Ugreen Revodok Max 208 Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station review

The Ugreen Revodok Max 208 calls itself a docking station however could possibly be higher described as a Thunderbolt 4 hub with added Ethernet—or possibly a Thunderbolt mini dock.

It should definitely operate nicely as a versatile dock however it’s nearer in nature to most of the hubs we have now examined and reviewed however with one key distinction: the power to hook your laptop computer as much as a wired community with out the necessity for an adapter. See our roundup of the perfect Thunderbolt docking stations and Macworld’s best docks for Mac for options, and we discover choices later on this overview.

As its different ports are all USB or Thunderbolt, if you join an exterior show you will have an adapter if the monitor doesn’t help a straight USB-C connection.

Specs and options

The Ugreen Revodok Max 208 has 8 ports—not rather a lot for one thing calling itself a full-blown docking station however nonetheless surprisingly versatile.

• Upstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40Gbps, 85W)
• Three downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports (40Gbps, 15W)
• Three USB-A ports (10Gbps)
• Gigabit Ethernet
• 140W energy provide

Eight ports isn’t rather a lot for a docking station however rather a lot for a Thunderbolt 4 hub. It could be sufficient for a lot of customers, nonetheless, as these three downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports are quick, highly effective and versatile.

A Thunderbolt 4 port provides fast-data switch, 15W of energy supply and can be utilized to attach on to USB-C displays, storage units and adapters for almost every part else, and might daisy-chain Thunderbolt 4 units.

You need to use as much as two of those Thunderbolt 4 ports to connect exterior shows.

Your choices are two 4K show at 60Hz (Mac or Home windows) or a single 8K show at 30Hz for Home windows solely. Don’t blame Ugreen, because it’s Apple’s personal limitations that imply you’ll be able to’t run 8K off a Mac-connected dock.

Plain M1 and M2 Macs (these with out a Professional or Max processor) are restricted to only one exterior show, though there are workarounds utilizing third-party DisplayLink software program: learn our recommendation on how to connect two or more displays to an M1 or M2 Mac.

On the entrance of the dock are three quick (10Gbps) USB-A ports for older gadget connections, reminiscence sticks and possibly a mouse and keyboard for those who don’t have wi-fi enter units or use the laptop computer’s keyboard and trackpad.

These USB ports don’t have any charging potential, so storage units would require their very own energy provide as none will likely be output from the dock itself, not like with the 15W Thunderbolt ports.

This hub/dock’s particular characteristic is the Gigabit Ethernet port. We haven’t seen this on any Thunderbolt hub, though it’s a mainstay on docking stations. If you would like the speediest community speeds, a wired community is sort of at all times sooner and undoubtedly extra secure than counting on Wi-Fi.

As a dock it appears gentle on different options, nonetheless, akin to a card reader for including inexpensive moveable storage, and an audio jack for audio system, headphones or a microphone.

Missing these may flip you away from the Revodok Max 208, however when you have no want, then why pay for them?

Many people have wi-fi audio system and earbuds, and use the laptop computer’s webcam as a mic. In case your laptop computer’s storage is okay for you or you’ll be including a quick SSD through Thunderbolt and the cloud covers all of your backup, then a card reader is beneficial however not important.

Design

Compact, the Ugreen Revodok Max 208 is somewhat bigger than a Thunderbolt hub.

Fabricated from aluminum with a pleated space, the Revodok Max 208 ought to maintain cool.

The Thunderbolt ports are ranged alongside the again of the dock with the Ethernet port. On the entrance, you’ll have quick access to the three USB-A ports and the facility button.

We just like the dock’s energy button, which makes it easy to cease powering your linked laptop computer all day and evening with out having to drag out the Thunderbolt connection if you’ll be away from it for an honest period.

Value

At $279.99, the Ugreen Revodok Max 208 isn’t as low-cost as a Thunderbolt 4 hub, which begin at round $150 however lack the Ethernet port.

Different thunderbolt docks and hubs

The perfect comparability and closest in specs is the $199 Caldigit Thunderbolt 4 Ingredient Hub, which boasts 4 TB4 and 4 of 10Gbps USB-A ports—yet one more USB-A than the $279 Ugreen. You might add an Ethernet adapter to the Ingredient Hub’s additional USB-A port for underneath $20—for instance, utilizing Ugreen’s own USB 3.0 to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter.

The place the Revodok Max 208 beats the Ingredient Hub is on energy to the laptop computer. Whereas the Caldigit has the same total energy provide, it may cost the host laptop computer at solely 60W, in comparison with the Revodok’s 85W that’s nearer to what a 14-inch or bigger laptop computer would require.

As such, we’d advocate the Revodok Mac 208 over the Caldigit Thunderbolt 4 Ingredient Hub in case your laptop computer is 14 inches or bigger. In any other case, avoid wasting money and add an Ethernet adapter to the Caldigit for those who need wired Web.

On the identical $199 price ticket because the Caldigit are the Belkin Join Thunderbolt 4 Core Hub and Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Slim Hub Professional, each of which have the identical 4 TB4 ports however only one 10Gbps USB-A, and supply 96W of energy to the laptop computer, so higher selections for a 16-inch or bigger laptop computer. In the event you don’t want plenty of USB-A ports these are good choices, though it’s nonetheless troublesome to see previous the Caldigit hub for port worth.

There are even cheaper Thunderbolt 4 hubs, such because the $130 OWC Thunderbolt Hub, which additionally hosts 4 Thunderbolt 4 ports however just one USB-A. It too loses out to the Ugreen by way of energy to the laptop computer (60W vs 85W).

Because it calls itself a docking station, we actually ought to examine it to a rival Thunderbolt 4 dock, and right here the Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station provides a compelling different. It too has 4 TB4 and three 10Gbps USB-A ports, but in addition an additional 7.5W however gradual 480Mbps USB-A port, Gigabit Ethernet, a quick UHS-II SD card reader, and a 3.5mm audio jack. It additionally has a beefier 180W energy provide and might channel 90W of that to the laptop computer.

The SD5700T has a a lot greater $350 retail value however can usually be discovered promoting for $299 and generally for lower than $200 on line. Verify our Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station overview for the perfect costs.

Verdict

At first sight, the Ugreen Revodok Max 208 appears underpowered for a full docking station, missing card readers and an audio jack. However its three downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports are highly effective and adaptable, three USB-A ports helpful when you have a bunch of older units or reminiscence sticks, and built-in Ethernet is beneficial for direct community connections.

If yow will discover the Kensington SD5700T cheaper, we’d advocate that fuller docking station, however as a brilliant Thunderbolt 4 hub or mini dock the Revodok Max 208 provides multi-port flexibility.