Customer reviews from startech.com
StarTech.com - Thunderbolt 2 4K Docking Station for Laptops - Silver
Average customer rating
4.1
(16 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 16 reviews
5 Stars
11
4 Stars
1
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Star
3
Customer Reviews for StarTech.com - Thunderbolt 2 4K Docking Station for Laptops - Silver
Customer Rating
1
Audio SPDIF issues in EL CAPITAN
on December 16, 2015
Posted by: DavidVoy
No Audio most of the time since El Capitan Upgrade on my iMac.
Written by a customer while visiting startech.com
Customer Rating
5
Thunderbolt 2 4K Laptop Docking Station Made Easy
on January 3, 2017
Posted by: James H
I have been in the technology business for over 35 years and for the past 20+ years I have been asked to provide unbiased reviews of various products from both the AV and IT world. In review of this product I liked that it supported a wide variety of display configurations and resolutions which are common for working in a normal computer 16:10 format, with the accompanying audio. StarTech thought through and supplied the perfect amount of USB connections (3 in the rear and 1 in the front). The unit also worked well in dual monitor mode. The ease of use was well thought through, simply plug in the laptop and display and the unit does the rest.
In the box:
-Thunderbolt 2 4K Laptop Docking Station
-1m Thunderbolt Cable
-Universal Power Adapter (NA/UK/EU)
-3 Power Cords (NA/UK/EU)
-Instruction Manual
-Thunderbolt 2 4K Laptop Docking Station
-1m Thunderbolt Cable
-Universal Power Adapter (NA/UK/EU)
-3 Power Cords (NA/UK/EU)
-Instruction Manual
In summation, solid product, multiple connections, well planned front USB charging, easy to set up and use.
I received this product in exchange for an unbiased review.
Written by a customer while visiting startech.com
Customer Rating
5
Perfect Dock to Accompany an Apple MacBook Pro
on March 2, 2017
Posted by: Macphot1970
The dock offers a very easy and complete way to setup a monitor, speakers, ethers and usb devices with a simple single Thunderbolt connection. I tested this unit with my 2015 MacBook Pro retina and with one simple Thunderbolt cable you have 4 USB 3.0 ports, Headphone, Line in, S/PDIF out, ESATA, ethernet, HDMI, and another Thunderbolt 2 connection. The unit is a perfect match to the MacBook pro in both look and feel. It really looks like a MAC Pro inspired device. The speed at which devices connect through the Thunderbolt port is astounding. Every thing fast and responsive and with such a simple one cable hook up there is really nothing bad to say about the product. The HDMI video worked like a charm as did the option of an ethernet connection. I can see this being the perfect device for the MacBook airs with their limited ports. If I was going to be superfussy I would say the thunderbolt cable should be the last port on the device and not the HDMI but it really does not affect the performance of the device.
“I received this product in exchange for an unbiased review.”
Written by a customer while visiting startech.com
Customer Rating
5
on June 1, 2018
Posted by: gmckenzie
The Thunderbolt 2 4K Laptop Docking Station is a great compliment to my Apple MacBook Pro Retina. This polished silver looks good on my desk and with the HDMI & Thunderbolt outputs I can run dual monitors. The 3x USB 3.0 hub ports are used daily for external drive, iPhone/iPad and Logitech HD Pro Webcam .
Written by a customer while visiting startech.com
Customer Rating
3
Good Product - A Few More Features Needed Though
on January 24, 2017
Posted by: ABThompsons
The DC adapter doesn’t run hot and it comes with 4 power cords that accepts North American, European, Australian and UK power sources. These are big heavy cords, which is good but bulky, so make sure you know which cord you’ll need before traveling.
Unfortunately, they’ve missed a very important feature that would make this a great system. A power connection port for the laptop itself. Users want to carry less cords not more, so the fact this system needs additional power to run your laptop is very disappointing, so you still have to carry around your heavy power adaptor and cord.
Even though there’s power going through the docking station, unless your laptop is powered on, you can’t use the rear 3 USB ports to charge your peripherals. Only the front USB 3.0 fast-charge port works without a computer connected and turned on. A sorely missed opportunity there.
When connecting a desktop scanner to one of the rear USB ports, it works beautifully. On a Mac, I was able to use the very under-utilized, under-appreciated Image Capture app that comes with every Mac.
The Gigabit Ethernet port works as it should and easily connected to my work network without any fuss.
I was able to use Siri running OS Sierra 10.12.2 on my laptop with my audio headphones plugged into this port, however, I’m picking up some annoying and constant high pitched buzzing from my headset. When I tested it against the headphone plug on my laptop, there was total silence where there should be.
There are only 2 Thunderbolt ports on this unit. One is taken up connecting your laptop to it. The other port can be used to connect a Thunderbolt monitor, but then there’s no extra ports for Thunderbolt hard drives, so you’d connect have to connect it to your laptop. If they added at least one more port, or better yet, two, it would truly make this an ideal docking station.
The HDMI port works as expected and will connect to your TV or external monitor. When connecting the StarTech docking station to an LCD projector using the HDMI port, the Mac will recognize the model type and will optimize display output accordingly, and will also play sound through the unit as well, if equipped to do so.
The unit itself is built solidly and dispels heat sufficiently, even when using several peripherals at the same time. The design is eye-appealing and will compliment your aluminum Mac laptop set-up. Not overlooked and always appreciated is the included thunderbolt cable, especially in this, ‘not included’, consumer world.
All in all the StarTech Thunderbolt 2 4K Laptop Docking Station is a good unit, but to make it even better and a true docking station, add a power port to plug our laptop into, and add one or two more thunderbolt ports to make this a killer go-to docking station.
I received this product in exchange for an unbiased review.
Written by a customer while visiting startech.com
Customer Rating
5
Great Product Legacy Gear Connectivity
on June 30, 2015
Posted by: dconder
I'm using every port on this device flawlessly. If you have legacy gear that needs to connect to a thunderbolt mac, this is the product for you.
Written by a customer while visiting startech.com
Customer Rating
5
Wireless no more
on October 27, 2016
Posted by: Oliver
Apple is trying to make us all go wireless but in the world I live in there is so much connectivity to other devices that don't play that game. Startech's Thunderbolt 2, 4k docking station satisfies those needs for me perfectly and at a super reasonable price. It even includes a Thunderbolt cable.
Written by a customer while visiting startech.com
Customer Rating
5
Just what my Macbook Pro needed
on December 14, 2016
Posted by: GrizzXS11
Working in IT I have always had Business laptops with ‘click-in’ docking stations, so the concept wasn’t new to me. Having a Mac made hauling around much easier, but then there was the lack of ports to contend with. This dock works great for people who want the portability of a Mac (or PC with Thunderbolt) but still want to have multiple monitors, network and audio (and loathes the idea of spending 5 mins/day plugging and unplugging). The unit is solid and well built, no drivers needed, the ports are well laid out and easy to get to. There is a lot of technology built into this too, I really like the SPDIF audio out, and the fast-charge USB port up front! Take the time to download/read the manual and plan out any adapters you may need in advance.
I received this product in exchange for an unbiased review
Written by a customer while visiting startech.com