As laptops become thinner and lighter, the number of ports they provide gradually decreases, and some laptops are even equipped with only 2 USB-C ports. However, the number of devices we want to connect continues to grow, including multiple monitors, smartphones, tablets, external drives and more. This has led many people to look for effective solutions to avoid having their workspace occupied by various dongles and adapters.
For those looking to get the most out of their Thunderbolt-enabled laptops, a Thunderbolt™ docking station or Thunderbolt™ hub is ideal. But faced with these two options, many users are confused because there is a significant price difference between them. So, what exactly is the difference between a Thunderbolt™ dock and a Thunderbolt™ hub?
In fact, many online retailers often mistakenly refer to docking stations as hubs, which adds to user confusion. To clarify this, let's be clear: While both docks and hubs enable multi-device connectivity, docks do much more than that.
If you simply want to increase the number of Thunderbolt ports to connect devices such as external drives, a Thunderbolt™ hub will suffice. However, if you need more power, such as support for a wider variety of connections (such as USB-A ports, SD card readers, Ethernet, headphones, triple-screen monitors, HDMI® or VGA connections, etc.), then Thunderbolt™ A docking station would be a better choice.
A Thunderbolt™ hub is small and similar to a laptop power strip. It does not require a dedicated power supply and instead draws power from a Thunderbolt-enabled laptop. Some hubs can even deliver power to connected Thunderbolt-enabled devices.
In contrast, Thunderbolt™ docking stations require a dedicated power source or DC power input. Thanks to its independent power supply, it can not only charge your laptop but also power a variety of connected accessories. This makes the Thunderbolt™ docking station ideal for desktop and work-from-home professionals.
In addition, Thunderbolt™ docking stations are also better than hubs in terms of power transmission. This is especially important if you want to enjoy fast charging while connected and working. While this adds some cost, it also brings the convenience of being able to disconnect and recharge in less time.
It’s worth noting that only Thunderbolt™ docking stations support the ability to add multiple Thunderbolt™ devices to create up to three independent chains. This means that if you need to connect multiple Thunderbolt™ devices, the Thunderbolt™ docking station will be your first choice.
