OWC Thunderbolt 4 Dock Review 2026 - Specs, Pros & Cons

The OWC Thunderbolt 4 Dock is an 11-port docking station that delivers a solid mix of connectivity and charging power at a competitive price point. Announced at CES 2021 as one of the first Thunderbolt 4 certified docks on the market, OWC designed it as a single-cable desktop hub for Mac and Windows users alike. Plug in one Thunderbolt 4 cable and you gain access to three downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports, three USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports, one USB-A 2.0 port, Gigabit Ethernet, an SD 4.0 UHS-II card reader, and a 3.5mm combo audio jack. The dock provides up to 96W of power delivery to your laptop, which is enough to keep a 15-inch or 16-inch MacBook Pro charged during heavy workloads. Display support runs up to a single 8K display at 60Hz or dual 4K displays at 60Hz via the Thunderbolt 4 downstream ports, though you will need USB-C to HDMI or DisplayPort adapters since there are no dedicated video output ports. OWC has a strong following among Mac users, and the Thunderbolt 4 Dock continues that track record with a compact aluminum and black enclosure, no driver requirements, and broad compatibility across Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4, and USB-C devices.

Best Value

Pros & Cons

What We Like

Competitive price point significantly below CalDigit TS4 and other premium TB4 docks
Three Thunderbolt 4 downstream ports for daisy-chaining drives and connecting displays
96W Power Delivery charges even large laptops like 16-inch MacBook Pro
SD 4.0 UHS-II card reader with 312 MB/s speeds for photographers and videographers
No drivers required, true plug and play on Mac and Windows
Thunderbolt 4 certified and USB4 compatible for future-proof connectivity
Compact aluminum enclosure with Kensington and Nano security slot options

What Could Be Better

No dedicated HDMI or DisplayPort output, requires adapters for external displays
Workaround: Use USB-C/Thunderbolt to HDMI or DisplayPort adapters. OWC and other brands sell affordable adapters.
Host (upstream) Thunderbolt 4 port is on the front of the dock, not the rear
Workaround: Route the host cable behind the dock or position the dock with the front facing away from you.
Only 1 Gbps Ethernet, not 2.5 Gbps like some competitors
Workaround: Sufficient for most users. If you need faster wired networking, consider the CalDigit TS4 with 2.5GbE.
Base M1/M2/M3 Macs limited to single external display
Workaround: This is an Apple limitation, not an OWC issue. Consider a DisplayLink dock if you need multiple displays on base Apple Silicon.
USB-A ports provide only 4.5W of power, limiting device charging
Workaround: Use the Thunderbolt 4 downstream ports (15W each) for devices that need more power.

Display Support

Max Displays: 2

1 display (Single 8K@60Hz via Thunderbolt 4 port with compatible display (requires DSC support on monitor))

7680x4320 @ 60Hz

1 display (Single 4K@120Hz via Thunderbolt 4 port with compatible display)

3840x2160 @ 120Hz

2 displays (Dual 4K@60Hz via two Thunderbolt 4 downstream ports. Requires M1 Pro/Max or later on Mac.)

3840x2160 @ 60Hz

2 displays (Dual 5K@60Hz via two Thunderbolt 4 downstream ports (host system dependent))

5120x2880 @ 60Hz

Ports & Connectivity

USB Ports

3x USB-C 4.0 15W

3x USB-A 3.2 4.5W

1x USB-A 2.0 7.5W

Network

1x Ethernet (1 Gbps)

Audio

1x 3.5mm combo

Card Readers

1x SD (UHS-II (312 MB/s))

Full Specifications

General
Manufacturer	OWC
Model	OWCTB4DOCK
Release Date	2021-06
MSRP	$249
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 port with compatible display (requires DSC support on monitor))
1x Display	3840x2160 @ 120Hz (Single 4K@120Hz via Thunderbolt 4 port with compatible display)
2x Display	3840x2160 @ 60Hz (Dual 4K@60Hz via two Thunderbolt 4 downstream ports. Requires M1 Pro/Max or later on Mac.)
2x Display	5120x2880 @ 60Hz (Dual 5K@60Hz via two Thunderbolt 4 downstream ports (host system dependent))
Ports (7+ total)
USB-C 4.0	3x (15W)
USB-A 3.2	3x (4.5W)
USB-A 2.0	1x (7.5W)
Ethernet (RJ45)	1x 1 Gbps
Audio (3.5mm-combo)	1x
SD Card Reader	1x
Power
Power Input	DC-barrel
Laptop Charging	Up to 96W

Compatibility

macOS (11.1 (Big Sur)+)

Full native support. Dual displays require M1 Pro/Max or later. Compatible with Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4 Macs.

Windows (10+)

Full support on Thunderbolt 4 equipped PCs. Also works with Thunderbolt 3 Windows laptops.

ChromeOS

Works as a USB-C hub with Chromebooks (reduced functionality compared to Thunderbolt hosts).

Linux

Basic USB and Ethernet functionality reported working. Full Thunderbolt functionality may vary by distribution.

Known Issues

M1/M2/M3 base MacBook Air/Pro

Limited to single external display

8 /10

Our Verdict

Excellent

The OWC Thunderbolt 4 Dock is one of the best value propositions in the Thunderbolt 4 dock market. At its MSRP of $249, it undercuts competitors like the CalDigit TS4 by a significant margin while still delivering the essentials: three Thunderbolt 4 downstream ports, 96W laptop charging, Gigabit Ethernet, and an SD card reader. It works seamlessly with Mac and Windows with no drivers needed, and firmware updates are available through OWC's Dock Ejector utility. The main trade-offs are the lack of dedicated video output ports (requiring adapters for monitors), 1 Gbps Ethernet instead of 2.5 Gbps, and the upstream host port being on the front rather than the rear. For creative professionals who need UHS-II card reader speeds and multiple Thunderbolt daisy-chain options at a reasonable price, the OWC Thunderbolt 4 Dock is an excellent choice that punches above its weight.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the OWC Thunderbolt 4 Dock have HDMI or DisplayPort?

No, the OWC Thunderbolt 4 Dock does not have dedicated HDMI or DisplayPort outputs. Instead, it provides three Thunderbolt 4 downstream ports that support video output via USB-C to HDMI or USB-C to DisplayPort adapters. This gives you flexibility to choose the video connection type you need, but does require purchasing separate adapters.

Does the OWC Thunderbolt 4 Dock support dual monitors?

Yes, the OWC Thunderbolt 4 Dock supports dual 4K@60Hz or dual 5K@60Hz displays through its Thunderbolt 4 downstream ports. On Mac, you need an M1 Pro, M1 Max, or later chip for dual display support. Base M1/M2/M3 Macs are limited to one external display due to Apple hardware limitations.

Can the OWC Thunderbolt 4 Dock charge a MacBook Pro?

Yes, the dock delivers up to 96W of power via USB-C Power Delivery through the host Thunderbolt 4 port. This is enough to charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro during normal use. Apple's maximum charging speed for the 16-inch model is 140W via MagSafe, but 96W is sufficient for daily work.

Does the OWC Thunderbolt 4 Dock work with Thunderbolt 3 laptops?

Yes, the OWC Thunderbolt 4 Dock is backwards compatible with Thunderbolt 3 Macs and PCs. It also works as a USB-C hub with non-Thunderbolt USB-C devices like Chromebooks and iPads, though with reduced bandwidth and functionality.

What is the difference between the OWC Thunderbolt 4 Dock and the OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock?

The OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock is a newer model with a built-in power supply (no external power brick), HDMI 2.0 output, 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet, and 90W power delivery. The original Thunderbolt 4 Dock has 96W power delivery and uses an external power adapter, but lacks a dedicated HDMI port and has only 1 Gbps Ethernet. The Go Dock is more portable; the original is more affordable.

Head-to-Head Comparisons

CalDigit TS4 vs OWC Thunderbolt 4 Dock: Premium vs Mid-Range TB4
A detailed comparison of the CalDigit TS4 and OWC Thunderbolt 4 Dock. We compare ports, display support, Ethernet speed, power delivery, and value to help you choose the right Thunderbolt 4 dock.