Apple had a change of heart after its introduction of USB-C with the 2015 12-inch MacBook: the company hasn’t put only a single peripheral port on any laptop it’s released since. The company also dropped the USB 3.1-only MacBook. Apple silicon MacBook Pro models include dedicated video and charging ports (MagSafe 3).
What happens if your M1 MacBook Air or M1 MacBook Pro do not have MagSafe? You will need one Thunderbolt 4/USB4 connector for power over USB C, and one for USB-C. You can opt for a USB-C dock that’s USB 3.x/4 only or that supports Thunderbolt 3. You have two options: a dock that supports Thunderbolt 3 or USB 3.x/4 only.
You were limited to adding Thunderbolt 3 and 4 devices. Thunderbolt 3 and 4 are becoming more popular for external SSDs, as well as other storage devices. And you might have Thunderbolt 2 legacy devices that can work via a Thunderbolt 3 adapter—but only when plugged into a Thunderbolt port.
It was difficult to find a dock or hub that had additional USB-C ports and Thunderbolt 3/4 support. With the introduction of Thunderbolt 4, docks and hubs with Thunderbolt 4 ports, it was possible to buy docks or hubs with additional USB-C ports. (Any version macOS 12 Monterey will work. If you’re using Big Sur, you may need at least 11.1 or 11.4, depending on the dock or hub.)
A few companies offer docks and external hubs that can be used for this purpose. OWC Thunderbolt hub ($159) is the most affordable option. Reviewed April 20, 2121The hub has four Thunderbolt 3/4 ports and one 10 Gbps USB3.2 Type-A port. Three Thunderbolt 3/4 ports are available on the hub because one port connects to your computer via cable.
At the other end of the spectrum is CalDigit’s mega-dock, the $400 Thunderbolt Station 4 sporting 18 ports of all kinds, including three Thunderbolt 3/4 jacks. This unit was tested in April 2022..
Although there are hundreds of USB-C docks available, you will need to make sure that the dock you choose offers Thunderbolt 4 external support. Take a look at Macworld’s Thunderbolt and USB-C guide to docking stationsFor more information about specifications and the best docks, please visit:
This Mac 911 article responds to Jim, a Macworld reader.
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