Connection Thunderbolt 4
Displays Up to 2
Power 98W PD
Driver Native
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Kensington SD5700T Review 2026 - Specs, Pros & Cons
7.8 Very Good
By Adrian CelThe Kensington SD5700T was one of the first Thunderbolt 4 docking stations to hit the market, announced in late 2020 and shipping in early 2021. Built by a company best known for its laptop locks and enterprise accessories, the SD5700T brings that same security-minded, office-ready approach to its dock design, complete with dual Kensington lock slots and a sturdy gray aluminum chassis. With 11 ports, 90W of USB-C Power Delivery, and support for dual 4K@60Hz displays via its three downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports, the SD5700T covers the essentials for a single-cable desktop setup. It also has built-in speakers, something you rarely find on a docking station and useful for quick video calls or casual audio without external speakers. The dock is also one of the few Thunderbolt 4 docks to earn official "Works With Chromebook" certification from Google, making it a strong candidate for ChromeOS users alongside the expected Windows and macOS support. At its original MSRP of $369.99, it sat in the premium tier, though street prices have since dropped to a more competitive $250-290 range. The SD5700T does not include dedicated HDMI or DisplayPort outputs, so you will need USB-C to HDMI or DisplayPort adapters to connect monitors, which adds cost and complexity. Despite this limitation, the dock delivers reliable Thunderbolt 4 performance with a generous 3-year warranty backing it up.
Pros & Cons
What We Like
- 3-year warranty, the longest in the Thunderbolt 4 dock category
- Official 'Works With Chromebook' certification for ChromeOS users
- Built-in speakers, a rare feature among docking stations
- Dual Kensington lock slots (Standard + Nano) for physical security
- Three Thunderbolt 4 downstream ports for daisy-chaining or displays
- UHS-II SD card reader with 312 MB/s speeds
- No drivers required, true plug and play across all supported OSes
- Compact, lightweight design at under 1 lb
What Could Be Better
- No dedicated HDMI or DisplayPort output, adapters required for every monitor
Workaround: Purchase USB-C to HDMI or USB-C to DisplayPort adapters. Budget $10-20 per adapter.
- 90W Power Delivery trails CalDigit TS4's 98W, may not fast-charge 16-inch laptops
Workaround: Use the laptop's own charger alongside the dock for power-hungry 16-inch models.
- No microSD card reader
Workaround: Use an external USB microSD reader, or use a microSD-to-SD adapter.
- Only 11 ports total, significantly fewer than CalDigit TS4's 18 ports
- Front USB-A port is USB 2.0 only (480 Mbps)
Workaround: Use this port for peripherals that don't need high bandwidth (mouse, keyboard, phone charging). Use rear USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports for storage devices.
Display Support
Max Displays: 2
1 display (Single 8K@60Hz via Thunderbolt 4 downstream port with DSC (Display Stream Compression) enabled.)
7680x4320 @ 60Hz
1 display (Single 8K@30Hz via Thunderbolt 4 downstream port without DSC.)
7680x4320 @ 30Hz
1 display (Single 4K@120Hz via Thunderbolt 4 downstream port.)
3840x2160 @ 120Hz
2 displays (Dual 4K@60Hz via two Thunderbolt 4 downstream ports. Requires USB-C to HDMI/DP adapters. Mac requires M1 Pro/Max or later.)
3840x2160 @ 60Hz
2 displays (Dual 1080p@120Hz via two Thunderbolt 4 downstream ports.)
1920x1080 @ 120Hz
Ports & Connectivity
USB Ports
3x USB-C 4.0 15W
1x USB-A 2.0 7.5W
3x USB-A 3.2 4.5W
Network
1x Ethernet (1 Gbps)
Audio
1x 3.5mm combo
Card Readers
1x SD (UHS-II (312 MB/s))
Full Specifications
| General | |
| Manufacturer | Kensington |
| Model | K35175NA |
| Release Date | 2021-01 |
| MSRP | $369.99 |
| Connectivity | |
| Host Connection | Thunderbolt 4 |
| Max Data Rate | 40 Gbps |
| Driver Required | No (native) |
| Display Output | |
| Max Displays | 2 |
| 1x Display | 7680x4320 @ 60Hz (Single 8K@60Hz via Thunderbolt 4 downstream port with DSC (Display Stream Compression) enabled.) |
| 1x Display | 7680x4320 @ 30Hz (Single 8K@30Hz via Thunderbolt 4 downstream port without DSC.) |
| 1x Display | 3840x2160 @ 120Hz (Single 4K@120Hz via Thunderbolt 4 downstream port.) |
| 2x Display | 3840x2160 @ 60Hz (Dual 4K@60Hz via two Thunderbolt 4 downstream ports. Requires USB-C to HDMI/DP adapters. Mac requires M1 Pro/Max or later.) |
| 2x Display | 1920x1080 @ 120Hz (Dual 1080p@120Hz via two Thunderbolt 4 downstream ports.) |
| Ports (7+ total) | |
| USB-C 4.0 | 3x (15W) |
| USB-A 2.0 | 1x (7.5W) |
| USB-A 3.2 | 3x (4.5W) |
| Ethernet (RJ45) | 1x 1 Gbps |
| Audio (3.5mm-combo) | 1x |
| SD Card Reader | 1x |
| Power | |
| Power Input | DC-barrel |
| Laptop Charging | Up to 90W |
Compatibility
Windows (10+)
Full support including dual 4K and 8K single display. No drivers required.
macOS (11.0 (Big Sur)+)
Full native support. Dual displays require M1 Pro/Max or later.
ChromeOS (91+)
Official 'Works With Chromebook' certified by Google. Full Thunderbolt 4 support.
Linux
Not officially supported. Works with most distributions that support Thunderbolt 4.
Known Issues
M1/M2/M3 base MacBook Air/Pro
Limited to single external display
USB-C only laptops (no Thunderbolt)
Reduced functionality
7.8 /10
Our Verdict
Very Good
The Kensington SD5700T is a solid, well-built Thunderbolt 4 dock that checks most of the boxes for home office and enterprise users alike. Its 90W Power Delivery is sufficient for most ultrabooks and 14-inch laptops, the three Thunderbolt 4 downstream ports provide flexible connectivity, and the UHS-II SD card reader is a welcome addition for photographers and content creators. The built-in speakers are a genuinely useful bonus. They will not replace proper desktop speakers, but they are perfectly adequate for video conferencing and notification sounds. Kensington's 3-year warranty is the longest in its class, especially in a managed office environment where the dual lock slots also add real value. However, the SD5700T falls short in a few areas. The lack of any dedicated video output means every monitor connection requires an adapter, which feels like an oversight for a dock at this price. The 90W power delivery trails the CalDigit TS4's 98W, which matters if you have a larger 16-inch laptop. The 11-port count, while respectable, is outclassed by the CalDigit TS4's 18 ports, and there is no microSD card reader. If you need a Thunderbolt 4 dock with strong ChromeOS support, enterprise security features, and a generous warranty, the SD5700T is an excellent choice, particularly at its current street price. But if raw port count and maximum power delivery are your priorities, the CalDigit TS4 remains the better investment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Kensington SD5700T have HDMI or DisplayPort?
No, the SD5700T does not include any dedicated HDMI or DisplayPort outputs. It uses its three downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports for video output. You will need USB-C to HDMI or USB-C to DisplayPort adapters (sold separately) to connect monitors. This is the dock's most notable limitation compared to competitors.
Does the Kensington SD5700T work with Chromebooks?
Yes, the SD5700T is one of the few Thunderbolt 4 docks with official 'Works With Chromebook' certification from Google. It is fully compatible with Chromebooks running ChromeOS 91 or later that have a Thunderbolt 4 or USB-C port.
Can the Kensington SD5700T charge a MacBook Pro?
Yes, the SD5700T delivers up to 90W of power via USB-C Power Delivery through the Thunderbolt 4 host connection. This is enough to charge a 14-inch MacBook Pro during normal use. For the 16-inch MacBook Pro, 90W will charge the laptop but may not keep up under sustained heavy workloads. Apple recommends 140W for maximum performance.
How does the Kensington SD5700T compare to the CalDigit TS4?
The CalDigit TS4 offers more ports (18 vs 11), higher power delivery (98W vs 90W), 2.5GbE networking (vs 1GbE), and a dedicated DisplayPort output. The SD5700T counters with a longer warranty (3 years vs 2), built-in speakers, Chromebook certification, and dual Kensington lock slots. The CalDigit TS4 is the better dock for power users, while the SD5700T may appeal more to enterprise and ChromeOS users.
Does the Kensington SD5700T support dual monitors?
Yes, the SD5700T supports dual 4K@60Hz displays via two of its three Thunderbolt 4 downstream ports. You will need USB-C to HDMI or USB-C to DisplayPort adapters for each monitor. On Mac, dual display support requires an M1 Pro, M1 Max, or later chip. Base M1/M2/M3 Macs are limited to one external display.
Head-to-Head Comparisons
- CalDigit TS4 vs Kensington SD5700T: Which Thunderbolt 4 Dock Is Better?
A fact-based comparison of the CalDigit TS4 and Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 docks. We compare ports, display support, charging, compatibility, and value to help you choose.
- Dell WD22TB4 vs Kensington SD5700T: Which Thunderbolt 4 Dock Is Better?
A fact-based comparison of the Dell WD22TB4 and Kensington SD5700T. We compare ports, display support, charging, compatibility, and value to help you choose the right Thunderbolt 4 dock.
- Kensington SD5700T vs SD5780T: Which Kensington Thunderbolt 4 Dock Should You Buy?
A detailed spec-by-spec comparison of the Kensington SD5700T and SD5780T Thunderbolt 4 docks. See how they differ on ports, charging, Ethernet, display flexibility, and overall value.
- OWC Thunderbolt 4 Dock vs Kensington SD5700T: Which 11-Port TB4 Dock Should You Buy?
A practical comparison of the OWC Thunderbolt 4 Dock and Kensington SD5700T, two 11-port Thunderbolt 4 docks with triple downstream TB4 ports, UHS-II SD readers, Gigabit Ethernet, and dual 4K support.
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Connection Thunderbolt 4
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Power 90W PD
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