports
Gigabit Ethernet gives you a fast, wired network connection. Multimedia support includes slots for both SD and microSD cards, and two 3.5mm audio connectors – one of which doubles up for microphone input as well. There are Thunderbolt 3 and DisplayPort connectors for external displays, but no HDMI (without an adapter).
Power and charge ★★★★★
The USB ports on Elgato’s dock all provide 1.5A charging for iPhones and iPads – and we like having two USB-C ports too (the OWC dock has just one USB-C port). The primary Thunderbolt port that connects to your Mac can also provide 85W power for charging a MacBook.
OWC Thunderbolt 3 Dock
£263.99 FROM OWC, owcdigital.com FEATURES 14 ports, 85W pass-through power
Design ★★★★★
Measuring 230x92x26mm, and with a separate mains power supply that’s almost as large, this dock is also designed for desktop use. The low-profile design means that it can sit neatly under an external monitor.
Thunderbolt 3/USB ★★★★★
The front of the OWC dock has just one USB-A (3.1) port and one USB-C, but around the back you’ll find another four USB-A (3.1) and two Thunderbolt 3 ports. So more ports overall, but only one USB-C.
Extra ports ★★★★★
Additional ports include slots for SD and microSD cards, and Ethernet for wired networks. Useful audio features include a ‘combo’ 3.5mm connector that can work with a microphone or headphones, and S/PDIF for digital audio output. There’s Thunderbolt 3 and mini-DisplayPort for external displays, but no HDMI (without an adapter).
Power and charge ★★★★★
The external power supply provides plenty of power for your Mac and other devices. Two of the USB-A ports provide 1.5A output for charging devices such as an iPad, while the primary Thunderbolt port that connects to your Mac provides 85W charging for a laptop.