Ugreen Maxidok review: The Thunderbolt 5 dock built for serious desks

PCWorld

Ugreen Maxidok review: The Thunderbolt 5 dock built for serious desks

At a glance Expert's Rating Pros Thunderbolt 5 with speeds of up to 120Gbps M.2 NVMe slot up to 8TB 240W total power, 140W for charging High-quality build in a mini-PC format Stable performance even under continuous load Cons High purchase price No HDMI output directly on the chassis Our Verdict The Ugreen Maxidok 17-in-1 Thunderbolt 5 docking station is currently one of the most technically comprehensive Thunderbolt 5 docks on the market. It delivers the full bandwidth of 120Gbps, supplies the laptop with up to 140 watts, and combines this with 17 ports as well as an M.2 slot for an internal SSD upgrade. Build quality, cooling, and stability all point to a device designed for long-term professional use. Price at time of review This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Price Today Price When Reviewed 459,99 Euro Best Prices Today: Ugreen Maxidok 17-in-1 Thunderbolt 5 Dockingstation Retailer Price Ugreen 461,00 € View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Modern laptops are becoming slimmer, more powerful and with fewer ports. Anyone who uses a fixed workstation in the office or home office on a permanent basis will find a docking station almost indispensable. Ugreen is launching its new flagship product, the Maxidok 17-in-1. At its heart is Thunderbolt 5 (TB5), the latest generation of the Thunderbolt interface. I’ve taken a look at what the station can do and who it’s best suited for. Read on to learn more, then see our roundup of the best Thunderbolt docks for comparison. Maxidok 17-in-1 TB5 Docking Station: Design and build The Maxidok comes with a power supply, power cable, Thunderbolt 5 cable, and a small screwdriver for the M.2 slot on the underside of the case. Measuring 5.23 × 5.23 × 2.08 inches, the dock weighs around 1.91 pounds, stands securely on four large rubber feet and, with its aluminum casing, precise tolerances, and quiet fan noise, gives a high-quality, premium impression. Christoph Hoffmann The numerous ventilation openings are striking. They suggest that an active fan is at work inside. During standard tasks, the dock remains virtually inaudible. When large amounts of data are being transferred or multiple displays are running at full load, the fan revs up gently. It remains discreet, with no high-pitched whistling audible. The external temperature rises noticeably under load, but remains within safe limits. The aluminum helps to dissipate some of the heat. The layout of the ports is well thought out. The ports for quick access are at the front, while the connections for fixed cabling are at the rear. The small, light-colored symbols can be a little difficult to make out depending on the lighting, but you quickly get the hang of it in everyday use. Maxidok 17-in-1 TB5 Docking Station: Features The number 17 in the product name denotes the total number of ports. In practice, 15 downstream ports are usable, plus the Thunderbolt 5 host and the M.2 slot inside. Located on the front are a power button with LED, three USB-C ports (each at 10Gbps), an SD card reader (UHS-II), a TF MicroSD card reader, and a 3.5mm jack for headsets. Christoph Hoffmann On the rear, there are three USB-A ports with 10Gbps, two Thunderbolt 5 downstream ports, the Thunderbolt 5 host port for the laptop/PC, a DisplayPort 2.1, a 2.5 Gigabit LAN port, separate audio-in and audio-out jacks, and the DC input for the power supply. A Kensington lock protects against theft. Christoph Hoffmann What’s missing is a direct HDMI output. This can be resolved using an adapter, but for a premium solution it initially feels like a compromise. From a technical perspective, however, the focus on DisplayPort 2.1 and Thunderbolt 5 is understandable. Both standards are considered more modern and future-proof for high resolutions, frame rates, and multi-monitor setups, as they offer significantly more bandwidth and provide better support for upcoming display generations. Thunderbolt 5 delivers up to 80Gbps of bidirectional bandwidth. For video-intensive applications, the so-called Bandwidth Boost mode can increase the transfer rate in one direction to up to 120Gbps. Depending on the host system, this allows for two 8K monitors at 60Hz or up to three 4K displays at 144Hz. The 240-watt total power output is distributed intelligently. Up to 140 watts flows to the laptop via the Thunderbolt 5 host. Even power-hungry workstations thus receive enough power for continuous operation. A second device can be fast-charged with up to 60 watts, while additional USB ports supply peripherals such as a mouse, keyboard, or smartphone. The fan remains largely inaudible during everyday use and only becomes faintly noticeable under sustained load. What has changed compared to TB4? Compared to TB4 docks, the Maxidok offers, above all, greater capacity: higher bandwidth, stronger charging power, two TB5 downstream ports, and the integrated M.2 slot. The advantage is less evident in simple office setups, but becomes apparent with multiple displays, fast data transfers, and parallel charging. It is precisely in this segment that Ugreen positions the Maxidok, while classic TB4 docks are generally regarded as all-round solutions for less demanding setups. The M.2 slot makes all the difference The biggest leap forward compared to older models in the Maxidok series is the internal M.2 slot. It accommodates NVMe SSDs in the 2280 format with PCIe Gen4 x4, with capacities of up to 8TB possible. This turns the station itself into a fast external storage medium — a feature that clearly sets the dock apart from classic USB-C docking stations, which merely provide additional ports. The built-in heatsink keeps the SSD at temperatures around 44 degrees even under load; no throttling occurred during testing. Christoph Hoffmann This is precisely where the real added value lies: the monitor, network, USB devices, and fast mass storage all run via a central unit and, in most cases, via a single cable to the laptop. This reduces cable clutter, saves space on the desk, and makes the workspace tidier overall. Instead of placing an additional external SSD enclosure next to the dock, the storage is plugged directly into the docking station. This brings noticeable benefits in everyday use, particularly when dealing with large amounts of data. Anyone who regularly works on photo or video projects, uses virtual machines, moves large backup folders, or wishes to keep project archives locally has fast storage permanently available at their workstation. This makes mobile workflows considerably easier: Simply connect the laptop, the monitors, the network, input devices, and the entire working environment — including the SSD — are immediately ready for use. Christoph Hoffmann The M.2 slot is therefore particularly useful for users who use their dock in a stationary setup on a daily basis and frequently work with large files. For classic office tasks involving a mouse, keyboard, monitor, and the occasional USB stick, however, the feature is more of a convenience than a genuine reason to buy. However, those who work as creators, regularly switch between mobile and fixed workstations, or wish to replicate NAS and backup-like scenarios locally will benefit much more. In these cases, the dock becomes not just a port extension, but the central hub of the entire setup. Who can actually use Thunderbolt 5? The full speed of Thunderbolt 5 requires compatible hardware. For Windows laptops, the standard must be factory-fitted. Currently, TB5 is primarily found in high-end notebooks with Intel’s second-generation Core Ultra processors (Series 2), which have been on the market since late 2024. Manufacturers such as Razer, MSI, Lenovo, Dell, and HP offer corresponding models in the gaming and workstation categories. Retrofitting is not possible on laptops. If you have an older computer with Thunderbolt 4 or USB4, you can use the Maxidok, but with a reduced bandwidth of 40Gbps. Additionally, Windows 11 version 23H2 or later is required; TB5 does not run fully on Windows 10. The situation is more relaxed for desktop PCs. Some current motherboards with Intel’s Z890 chipset come with Thunderbolt 5 built-in, such as models from Asus, Gigabyte, or MSI. Anyone with a suitable board featuring a Thunderbolt header can also retrofit the standard via a PCIe expansion card. Asus offers the ThunderboltEX 5 PCIe x4 expansion card for around $140, while Gigabyte has announced a comparable model. Important: Compatibility must be checked with the card manufacturer, and TB5 must be enabled in the BIOS before first use. On the Apple side, the MacBook Pro with M4 Pro and M4 Max were already the first devices with Thunderbolt 5 by the end of 2024. Older MacBooks with M1, M2, or M3 use Thunderbolt 4 and are thus reaching the bandwidth limit. AMD systems mostly use USB4 instead of certified Thunderbolt 5. The Maxidok generally works there as well, though not always with full TB5 functionality, as USB4 does not specify a guaranteed minimum bandwidth like Thunderbolt 5 does. Maxidok 17-in-1 TB5 Docking Station: Everyday usability Setup is straightforward: Plug in the power supply, connect the TB5 cable to the host port, and you’re done. MacOS recognizes the dock immediately; Windows 11 downloads the appropriate drivers on first connection. The included cable is a good 27.5 inches long and certified for maximum Thunderbolt 5 speeds. If you need more cable length, you should opt for an active cable. Passive cables only maintain the 120Gbps speed up to about 40 inches. In everyday use, the Maxidok quickly demonstrates its strengths. Monitors, network, storage, and input devices run via the dock; the laptop requires only a single Thunderbolt cable. The connection remains stable, and peripherals are reliably recognized even after the laptop has been in sleep mode. The data rates live up to what Thunderbolt 5 promises. A PCIe Gen 4 SSD (Lexar NM790 2TB) in the internal slot delivers sequential read speeds of around 3,900 MB/s in CrystalDiskMark. The full Gen 4 speed of theoretically 7,000MB/s is curbed in practice by bandwidth distribution. For an integrated docking scenario, this is nevertheless an exceptionally high figure, which leaves classic USB 3.2 solutions far behind and offers more than enough headroom even for video editing or large project files. Christoph Hoffmann The 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet interface meets the requirements of modern home and office networks and operates reliably. However, anyone using a 10 Gigabit network with a fast NAS such as the Ugreen NASync iDX6011 Pro might wish for more bandwidth than 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet provides. The card readers transfer photo and video files quickly from the storage medium to the laptop. With supported UHS-II cards, transfer rates of up to 312MB/s are possible. For photographers dealing with large volumes of RAW files, this is a noticeable relief. The additional USB-C ports on the front can quickly connect a smartphone or a camera. The dock delivers reliably when charging the laptop. In our test, a MacBook Pro drew the full 140 watts. High-performance Windows laptops also benefit from the high power budget, though depending on the model, they typically use between 100 and 140 watts via USB-C Power Delivery. The fan remains largely inaudible during everyday use and only becomes faintly noticeable under sustained load. No throttling occurred during testing, and data rates remained constant. When idle and not charging a laptop, the dock consumes around 5 watts. Should you buy the Maxidok 17-in-1 TB5 Docking Station? The Ugreen Maxidok 17-in-1 Thunderbolt 5 docking station is a well-designed premium dock. Anyone looking to run a modern workstation with multiple displays, fast storage media, and full laptop charging via a single cable will find this one of the most compelling solutions currently available. The internal M.2 slot is its strongest selling point compared to competitors. Build quality, stability, and cooling are all up to scratch, and the fan remains quiet in everyday use. Weaknesses lie in the details: The lack of an HDMI output is occasionally annoying, and the 2.5-gigabit LAN interface feels a bit old-fashioned in the 10-gigabit era. With a list price of $499.99 and a street price of around $400, the station sits in the upper segment. Those who can utilize its full potential will receive a future-proof control center for their desk. For users of current Thunderbolt 5 laptops, the Maxidok 17-in-1 is currently one of the most technically versatile docking stations on the market. Technical specifications Model: Ugreen Maxidok 17-in-1 Thunderbolt 5 Docking Station (U716) Total ports: 17 (15 downstream, 1 Thunderbolt 5 host, 1 internal M.2 slot) Host interface: 1 × Thunderbolt 5 (up to 120Gbps, 140W PD) Thunderbolt 5 downstream: 2 × Thunderbolt 5 (up to 80Gbps) USB-C: 3 × (USB 3.2 Gen 2, 10Gbps) USB-A: 3 × (USB 3.2 Gen 2, 10Gbps) Video output: 1 × DisplayPort 2.1 (up to 8K@60Hz) Display setup: Up to 2 × 8K@60 Hz or 3 × 4K@144 Hz (depending on host) Ethernet: 2.5 Gigabit LAN (RJ45) Card reader: SD UHS-II microSD/TF (up to 312MB/s) Audio: 3.5mm jack at the front, separate audio in/out at the rear Internal storage slot: M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen4 x4 (2280, up to 8TB) Total power: 240W Fast charging: 60W via downstream port Power supply: External 240W power adapter Security: Kensington lock Material: Aluminium housing (zinc-aluminium alloy) Dimensions: 5.23 × 5.23 × 2.08 in Weight: approx. 1.9 lbs (excluding power supply) Compatibility: macOS (backwards compatible from M1; full TB5 support only from M4 Pro/Max), Windows 11 with Thunderbolt 5/4 or USB 4 Contents: Dock, power supply, power cable, Thunderbolt 5 cable (0.7 m), screwdriver, instructions Warranty: 2 years

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