Accell launches its new generation of Thunderbolt 4 docking station
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The new Accell Thunderbolt 4 docking station is ideal for hybrid workers. Every connection you need … [+]
Accell
Thunderbolt 4 is the latest standard in high-speed data transfer and can also be used to drive external monitors, audio streams and up to 96W of power, all in one convenient, slim desktop unit. The technology developed by Intel is integrated into the new Intel Evo laptops and the latest Macs from Apple. So now might be a good time to consider upgrading to a Thunderbolt 4 docking station, especially now that so many of us work between home and the office.
The Accell Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station is a beautifully constructed small unit and about half the size of a vertically cut paperback novel. It certainly looks neat on a desk. The station comes with a choice of US and EU power cords terminating in a cloverleaf plug. UK users will need to obtain a mains lead or use an adaptor. A certified Thunderbolt 4 cable for connection to the host computer is also included in the box.
Since the new docking station is fully Intel-certified, it can provide high-speed data transfer at speeds of up to 40Gbs. To get this kind of speed, you’ll need a Thunderbolt drive, but with USB drives you’ll still get pretty fast speeds up to 10GB on some models. Additionally, the dock can drive external displays and will deliver up to 96W of power to the host laptop for faster and more efficient charging. All you need is one cable to do it all.
The Accell Thunderbolt 4 dock is horizontal in style but doesn’t take up too much space … [+]
Accell
Accell is based in the heart of Silicon Valley and is one of those companies that produces all of these kinds of connectors and useful productivity tools that knowledge workers need, especially when splitting their work week between home and the office or while traveling.
The new Thunderbolt 4 Dock allows multiple devices to be connected to a PC or Mac using a single Thunderbolt 4 cable. A suitable cable is included in the box and Accell has provided two Thunderbolt 4 ports, one DisplayPort 1.4, three USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-A ports, a single USB 2.0 Type-A port for slower peripherals, an SD card slot, plus a 3.5mm audio headphone jack. Finally, there’s a Gigabit Ethernet port for connecting to a corporate network or home router.
With a bandwidth of 40 Gbps, the new docking station supports high-speed data transfer as well as 8K video and power delivery. The station can drive a single 8K monitor at 30Hz refresh rate or two external 4K UHD monitors at 60Hz. .
On the front of the Accell Thunderbolt 4 Dock is a USB-C/Thunderbolt port, a USB 2.0 port … [+]
Accell
There’s no HDMI output that comes with this dock, so keep that in mind if you need to use HDMI or you can just buy yourself a USB-C to HDMI cable and use that instead. One important note, if you’re using one of the new M1 Macs the docking station will only drive one monitor, so if two displays are a must then you’ll need to look at one of the multi-display models in pluggable.
In addition to its 96W power port, the Accell Docking Station also supports powering peripherals at 15W over Thunderbolt 4 ports, as well as charging over USB Type-A ports, enabling more flexible charging options. The docking station works with Microsoft Windows 10 (RS4 and above) and Microsoft Windows 11 on Thunderbolt 4 laptops (Intel Evo platforms). For Mac users, the dock also works with macOS 11 (Big Sur and later) MacBook Pro and MacBook Air with Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4 ports.
Verdict: This is a small, well-designed docking station that makes hybrid work easier. Plenty of other docking stations are coming onto the market, so check out the competition to see which one offers the choice of outputs you need. The good thing about a docking station like this from Accell is that everything can be set up permanently and all you have to do is connect your laptop using a single cable and you are ready to go. Recommended.
Price and availability: The Accell Thunderbolt 4 Dock costs $299.99.
More information: www.accellww.com
Required configuration
- Microsoft Windows 10 (RS4 and above) Thunderbolt 4 compatible laptops (Intel Evo platforms)
- macOS 11 (Big Sur and later) MacBook Pro and MacBook Air with Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4 ports
(For Apple M1 MacBooks, only one video output is supported)
On the back of the Accell Thunderbolt 4 Dock is the power input, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, … [+]
Accell