UGREEN Revodok Max 213 overview: The one Thunderbolt 4 docking station you will ever want

UGREEN is launching extra merchandise than Xiaomi lately, and the Chinese language accent maker is aggressively branching out into new classes. It debuted a 13-in-1 docking station in the beginning of 2023, and it had loads to supply — twin HDMI ports, 100W PD charging, and all of the USB ports you want.

UGREEN is constructing on that with the introduction of the Revodok Max 213. The important thing addition right here is the introduction of Thunderbolt 4, and that makes the docking station far more versatile. It additionally has a metallic chassis that appears significantly better, and also you get much more ports. Thunderbolt 4 connectivity provides you a usable bandwidth of 40Gbps, and the dock is ready to drive twin 4K displays at 60Hz or a single 8K monitor.

Retailing for $399, the Revodok Max 213 is without doubt one of the costlier choices on this class, nevertheless it is not brief on options.

UGREEN Revodok Max 213: Pricing and launch date

UGREEN launched the Revodok Max 213 again in December 2023, and the docking station is now out there globally. It retails for $399 on Amazon in addition to UGREEN’s web site, and the model is providing a 20% low cost while you use the code dl25054, bringing the value all the way down to a way more affordable $319.

UGREEN Revodok Max 213: Design

The Revodok Max 213 has the identical design as different UGREEN merchandise, so that you get a matte gray chassis that does not seize an excessive amount of consideration. The design is discreet, and the clear strains make it look far more elegant than the plastic-clad Revodok Professional 13-in-1 docking station. 

However one of the best function is that the docking station can be utilized vertically or horizontally; there are rubber ft on the backside and on one aspect, and it makes the Revodok Max 213 that rather more versatile. It additionally ensures that the dock does not transfer round in both orientation.

I additionally like that there is a energy button — similar to the Revodok Professional — and this makes it simple to modify off energy to linked units in a single go. There’s Thunderbolt branding on the aspect, and the docking station makes use of a slotted design to ship passive airflow. Overheating is not a problem in anyway, and UGREEN did all the fitting issues on the design entrance.

UGREEN Revodok Max 213: Connectivity

There’s rather a lot on supply with the Revodok Max 213, so let’s begin with the Thunderbolt ports. You get an upstream Thunderbolt 4 port with 40Gbps bandwidth that additionally has 90W USB PD charging, so you possibly can join a pocket book and cost it on the similar time. The dock has two downstream Thunderbolt ports — which make the most of the mixed 40Gbps throughput — and you’ll daisy-chain these ports to attach as much as six units in complete.

There is a DisplayPort 1.4 port that goes as much as 8K at 30Hz or 4K at 60Hz. I’d have favored an HDMI port, however you do not get one right here — you will should make do with the Thunderbolt and DisplayPort connectors. What you get as a substitute is a 2.5GbE Ethernet port, and when you have a multi-Gigabit web connection, you possibly can reap the benefits of that.

UGREEN bundles two USB-A 3.0 ports on the again, and these go as much as 5Gbps every. There are two USB-A ports on the entrance as properly, however they make the most of the USB 3.2 normal and go as much as 10Gbps. Rounding out the USB ports, there is a single USB-C connector up entrance that has 10Gbps bandwidth and costs at as much as 20W. Along with USB connectivity, you get an SD card reader, MicroSD card reader, and three.5mm jack.

The Revodok Max 213 is powered through a 180W brick, and that is the place UGREEN’s proficiency with GaN chargers turns out to be useful — the charging brick is considerably smaller than what you get with another dock.

UGREEN Revodok Max 213: Efficiency

The Revodok Max 213 makes use of the complete bandwidth of Thunderbolt 4, and I did not see any points in anyway when linked to a Home windows machine with Thunderbolt connectivity. It did a terrific job transferring knowledge and driving a 4K monitor, and whereas I did not want to make use of the charging potential of the dock as a lot, the USB PD 90W charging claims maintain up in real-world use.

The one caveat is that the dock will not have the ability to drive an 8K monitor if you happen to’re utilizing a MacBook with the M1/M2/M3 silicon. There isn’t any limitation with Home windows, and the dock is ready to drive an 8K monitor over Thunderbolt 4 or DisplayPort with none trouble. I haven’t got an 8K monitor at hand, however I did not see any issues utilizing the dock with a 4K monitor.

If that you must cost through the opposite ports, the Thunderbolt 4 ports go as much as 15W every, and the USB-A ports on the again have the flexibility to cost units at as much as 7.5W. The one draw back is that you just get only a single USB-C port — positioned on the entrance — and I believe UGREEN ought to have added at the very least yet one more. That mentioned, the USB-C port additionally leverages USB PD tech and goes as much as 20W, and I used to be simply in a position to cost units just like the Pixel 8 Professional and iPhone 15 Professional Max.

UGREEN Revodok Max 213: The competitors

The CalDigit TS4 continues to be one of many finest Thunderbolt 4 docking stations, providing 18 ports in complete. You get extra USB-A and USB-C ports, 2.5GbE connectivity, and it costs at as much as 98W. It prices the identical because the Revodok Max 213, and it’s a good general choice to think about.

UGREEN Revodok Max 213: Do you have to purchase it?

You can purchase this if:

• You desire a dock that appears good and is constructed to final
• You want loads of Thunderbolt 4 ports
• You want a dock that costs at 90W

You should not purchase this if:

• You want a dock with HDMI connectivity
• You need one of the best worth
• You want a couple of USB-C port

The Revodok Max 213 seems to be higher than simply about another dock at present, and whereas that is not a consideration, it is clear that UGREEN put a whole lot of thought into the design. There are zero points with the construct high quality as properly, and the steel chassis means the docking station is assured to final.

Whereas I’d have favored some extra USB-C ports and HDMI connectivity, the Revodok Max 213 has an honest set of ports usually, and when you have a Thunderbolt-enabled pocket book, it has loads to supply. You even get 90W charging out of the upstream Thunderbolt port, and that negates the necessity to join another cable to your pocket book.

You are not getting one of the best worth right here, however if you happen to want a high-quality Thunderbolt 4 dock that does a terrific job in every day use, you possibly can’t go improper with the Revodok Max 213.