By PURPLELEC | 16 January 2024 | 0 Comments
OWC Thunderbolt Hub makes Mac mini setup better
With the M1 Mac mini, the hub expands the number of Thunderbolt connections, which is a huge improvement since the M1 Mac only came with two physical ports. For my M1 Max MacBook Pro, it allows me to stay connected to all Thunderbolt peripherals (including Pro Display XDR) with just one cable connection.
Specification
1 Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) port, up to 60W
3 Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports for connecting accessories, 15w power
Thunderbolt ports support OWC cable lock (sold separately)
1 USB-A 10Gbps port
Includes Thunderbolt 3 cable
Supports up to two 4K monitors or one 5K/6K/8K monitor
Supports multiple bus-powered drivers
Available for Mac and Windows
2 years OWC warranty
Width: 11.8 cm x 1.7 cm x 7.3 cm
Weight: 209g
When you connect the docking station to a power source, the OWC logo on the top of the device illuminates with a bright white light. This light turns blue when a Thunderbolt connection is established to the host Mac or PC. I've always complained about diffuse lights on peripherals that serve no real purpose, but OWC is very user-friendly and allows users to reduce or disable the lights entirely via a recessed button on the front of the hub.
The OWC Thunderbolt Hub offers three Thunderbolt ports in exchange for one, and when connecting the hub to my Mac mini, I have access to two additional Thunderbolt ports, for a total of four physical connections. That's enough room for my SSD, monitor, and the physical I/O of my audio interface of choice, the Universal Audio Apollo Twin X DUO.
Unlike a daisy chain setup, where each device relies on the connection of other devices higher in the chain, each Thunderbolt port on an OWC hub acts as an independent branch, meaning you can Switch devices on the three available ports without interfering with devices connected to the other ports of the hub.
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