Friday, January 22, 2021

OWC Thunderbolt 4 Hub

OWC (via Dimka, MacInTouch):

For the first time ever, the OWC Thunderbolt Hub lets you consolidate and simplify the connectivity between all your devices with all the Thunderbolt ports you’ve always wanted. The OWC Thunderbolt Hub’s four Thunderbolt (USB-C) ports and one USB port massively expand your connection possibilities.

It ships in February for $149. There’s also a $249 OWC Thunderbolt Dock that has more non-Thunderbolt ports. It seems like it’s taking forever to get USB-C to where USB-A hubs are—and were 20+ years ago—in terms of price or number of ports, but this is progress.

Previously:

Update (2021-02-05): Joe Rossignol (also: 9to5Mac):

CalDigit today introduced a new “Element Hub” dock, equipped with four Thunderbolt 4 ports and four USB-A ports for connecting external displays, storage drives, and other peripherals to devices like a MacBook Pro or iPad Pro.

See also: John Voorhees.

Update (2022-06-10): Patrick McCarron:

I got the new tiny @PoweredbyOWC Thunderbolt 4 hub, but has a huge flaw the front Thunderbolt cable falls out way too easily which is bad because it’s on the front of the device.

Their response: “buy something else we sell to hold it.”

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Marco has used the new OWC dock and talked about it on the ATP podcast.

OWC seems to have massive production problems though (or they are overwhelmed with preorders). I’ve preordered the Dock in December with a shipping date promised in mid-January. Had an email exchange with their support a few days ago - the orders are all delayed.

CalDigit came out with a very good competitor
https://www.caldigit.com/thunderbolt-4-element-hub/
It has 4 Thunderbot 4 ports (one of which is for uplink)
and 4 USB-A ports. All of them are fast and support power.

@Dmitri Thanks. That looks good. Currently $139.99.

Very pleased with my OWC Thunderbolt Dock, which arrived in time for Xmas. About time something like it existed!

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