Thunderbolt docks are handy but they can be quite expensive. AppleInsider has made a list of Cyber Monday deals on Thunderbolt docks, so you can cheaply connect more stuff to your Mac!
For years, Apple went down the route of offering minimal connections on its portable Macs. While it has changed its mind and added more connection options, there never seems to be enough for some users.
What follows is a collection of docks AppleInsider has compiled after scouring Cyber Monday deals. All of which can add plenty of ways to connect your peripherals and other hardware to your Mac.
Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Core
Belkin's Thunderbolt 3 Dock Core is a compact square dock that connects to the Mac using Thunderbolt 3. There are seven ports in total on it, including DisplayPort, HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet, Thunderbolt, USB-A, USB-C, and audio ports.
There's support for two 4K monitors included by the port, or a single 8K 30Hz monitor. It also offers 60W of power delivery to a connected MacBook, with it also providing charge to other connected peripherals.
The Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Core is normally $199.99, but it's now available for $80.03.
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock
If you want masses of connectivity, the CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock is the gold standard, and one we gave five stars in our review. Packed with 18 ports, you can practically connect anything to your Mac through it.
The list includes DisplayPort 1.4, eight USB ports, SD and microSD card readers, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, three audio ports, 2.5Gb Ethernet, and a security slot. It even supports dual 6K displays and has 98W of power delivery.
The CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock is usually $449.95 but it's available on Amazon for $319.96 to Prime members.
CalDigit TS3 Plus Thunderbolt 3 Dock
If you like the idea of the TS4 but want to save a bit more money, consider the CalDigit TS3 Plus Thunderbolt 3 Dock. When we looked at it in 2018, we thought it was a "great port expander" for users.
With 15 ports of connectivity, it's pretty expansive, with dual Thunderbolt 3 ports, DisplayPort 1.2, five USB-A ports, one USB-C 3.1 Gen 1, one USB-C 3.1 Gen 2, Gigabit Ethernet, three audio ports, and an SD card slot.
It can handle two 4K displays at 60Hz over DisplayPort and Thunderbolt, or one 5K 60Hz screen over Thunderbolt 3. As for power delivery, it can funnel 87W to a connected MacBook Pro.
The CalDigit TS3 Plus Thunderbolt 3 Dock has a list price of $239.95, but Prime members can secure it for $179.96.
OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock
OWC's Thunderbolt Go Dock is a great option for expansion, with it including a total of 11 ports. There's the host Thunderbolt 4 port as well as two more Thunderbolt 4 ports, one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, a USB 2.0 port, HDMI, 2.5-gig Ethernet, SD card slot, and a 3.5mm audio jack.
Capable of supporting one 8K 60Hz display, it can also manage a 4K screen at 120Hz, or two 5K displays at 60Hz. Power delivery extends to 90W for the host connection and 15W to the other Thunderbolt 4 ports.
One thing picked up on in our review of the dock was that it has its power supply built-in to eliminate the power brick, which made it a bit bulky but the benefit outweighed the size. We also found it to be a bit expensive, making this deal worth considering.
The OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock is usually priced at $349.99 on Amazon, but it's now down to $284.99 with the on-page coupon.
Anker PowerExpand 5-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Mini Dock
The Anker PowerExpand 5-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Mini Dock is packed with connectivity despite its small size. Through its Thunderbolt 4 upstream port, it can provide a MacBook with 85W of power delivery.
The three Thunderbolt 4 downstream ports can handle an 8K display or two 4K versions, while also offering 15W of power to connected devices. Lastly, there's a USB-A port for legacy peripherals.
Normally $179.99, the Anker PowerExpand 5-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Mini Dock can be yours on Amazon for $89.
Anker 577 Docking Station
The Anker 577 Docking Station is a 13-in-one device, with it including dual Thunderbolt 3 ports, two USB-C ports, four USB-A ports, HDMI, Ethernet, SD and microSD card slots, and a 3.5mm audio port. All of this connects to your Mac with a single 2.3-foot Thunderbolt 3 cable.
Supporting a 5K 60Hz screen on Thunderbolt 3 and a 4K 60Hz display on HDMI for dual-screen action, it's also handy on power delivery too. Up to 85W can be provided to the host MacBook, with 15W through Thunderbolt and 18W via one of the USB-C ports.
Usually $299.99, the Anker 577 Docking Station is on sale at Amazon for $279.99.