Razer Thunderbolt 5 Dock review: Who knew high-end expansion could look so good?
Description
At a glance
Expert's Rating
Pros
- Clean, understated design
- Rock-solid build quality
- Internal M.2 SSD slot (supports up to 8TB with PCIe Gen 4×4 speeds)
- Plenty of fast ports
- Supports external display refresh rates up to 144Hz
- Up to 140W of power delivery
Cons
- Ports hidden at the rear can make for fiddly connections
- Huge, weighty power brick
- Ethernet limited to one-gigabit speeds
- Mercury version lacks RGB lighting
Our Verdict
Razer has managed to create a truly tempting Thunderbolt 5 dock while keeping the price in check. It offers a great range of ports, solid display support (especially for gamers), and super-fast internal SSD speeds. The attractive, well-built design is the icing on the cake.
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You probably know Razer as a brand catering to PC gamers, but in recent years, the company has branched out with more understated fare aimed towards pros and creatives. That’s the case with the Razer Thunderbolt 5 Dock, and while it still retains some elements of the gamer aesthetic, it looks surprisingly at home on a Mac lover’s desk.
Razer has offered docks with Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 connectivity before, but this is its first foray into the world of Thunderbolt 5. Priced at $390 for the Mercury colorway tested here (or $400 for the black Chroma edition with RGB lighting), this device lets you plug in a wide variety of peripherals with just a single Thunderbolt 5 cable going into your Mac (Razer includes a braided Thunderbolt 5 cable in the box). Not only does that free up ports on your computer, but it reduces cable clutter on your desk–providing you can hide the cables coming out of the back of Razer’s dock, of course.
Razer Thunderbolt 5 Dock: Design
Before we get to all that rich connectivity, it’s worth exploring the dock’s look and feel. The first thing you’ll notice when unboxing Razer’s device is its solid, sturdy construction. It’s made from anodized aluminum, and there’s absolutely no give or bend anywhere you look–reassuring considering how many times you might bump it with cables and connectors throughout the day. There’s a rubberized pad on the bottom to keep it from slipping, and it weighs in at a hefty 522g, according to our scales.
I reviewed the Mercury model, which is a similar shade of silver to Apple’s desktop Mac range. There’s a Razer logo printed on top, with honeycombed vents on the left and right edges that are somewhat reminiscent of the Power Mac G5’s front grille. Every port (bar the SD card slot, which is on the right-hand side) is located on the back of the dock, giving a seamless appearance on your desk when viewed from the front. There’s not even a power indicator light. If you’re looking for something that will blend in with your existing Apple kit, Razer’s dock fits the bill.
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The grille on the Razer Thunderbolt 5 Dock is reminiscent of the original Mac Pro grille.
</figcaption></figure>Alex Blake/Foundry
The drawback of this unobtrusive look is that you’ve got to fiddle around behind the dock every time you want to add or remove a connection. You’ll want to consider how often you’re likely to do that each day before you buy.
And don’t be fooled into thinking that the minimalism extends to every facet of Razer’s dock. Its power brick is a monstrosity, as large as the dock itself and weighing almost double, tipping the scales at 937g. You’ll have to hide it out of sight if you want to maintain the low-key illusion.
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The Razer Thunderbolt 5 Dock’s power supply is almost as big as the dock itself–and heavier.
</figcaption></figure>Alex Blake/Foundry
Only the black Chroma version comes with integrated RGB lighting on the underside. The silver model lacks lighting altogether, though that might not be a problem if you prefer an understated look.
Razer Thunderbolt 5 Dock: Fe
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