From Engadget · James Trew · · 3m
Keychron's first dock is sensibly priced
The keyboard maker enters the high-end dock market with strong HDMI support and reliable connectivity, but lacks some features rivals offer.
In brief
The keyboard maker enters the high-end dock market with strong HDMI support and reliable connectivity, but lacks some features rivals offer. Keychron's Thunderbolt 5 Dock scores eight point three out of ten, offering dual HDMI ports and reliable media I/O at three hundred fifty dollars, though it lacks an SSD bay and…
Keyboard maker enters dock market
Keychron, known for mechanical keyboards that democratized higher-end customization, is expanding into PC and laptop docks as Thunderbolt 5 adoption grows.
Thunderbolt 5 Dock specs
The dock offers eighty gigabits per second data transfers with one hundred twenty gigabits per second boost mode, dual eight K monitor support and one hundred forty watts upstream power delivery.
Fourteen connections total
Front ports include three USB three point two Gen two ports at ten gigabits per second, two SD card slots, and a three point five millimetre audio jack with inline mic support.
Rear connectivity
The back has three Thunderbolt five ports, two more USB three point two Gen two Type A ports, a two point five gigabit Ethernet port, Kensington security lock and two HDMI output ports.
HDMI display limits
The dock supports up to four displays over HDMI and Thunderbolt, but HDMI outputs max at four K sixty hertz. Mac OS mirrors displays over dual HDMI, while Windows supports dual HDMI more flexibly.
Reliable storage performance
The dock recognized every storage device plugged in and delivered maximum data speeds even when transferring files from multiple sources simultaneously, unlike cheaper alternatives.
“The dock doesn't slide around on the desk. That's almost worth the three hundred fifty dollars alone.”
Transforms laptop workflow
Connected to a laptop, the dock converts it into a podcast and video studio with multiple displays, full power supply and connections to cameras and capture cards over one cable.
Design and cooling
The brushed aluminum dock has rubber feet for upright or flat orientation. CNC-cut side panels act as heatsinks, eliminating the need for a fan and keeping it silent.
Competitive landscape
CalDigit's TS five costs three hundred ninety-nine dollars, Razer's Thunderbolt five Dock Chroma costs three hundred seventy-nine dollars with an SSD bay, and Anker's Prime TB five costs three hundred ninety-nine dollars.
Keychron's standout feature
The dual HDMI ports are Keychron's standout feature. Rivals like CalDigit and Razer ditch HDMI connectivity, while Anker uses DisplayPort instead of a second HDMI.
Sensible first attempt
Keychron's dock scores eight point three out of ten. It lacks an NVMe SSD slot and DisplayPort, but combines smart choices and hardware experience into a practical, reasonably priced option.
“Keychron's first attempt is unusually sensible.”
What to remember
Keychron's Thunderbolt 5 Dock scores eight point three out of ten, offering dual HDMI ports and reliable media I/O at three hundred fifty dollars, though it lacks an SSD bay and DisplayPort.
