Best Thunderbolt 3 docks 2021: Top docks for maximum performance
Thunderbolt is a super-speed technology first invented by Intel. While it initially used Mini DisplayPort connectors, it now uses USB-C and is, essentially, a super-speed version of it.
Thunderbolt 3 is part of the upcoming USB 4 standard, but many of us don’t have the new USB-4 ports on the recent MacBooks. What many of us have – whether a recent Mac or a high-end notebook Windows PC – is a Thunderbolt 3 port that works on top of the USB-C standard. If you don’t have Thunderbolt on your computer but you do have USB-C, why not check out our guide to the best USB-C docks?
Thunderbolt’s benefit is the amount of data it can throughput – up to 40Gbps with the right cables. So it’s the best technology if you’re often transferring large files onto a compatible Thunderbolt drive. The docks here are fully Thunderbolt 3 compatible but they also have the key benefit of USB-C – you can connect up display, power and data to your laptop via a single cable.
All of these docks are designed for on-desk use. Again, if you need a portable hub, check our our guide to USB-C hubs.
Coincidentally, Intel has now announced Thunderbolt 4, coming to future Intel machines.
