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Value When Reviewed

£229.99

Greatest Costs Right this moment: Razer USB 4 Dock

£204.52

• Kind: USB-C/USB-A dock
• Ports: 14 (13 out there for peripherals)
• Energy: 100W for laptop computer; 180W max
• Exterior Shows: 1x 4K at 120Hz, or 2x 4K at 60Hz

Razer is finest identified for its vary of high-end gaming gear, which is generally designed for Home windows PCs, but it surely additionally makes quite a few extra down-to-earth equipment which are appropriate for basic use at dwelling or in an workplace. It makes a number of docks and hubs that can be utilized with Macs and PCs, together with a reasonably costly Thunderbolt 4 dock that weighs in at round $300/£300.

Now it has launched the inexpensive ‘USB 4 Dock’, which manages to offer dual-monitor help together with a formidable number of ports and connectors for the significantly lower cost of $229.99/£229.99 (and Razer prefers USB 4 slightly than the official USB4).

Obtainable in black or Mercury White – which is admittedly simply silver, and really comparable in tone to the M4 Mac mini – the USB 4 Dock is neatly designed and really sturdily constructed. The physique of the dock is made out of anodized aluminium, which feels very strong and likewise has a clean, scratch-resistant end that appears very sensible.

It’s fairly compact too, on condition that Razer has managed to squeeze in a minimum of 14 separate ports and connectors – though it’s value noting that the principle USB4 port is used to attach the dock to your Mac, leaving 13 ports which are out there for connecting a monitor and different equipment.

The USB 4 Dock measures simply 22mm excessive, 190mm vast and 80mm deep, and is pretty mild too, weighing 1.1kg, and Razer’s website does make a degree of referring to its “moveable design”.

Nevertheless, it neglects to say the extra mains energy provide that can be included within the field. The ability provide is nearly as massive because the dock itself, and barely heavier, so the USB 4 Dock actually isn’t going to stray very far out of your desk at dwelling or within the workplace. It’s, nonetheless, very versatile, as that chunky energy provide offers 100W of energy for charging a MacBook or a PC laptop computer, together with further energy for all the opposite ports and connectors on the dock.

On the again of the dock you’ll discover the principle USB4 port – with USB-C connector – which is used to attach your MacBook or different pc to the dock (with USB4 cable included within the field). Alongside this are each HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 connectors for connecting exterior screens – however, once more, Razer’s website proves to be just a little unclear right here.

The web site refers back to the dock’s help for twin shows and appears to suggest that the primary show can run at 4K decision with 120Hz refresh charge, with a second 4K show operating at 60Hz. Nevertheless, our discussions with Razer confirmed that the USB 4 Dock can run a single 4K show at 120Hz, or two 4K shows at 60Hz, in order that’s one thing to recollect in the event you’re planning to make use of the USB 4 Dock as a part of a multi-monitor set-up.

The remainder of the dock’s options are extra easy. Additionally positioned on the again panel is a Gigabit Ethernet port for a wired community connection, and three USB-A (3.2) ports, two of which give knowledge switch of 10Gbps whereas the third runs at 5Gbps. There are much more USB ports on the entrance as properly – two USB-C and one USB-A, with all three operating at 10Gbps. And, to maintain Razer’s gaming viewers joyful, there’s one final USB-A port positioned all by itself on the left-hand fringe of the dock, which is particularly designed to carry a 2.4GHz wi-fi dongle that may present a low-latency connection for a wi-fi keyboard and mouse.

The dock offers good audio help too, because the entrance panel homes a 3.5mm audio connector, which might work with both a microphone or a set of wired headphones. There are additionally two slots on the entrance for SD and MicroSD reminiscence playing cards, for transferring images or video from a digital camera.

It’s value noting although, that there’s simply that one USB4 port on the again, which is used to attach your MacBook to the dock, with all the opposite USB ports supporting USB 3.2. In the event you want greater efficiency – maybe for backing up massive video or graphics information onto an SSD – then you might want to have a look at a costlier Thunderbolt dock as an alternative.

Nevertheless, the energy of the USB 4 Dock is its sheer versatility, with 13 ports and connectors out there for attaching peripherals and equipment, and the power to energy and cost a number of units all on the identical time.

Do you have to purchase the Razer USB 4 Dock?

Skilled customers who want the complete pace of Thunderbolt 4 – and even Thunderbolt 5 on the most recent Macs with M4 Professional chips – would possibly choose a costlier Thunderbolt dock for working with massive video or graphics information. The USB 4 Dock isn’t in that league for sheer efficiency, however its versatile number of ports and connectors shall be an actual boon for individuals – like me – who’ve a number of SSDs, webcam, keyboard and different equipment of their workplace that they should use with their Mac daily.

For extra USB Docks to contemplate on your Mac, learn our spherical up of the Greatest Thunderbolt and USB-C docking stations.

Connectivity

• 1x USB4 (USB-C) for host pc
• 1x HDMI 2.1
• 1x DisplayPort 1.4
• 2x USB-C (10Gbps)
• 3x USB-A (10Gbps)
• 1x USB-A (5Gbps)
• 1x USB-A (for wi-fi adaptor)
• 1x Gigabit Ethernet
• 1x 3.5mm audio in/out
• 1x SD
• 1x MicroSD