If you run a modern laptop like one of the latest MacBook Pro models from Apple, there may be times when you need to plug in something that your limited USB-C ports simply don’t allow. It’s worth investing in something a little more elegant like Elgato’s Thunderbolt 3 Dock instead of daisy-chaining dongles and adapters as a solution. Right now, Amazon’s down to $209.95 is the lowest price we’ve ever seen there for it. It’s sold for about $250 late, although you just have to track back a few months to see prices as high as $300.
The Thunderbolt 3 Dock is by no means a portable kit piece (for that, Elgato has a Mini version). It is designed to be used for a docked laptop or your desktop machine at a desk as an I / O expansion. It connects to a single Thunderbolt 3 port on your computer and transforms it into two Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports, three USB 3.0 ports, a DisplayPort and Gigabit Ethernet. It also has headphone inputs and a microphone. It has its own power supply, which means that while it is connected it can even charge your laptop.
If you want to run a MacBook external as it supports displays up to 5 K in resolution or dual 4 K displays, it’s a great pickup. It’s also handy to bring your ports to the front for easier access from the back of your iMac. There is a Pro version with additional microSD and SD card slots and more USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 ports if the Thunderbolt 3 Dock ports aren’t quite enough for you. However, it’s a bit more expensive.