Professional’s Ranking
Execs
- 4x Thunderbolt 4
- 3x 10Gbps USB-A
- 85W PD
- Gigabit Ethernet
- 140W whole energy
Cons
- Some displays could require adapters
- No card reader
- No gadget charging from USB-A ports
Our Verdict
At first sight, the Ugreen Revodok Max 208 appears to be like 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 useful when you have a bunch of older gadgets or reminiscence sticks, and built-in Ethernet helpful for direct community connections.
Value When Reviewed
$279.99
Finest Costs At this time: Ugreen Revodok Max 208 Thunderbolt 4 Dock
$279.99
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 perhaps a Thunderbolt mini dock.
It should actually operate properly as a versatile dock but it surely’s nearer in nature to lots of the hubs we’ve examined and reviewed however with one key distinction: the flexibility to hook your laptop computer as much as a wired community with out the necessity for an adapter. See our roundup of the best Thunderbolt docking stations and Macworld’s best docks for Mac for options, and we discover choices later on this assessment.
As its different ports are all USB or Thunderbolt, once you join an exterior show you will have an adapter if the monitor doesn’t assist a straight USB-C connection.
Specs and options
The Ugreen Revodok Max 208 has 8 ports—not quite a bit 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 quite a bit for a docking station however quite a bit for a Thunderbolt 4 hub. It might be sufficient for a lot of customers, nevertheless, as these three downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports are quick, highly effective and versatile.
A Thunderbolt 4 port presents fast-data switch, 15W of energy supply and can be utilized to attach on to USB-C displays, storage gadgets and adapters for nearly all the pieces else, and may daisy-chain Thunderbolt 4 gadgets.
You should utilize 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 may’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 perhaps a mouse and keyboard if you happen to don’t have wi-fi enter gadgets or use the laptop computer’s keyboard and trackpad.
These USB ports don’t have any charging potential, so storage gadgets would require their very own energy provide as none will probably be output from the dock itself, in contrast to with the 15W Thunderbolt ports.
This hub/dock’s particular function is the Gigabit Ethernet port. We haven’t seen this on any Thunderbolt hub, though it’s a mainstay on docking stations. If you need the speediest community speeds, a wired community is almost all the time quicker and undoubtedly extra secure than counting on Wi-Fi.
As a dock it appears to be like gentle on different options, nevertheless, resembling a card reader for including reasonably priced transportable storage, and an audio jack for audio system, headphones or a microphone.
Missing these would possibly 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 ok 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 helpful however not important.
Design
Compact, the Ugreen Revodok Max 208 is a bit of 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 easy accessibility 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 night time with out having to drag out the Thunderbolt connection once 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
One of the best comparability and closest in specs is the $199 Caldigit Thunderbolt 4 Element Hub, which boasts 4 TB4 and 4 of 10Gbps USB-A ports—another USB-A than the $279 Ugreen. You can add an Ethernet adapter to the Aspect Hub’s additional USB-A port for beneath $20—for instance, utilizing Ugreen’s own USB 3.0 to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter.
The place the Revodok Max 208 beats the Aspect Hub is on energy to the laptop computer. Whereas the Caldigit has the same total energy provide, it might probably 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 Aspect 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 if you happen to need wired Web.
On the similar $199 price ticket because the Caldigit are the Belkin Connect Thunderbolt 4 Core Hub and Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Slim Hub Pro, 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 decisions for a 16-inch or bigger laptop computer. In case you don’t want a number 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 when it comes to 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 presents a compelling different. It too has 4 TB4 and three 10Gbps USB-A ports, but additionally 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 may channel 90W of that to the laptop computer.
The SD5700T has a a lot greater $350 retail worth however can usually be discovered promoting for $299 and generally for lower than $200 on line. Examine our Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station review for the very best costs.
Verdict
At first sight, the Ugreen Revodok Max 208 appears to be like 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 useful when you have a bunch of older gadgets or reminiscence sticks, and built-in Ethernet is helpful for direct community connections.
If you’ll find 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 presents multi-port flexibility.