The Satechi Twin Dock Stand is a modestly named docking station that pulls triple responsibility as a docking station, ergonomic laptop stand, and exterior SSD enclosure. Be nonetheless my beating center.
I’m an enormous suggest for equipment or peripherals that may serve more than one roles, and Satechi’s providing covers this sort of lot flooring it’s simple to get a bit swept up by the use of its on-paper claims.
Then again, whilst I like the idea of multi-function equipment, I do know all too neatly that it will purpose some merchandise to stretch themselves a bit skinny. Does Satechi’s USB-C Twin Dock Stand have what it takes to be one of the vital a very powerful important very best docking stations available available on the market? Let’s in finding out.
Satechi Twin Dock Stand value and availability
The Satechi Twin Dock Stand is to be had for $149.99 from Satechi’s revered internet web page.
For USB-C docking stations inside of a an an equivalent scope to Satechi’s software, we now have Baseus’ $89.99 EliteJoy Gen 2 USB-C Hub to check with. Baseus’ hub additionally doubles as a pc stand alternatively provides additional ports by means of SD and MicroSD card readers and a three.5mm audio out jack.
Then again, the EliteJoy Gen 2’s design alternatives subsequent to no air float, which reasons essential warmth and function problems through the years. Baseus’ hub additionally alternatives slower ports and lacks the SSD enclosure of the Satechi dock.
For its value, Satechi’s Twin Dock Stand has this sort of lot to provide, a lot of it to a very best standard. Not most straightforward that, nevertheless it indubitably manages to condense your workspace with its multi-functionality and makes hot-swapping your system whilst staying in keep watch over of your setup an absolute breeze.
Satechi Twin Dock Stand design
Everyone has that one tech hangup they are able to’t rather shake. Some other other folks nonetheless clutch to the conclusion that the Ouya used to be as soon as once one thing specific, and I do know of 1 one that refuses to disavow the Zune.
My hangup, for without reference to explanation why, is the pc stand/docking station combo. There’s simply one thing about that zero-footprint design, easy cable keep watch over, and souped-up ergonomic posture that I will’t flip my all over again on — irrespective of how over and over I’ve been stung by the use of slightly a lot of producer’s previous makes an take a look at.
On the other hand just like a west-coast school scholar egregiously espousing the politics of the Jap Bloc, I clutch to my convictions. Sure, previous iterations of devices like this are additional George Foreman grill than the remaining, alternatively that’s as a result of REAL laptop stand/docking station combos haven’t been attempted alternatively — till the Satechi Twin Dock Stand, this is.
Whilst you’re rather of a neat freak relating to maintaining your workspace spick and span, that is the docking station you need to calm your lingering OCD tendencies. Satechi’s dock sits beneath the rear of your laptop, providing 9 rear-facing ports, an ergonomic elevate, or even an SSD enclosure.
Which means that that for individuals who already personal an exterior SSD enclosure, Satechi’s Twin Dock Stand isn’t only a zero-footprint software. It’s successfully a negative-footprint software, which frees up space at your workstation.
Satechi’s dock measures 12.2 x 3.14 x 0.94 inches in size and will very simply space maximum 14-inch and 15-inch laptops. On account of 7.5-inch dual host cables you’ll be able to space higher and smaller laptop sizes too for individuals who don’t concepts some overhang or uncovered edges.
8 vents across the base of the software assist organize any thermal build-up, and rubber grips alongside the out of doors and base of the dock assist to cut back any undesirable go back and forth. Plus, the dock’s adoption of Apple’s House Gray aluminum frame makes it a in truth best upper section to MacBook devices, without downside becoming in with the software’s total aesthetic.
That Apple-centric design carries by the use of to the dual host cables, which could be framed by the use of an aluminum divider utterly spacing out the 2 to suit maximum post-2019 releases. Then again, for individuals who don’t personal a MacBook you will need to slide this connection down to disencumber the cables, which most often ruins the compact and sleek glance of Satechi’s dock.
Satechi Twin Dock Stand ports and connectivity
Whilst you’re making plans on applying the Twin Dock Stand, you’re going to need a pc with two side-by-side USB Type-C ports at the left of your software.
This setup is most often additional not unusual with MacBooks, regardless of the truth that you’re going to in finding an an equivalent layouts on Space house home windows devices such because the Dell XPS 15, Microsoft Flooring Professional 9/Computer Studio, Samsung Galaxy E book 3 Extremely, and the Lenovo Yoga 6/7i.
As soon as attached, you’ll have get right of entry to to the dock’s 9-in-1 port growth (down to 8 ports after your USB-C charging cable is hooked up to the all over again of the dock).
The entire ports are housed on the rear of the software for simple cable keep watch over, in conjunction with:
- (Host, stressed out) 2 x Type-C USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps, 75W of Energy Supply)
- (Energy) 1 x Type-C (20V, 5A)
- 1 x Type-C USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps)
- 1 x Type-C USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5Gbps)
- 1 x Type-A USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps)
- 1 x Type-A USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps)
- 2 x HDMI 2.0 (Helps shows as much as 4K @ 60Hz)
- 1 x DisplayPort 1.4 (Helps shows as much as 4K @ 60Hz)
- 1 x Gigabit Ethernet (RJ45)
At the underside of the dock is a compartment you’ll be able to confide in organize a unmarried SATA or NVMe M.2 SSD.
Total the choice is beautiful spectacular — missing most straightforward relating to SD/Micro SD card readers and a three.5mm audio combo jack. Then again, with a design that leans moderately into attracting the ones all through the Apple ecosystem, it’s now not actually this it’s going to most probably be a deal breaker for a variety of.
That being mentioned, there’s nonetheless a lot of use for an SD/Micro SD card reader and it sort of feels like a puzzling omission. Additional puzzling could be the docking station’s 3 show outputs — particularly when this dock most straightforward helps one exterior show on M1/M2 MacBook Air and MacBook Execs. For a docking station so moderately advertised to MacBook customers, it’s bizarre to appear it make a large factor of triple show toughen when its key target market can’t benefit from it.
Satechi’s Twin Dock Stand has a superb number of fashionable and legacy ports with a superb mixture of speeds. There’s authentic possible for this dock to turn into your MacBook right kind proper right into a fully-fledged workstation or ingenious suite, and it could discover a title as without equal MacBook accent for a large number of.
Satechi Twin Dock Stand efficiency
No longer the rest a lot of what’s been mentioned prior to now issues if Satechi’s dock falls transient relating to efficiency. Having squandered a lot of my time on the lookout for a pc stand docking station mixture that works, I will allow you to know that that is most ceaselessly the purpose at which the wheels fall off an an equivalent merchandise.
As a result of that, I’d spent a lot of my time having a look ahead to the dock to reach fascinated about up amusing issues to mention in regards to the thermostatic nature of the Twin Dock Stand. Then again, such a lot to my annoyance (and good looks), Satechi has carried out the impossible and designed its software to accomplish impeccably with out attaining temperature ranges tantamount to the warmth lack of lifetime of the universe.
What a distinction the ones 8 vents perceived to make, as I had dramatically fewer problems of warmth than I did with the Baseus EliteJoy Gen 2 only some weeks prior. Then again, that’s to not say there isn’t a build-up of warmth. It’s nonetheless there, alternatively nowhere with reference to sufficient for me to rebrand Satechi’s 3-in-1 dock as a 4-in-1 because of its air-frying possible.
There are greater than sufficient ports to juggle a normal setup, particularly whilst you take into accout you’ll possibly be the usage of your laptop’s keyboard above that of an exterior clavier. The Twin Dock Stand ran my exterior practice and no longer using a hitch, keeping up a cast efficiency with out lag or stuttering, even whilst issues started to get toasty. As for the dock’s 75W of Energy Supply, my laptop maintained a cast price during my complete day.
My greatest concern used to be as soon as once the warmth affecting the efficiency of the SSD enclosure, particularly because the slot isn’t appropriate with SSDs that includes preinstalled warmth sinks. Then again, as it could in spite of everything finally end up, I in no way had such a lot to bitch about. Sure, there used to be as soon as once a slight knock to the efficiency after a protracted day’s paintings with my setup probably drawing as regards to a very powerful mass. On the other hand those problems have been rather noticeable, if in the slightest degree, for a lot of the day.
In reality, a large number of the dock’s possible comes right kind the entire manner all the way down to which pc you personal and the easiest way arduous you push it. The venting is going some method to dispersing the warmth, alternatively for individuals who’re putting your laptop by the use of its paces for hours on finish, the dock goes to battle to stick cool. Making a vicious circle of the dock, and your software spewing warmth backward and forward at one each different like two bickering dragons.
You’ll additionally need to ensure that the dock does no longer block any ports at the base of your software, and if when you have a gaming laptop, don’t even trouble with it. A dock like this is far better suited for an informal workload with in all probability the occasional burst of depth. I would possibly extremely advise against extended use with a large number of thermal output, very similar to gaming.
Final analysis
Satechi’s Twin Dock Stand is a beautiful superb docking station. It’s additionally a useful ergonomic laptop stand. On most sensible of that, it’s additionally a superb SSD enclosure. For the 3 issues that Satechi’s dock units out to reach, it does so with superb have an effect on. Then again, there are nonetheless some hiccups round thermals and design that clutch it all over again from being nice in any a type of classes.
Whilst you’re an informal MacBook particular person, let me be immediately — if you wish to have the higher ports of a docking station, a greater typing enjoy, and the number of increasing your garage, you’ve discovered the only. The equivalent will also be mentioned for Space house home windows customers too, alternatively simply make sure that you have two left-hand USB-C slots ready and to be had to hook up with.
Then again, for individuals who’re a lot more of an influence particular person or gamer you’re going to begin to battle with the ones thermals and it is going to and can have a noticeable affect on efficiency.
All that apart, Satechi has delivered an improbable product. It’s very best class constructed, speedy, powerful, and dependable. Its zero-footprint design frees up space at your table, and its rear-facing ports are cable keep watch over heaven. It has energy and ports in abundance, and will reinforce at the convenience of your day by day grind and the garage of your laptop. All of this for a reasonably truthful pricing of simply $149.99, which is a steal for what you get in go back.
Every product has its shortcomings, alternatively few have this many strengths. The Satechi Twin Dock Stand is a 9-in-1, 3-in-1, that’s oh-so shut to being a hole-in-one. Well value its price tag, and a fantastic asset on your workspace.
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