Image rights from left: Belkin, Hyper.
There’s no shortage of Thunderbolt and USB–C docks on the
market but, as the name implies, Belkin’s new Thunderbolt
3 Dock Pro is very much aimed at professional users.
The highlight is its ability to support dual 4K monitors
— both at 60Hz — via the DisplayPort and Thunderbolt 3
ports on the back panel. That Ľrst Thunderbolt port also
provides 85W power for charging your laptop, and there’s
a second Thunderbolt port for hard drives and other devices.
There’s useful audio support too, with a 3.5mm connector
that doubles as either a microphone input, or audio output
for speakers or headphones. The dock also includes an SD
memory card reader and Gigabit Ethernet for a wired
network, and Belkin tops everything oļ with four USB 3.0
ports, a faster USB 3.1, and one USB-C. The only downside is
the large external power supply, which means that the dock
isn’t particularly portable. The $300 price tag is a little steep
too, but is still in line with similar “pro” docks.
THE BOTTOM LINE. Great for pro users who need to use one
or more external displays with their laptop. CLIFF JOSEPHApple’s recent laptops use USB–C ports for power
and data transfer, but many peripherals still use
other formats. As such, a dock or hub is essential
for anyone needing to hook up thumb drives,
digital cameras, and more. The HyperDrive Duo
adds seven ports and is small and lightweight, with
a separate cable for use with the iPad Pro or other
USB–C devices that don’t match the dual–prong
fitting used on MacBooks. There’s also a removable
magnetic grip that holds the hub to the laptop.
There are two USB–C ports, either of which
can be used to charge the laptop. One is more
powerful at 40Gbps and 100W, and the other
5Gbps and 60W. There are two USB–A 5Gbps
ports for connecting standard USB cables or
devices. Photographers will like the dual MicroSD
and SD card slots, and there’s also a 60Hz HDMI
out–port for external displays up to 4K.
THE BOTTOM LINE. An affordable way to
bring excellent connectivity options to recent
compatible Apple devices. HOLLIN JONESBelkin Thunderbolt 3
Dock Pro
Dock with support for dual 4K displays
$299.99 From Belkin, belkin.com
Features SD reader, Gigabit Ethernet, 4x USB 3.0, USB 3.1, USC–CHyperDrive DUO
7–in–2 USB–C Hub
For MacBook Pro and Air
$99.99 From Hyper, hypershop.com
Features Seven ports, magnetic gripBELKIN THUNDERBOLT 3 DOCK PRO
Supports dual 4K monitors
Good selection of ports
Useful audio support
Not that portable
EXCELLENTHYPERDRIVE DUO 7–IN–2 USB–C HUB
Good selection of ports
Magnetic grip is helpful
Use with other USB–C devices
Would be nice if the grip matched the hub’s color
AWESOMETough testing, trusted ratings
maclife.com SEP 2020 45