Satechi’s Thunderbolt 5 Hub Looks Just Like a Mac Mini
▼ Summary
– Satechi has launched the Thunderbolt 5 CubeDock, a new dock with a compact, Apple Mac Mini-like design priced at $399.99.
– The dock features high-speed ports including three Thunderbolt 5 ports, USB-C/A, card readers, Ethernet, and substantial power delivery up to 140W.
– A key feature is its built-in NVMe SSD enclosure, accessible from the bottom, which supports up to 8TB of extra high-speed storage.
– It supports multiple high-resolution external monitors, with capabilities varying between Mac and Windows systems (e.g., dual 6K on some Macs, triple 8K on Windows).
– The Thunderbolt 5 CubeDock is currently available for preorder and is scheduled to begin shipping in the first quarter of this year.
Satechi has unveiled a new high-performance docking station that leverages the latest Intel Thunderbolt 5 technology, packaged in a design that bears a striking resemblance to the Apple Mac Mini. This compact hub, priced at $399.99, integrates a high-speed NVMe SSD enclosure alongside a versatile array of ports, offering a powerful expansion solution for modern laptops and desktops. Its form factor measures just five inches wide and two inches tall, making it a sleek and space-efficient addition to any workspace.
The Thunderbolt 5 CubeDock features three downstream Thunderbolt 5 ports capable of delivering speeds up to 120Gbps. For broader connectivity, it also includes 10Gbps USB-C and USB-A ports, UHS-II SD and microSD card readers, and a 2.5Gb Ethernet port. Power delivery is robust, with the dock capable of supplying up to 140W to a connected host computer and an additional 30W for charging smartphones or tablets.
While it may not offer the same sheer number of ports as some competing docks, the CubeDock distinguishes itself with its polished, Apple-inspired aesthetic and its integrated storage expansion. A key feature is the accessible NVMe SSD bay located on the bottom of the unit, which supports drives up to 8TB and offers blistering transfer speeds of 6,000MB/s. This follows Satechi’s previous releases of Mac Mini-like accessories, including a standalone SSD enclosure and a dedicated stand and hub for the Mac Mini M4.
Display support is impressive and varies by system. For Mac users, the dock can drive dual 6K monitors at 60Hz on computers equipped with M3 Pro, M4, or M5 chips. On base M1 and M2 Mac models, it supports a single 6K display at 60Hz. Windows PC users gain even greater multi-monitor capability, with the CubeDock able to power up to three 8K displays simultaneously at 60Hz.
The Satechi Thunderbolt 5 CubeDock is currently available for preorder and is scheduled to begin shipping to customers in the first quarter of the year.
(Source: The Verge)
