![]() ![]() PortsĪs noted, CalDigit’s USB-C Dock makes it easy to quickly add a plethora of ports to the MacBook Pro. With this in mind, I suppose it’s not a very big deal, but it does limit the growth potential of the dock. USB 3.1 gen 2, which is the real implementation of USB 3.1, affords much faster speeds - up to 10 Gbps.Īdmittedly, there aren’t many USB devices yet available that support this higher USB 3.1 gen 2 speed, and the legacy devices that the majority of people connect will be USB 3.0 or slower. CalDigit’s dock supports USB 3.1 gen 1 (5Gbps), and allows users to connect external displays via its DisplayPort or HDMI port found on its rear.Īlthough I knew going into this review that CalDigit’s dock only supported USB and not Thunderbolt, I was a little disappointed to learn that the dock is USB 3.1 gen 1-only. Either way, it shouldn’t be a big deal, as you can always use a third-party USB-C cable as long as it’s certified.įor the record, CalDigit’s dock isn’t a Thunderbolt 3 dock, but it does work with the USB-C form factor, which is used by ThunderBolt 3. However, the company offers a slightly higher-priced SKU that includes a 1-meter cable as well. This machine features only two USB-C (Thunderbolt 3 ports), so it heavily benefits from a dock that expands its connectivity options.ĬalDigit includes a 0.5-meter USB-C cable in the box, which may be a little short for the needs of some. I’ve been testing CalDigit’s dock with my 2016 MacBook Pro (without TouchBar). Subscribe to 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Mac-centric videos Connectivity All functionality including video and USB data are still supported. This might happen when connecting to a Thunderbolt 3 laptop workstation such as MSI WT72 or any other high-power mobile computer. If your computer requires more than 15W to operate, it may not be enough power to sustain the battery and we recommend plugging in your OEM charging cable. When laptop charging is down to 15W, the front LED indicator light will turn red. Here is how CalDigit explains it on its FAQ: If the LED indicator is red it means that maximum power isn’t being supplied to the computer. When this light is green, it means that there’s a successful connection to your computer, with the dock providing full power. You’ll notice a small LED indicator light on the left side of the dock next to the CalDigit logo. That, combined with the unit’s substantial weight, should prevent it from sliding around while on your desk, even when it’s inundated with various cable connections. The USB-C Dock features four rubber feet on the bottom of the device to keep it from sliding around on your desk. That means that there’s no need for noisy fans. ![]() The good thing about the aluminum design is that the casing works like a giant heat sink to help dissipate heat. ![]() For example, when you sit the dock down on a desk, you’ll hear a slight rattle from the parts within. It’s nice that the unit is all aluminum and not plastic, but there is a certain hollowness to the dock that makes it seem a little more fragile than its build quality might initially suggest. The dock is designed much in the same way as CalDigit’s Tuff line of USB-C portable drives. Design & Build QualityĬalDigit’s USB-C Dock is fully comprised of aluminum, with an interesting texture ridge surface on the top and bottom. Have a look at our hands-on video walkthrough for the details. That means that the dock should do fine charging the smaller 13″ MacBook Pro at full speed, but will take a bit longer charging the 15″ MacBook Pro that ships with a larger power adapter.ĬalDigit’s USB-C Dock isn’t a perfect device, but it does a pretty good job of turning the new MacBook Pro into a desktop-worthy machine, if you can put up with the compromises you’ll have to make in order to use it. In addition, the unit is able to charge a MacBook up to 60W. With a single USB-C cable, for instance, you can tap into CalDigit’s USB-C Dock, which gains you instant access to multiple legacy USB-A ports, Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.2, an extra USB-C port, and an additional 3.5mm headphone jack along with a microphone jack. But if there’s a silver lining to be found, it’s that the USB-C ports featured on the new machines are super-versatile. The Late 2016 MacBook Pro lacks many of the convenient ports that we’ve seen on previous MacBook releases. ![]()
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