Lenovo’s New Thunderbolt Docks Have All The Ports You Need

Discovering the correct Thunderbolt/USB dock might be tough. Some have a variety of ports, whereas others do not go too exhausting on the port choice to carry the value down. Should you’re nonetheless undecided, Lenovo simply launched three totally different choices for 3 totally different sorts of customers.

Lenovo has simply unveiled its new vary of Thunderbolt and USB docks. There are three choices to have a look at right here: your common, run-of-the-mill Thunderbolt 4 dock, a bleeding-edge Thunderbolt 5 dock, and a less expensive USB 4 choice if you do not have Thunderbolt in your pc.

The Thunderbolt 5 choice is the Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 5 Good Dock 7500. This mannequin is the primary in Lenovo’s {hardware} vary to include the newest Thunderbolt 5 customary, which supplies a complete bandwidth of as much as 120 Gbps. The dock can drive as much as three 8K shows at a 60Hz refresh price concurrently with an extra 4K show at 60Hz. For functions requiring increased refresh charges, akin to video enhancing or design, it additionally helps configurations like twin 4K shows at 240Hz mixed with one other two 4K shows at 120Hz. To energy high-performance laptops and related peripherals, the dock delivers as much as 180W of energy by way of the Energy Supply (PD) 3.1 customary.

Then, one tier beneath, we have now the ThinkPad Thunderbolt 4 Good Dock Gen 2 7500. This dock can drive both a single 8K show at 60Hz or twin 4K shows at a easy 144Hz refresh price. It supplies as much as 100W of energy by way of PD 3.1 and options 4 always-on USB charging ports on the entrance for handy entry to energy for smartphones and different gadgets, even when a laptop computer isn’t related.

Lastly, to spherical issues out, we have now the ThinkPad USB4 Good Dock 5500. This dock leverages the USB 4 customary somewhat than Thunderbolt, which provides 4 occasions the bandwidth of earlier USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 docks. USB 4, in case you’re not acquainted, is mainly standardized Thunderbolt 3. Its show output capabilities truly match these of the Thunderbolt 4 mannequin, supporting a single 8K monitor at 60Hz or twin 4K screens at 144Hz. It additionally delivers as much as 100W of charging energy with PD 3.1. Fairly cool.

That is a part of Lenovo’s enterprise bulletins, and these docks have some business-y options that make them fairly good for deploying in a enterprise context. Every machine is supported by Lenovo Equipment Fleet Supervisor, a cloud-based software program answer that enables IT departments to handle and monitor their group’s docking stations remotely. Nevertheless it’s not unlawful to make use of these in private computer systems, they usually would possibly truly do the job fairly nicely.

The one downside with them could be the value. The Thunderbolt 5 unit prices a whopping $550, whereas the Thunderbolt 4 mannequin goes right down to $380. The USB 4 mannequin is the most cost effective, at $270. All three fashions are set to go on sale in “Q3 2025,” and Q3 ends this month, so regulate Lenovo’s web site.

Supply: Lenovo