US$89.99 / AU$124.99 Amazon
Once you think you’ve seen all the combinations of USB-C docking stations, you’ll need to revise that opinion with Satechi USB-C Hybrid Multiport Adapter. This docking station has four ports plus a slot for adding M.2 SATA SSD storage. It’s a unique combination that might appeal to the right laptop user – desktop Mac owners have more flexible and affordable options.
The Hybrid Multiport Adapter plugs into a USB-C port and transmits power (but not data) through its own USB-C port. The port can output up to 100 watts, but requires up to 15 W for its own operation. This is sufficient for all Mac laptops, although the latest MacBook Pro M1 Pro/Max may not charge at their fastest speed.
The Satechi Hybrid Docking Station includes a small array of ports, pass-through power, and an SSD slot.
The dock also includes two USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A ports, which each deliver up to 10 Gbps of throughput. It also includes a 4K HDMI connection with support for up to 60Hz refresh rate. (Note that limitations for the total number of displays supported still apply: this is a standard dock, not a DisplayLink adapter.) In testing, the docking station performed as expected on all of its ports.
You can add any compliant M.2 SATA SSD in 2230, 2242, 2260 and 2280 size form factors. (Be sure and don’t order an NVMe M.2; it’s a different technology and doesn’t fit location.) Installing the SSD requires no tools. Slide a cover over the dock, determine which rubber stopper will hold the card in place, insert the SSD, then gently push the stopper into place to lock it. Don’t forget to save the extra rubber plugs – there’s no storage slot for them if you’re using any other than shortest SATA card format.
Adding the card to the dock requires no tools and is an elegant process.
With a Western Digital 2280-format M.2 SATA, the docking station managed reasonable throughput: 250 MB/s for sustained writes and 450 MB/s for sustained reads. That’s more than half of the maximum write spec, which may be a strain on the docking station, but still makes it at least five times faster than the average hard drive.
At the end of the line
Having both a few ports and a monitor connection along with mid-speed external storage could be a winner for the right laptop user. For example, if you want store your full resolution photo library on an affordable SATA-based SSD due to limited space on your internal drive, this is an attractive solution. Or you may need lots of free internal storage for video editing or other storage and performance-intensive purposes, but you still want substantial free space for data to carry around with you.
If you encounter the specific intersection of this storage speed, two USB Type-A ports, and a monitor connector, the US$89.99 (AU$124.99) price of this hybrid docking station Satechi fits perfectly.
