Hands-on: Satechi CubeDock packs Thunderbolt 5 and NVMe storage in a Mac mini-like design [Video]

Thunderbolt 5 debuted in September 2023. It was introduced as the new Thunderbolt standard that would slowly begin to replace Thunderbolt 4. It entered the scene, and we saw a big jump forward in bandwidth, display support, and overall capability. But what I noticed is that it was relatively slow to roll out, and the products we saw that did implement Thunderbolt 5 only did that. They just switched from Thunderbolt 4 to Thunderbolt 5 and shipped the same product otherwise. So when I saw Satechi announce some actual changes and improvements to their Thunderbolt 5 CubeDock, I had to check it out. I have used it for over two weeks, and this is what you should know.

Be sure to check out the hands-on video review to see it in action!

Satechi Thunderbolt 5 CubeDock Specs

Let’s start with the on-paper specs before we go into my real-world use. The main goal of this dock is to be an ultra-high-powered single cable solution for your Mac setup. It gives you everything you expect from a high-quality product like this. It combines high-speed data transfer, power delivery, display output, and storage expansion into something that literally looks and feels like an M4 Mac mini. In terms of ports and connectivity, you get:

Front ports:

• 3.5mm headphone jack
• SD & microSD card reader (UHS-II)
• USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps, up to 30W)
• USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps)

Back ports:

• 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet
• USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps)
• USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps)
• Thunderbolt 5 host port (to your Mac)
• 3x Thunderbolt 5 ports
• Kensington lock slot

CubeDock features

As you saw, it has a multitude of high-speed ports for data, display output, and everything in between. But the real magic is in the features and specs. Thunderbolt 5 unlocks a ton of possibilities, like:

• Up to 120Gbps bandwidth (Thunderbolt 5)
• Up to 140W host charging
• Up to 6000MB/s storage speeds
• Multi-display support:
  • Single 8K 144Hz
  • Dual 8K 120Hz
  • macOS: dual 6K displays
  • M5 Pro / M5 Max Macs: up to 3 displays
• Built-in M.2 NVMe SSD slot (up to 8TB)

A few things stand out here. First, it supports the full 140W fast charging for your 16in MacBook Pro. It is also amazing that you get so many Thunderbolt 5 ports to support that 120Gbps. But the secret superpower is that you can put up to an 8TB M.2 NVMe SSD and achieve read/write speeds of up to 6,000MB/s. This feature has been a game-changer for me. Here is how I have been using it.

My experience

My setup is relatively simple, especially when it comes to display outputs. I have been using the CubeDock alongside my M5 MacBook Pro, paired it with a 40-inch 5K display. There are a few other peripherals wired in, like my Blue Ant USB-C speaker. I have both SD card slots, usually taken up, my EMEET webcam, and then my T9 Samsung SSD. It handles all of that perfectly. Prior to this dock, I was using Caldigit’s TS5+, and there are 2 main things that the CubeDock does better. Firstly, it keeps the dock cool with its built-in fan and ventilation, and then it also ejects SSDs and SD cards instantly. With my other hubs, I would press the eject button, and it would take 10 seconds to finally eject.

But the biggest shift for me has been the built-in NVMe storage. I immediately installed my 4TB Samsung 990 NVMe drive and set it as a dedicated repository for my Final Cut Pro workflow. All of my active projects, B-roll, and frequently used assets live directly on that drive. Because it’s always connected via the dock and supports 6000MB/s read and write speeds, it feels as fast as internal storage. Everything works instantly, and it’s been fantastic. So instead of juggling multiple external SSDs or worrying about what drive has what footage, everything I need is just there the moment I plug in a single cable. Then, if I need to take a project on the go, I copy it to my Samsung T9 and take my MacBook Pro with me.

I have been pleasantly surprised by how well this dock has handled my workflow. Between the NVMe storage and the additional external SSDs I constantly have plugged in, everything runs at full speed with zero bottlenecks. File transfers are fast, timelines load instantly, and working directly from external storage feels like it’s on my MacBook Pro.

The only thing that is missing is a dedicated HDMI or DisplayPort port. For me, this hasn’t been an issue since I’m running all my video output via Thunderbolt. But since this is Thunderbolt 5, you can easily get a high-powered USB-C to HDMI dongle and alleviate that issue.

Pricing and availability

Satechi’s new Thunderbolt 5 CubeDock is available today from Amazon and Satechi’s website. It comes in one silver color. It retails for $399, but there is a 10% off code on the product page, bringing it down to $360. For comparison, the Caldigit TS5 offers many of the same ports and functions but lacks the M.2 NVMe slot, and it is $399. I would say that the Satechi Dock is very competitively priced.

Final thoughts

As I mentioned in my video, I have tested a few higher-end Thunderbolt docks over the years, and Satechi’s new CubeDock is one of the best and most well-rounded ones out there. It takes everything Thunderbolt docks do well, like connectivity, power delivery, display support, port accessibility, and levels it up by including an NVMe slot and also providing a great design. This is one of those products you use every day, in multiple capacities, so investing in a higher-end piece like this one makes sense.

If you are in the market for a Thunderbolt dock that can power your entire work setup and also add value, then the Satechi CubeDock is worth considering. If I were to give it a rating out of 10, I would give it a 9.5/10. The design, the port selection, and the NVMe slot add up to a complete product. The only little missing piece is the built-in HDMI and/or Display Port.

What do you think? Do you have a Thunderbolt Dock? Do you need one? Are they overkill? Let’s discuss below

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