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List of Thunderbolt 5 Docks 2026: Comparison, Specs & Guide

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The first Thunderbolt 5 docking stations have arrived, offering 80 Gbps speeds, mandatory 140W power, and options for 10GbE networking and M.2 storage. This guide compares the new 2025 models—including top picks from CalDigit, ASUS, and Razer—to help you find the best Thunderbolt 5 dock for your gaming, creative, or professional workstation.

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List of Thunderbolt 5 Docking Stations – Comparison & Specs | Faceofit.com

Thunderbolt 5 Docking Stations

A practical guide to the new 2025 docks. We compare the specs to help you choose the right one for your setup.

By the Faceofit.com Team | Updated: October 2025

What’s New with Thunderbolt 5?

Thunderbolt 5 is the latest connection standard, following Thunderbolt 4. It offers more speed for displays and data, which required new docking stations. Here are the main changes.

More Total Speed

Total bandwidth is now 80 Gbps, up from 40 Gbps on Thunderbolt 4. This means the connection can handle more devices at once without slowing down.

Faster Storage Connection

The data connection for storage (PCIe) is twice as fast, now at 64 Gbps. This is useful for external NVMe SSDs, fast storage arrays, and external GPUs (eGPUs).

Better Display Support

A feature called Bandwidth Boost can send up to 120 Gbps to monitors. This helps run multiple high-refresh-rate displays, like two or three 4K 144Hz monitors (on Windows).

More Laptop Power

The new minimum for charging a laptop is 140W, up from 100W. This allows a single cable to charge powerful 16-inch workstation laptops even under full load.

Thunderbolt 4 vs. Thunderbolt 5

Total Bandwidth
PCIe Data (Storage/eGPU)
Host Power (Minimum)
Thunderbolt 4 Thunderbolt 5

Who Needs Thunderbolt 5? (And Who Can Wait?)

Thunderbolt 5 is powerful, but not everyone needs the extra speed. Here is a quick guide to see if the upgrade makes sense for you.

Ideal Users for Thunderbolt 5

  • High-Refresh-Rate Gamers: Especially those using eGPUs who need the 64 Gbps PCIe speed to reduce bottlenecks.
  • Pro Video Editors (NAS): Anyone using a 10GbE network to access and edit large video files from a server.
  • Multi-Monitor Power Users (Windows): Professionals who need to run three 4K 144Hz monitors from a single cable.
  • Workstation Laptop Owners: Users of 16-inch MacBooks or PC workstations who need stable 140W power.

Who Can Wait?

  • Most Office Workers: If your work is email, documents, and web browsing, Thunderbolt 4 is more than enough.
  • Standard 4K Monitor Users: A single 4K 60Hz or 1440p 144Hz monitor setup works perfectly on Thunderbolt 4.
  • Photographers: While fast card readers are good, the 40 Gbps speed of Thunderbolt 4 is not a bottleneck for photos.
  • Budget-Conscious Users: Thunderbolt 4 docks will become more affordable and still provide excellent performance.

Display Support: Windows vs. macOS

Display support is the most confusing part of Thunderbolt 5. What you can run depends entirely on your computer’s operating system and graphics card.

Windows PCs

Windows PCs (with Intel Core Ultra “Meteor Lake” or newer) can use the full display capability. This is because they support Display Stream Compression (DSC) and can manage multiple video streams.

  • Max Setup: Up to three 4K 144Hz displays.
  • High-End: Can support single 8K 60Hz displays.
  • Bandwidth Boost: Can use the 120 Gbps mode for demanding monitor setups.

Apple Mac (macOS)

Macs have a system-level limitation. A single Thunderbolt port on a Mac can only output a maximum of two independent external displays, regardless of the dock’s power.

  • Max Setup (M3 Pro/Max): Two 6K 60Hz displays.
  • Limitation: You cannot run three external monitors from one port, even if the dock has three video ports.
  • Base M3 Chip: The base M3 chip still only supports one external display (or two with the laptop lid closed).

Key Takeaway: Do not buy a Thunderbolt 5 dock expecting to run three monitors on a Mac. The limitation is the computer, not the dock.

Find Your Dock

Filter the list of docks by the features that matter most to you.

Best for: Network Studios

CalDigit TS5 Plus

A 20-port dock for professional studios. Its main feature is a 10GbE port for high-speed network access (NAS). It also provides strong 36W power to downstream ports.

  • Total Ports: 20
  • Ethernet: 10GbE
  • M.2 Slot: No
  • Card Reader: SD + microSD (UHS-II)
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Best for: Local Creators

ASUS Master DC510

This dock is for creators editing from local drives. It combines dual UHS-II card readers with a tool-less M.2 NVMe slot, acting as a high-speed scratch disk.

  • Total Ports: 13
  • Ethernet: 2.5GbE
  • M.2 Slot: Yes (PCIe 4.0)
  • Card Reader: SD + microSD (UHS-II)
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Best for: Gamers

Razer Dock Chroma

A gaming-focused hub with an M.2 slot for a large game library. The 64 Gbps PCIe speed is ideal for eGPUs, and it supports high-refresh-rate monitors.

  • Total Ports: 11
  • Ethernet: 2.5GbE
  • M.2 Slot: Yes (PCIe 4.0)
  • Card Reader: SD (UHS-II)
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Best for: MacBook Pro Power

iVANKY FusionDock Pro 3

Built for 16-inch MacBook Pro users. Its 180W power supply provides 40W of extra headroom, ensuring it can always deliver a stable 140W to the laptop.

  • Total Ports: 11
  • Ethernet: 2.5GbE
  • M.2 Slot: No
  • Card Reader: SD (UHS-II)
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Best for: General Use

Kensington SD5000T5

A practical, cost-effective choice. It delivers the new baseline: 140W power, 2.5GbE networking, and fast UHS-II card readers without paying for specialized features.

  • Total Ports: 11
  • Ethernet: 2.5GbE
  • M.2 Slot: No
  • Card Reader: SD + microSD (UHS-II)
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Best for: Prosumers

Anker Prime TB5

A compact, vertical dock with active cooling. It has a mix of HDMI and DisplayPort, but its card readers are UHS-I, which is 3x slower than UHS-II.

  • Total Ports: 14
  • Ethernet: 2.5GbE
  • M.2 Slot: No
  • Card Reader: SD + microSD (UHS-I)
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Best for: Best Value

OWC 11-Port Dock

Like the Kensington, this is a strong value-oriented dock. It provides all the main TB5 benefits (140W PD, 2.5GbE, UHS-II card readers) at a competitive price point.

  • Total Ports: 11
  • Ethernet: 2.5GbE
  • M.2 Slot: No
  • Card Reader: SD + microSD (UHS-II)
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Total Port Count Comparison

While port count isn’t everything, it shows the dock’s physical capacity. The CalDigit TS5 Plus leads with 20 ports for complex setups.

Which Key Feature Matters?

The new docks are specialized. Your choice depends on your main bottleneck.

10GbE Networking

For video editors on a NAS or pro-audio users on a Dante network.

M.2 NVMe Slot

For gamers (game library) or creators (fast 64 Gbps scratch disk).

140W Power Delivery

For 16-inch MacBook Pro or workstation laptop users who need stable power.

Full Specification Comparison

Model Host PD Total Ports Ethernet M.2 Slot Card Reader TB5 Downstream USB-C (10G)
CalDigit TS5 Plus 140W 20 10GbE No SD + microSD (UHS-II) 2 5
ASUS Master DC510 140W 13 2.5GbE Yes (PCIe 4.0) SD + microSD (UHS-II) 2 0
Razer Dock Chroma 140W 11 2.5GbE Yes (PCIe 4.0) SD (UHS-II) 3 1
Anker Prime TB5 140W 14 2.5GbE No SD + microSD (UHS-I) 2 2
iVANKY FusionDock Pro 3 140W (180W Supply) 11 2.5GbE No SD (UHS-II) 3 0
Kensington SD5000T5 140W 11 2.5GbE No SD + microSD (UHS-II) 3 0
OWC 11-Port Dock 140W 11 2.5GbE No SD + microSD (UHS-II) 3 0

A Note on Cables and Compatibility

To get 80 Gbps speeds, you must use a certified Thunderbolt 5 passive cable (up to 1 meter) or a more expensive active Thunderbolt 5 cable for longer distances. Your old Thunderbolt 3 or 4 cables will work, but they will limit the dock’s performance to 40 Gbps. The cable that comes in the dock’s box is the best one to use.

Recommendations for Your Work

For Video Editors & Creators

Your choice depends on your storage. If you edit from a network (NAS), get the CalDigit TS5 Plus for its 10GbE port. If you edit from local drives, the ASUS Master DC510 has a built-in M.2 slot for a fast scratch disk.

For Gamers

The Razer Dock Chroma is built for this. It has an M.2 slot for your game library and supports high-refresh-rate monitors for an eGPU setup. The 64 Gbps PCIe connection reduces bottlenecks for external GPUs.

For MacBook Pro (16-inch) Users

To get stable 140W power, the iVANKY FusionDock Pro 3 has a larger 180W power supply. This extra headroom ensures the laptop gets full power even when many peripherals are active.

For General Professional Use

If you just want a solid, single-cable setup, the Kensington SD5000T5 or OWC 11-Port Dock are good value. They have 140W power, 2.5GbE networking, and fast card readers.

Future-Proofing: eGPUs and PCIe Speed

One of the most significant changes in Thunderbolt 5 is the jump in data speed (PCIe) from 32 Gbps to 64 Gbps. This connection is used for storage and external GPUs (eGPUs).

Better eGPU Performance

The 64 Gbps link provides more bandwidth for high-end graphics cards. This reduces the performance loss (or “bottleneck”) that happens when running a powerful GPU over an external cable. This makes eGPUs a more practical option for laptop gamers and 3D artists.

Faster External Storage

For docks with an M.2 slot, the 64 Gbps speed allows the internal NVMe drive to run at its full PCIe 4.0 speed. This means an external drive can be just as fast as the internal drive on many laptops, perfect for a high-speed game library or video scratch disk.

A Note on New Hardware

Thunderbolt 5 is new technology. As with any new hardware, there can be early issues. Users have reported instability or heat with some first-generation products. This is often fixed with firmware updates from the manufacturer.

Also, check compatibility. A dock advertised for “triple 4K monitors” will likely only work on Windows PCs. A Mac is limited to two external displays over a single cable. Your laptop must have a Thunderbolt 5 port to use these features.

© 2025 Faceofit.com. All rights reserved.

Affiliate Disclosure: Faceofit.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

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