Thunderbolt 3 docking stations are very complete and powerful, but they are often bulky and require external power. The USB-C hubs are simpler and less well equipped, but they are discreet and operate on the computer’s battery. Belkin is trying to find a compromise between the two with its Thunderbolt 3 Dock Core, compact and complete at the same time.
Like the hubs, it comes with an integrated cable that plugs into the computer and requires no power. It can simply draw on that of the computer to power its own components and even external devices, such as a smartphone that can be charged on one of its USB ports. However, a USB-Power Delivery connector allows you to connect the usual charger to the docking station and power the computer.
Like the TB3 hubs, this new product is intended to be complete and with the minimum of compromise. With a single cable, we will have a USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 which can go up to 10 Gbps and a USB-A 2.0 thought for a less demanding accessory or to charge a smartphone. A mini-jack is used for both audio input and output, there is also a gigabit Ethernet jack and two video outputs that can be used at the same time. The DisplayPort 1.4 jack can go up to 8K @ 30Hz or 5K @ 60Hz if used alone and you can have two 4K @ 60Hz screens on the Belkin station.
It’s not as good as the best full, powered docking stations, but it’s much better than the small USB-C hubs. In particular, the device can only provide a maximum of 60 W to the connected computer, which is just enough for a 13-inch MacBook Pro and insufficient for 15 and 16 inches. The integrated cable is as short as on the hubs, it will not be practical to hide the block that looks like an Apple TV. Belkin considers mobile use rather than sedentary use, but this may be a disadvantage, for example if you use a support under your Mac.
This new product is on sale in the United States for $ 170, it is announced for 2020 on the French site of Belkin, without further details.
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