Best Thunderbolt 2 Docks

Updated August 2020

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.Read more

Bottom Line

Pros

Cons

Dual Thunderbolt 2 ports offer stunning versatility at speeds up to 20Gb per second.

Pros

Combines past and present technology including FireWire, USB 3.0, USB 2.0, and eSATA storage ports. Dual Thunderbolt 2 outlets support daisy chaining additional devices and storage. Also supports 4K monitors and displays.

Cons

Some users found the dock to get too hot under prolonged use.

Best Bang for the Buck

An inexpensive, unobtrusive way to add functionality to your laptop.

Pros

This dock’s primary use is to add monitor support with DisplayPort or HDMI plugs, but it also offers two USB 3.0 ports for peripherals like mice, keyboards, webcams, and storage devices. A 1 gigabit Ethernet port is included as well.

Cons

The amount of additional ports is small compared to other products.

Anker

Dual Display Universal Docking Station

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Bottom Line

Consolidate and manage your devices with a dock that prioritizes bandwidth usage.

Pros

This dock supplies smooth, stable connections with a variety of devices. Includes 2 USB 3.0 ports, 4 USB 2.0 ports, 1 HDMI port, 1 DVI port, and an Ethernet port. HDMI and DVI ports can be used simultaneously, allowing you to expand your setup to 3 monitors.

Cons

Anker drivers may require multiple installations to recognize certain devices.

Belkin

Thunderbolt 2 Express HD dock

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Bottom Line

Connect 8 devices through a single Thunderbolt cable for well-rounded computing power.

Pros

This dock provides lightning-fast speeds of 20 Gbps, supports dual displays, and accommodates 4K cinema resolution. Able to daisy chain 5 total devices together for outstanding peripheral applications. Includes 2 Thunderbolt 2 ports, 3 USB 3.0 ports, 1 HDMI port, 1 Ethernet port, and two audio out ports, one of which supports microphones.

Cons

HDMI output can be unreliable, and multiple users complained about frustrating customer support.

Connect up to 10 devices at once for phenomenal flexibility.

Pros

This sleek, low-profile dock includes 3 USB 3.0 ports, 2 USB 3.0 charging ports, 1 FireWire port, 1 HDMI port, 1 Ethernet port, and 2 3.5-millimeter audio jacks. It also features 2 Thunderbolt ports for daisy chaining.

Cons

Dock can cause problems by cycling on and off, and often gets very warm.

How we decided

We purchase every product we review with our own funds — we never accept anything from product manufacturers.

30 Models Considered

8 Hours Researched

3 Experts Interviewed

60 Consumers Consulted

Zero products received from manufacturers.

We purchase every product we review with our own funds — we never accept anything from product manufacturers.

A Thunderbolt 2 connector is essentially an alternative to USB. Developed by Intel, it allows you to connect various devices to a laptop or desktop. A Thunderbolt 2 dock makes it convenient to keep multiple devices connected to your laptop, since the only cable that needs to be plugged into the computer is the Thunderbolt — the rest sit in the dock. Thunderbolt 2 docks typically come with ports for USB 3, eSATA, and HDMI, but some have others, such as Firewire and Ethernet. Some allow you to “daisy chain” devices, meaning you can connect devices to one that’s connected to the dock so that they can all interact. You need two Thunderbolt ports to achieve this, so a dock that includes them expands connectivity options.

Other Products We Considered

The BestReviews editorial team researches hundreds of products based on consumer reviews, brand quality, and value. We then choose a shorter list for in-depth research and testing before finalizing our top picks. These are the products we considered that ultimately didn't make our top 5.

hulsin

USB C Hub Adapter Dongle for MacBook Pro 2019/2018-2016,MacBook Air 2019/2018, Thunderbolt 3, 4K HDMI, USB 3.0, 7-in-1 Type C Hub, TF/SD Card Reader

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USB C Hub, 8-in-1 USB C Hub Adapter with 4K HDMI, Thunderbolt 3, 3 USB 3.0, USB-C Data Port, SD and MicroSD Card Reader Type C Hub Compatible with MacBook Air, MacBook Pro 2017/2018

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Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Dock Gen 2 135W (40AN0135US) Dual UHD 4K Display Capability, 2 HDMI, 2 DP, USB-C, USB 3.1

caldigit

TS3 Plus Thunderbolt 3 Dock - 87W Charging, 7X USB 3.1 Ports, USB-C Gen 2, DisplayPort, UHS-II SD Card Slot, LAN, Optical Out, for 2016+ MacBook Pro & PC (Space Gray - 0.7m/2.3ft Cable)

lenovo usa

Lenovo ThinkPad USB-C Dock Gen 2 (40AS0090US)

Corsair

Thunderbolt 2 Dock