This Dual-Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station Has ALL The Ports

The Ivanky FusionDock Max 1 is the last word docking station for any Apple Silicon-based Mac. It gives as much as quad 6K monitor output and each different port you would presumably want, from multi-gigabit Ethernet networking to a full-size SD card reader and optical sound output. To do that, it makes use of a twin Thunderbolt 4 interface—however is available in at a hefty premium value of half the price of a Macbook.

Ivanky FusionDock Max 1

$440 $550 Save
$110

The Ivanky FusionDock Max 1 is perhaps one of many priciest USB docking stations, nevertheless it’s the world’s first to supply quad 6K monitor outputs (assuming your {hardware} helps it), and offers you extra ports than you’d ever want—together with optical audio, multigig Ethernet, and SD card. 

Ports

Too many to listing right here (19)

USB Energy Supply

45W PD ports on the entrance; 96W again to host machine

Energy provide included

Sure

Max show res.

6K

Worth

$550

Professionals

• Absurd variety of ports
• Quad 6K60Hz output on supported Macs
• USB-C, USB-A, Optical and analog audio, PD charging, micro SD and full dimension SD card slot?it has all the things
• Delivers as much as 96W again to your host machine

Cons

• It prices half as a lot as a Macbook!
• You will maintain all the things plugged in, as a result of you may
• Solely works with Silicon, not Intel Macs

Field Contents and Design: “I’m Not a Mac!”

Not like some opponents that mimic the design language of a Mac Mini to seem like a pure extension of your machine, the Ivanky FusionDock Max 1 doesn’t look after that in any respect, and goes off in a very totally different design course.

The FusionDock Max 1 is a big metallic block in bluish darkish gray, with sharp corners. It couldn’t be any much less Mac-like if it tried. A lot in order that Mac purists may truly be delay by it. It undoubtedly looks as if it could match higher with blocky gray PC laptops.

The primary dock seems to drift on the bottom and left-hand facet (wanting from the entrance). It is secure to imagine this enables for higher cooling, whether or not used horizontally or upright—nevertheless it’s a daring design assertion in both case.

The entrance includes a small Ivanky emblem within the prime left, and a discreet LED energy mild beneath it. It’s so discreet, actually, that I assumed it was damaged the primary time I plugged the ability in. It’s totally too dim, and you could cup your hand round it simply to see the faintest glimmer of white mild. At the same time as I sit right here at night time with the room lights off, it is barely seen. I’m undecided why this is not an RGB standing LED, which might have been used to point what show modes are presently supported, if energy is being delivered again, or if it’s not working at full velocity for some cause.

The bundle contains some rubber toes so that you can affix your self, relying on the orientation you wish to use the docking station in. At 171mm vast, 48mm tall, and 94mm deep (when laid flat), it is exceptional simply how a lot has been crammed in right here.

Quad Show Output (However Not For Everybody)

The FusionDock Max 1 helps, in concept, as much as 4 shows—however solely in restricted circumstances. My Mac Mini M1, as an illustration, can solely help a single show by way of the FusionDock Max 1. You’ll want a MacBook Professional with M1/M2/M3 Max chip or Mac Studio to help the complete 4 exterior shows. To be actual:

• A single show is feasible on the MacBook Air (M1/M2), MacBook Professional (M1/M2/M3), and Mac Mini (M1/M2).
• You may have twin shows on the MacBook Professional (M1/M2/M3 Professional), and Mac Mini (M2 Professional).
• For quad shows, you’ll want a MacBook Professional (M1/M2/M3 Max), or Mac Studio

Intel Macs will not be supported. As well as, Ivanky recommends avoiding utilizing all 4 show ports on the again. Should you plan to attach 4 shows, use a prime and backside layer port from each the back and front of the system.

Ports As Far As The Eye Can See

The variety of ports you get from the FusionDock Max 1 is nearly comical. Firstly although, the magic that permits the Ivanky FusionDock Max 1 to take action a lot is the twin USB-C Thunderbolt 4 connector cable. This tradition cable takes up two full ports on the facet of your MacBook or Mac Mini; the ports are joined, so you may’t use one from one facet or the opposite. Whereas this matches the present era of Macbooks, that is no assure that the USB-C port spacing might be an identical sooner or later, after all, so that you may lose that comfort of a single cable.

On the opposite finish, this cable separates into the 2 upstream USB-C 40Gbps ports labeled “Laptop computer” on the FusionDock, which sit on prime of one another. This could additionally ship 96W again to your laptop computer, so you may maintain your energy brick in your bag and by no means by accident go away it at residence once more.

So, what does sacrificing these two quick USB-C ports in your laptop computer get you in return? Quite a bit, because it seems:

• 4 x 40Gbps downstream USB-C. These can be utilized for information or 6K60Hz video (although, as talked about above, video output is restricted by your host machine mannequin) and supply 15W of energy every. There are two on the rear and two on the entrance.
• 2 x HDMI ports (rear), every as much as 4K60Hz.
• 2 x 10Gbps USB-C 3.2 ports; information solely, no video. Positioned on the entrance, these are additionally Energy Supply ports, offering 30W and seven.5W of energy to cost smartphones and different units.
• 5 x USB-A 3.2 10Gbps ports, all offering as much as 7.5W customary USB energy. There are three on the again and two on the entrance.
• SD and MicroSD card slots on the entrance; these can each be used concurrently. Annoyingly, they’re the wrong way up (should you’re utilizing the dock horizontally), and there is no apparent label to point that on the dock.
• Entrance TRRS 3.5mm audio jack for a headset and microphone; plus a rear 3.5mm jack and Optical TOSLink for audio system.
• 2.5Gb Ethernet port.

This makes it the world’s most expansive (and presumably costly) docking station but—a 19-in-1, maybe?

It is considerably ironic that Ivanky provides an HDMI cable rated to 8K, whereas the HDMI ports on the Dock can solely help 4K. You will want to make use of a USB-C / Thunderbolt cable for increased resolutions.

Powered by an unlimited 180W AC adapter, the FusionDock Max 1 can present energy again to your laptop computer by way of these twin Thunderbolt ports, in addition to to USB-C displays and PD energy ports on the entrance, that are appropriate for charging your smartphone or different equipment. So, not solely can your laptop computer charger be left in your bag, however your cellphone charger too.

Will You See Any Efficiency Features?

The FusionDock Max 1 in and of itself is not going to supply something quicker than the same port in your Macbook or Mac Mini; it simply provides you extra ports. Nonetheless, the multi-gig Ethernet port might be quicker and extra dependable in comparison with Wi-Fi, and much more so if it is truly related to a 2.5GbE spine. I exploit a QNAP unmanaged 5-port swap that is cheap.

You might even see a velocity profit from the SD card slot, however provided that you are utilizing the most recent high-speed playing cards. On my U3 class 10 playing cards, I noticed no profit in comparison with an affordable USB adapter.

Ought to You Purchase the Ivanky FusionDock Max 1?

The Ivanky FusionDock Max 1 (will there be a model 2? The thoughts boggles as to what number of extra ports that might have), is the posh yacht of docks with a value to match, at round $500. However should you want loads of ports on your Apple Silicon—even a desktop—the FusionDock Max 1 has all the things you want. And if you could dock your laptop computer once you get residence or to your work desk, it’s simply the one cable for all the things—together with 96W of energy for probably the most demanding of MacBooks. All through my time testing, it has not as soon as occurred to me that I’d want one other port. I’ve stuffed up all of the rear ports with storage equipment, a monitor, numerous dongles and doodads, utilized the two.5GbE port for superfast networking, ingested video by way of the entrance SD card slot, and nonetheless had the entrance ports left for charging and USB sticks. Not having to rummage round or yank cords out has been a breath of contemporary air.

Nonetheless, if I have been to level out one factor that is missing, it could be some sort of SSD storage choice. I’ve quite a few exterior storage drives, so it isn’t a dealbreaker for me—however contemplating the price of this, it could have been a helpful addition.

Nonetheless, I am going to warn you now: with the ability to plug in all the things directly means you will by no means unplug something, and for these of us who’re considerably missing within the cable administration expertise division, effectively… you do not wish to see the state of my desk.

Ivanky FusionDock Max 1

$440 $550 Save
$110

The Ivanky FusionDock Max 1 is perhaps one of many priciest USB docking stations, nevertheless it’s the world’s first to supply quad 6K monitor outputs (assuming your {hardware} helps it), and offers you extra ports than you’d ever want—together with optical audio, multigig Ethernet, and SD card. 

Ports

Too many to listing right here (19)

USB Energy Supply

45W PD ports on the entrance; 96W again to host machine

Energy provide included

Sure

Max show res.

6K

Worth

$550