Early Black Friday offers on Thunderbolt docks have begun, and I’m on the hunt for one of the best docking station gross sales for the 2024 holidays.
It’s value noting that Black Friday 2024 could be the final probability to purchase a reduced dock for some time. In 2025, America’s new president has promised tariffs that might attain 60 p.c on Chinese language items, and a variety of smaller dock producers are headquartered in China. (Bigger ones, nevertheless, have moved outdoors the nation.)
I’m compiling one of the best early Black Friday offers on Thunderbolt docks at main retailers like Amazon, Greatest Purchase, and elsewhere. I’ve listed every Thunderbolt dock deal under, adopted by an evidence of why I picked them. (For extra particulars, scroll all the way down to the FAQ on the finish that explains what to search for in a Thunderbolt dock and the way a lot it is best to pay.)
Greatest early Black Friday Thunderbolt dock offers
- HP Thunderbolt Dock G2, Thunderbolt 3, 100W charging, now $70.05 (26% off at Amazon)
- Targus USB-C Docking Station, DisplayLink, 65W charging, now $103.99 (58% off at Amazon)
- Kensington USB-C and Thunderbolt Dock, Thunderbolt 3, 100W charging, $109.99 (21% off at Amazon)
- OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock, Thunderbolt 4, 90W charging, now $249.99 (17% off at Amazon with Prime)
- Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Plus, Thunderbolt 3, 60W charging, now $109.97 (63% off at Amazon)
- Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Core, Thunderbolt 3, 60W charging (unpowered), now $69.99 (65% off at Walmart)
- Kensington SD2500T, Thunderbolt 3, 60W charging, now $75.00 (25% off at Amazon)
- CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock, Thunderbolt 4, 98W charging, now $379.99 (16% off at Amazon)
- Microsoft Floor Thunderbolt 4 Dock, Thunderbolt 4, 96W charging, now $217.12 (28% off at Amazon)
- Lenovo Thunderbolt 3 Dock Gen 2, Thunderbolt 3, 135W charging, now $171.99 (46% off at Amazon)
Up to date at 10:20 AM PT on Nov. 15 with up to date costs.
When you’ve been following our lists of offers, a few of these are acquainted: they’re stable docks that maintain happening sale. And a few of the reductions are considerably misleading. Final yr, the Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Core (a wonderfully good journey dock, per my overview) was being bought for $100 on a “50 percent discount.” This yr, it’s being bought for $69.99 at Walmart (and at Goal for a similar worth). A minimum of at Walmart, the $69.99 price ticket is now the “regular price,” not a reduction. Nonetheless, it’s a steal! Ditto for the Kensington SD2500T, which was $131 final yr however now $68.75 at Amazon.
I believe the HP Thunderbolt Dock G2 nonetheless represents wonderful worth for the cash, and it’s my favourite deal proper now. I personally reviewed the HP G4 and it was wonderful. Right here, the G2 swaps HDMI ports for DisplayPort ports, so if you happen to solely have HDMI connections in your shows, you’ll have to purchase some $15 DisplayPort-to-HDMI cables. In any other case, it’s a compact and efficient dock in your desk.
I additionally assume you’ll be proud of the Kensington USB-C and Thunderbolt Dock (which is a real Thunderbolt 3 dock, although the identify’s a bit complicated.) It has the identical caveat because the HP dock above: it sports activities only one HDMI port plus an upstream Thunderbolt port. If you wish to join it to a show, you’ll want a dongle just like the one recommended above. Simply be sure you add a cable to your cart.
I additionally reviewed the OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock, which is $50 off proper now with Prime. The corporate simply launched a Thunderbolt 5 dock, however I’m not recommending the Thunderbolt 5 expertise fairly but.
The CalDigit TS4 works for each Macs and Home windows PCs. (Our buddies at Macworld liked it per their overview.) This CalDigit dock can be a sensible choice if you happen to’re in search of a extra full-featured dock. That’s additionally the rationale I’ve included the Floor Dock, which has a superb status even when I haven’t reviewed it. Ditto for the Lenovo Dock Gen 2.
The Targus USB-C Docking Station is the one exception to the Thunderbolt class, because it makes use of the DisplayLink protocol, which I’ve discovered exceedingly steady for workplace use however not for video games.
We’ve additionally reviewed fairly a number of Thunderbolt docking stations in our record of one of the best Thunderbolt docks.
FAQ
When is Black Friday?
Formally, this yr’s Black Friday takes place on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. Cyber Monday is the next Monday, or Dec. 2, 2024.
When do early Black Friday offers on Thunderbolt docks start?
Early Black Friday gross sales have already begun at a number of retailers, although gross sales ought to ramp up as Black Friday nears. Retailers haven’t been shy about utilizing early gross sales to unload stock earlier than the Black Friday craziness begins.
Through the years, I’ve discovered that sure retailers merely outdo others in particular product classes. I routinely search websites like Newegg, B&H, Goal, and Walmart, however Amazon usually has one of the best assortment of offers on docking stations of all stripes, together with Thunderbolt docks.
What must you pay for a Black Friday deal on a Thunderbolt dock?
Premium Thunderbolt docks often retail for about $220 to $270 or so, relying upon the options. I often hope for $200 or much less.
In 2024, you profit from one key development: Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4 are roughly the identical when it comes to throughput and options, however retailers hate holding outdated {hardware} on the cabinets. It’s possible that you simply’ll nonetheless see substantial gross sales on older Thunderbolt 3 {hardware}, with lesser reductions utilized to Thunderbolt 4 choices.
I’m already seeing proof of that. The Plugable TBT3-UDZ, which has been considered one of my favourite Thunderbolt 3 docks for years, is being discontinued in favor of the TBT4-UDZ, the Thunderbolt 4 model. With Thunderbolt 3 {hardware} on its means out — and similar to Thunderbolt 4 in what it may possibly do — it is best to anticipate extra reductions on older TB3 {hardware}. Thunderbolt 5 is simply barely starting to roll out. You received’t see any offers there.
I’ve a USB-C port on my laptop computer. How do I do know what to make use of with it?
Seek the advice of your laptop computer’s handbook. A Thunderbolt port could be labeled with a small lightning-bolt emblem, however that icon can typically be used to sign that the port can be utilized for charging, too. If nothing else, a USB-C dongle/hub will at all times work with a USB-C port.
I nonetheless don’t perceive the distinction between USB-C and Thunderbolt. How does all of it work?
USB ports have been round for years. USB-C (the oval-shaped port) changed USB-A (the oblong port) as a result of USB-C was extra versatile, with larger speeds and a reversible port connector. USB-C ports will be rated for both 5Gbps or 10Gbps, similar to a traditional USB-A port. However some USB-C ports connect with a Thunderbolt chip inside your laptop computer, and this permits the port to run at the next 40Gbps pace. Bodily, the connector appears precisely the identical. It’s simply what it may possibly try this’s completely different.
Thunderbolt 5 is slowly getting into the market, however with just one or two docks and a tiny variety of laptops proper now. You received’t see any gross sales on Thunderbolt 5 docks through the 2024 vacation season.
What’s the distinction between a USB-C hub and a Thunderbolt dock?
Velocity and options. A USB-C hub connects to a single 4K (or 1080p) show and supplies a mixture of ports: USB-A, SD card slots, and so forth. You’ll be able to often plug your laptop computer’s USB-C energy cable (if it makes use of one) proper into it.
A Thunderbolt dock provides much more bandwidth for extra ports. There are two key variations: It has sufficient bandwidth to drive a pair of 4K shows, and plenty of docks include their very own energy provide that may cost your laptop computer in addition to your telephone. All that happens through the Thunderbolt cable that connects your laptop computer to the dock.
My laptop computer has USB4, not Thunderbolt. Can I take advantage of a Thunderbolt dock?
Sure and no. Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4, and USB4 all run at 40Gbps throughout the identical connector. USB4 is an identical to Thunderbolt 4. But when your laptop computer runs USB4, it received’t “understand” Thunderbolt 3 protocols. USB4 laptops, that are nonetheless uncommon, have AMD Ryzen chips inside.
Is Thunderbolt 4 higher than Thunderbolt 3?
Bodily, they use the identical USB-C cable. Functionally, they’re virtually the identical, and run on the similar 40Gbps throughput. Thunderbolt 4 was launched virtually as a patch to Thunderbolt 3, guaranteeing that the whole lot labored correctly. In case your laptop computer has Thunderbolt, it is best to be capable to purchase both a Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4 dock with none issues. Since Thunderbolt 3 is being phased out, you’ll in all probability discover extra reductions on the older Thunderbolt 3 {hardware}. (For all of the gory particulars, see my roundup of the greatest Thunderbolt docks.)
I personal a desktop PC. Do I want a Thunderbolt dock?
Presumably. Traditionally, the again of a desktop has been chock-full of I/O ports, particularly DIY fashions that you simply construct your self. Desktops often have further room for inner SSDs, SD playing cards, and so forth. Nevertheless, in case your desktop lacks these items, and if it consists of an exterior Thunderbolt port, you may at all times add these extra parts externally through Thunderbolt.
A few of these docks have unhealthy opinions on purchasing websites. What offers?
Learn the consumer opinions intently. Whereas Macs adopted Thunderbolt first, a few of the Apple M1 silicon couldn’t sustain with Intel Thunderbolt controllers utilized by Home windows PCs, and the Apple macOS expertise suffered because of this. If a Home windows consumer complains, concentrate; in any other case, you may dismiss them.
