Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 4 Dock Review 2026 - Specs & Pros

Name: Lenovo ThinkPad Universal Thunderbolt 4 Dock
Brand: Lenovo
Price: 335.34 USD
Availability: InStock

The Lenovo ThinkPad Universal Thunderbolt 4 Dock (40B00135US) is Lenovo's top-tier Thunderbolt 4 docking station, positioned as a step up from the USB-C models in the ThinkPad dock lineup. It connects to your laptop over a single Thunderbolt 4 cable at 40 Gbps and delivers up to 100W of power, which is enough for most 14-inch and 15-inch business laptops. The dock supports up to four simultaneous 4K@60Hz displays when paired with an Intel 12th Gen or newer processor that supports DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC (Display Stream Compression). That four-display capability puts it ahead of most Thunderbolt 4 docks in this price range, which typically max out at two. The port selection is solid: four USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports (one always-on for charging), one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, one Thunderbolt 4 downstream, two DisplayPort 1.4, one HDMI 2.1, Gigabit Ethernet, and a 3.5mm combo audio jack. Enterprise IT teams get PXE boot, Wake-on-LAN, MAC Address Pass-Through, and centralized firmware updates through Lenovo Dock Manager. Despite the ThinkPad branding, the dock works with any Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4, USB4, or USB-C laptop.

Best for Enterprise Best for Multi-Monitor

Pros & Cons

What We Like

Up to four 4K@60Hz displays from a single Thunderbolt 4 connection (with DSC)
100W Power Delivery included out of the box with 135W adapter
40 Gbps Thunderbolt 4 bandwidth for fast data transfer and display output
Enterprise IT features: PXE boot, WOL, MAC Address Pass-Through, Dock Manager
Universal compatibility with Thunderbolt 3/4, USB4, and USB-C laptops
HDMI 2.1 port supporting 8K@30Hz, ahead of most competitors at HDMI 2.0
3-year warranty, standard for Lenovo enterprise accessories
Dual Kensington lock slots (MicroSaver and NanoSaver) for physical security

What Could Be Better

Sleep/wake display reconnection issues reported by many users, especially on non-ThinkPad systems
Workaround: Update dock firmware via Lenovo Dock Manager. Unplug and replug the Thunderbolt cable after wake. Check BIOS USB power management settings.
Included 0.7m Thunderbolt cable is short, limiting desk placement options
Workaround: Purchase a longer certified Thunderbolt 4 cable (up to 2m passive or longer with active cables). Lenovo sells a 0.7m replacement (4X91K16968) but not longer options natively.
No SD or microSD card reader
Workaround: Use an external USB card reader connected to one of the USB-A ports.
Quad 4K@60Hz requires Intel 12th Gen+ with DSC, limiting the feature for many users
macOS base M1/M2/M3 limited to single external display
Workaround: Upgrade to M1 Pro/Max or later for dual display support, or use a DisplayLink adapter for additional screens.
Some enterprise features (PXE, WOL) only work reliably with ThinkPad laptops

Display Support

Max Displays: 4

1 display (Single 8K@30Hz via HDMI 2.1)

7680x4320 @ 30Hz

1 display (Single 5K@60Hz via Thunderbolt 4 downstream port)

5120x2880 @ 60Hz

2 displays (Dual 4K@60Hz via DP 1.4 + HDMI 2.1, or DP + TB4 downstream. Works on Mac M1 Pro/Max or later.)

3840x2160 @ 60Hz

4 displays (Quad 4K@60Hz via 2x DP 1.4 + HDMI 2.1 + TB4 downstream. Requires Intel 12th Gen or newer with DP 1.4 DSC support (Windows only).)

3840x2160 @ 60Hz

Ports & Connectivity

USB Ports

4x USB-A 3.2

1x USB-C 3.2

Video Outputs

2x DisplayPort 1.4

1x HDMI 2.1

1x Thunderbolt 4

Network

1x Ethernet (1 Gbps)

Audio

1x 3.5mm combo

Full Specifications

General
Manufacturer	Lenovo
Model	40B00135US
Release Date	2021-09
MSRP	$335.34
Connectivity
Host Connection	Thunderbolt 4
Max Data Rate	40 Gbps
Driver Required	No (native)
Display Output
Max Displays	4
1x Display	7680x4320 @ 30Hz (Single 8K@30Hz via HDMI 2.1)
1x Display	5120x2880 @ 60Hz (Single 5K@60Hz via Thunderbolt 4 downstream port)
2x Display	3840x2160 @ 60Hz (Dual 4K@60Hz via DP 1.4 + HDMI 2.1, or DP + TB4 downstream. Works on Mac M1 Pro/Max or later.)
4x Display	3840x2160 @ 60Hz (Quad 4K@60Hz via 2x DP 1.4 + HDMI 2.1 + TB4 downstream. Requires Intel 12th Gen or newer with DP 1.4 DSC support (Windows only).)
Ports (9+ total)
USB-A 3.2	4x
USB-C 3.2	1x
DisplayPort 1.4	2x
HDMI 2.1	1x
Thunderbolt 4	1x
Ethernet (RJ45)	1x 1 Gbps
Audio (3.5mm-combo)	1x
Power
Power Input	DC-barrel
Laptop Charging	Up to 100W

Compatibility

Windows (10+)

Full support including quad display via DSC on Intel 12th Gen+. PXE boot, WOL, and MAC Address Pass-Through supported on most ThinkPads. Lenovo Dock Manager available for firmware updates.

macOS (11.0 (Big Sur)+)

Dual display supported on M1 Pro/Max or later. Base M1/M2/M3 Macs limited to single external display. Charging via USB-C PD works normally up to 100W.

ChromeOS

Supported on Thunderbolt-equipped Chromebooks. Display and USB functionality work via native Thunderbolt support.

Linux

Works with most distributions via native Thunderbolt 4 support. No Lenovo management tools available for Linux. Some users report sleep/wake issues.

Known Issues

M1/M2/M3 base MacBook Air/Pro

Limited to single external display

Non-ThinkPad laptops

Some enterprise features unavailable

Pre-Intel 12th Gen laptops

Quad 4K display not supported

7.4 /10

Our Verdict

Very Good

The Lenovo ThinkPad Universal Thunderbolt 4 Dock is a capable enterprise docking station that punches above its weight on display support. The ability to drive four 4K@60Hz monitors from a single Thunderbolt cable is uncommon at this price point, though you will need a recent Intel processor with DSC to get there. For the more common dual 4K@60Hz setup, it works reliably across Windows and macOS (on M1 Pro/Max or later). The 100W power delivery is included out of the box with the 135W adapter, unlike the USB-C sibling that requires buying a bigger adapter separately. Port selection covers all the basics for a desktop replacement setup, and the Gigabit Ethernet with PXE boot support makes it a sensible pick for corporate deployments. The main downsides are the sleep/wake display issues that affect many users (especially on non-ThinkPad systems), the lack of an SD card reader, and a short 0.7m included cable that limits desk placement options. Mac users with base M1/M2/M3 chips are stuck with a single external display. At roughly $335, it sits between the cheaper USB-C docks and the premium CalDigit TS4. If you work in a Lenovo-centric IT environment and want multi-monitor support with enterprise management, this dock makes a strong case for itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Lenovo ThinkPad Universal Thunderbolt 4 Dock work with MacBooks?

Yes, the dock works with MacBooks that have Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4 ports. However, base M1, M2, and M3 MacBooks are limited to a single external display due to Apple Silicon hardware limitations. MacBooks with M1 Pro/Max chips or later support dual external displays through this dock. Charging works at up to 100W regardless of the Mac model.

Can this dock really drive four 4K monitors at the same time?

Yes, but only under specific conditions. Your laptop needs an Intel 12th Gen (Alder Lake) or newer processor that supports DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC (Display Stream Compression). You connect monitors to all four video outputs: two DisplayPort 1.4, one HDMI 2.1, and one Thunderbolt 4 downstream port. Without DSC support, you are limited to two 4K@60Hz displays.

What is the difference between this Thunderbolt 4 dock and the Lenovo ThinkPad USB-C Dock?

The Thunderbolt 4 dock (40B00135US) offers 40 Gbps bandwidth vs. 10 Gbps on the USB-C dock, supports up to four 4K displays instead of three, includes 100W charging with the 135W adapter in the box, and has an HDMI 2.1 port and Thunderbolt 4 downstream port. The USB-C dock is cheaper but requires a separate adapter upgrade for 100W charging.

Is the included Thunderbolt cable long enough?

The included cable is 0.7m (about 2.3 feet), which many users find too short. If your dock sits more than arm's length from your laptop, you will likely need a longer cable. You can use any certified Thunderbolt 4 cable up to 2m (passive) without losing bandwidth. Longer active cables are available but cost more.

Does the dock require driver installation?

No. The dock is plug-and-play and works over native Thunderbolt 4 without any drivers. On Windows, Lenovo offers an optional Dock Manager utility that handles firmware updates and provides diagnostics, but it is not required for day-to-day use. macOS and Linux work out of the box.