This is the caldigit usb-c HDMI dock that was recently announced. I had the opportunity to get
a pre release look at this dock and you may have seen my hansom face on another video talking about
it but in this video I just wanted to introduce it to you guys and give you a little overview.
Hey, Im Jerry and I was able to get my hands on this USb-C HDMI dock to test it out and see how
it works with an assortment of different machines. This isn’t going to be a review
but more of just a general overview for anyone who has not seen it yet.
I do want to point out that this video has not been sponsored or paid for by Caldigit.
First off, this is called the USB-C HDMI dock because on the back side
there are 2 HDMI ports which can output dual displays at 60hz in extended mode,
which means you can have your laptop and 2 additional displays connected.
Now there are some limitations to that depending on what computer you are using. I tested this
dock with the 16” MacBook Pro, an M1 MacBook Pro, and 3 different USB-C windows laptops.
If you are using a Windows Laptop with USb-C but not Thunderbolt you can get 2 displays at 30hz or
if you are running an Apple Silicon Mac like the new MacBook Pro or MacBook Air
you can only run a single external display at 60hz. But, if you have an intel based Mac or PC,
like the 16” MacBook Pro, with Thunderbolt 3 you can get 2 4k displays running at 60hz.
And yes, 60hz is important for fluid motions of stuff on the screen for
even simple things like dragging a window around.
The other big thing about the USB-C HDMI dock is that it provides more
power output than almost any other dock. The 16” MacBook Pro comes with a huge power brick
and if you use a lesser power adapter you can find that when the laptop is running
you will actually lose battery charge even when plugged in. The USB-C HDMI dock outputs 94 watts
of power which is enough to fully power the computer and keep the battery charged up. I
tested that by exporting a 10 minute video file and didn’t lose a single percent of battery.
Also on the back of the dock is a single Thunderbolt connection for
connecting to your computer, 2 5gbps USB-A ports
and a 1gb ethernet connection. I do love having a dock with an ethernet connection.
That’s is something that I sorely needed after switching back to a Mac laptop this past year.
On the front you have another 5gbps USb-A port,
a 10gbps USB-C port, a UHS II SD card reader, and a dual audio in/out jack.
I was able to test all of the ports and connection options with different Macs,
PCs, and even USB-C equipped iPads. I tested the speed on the USB ports
using a CalDigit Tuff Nano and a Samsung T7 and was able to get full speed on both drives. Using
the SD card reader I was able to get over 250MBps compared to the 60-90MBps on my previous iMac.
Build wise, this dock is solid. It has a weight to it that makes it feel premium
and not cheap. I like the muted look with the mostly aluminum exterior and it fits well
on pretty much any desk because its gray and black, like almost everything else.
The USB-C HDMI dock does not have a ton of ports which is actually fine for me and my use.
I don’t need to plug a lot of things directly into my laptop beyond my USB Kanto Speakers,
a dongle for my mouse, and sometimes an external drive.
So, that’s just a simple overview of the new dock from CalDigit.
The biggest benefit to the USB-C HDMI dock is for the people who are running an intel based laptop
with thunderbolt who wants 2 external displays and enough power to keep their laptop charged.
I would also add that Ethernet is super important in the world of work from home video calls.
If that’s you, this may be the dock you are looking for. ….If you are looking for
a thunderbolt dock with a few more USB ports or maybe something that is a little easier to
travel with, you should check out this video about the Caldigit TS3+ and SOHO for some other options.
Hit the thumbs up button if you liked it, hit subscribe if you want and Ill see you next time.