Razer USB 4 Dock assessment: versatile dock with loads of ports and energy

• Kind: USB-C/USB-A dock
• Ports: 14 (13 obtainable for peripherals)
• Energy: 100W for laptop computer; 180W max
• Exterior Shows: 1x 4K at 120Hz, or 2x 4K at 60Hz

Razer is greatest recognized for its vary of high-end gaming gear, which is generally designed for Home windows PCs, but it surely additionally makes a lot of extra down-to-earth equipment which can be appropriate for common use at residence or in an workplace. It makes a number of docks and hubs that can be utilized with Macs and PCs, together with a reasonably costly Thunderbolt 4 dock that weighs in at round $300/£300.

Now it has launched the cheaper ‘USB 4 Dock’, which manages to supply dual-monitor help together with a formidable number of ports and connectors for the significantly cheaper price of $229.99/£229.99 (and Razer prefers USB 4 fairly than the official USB4).

Accessible in black or Mercury White – which is admittedly simply silver, and really related in tone to the M4 Mac mini – the USB 4 Dock is neatly designed and really sturdily constructed. The physique of the dock is made out of anodized aluminium, which feels very strong and in addition has a easy, scratch-resistant end that appears very good.

It’s fairly compact too, provided that Razer has managed to squeeze in a minimum of 14 separate ports and connectors – though it’s value noting that the principle USB4 port is used to attach the dock to your Mac, leaving 13 ports which can be obtainable for connecting a monitor and different equipment.

The USB 4 Dock measures simply 22mm excessive, 190mm vast and 80mm deep, and is pretty mild too, weighing 1.1kg, and Razer’s website online does make some extent of referring to its “transportable design”.

Nevertheless, it neglects to say the extra mains energy provide that can also be included within the field. The facility provide is sort of as giant because the dock itself, and barely heavier, so the USB 4 Dock actually isn’t going to stray very far out of your desk at residence or within the workplace. It’s, nevertheless, very versatile, as that chunky energy provide offers 100W of energy for charging a MacBook or a PC laptop computer, together with extra energy for all the opposite ports and connectors on the dock.

On the again of the dock you’ll discover the principle USB4 port – with USB-C connector – which is used to attach your MacBook or different laptop to the dock (with USB4 cable included within the field). Alongside this are each HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 connectors for connecting exterior displays – however, once more, Razer’s website online proves to be just a little unclear right here.

The web site refers back to the dock’s help for twin shows and appears to indicate that the primary show can run at 4K decision with 120Hz refresh fee, with a second 4K show operating at 60Hz. Nevertheless, our discussions with Razer confirmed that the USB 4 Dock can run a single 4K show at 120Hz, or two 4K shows at 60Hz, in order that’s one thing to recollect for those who’re planning to make use of the USB 4 Dock as a part of a multi-monitor set-up.

The remainder of the dock’s options are extra simple. Additionally positioned on the again panel is a Gigabit Ethernet port for a wired community connection, and three USB-A (3.2) ports, two of which offer knowledge switch of 10Gbps whereas the third runs at 5Gbps. There are much more USB ports on the entrance as effectively – two USB-C and one USB-A, with all three operating at 10Gbps. And, to maintain Razer’s gaming viewers completely satisfied, there’s one final USB-A port positioned all by itself on the left-hand fringe of the dock, which is particularly designed to carry a 2.4GHz wi-fi dongle that may present a low-latency connection for a wi-fi keyboard and mouse.

The dock offers good audio help too, because the entrance panel homes a 3.5mm audio connector, which might work with both a microphone or a set of wired headphones. There are additionally two slots on the entrance for SD and MicroSD reminiscence playing cards, for transferring photographs or video from a digicam.

It’s value noting although, that there’s simply that one USB4 port on the again, which is used to attach your MacBook to the dock, with all the opposite USB ports supporting USB 3.2. When you want larger efficiency – maybe for backing up giant video or graphics recordsdata onto an SSD – then you could want to have a look at a dearer Thunderbolt dock as an alternative.

Nevertheless, the power of the USB 4 Dock is its sheer versatility, with 13 ports and connectors obtainable for attaching peripherals and equipment, and the power to energy and cost a number of gadgets all on the identical time.

Must you purchase the Razer USB 4 Dock?

Skilled customers who want the complete velocity of Thunderbolt 4 – and even Thunderbolt 5 on the most recent Macs with M4 Professional chips – would possibly want a dearer Thunderbolt dock for working with giant video or graphics recordsdata. The USB 4 Dock isn’t in that league for sheer efficiency, however its versatile number of ports and connectors will probably be an actual boon for folks – like me – who’ve a number of SSDs, webcam, keyboard and different equipment of their workplace that they should use with their Mac every single day.

For extra USB Docks to contemplate to your Mac, learn our spherical up of the Finest Thunderbolt and USB-C docking stations.

Connectivity

• 1x USB4 (USB-C) for host laptop
• 1x HDMI 2.1
• 1x DisplayPort 1.4
• 2x USB-C (10Gbps)
• 3x USB-A (10Gbps)
• 1x USB-A (5Gbps)
• 1x USB-A (for wi-fi adaptor)
• 1x Gigabit Ethernet
• 1x 3.5mm audio in/out
• 1x SD
• 1x MicroSD