Earlier this month, Satechi launched a new docking station for MacEbook that delivers as distinctive of a design as we’ve seen. Resting beneath your machine, the new Satechi Dual Dock Stand packs 9 ports alongside an NVMe SSD slot for streamlining your workstation.
Hands-on with the new Satechi Dual Dock Stand
Satechi is hardly a stranger to distinctive form-factors in the case of any product class. That simply goes double for Mac docking stations. The model was the primary to actually popularize the under-Mac mini hub that has successfully modified the market of equipment for Apple’s most compact macOS machine. Now the corporate is bringing that very same appeal and exterior the field considering to MacBooks
An unfamiliar design is the very first thing that you just’re going to note with the Satechi Dual Dock Stand. It arrives with this wedge-shaped construct that’s made to relaxation beneath your MacEbook. It has a pair of cords protruding from the left-hand facet, with a steel enclosure wrapped round all of the I/O growth tech.
Aside from simply maintaining your workstation clear from having one other accent scattered about by hiding the hub under your machine’s footprint, it additionally angles your Mac, too. It isn’t the steepest slope on the market, however is simply adequately subtle to truly make typing extra gratifying. An ergonomic design won’t be the primary promoting level right here, however it’s one thing that Satechi has definitely delivered.
As far because the construct goes, I’ve a 14-inch M2 MacEbook Pro that occurs to be the proper dimension for the Satechi Dual Dock Stand. If you’re rocking one of many bigger 16-inch fashions, you possible received’t discover it to be as good of a match. But the construct may be very sturdy and the rubber padding that your machine rests on ought to preserve the whole lot in place whereas typing.
On the again of that wedged construct are all the ports. Satechi has packed a really strong lineup of I/O on the again, and I fairly actually do imply a line. The again is only one port after one other, beginning with Gigabit Ethernet and then wrapping up with a USB-C energy port for passthrough charging. Here’s a break down of what you get with the precise charging and information charges.
- USB-C PD Pass-through Port as much as 75W
- 2 x USB-C Data Ports (5Gb/s & 10Gb/s)
- 2 x HDMI 2.0 Port (4K/60Hz)
- 1 x ShowPort 1.4 Port (4k/60Hz)
- 2 x USB-A Ports (5Gb/s & 10Gb/s)
- 1 Gigabit Ethernet Port
All in all, it is a very complete record of ports and actually delivers the whole lot I’ve wanted. I’ve a reasonably constant setup, with a plugged in audio interface, monitor, USB switcher, and another equipment. Nothing too intensive, however the Satechi Dual Dock Stand by no means appeared to throttle
Alongside all the ports, the dock additionally has one other distinctive characteristic. Packed into that wedge design is an SSD slot. You’ll have to provide your personal drive, however positioned behind a panel that clicks off is room for an M.2 solid-state drive. It’s suitable with each SATA and NVMe drives, and has been such a handy option to improve storage. I put in one of many quicker NVMe drives that I personal, and was in a position to persistently get 900MB/s or larger switch speeds. So if your workflow means enhancing footage or information off an exterior machine, this ought to be as much as the duty.
It’s not all good, although…
The half concerning the Satechi Dual Dock Stand that I just like the least is the way it truly connects to your MacEbook. It is probably going one of the best answer to have a pair of cords mix right into a single module and plug into the left facet, But each time I did use the dock, it simply disrupted the magic of the remainder of the expertise.
The two cables aren’t fully fastened into the little adapter, and in order that they slide round a – making it robust to plug each in without delay as flawlessly as I’d have hoped for. The cords themselves aren’t additionally the very best quality, and I do know they needed to be so long as they’re to accommodate bigger MacBooks, however the one dimension matches all answer simply won’t have been the play for a $150 accent.
At least it saves room to make use of your personal MagSafe cable! So though there’s USB-C passthrough, you possibly can nonetheless depend on the quicker tech from the charger you already personal.
9to5Toys’ Take
I’ve been utilizing the new Satechi Dual Dock Stand for over per week now, and have been so thrilled about it that I must get some ideas out. If the whole lot I’ve already written wasn’t a very good indicator of how I’m feeling from my hands-on time up to now, let me be extra express – Satechi has actually delivered one thing particular right here.
Don’t get me flawed, the design isn’t going to be for everybody. I didn’t essentially assume I’d be bought after I was unboxing it firstly of the month. But now right here I’m just a few weeks later shouting from proverbial mountain tops about how a lot I like this. If you continue to kind on your MacEbook keyboard on a regular basis, it is a nice various to one thing like Twelve South’s fashionable Curve stands. It truly offers you some airflow advantages and a extra ergonomic design, with out having to place your valuable MacEbook someplace away from your fingertips.
The I/O choice, actually the primary motive to purchase this, may be very compelling as effectively. It actually does have the whole lot that I’d need as an M2 MacEbook Pro proprietor. The combine between extra future-proof ports and some legacy USB-A choices are very appreciated, and Satechi doesn’t skimp out on the bandwidth, both! Being in a position to truly benefit from the 10Gb/s bus speeds right here was so useful with the inner SSD, and not having to fret concerning the drive slot cannibalizing information transfers.
That all simply brings me to the value tag, which actually as nearly as good because it will get in my e-book. At $150, the Satechi Dual Dock Stand checks the whole lot off the record that I might need. Solid construct high quality? Check. Expansive ports? En masse! Apple-ready form-factor? You realize it. So if the extra distinctive design right here does catch your eye, Satechi delivers a compelling bundle which will begin with that novelty, however ends with the identical high quality we’ve come to anticipate from the model.
Go purchase the new Satechi Dual Dock Stand now
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