This article may contain affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
For most MacBook Pro users, the Anker 575 ($80–90) covers everyday docking needs. If you edit video or run Thunderbolt storage, the Caldigit TS4 ($380–400) is the correct tool. Everything else depends on two numbers: your MacBook’s maximum power draw and the data speed your peripherals actually require.
What to look for in a MacBook USB-C hub
Power delivery wattage
MacBook Pro models charge at different rates. A 13-inch M2 draws 60W maximum; a 16-inch M3 Max can draw up to 140W. A hub rated below your MacBook’s draw won’t keep the battery topped up under load—it just slows the drain. Most hubs fall into three tiers: 60–65W (adequate for 13-inch), 96–98W (adequate for 14-inch and 16-inch under moderate load), and 140W (full-speed charging for 16-inch M3 Max). Check your MacBook’s original adapter label before buying.
Thunderbolt 3 or 4 passthrough
A non-Thunderbolt USB-C hub funnels all traffic through a single USB 3.1 connection, capping total bandwidth at 10 Gbps shared across every port. Thunderbolt 4 passthrough raises that ceiling to 40 Gbps per port, which matters when you’re reading from a fast NVMe enclosure while simultaneously outputting to a 4K display. If your external storage is a spinning hard drive and your display runs at 1080p, you won’t notice the difference.
Port selection
Before comparing feature lists, count what you physically plug in today: USB-A peripherals, SD cards, HDMI cables, Ethernet. A hub with two USB-A ports and one HDMI handles most desk setups. Add an SD slot if you shoot on a camera. Add a second video output only if you run dual external displays.
Best overall: Anker 575 USB-C Docking Station
The Anker 575 delivers 65W of power, which fully charges 13-inch models and maintains battery on 14-inch M3 Pro models during normal workloads. Ports include two USB-A 3.0, two USB-C, one HDMI, Ethernet, and an SD card reader—enough for a single-monitor desk setup with a wired keyboard, external drive, and network cable. The aluminum chassis sits flat without a rubber foot problem, and a cable channel underneath keeps the desk tidy.
The ceiling: no Thunderbolt passthrough means USB-C data tops out at 10 Gbps, and 65W will drain a 16-inch M3 Max battery during CPU-heavy tasks. At $80–90, it’s the right call for document work, video calls, and drives under 1 TB.
Best for power users: Caldigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock
The TS4 is the benchmark other docks are measured against. It provides 98W of power delivery, full Thunderbolt 4 passthrough at 40 Gbps, five USB-A ports, two USB-C ports, HDMI, DisplayPort, Ethernet, and SD/SDXC slots. You can daisy-chain two Thunderbolt SSDs and a display on the single upstream port without measurable throughput loss on any device.
At $380–400, the price reflects Thunderbolt 4 silicon and a port count that eliminates the need for secondary hubs. Worth it if you edit 4K or higher, use Thunderbolt RAID arrays, or connect an external GPU. Unnecessary if your fastest peripheral is a USB 3.0 hard drive.
Best budget option: Satechi Aluminum USB-C Multiport Adapter V2
At $45–50, the Satechi V2 is a travel adapter, not a desk dock. One USB-A 3.0, two USB-C, one HDMI, and one SD slot fit into a form factor small enough to forget in a bag. Power delivery is 60W—sufficient to trickle-charge a 13-inch MacBook while transferring files, but expect slower charge rates if you’re also running an external display.
No Ethernet, no extra USB-A, no Thunderbolt. The trade-off is deliberate: you’re buying compactness and price, not capability. Works well as a secondary hub for travel or as a first hub for light users who only need one external display and occasional file transfers.
Best for displays and video: OWC 14-Port Thunderbolt 4 Dock
The OWC dock targets creative professionals running dual-display setups. It includes Thunderbolt 4 passthrough, six USB-A ports, four USB-C ports, dual DisplayPort outputs (each supporting up to 6K), Ethernet, 96W power delivery, and both SD and CompactFlash card slots—the last detail mattering to photographers still shooting on older Nikon or Canon bodies that use CF cards.
The dock is physically large and costs $320–350. Single-monitor users get no benefit over the Caldigit TS4 at a lower price. The OWC earns its place when you need two high-resolution displays, legacy card formats, and six USB-A ports simultaneously.
Comparison table
| Model | Power Delivery | Thunderbolt | USB-A Ports | USB-C Ports | Video Output | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anker 575 | 65W | No | 2 | 2 | HDMI (1) | $80–90 |
| Satechi V2 | 60W | No | 1 | 2 | HDMI (1) | $45–50 |
| Caldigit TS4 | 98W | Yes (TB4) | 5 | 2 | HDMI + DP | $380–400 |
| OWC 14-Port | 96W | Yes (TB4) | 6 | 4 | 2× DP (6K) | $320–350 |
Our verdict
The Anker 575 handles one external display and standard peripherals for most desk setups. The Caldigit TS4 is the correct choice if you use Thunderbolt storage or need reliable 98W charging on a 14-inch or 16-inch model. The Satechi V2 is a travel adapter that doubles as a light-use dock. The OWC dock is specific to dual-display creative workflows that also require CompactFlash. On power delivery: 60–65W for 13-inch MacBook Pro, 96W or higher for 14-inch and 16-inch models running intensive tasks.
A hub is only useful if its power delivery matches your MacBook—undersized wattage means your battery drains during use, negating the benefit of expanded ports.
How to choose based on your MacBook model
MacBook Pro 13-inch (M2, M3): Maximum draw is 60W. Any hub in this list charges it adequately. Skip Thunderbolt unless you own Thunderbolt-specific peripherals.
MacBook Pro 14-inch (M3, M3 Pro): The M3 Pro variant draws up to 96W under load. A 65W hub charges slowly during CPU-intensive work but won’t drain the battery outright. The Caldigit TS4 at 98W is the cleaner solution if you work with the display at full brightness and run background tasks.
MacBook Pro 16-inch (M3 Max): Rated for up to 140W. Neither the Caldigit TS4 (98W) nor the OWC dock (96W) delivers full-speed charging—your battery charges more slowly than with Apple’s 140W brick. For most workflows this is acceptable; for overnight charging, use the original adapter. To confirm your chip and screen size, go to Apple menu → About This Mac.
Port priorities by workflow
- Video editing and photography: Thunderbolt passthrough, SD card slot, dual video outputs → Caldigit TS4 or OWC dock
- Office and video conferencing: USB-A for peripherals, HDMI for a monitor, Ethernet for stable calls → Anker 575
- Travel and occasional docking: Compact form factor, one HDMI, basic USB-A → Satechi V2
- Mixed desk use without Thunderbolt storage: Anker 575 covers this at a third of the Caldigit’s price
For more on matching ports to peripherals, see our USB-C Hub Buying Guide: What to Look For. If you’re also reconsidering your laptop, Best Laptop for Creative Professionals covers how MacBook Pro chip tiers affect peripheral compatibility.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a non-Thunderbolt USB-C hub with my MacBook Pro?
Yes. Non-Thunderbolt hubs work but cap data speed at 10 Gbps (USB 3.1) instead of Thunderbolt’s 40 Gbps. That’s sufficient for external SSDs, single displays, and USB peripherals. It only becomes a bottleneck with Thunderbolt RAID arrays or external GPUs.
Will a 65W hub charge my 16-inch MacBook Pro?
Technically yes, but slowly. A 16-inch M3 Max can draw 140W under load. At 65W input, the battery drains during intensive tasks and charges only when the machine is idle or asleep. For reliable charging on 16-inch models, use a hub rated at 96W or higher.
Do I need Ethernet on my hub?
Only if you have a wired gigabit network and need consistent throughput—video conferencing on a weak Wi-Fi signal, or large file transfers to a NAS. Most home users on Wi-Fi 6 routers won’t notice a difference.
Can I daisy-chain two Thunderbolt hubs?
Yes, if both support Thunderbolt passthrough. Connect the second hub to the first hub’s downstream Thunderbolt port. Bandwidth is shared across the chain, so the practical limit is two to three active devices before throughput degrades noticeably.
Why is the Caldigit TS4 so expensive compared to the Anker 575?
The TS4 uses Thunderbolt 4 silicon rated at 40 Gbps per port versus 10 Gbps on the Anker’s USB 3.1 controller. It also includes five USB-A ports versus two, and higher-rated components throughout. If you don’t own any Thunderbolt peripherals and use one external display, the Anker 575 does the same practical job for $290 less.
Dev has benchmarked laptops and phones for a decade and still reads the changelog before updating.
