OWC is announcing not one but two brand-new hubs! The OWC USB4 Hub and Thunderbolt 5 Dock are both designed for specific-use cases, giving diverse types of users the flexibility and expansive capabilities they need to streamline their workload and transform their laptop into a fully functioning workstation.
USB4 Hub
Equipped with six ports, the USB4 Hub leverages an incredibly fast 40 Gb/s transfer speed and bandwidth to expand the utility of your laptop. Compatible with laptops using USB4 as well as Thunderbolt 3 (or later) interfaces, this hub offers vast connectivity options within a compact and lightweight design.
The hub includes a USB4 host port, two USB4 device ports, a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port, and an HDMI 2.1 display output. This enables you to set your laptop up at your desk and use it as the principal component of your workload. Additionally, the host port is compatible with Power Delivery protocols, giving you up to 81W of charging power, keeping your laptop up and running while plugged in.
Display-wise, the HDMI 2.1 port offers up to 8K resolution at 60 Hz, 4K at 240 Hz with DSC, or 4K at 120 Hz in standard mode. This enables you to retain the delicate details you would otherwise see on the laptop screen, which makes this a great device for designers who are constantly out and about.
The USB4 Hub works with a wide range of devices, including Windows, Linux, and Mac devices, as well as the iPad Pro.
Thunderbolt 5 Dock with Dual HDMI
Those who really want to optimize their desktop in the most streamlined way possible will get the most utility out of the Thunderbolt 5 Dock with Dual HDMI. Featuring 16 total ports, this dock streamlines your productivity by offering expansive connectivity options, ideal for anyone from creatives to business professionals.
At the front of the dock, you get instant access to one Thunderbolt 5 downstream port, one USB-A port, and two USB-C ports running on the USB 3.2 Gen 2 10 Gb/s standard. You also get a single 3.5mm combo audio jack that provides stereo audio and support for both input and output. For those who are avid filmmakers or photographers, an SD card slot and microSD card slot readers are available for quick data management.
The rear panel has a Thunderbolt 5 host port that connects to your laptop to the dock, as well as two USB-A ports, three USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 5 Gb/s ports, a single 2.5 GbE port, and two HDMI 2.1 ports! This allows you to expand your visual real estate from one display up to three with varying degrees of performance. Both HDMI ports can work alongside the Thunderbolt 5 port to offer visual fidelity up to 6K resolution at 60 Hz or 4K resolution at 144 Hz when connected to a high-performance laptop with Thunderbolt 5 capabilities. If you are using single or double displays, the resolution can reach up to 8K with 60 Hz refresh rate.
The Thunderbolt 5 Dock also offers Power Delivery capabilities, which charges your laptop while in use with up to 140W of electrical bandwidth. The front port of the dock provides up to 30W of charging power, suitable for phones, tablets, and other devices; the standard USB ports offer up to 7.5W for bus-powered drives and low-power charging.
This docking station is compatible with various macOS operating systems, Windows 11 PCs, as well as ChromeOS and iPadOS.
Both the dock and the hub are built with a unique fanless passive heat dissipation design which keeps things cool even under heavy loads.
For more information about how the new OWC hubs can streamline and simplify your workflow, make sure you hit the links and check out their detailed product pages.
