This 16-port dream dock belongs on each artistic professional’s desk, and it is over $100 off proper now

What’s the Black Friday deal?

Satechi’s Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Pro dock is ideal for artistic professionals and is at the moment 34% off at Amazon, a financial savings of $119. 

Why this deal is ZDNET-recommended

One factor that each artistic skilled appears to be craving is extra ports. They wish to equipment out their system with a plethora of ports to allow them to have a number of shows, SD and microSD card readers, Ethernet, and so many USB-A and USB-C ports that they will by no means must hot-swap a tool.

This is the place docks come into play, and Satechi makes a few of the greatest docks obtainable.

Also: The greatest 150+ Cyber Monday offers you should buy proper now

A dock that I’ve been very keen to check is the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Pro. This dock has its personal energy provide and a big selection of ports. It’s additionally been designed with artistic professionals in thoughts.

How many ports? 16 in all, that is what number of. 

ZDNET RECOMMENDS

Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Pro

A professional-grade 16-in-1 powerhouse providing a wealth of connection ports.

Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Pro Dock specs

• 2x ShowPort
• 2x HDMI 2.1
• 1x Thunderbolt 4 to host
• 1x USB-C 3.2 10Gbps
• 5x USB-A 3.2 (3x 10Gbps, 2x 5Gbps)
• 1x USB 2.0 for charging as much as 7.5W
• SD and microSD card slots
• 3.5mm Audio Jack In/Out
• Ethernet 2.5Gbps
• Kensington Lock
• DC 20V principal energy (included)
• Size: 195 x 105 x 47mm
• Weight: 693 grams 

I’ve been desperate to get my arms on this dock and check it as a result of I come throughout numerous these high-end docks that look good on paper, however fall quick once you push them arduous.

I’ve seen docks that appear to work effectively once you check the ports singly, however efficiency drops by way of the ground once you connect a number of gadgets to it.

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For occasion, I’ve seen docks struggling community dropouts, show points, and gadget disconnections once they’re pushed arduous. I’ve even had some crash and require disconnection from energy to carry them again to life. 

Given the pro-grade claims made by Satechi, together with the pro-grade value, I used to be eager to see how the Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Pro carried out beneath a heavy load.

It carried out flawlessly.

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Here’s a dock that works simply as effectively with one gadget hooked up because it does with a dozen. I linked screens, exterior drives, and dongles, all whereas pushing numerous knowledge by way of the Ethernet port, and it did not break a sweat.

And it might maintain this form of workload for hours. 

This dock has the capability to run as much as 4 shows at 4K 60Hz. But simply because the dock can, doesn’t suggest it’s best to, as there are some caveats.

Now, that “as much as” is essential as a result of it does include limitations. Windows PCs assist as much as 4 screens in prolonged mode as a result of it has assist for Multi-Stream Transport (MST). 

For Mac customers, issues are somewhat extra restricted. Macs that assist Single Stream Transport (SST) can output video in prolonged mode to 2 screens and mirror the opposite two. M1 and M2 Macs solely assist one exterior monitor, that means just one single video group can be utilized at a time with output to at least one display screen in prolonged mode and one display screen in mirror mode. 

Also: If ‘every little thing however the kitchen sink’ was a laptop computer accent, this is able to be it

Another function I like about this dock is that it sits properly on a desk. Loads of docks are light-weight, and whereas this itself is not an indication of poor high quality, I discover that after you have a bunch of cables and gadgets hooked up, the dock not sits on the desk. It’s both levitating oddly, held up by the stiffness of the cables, or being dragged round.

This Satechi dock has numerous gravity to it, and its 1.5 kilos of weight mixed with the rubber ft hold it planted on the desk. I additionally like that its energy is equipped by an influence adapter relatively than a mains wire as a result of mains cables might be thick and unyielding.

Also, having the facility provide separate retains the unit working cooler. This is a bonus as a result of it not solely stops the dock from roasting your desktop but additionally helps stop pointless thermal put on and tear and instabilities that overheating causes.

Also: This 3-in-1 MagSafe dock will cost your Apple gadgets whereas retaining them cool

At $350, the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Pro is a dock for professionals needing pro-grade {hardware}, and it is {hardware} that lives as much as that “professional” tag. During Cyber Monday gross sales, you’ll be able to decide up certainly one of your individual for $230. Home customers can get away with  the extra modest Satechi Slim Multiport Adapter (which can also be 30% off, for a complete of $56) however for those who depend on your dock and want one thing that is going to carry out reliably it doesn’t matter what you throw at it, that is the dock for you. 

The extra I exploit this dock, the extra I really feel that it belongs on each artistic skilled’s desk.

It actually is the dock of my goals.