Thunderbolt 3 M.2 Dual Bay Docking Station
Expand the capabilities of your computer with the multifunctional docking station from Orico. Through a single 60W/40Gbps connection to your computer, you will gain a 1000 Mbps GigE interface, another 15W PD USB-3/Thunderbolt 3 port, an 8K/60Hz DisplayPort, an extra 3.5mm port, two 5Gbps USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports, one 10Gbps USB-A USB-3.1 Gen2 port, one 10Gbps USB-C USB 3.1 Gen2 Port, and the ability to add up to 4TB of NVMe/NGFF SSD. With heat management in mind, the system employs a built-in cooling fan, extra thermal pads, and a large surface area of heat syncs. As you expand your tech's capabilities, expect Orico to easily keep up with the demand.
- DESIGN
- EASE OF USE
- PRICE
- PORTS
- POWER OUTPUT
Docking station ensures you get good at multi-tasking and expand your productivity
Since USB-C was adopted by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) in 2016, more devices have adopted the standard. When I purchased my latest MacBook Pro 15”, I was excited about the possibility of moving away from the older USB-A technologies. With four USB-C 3.1 Generation 2, Thunderbolt 3 supporting/DisplayPort Alt Mode/PD delivery ports, the single 3.5mm port seemed out of place and antiquated.
Unfortunately, despite the allure of new technology inputs, I quickly realized that I still resided in a USB-A-centric world. Like the transition from VHS to DVD to Blu-Ray, the input technologies are caught in a state of flux/metamorphosis. Many of us used a combo VHS/DVD player, or cassette tape/CD player before moving completely into the newest formats.
Docks, hubs, dongles, and towers are common solutions to computer input/output interconnectivity requirements. The devices can add more of a given variety of ports, or they may expand options by adding various input/output ports not present on the base device. The ORICO Thunderbolt 3 Multifunctional Docking Station arrived in a classy 9 1/8 inches long by 5 1/8 inches wide by 3 1/8 inches tall retail package.
The cover listed the ORICO name/logo along the top left, directly adjacent to a Thunderbolt logo, and along the top right of the panel, you will find a PICC Global insurance logo. Beneath the ORICO name, you will find the Thunderbolt 3 TBS-S2 name, four smaller blue icons (RJ45, 60W PD Supports, 8KDP, Aluminum Alloy), and one larger 40Gbps icon. Despite the allure of the contrasting black and blue accents against the white background, the main focal point of the cover was the front/back oblique image of the ORICOdevice.
I liked the dark blue coloration, and the ability to visualize the front (3 USB-A 3.0 ports, USB-C, and 3.5mm port) plus rear (AC input, RJ45 port, two USB-C, and DisplayPort). The left/right side panels provided a white ORICO logo upon an azure blue background, while the front/back panels provided the ORICO logo, Thunderbolt logo, and product name.
The white-colored rear panel listed the ORICO/Thunderbolt name/logo at the top left and a bilingual list of the product specifications (TB3-S2 model, aluminum alloy material, 188 x 95 x 24 mm dimensions, Thunderbolt 3 input, USB-A 5Gbps x 2/USB-A 10Gbps x2/USB-C 10Gbps x1/ DP1.4 x1/ LAN x1/Audio/Mic x1/ Thunderbolt 3 x1 output, 24V/5A 120 W power supply and Windows/Mac OS support) and address/contact information along the bottom. The right side provided a top-down image of the docking station adjacent to a MacBook Pro and all of the potential input/output cable options. Lastly, you will find product manufacturing labels, a QR code link to www.orico.cc, and an SKU barcode.
I lifted the flap, removed the thin plastic wrap from around the ORICO docking station, and evaluated the 1 pound 1.6 ounces, 3 3/4 inches wide by 7 3/8 inches long by 7/8 inches thick device. The metallic grey surface had heat sync ridges along the top/right side of the panel, and four slightly raised 5/16 inches rubberized feet along the bottom.
The front panel had three total USB-A ports (two 5Gbps, 1 10Gbps), a single USB-C Thunderbolt 3 10Gbps port, a 3.5mm headphone port, and a white ORICO logo. The rear panel had a DC input port, LAN port, dual USB-C output ports, and a display port. The bottom panel, in addition to the rubberized feet, provided a warning sticker, product specifications table, product manufacturing labels, and a 1 15/16 inches wide by 3 9/16 inches long metallic SSD access port with two silver screws.
Beneath the internal cardboard shelf, you will find a small ORICO service card (supports@orico.com.cn/phone number, and Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, Instagram handles, plus two QR codes), instruction manual (Chinese/English), a 3.0 x 30mm Phillips head screwdriver with rotatable tail piece, a 21 3/4 inches long braided USB-C to USB-C cable, and the power adapter.
The grey/black braided USB-C cable had a 1/2 inch long black neck rubber segment that proved resistant to bending. I gripped the USB-C end, tugged on the prong, bent the neck segment 50 times forward/back and side-to-side, rolled the cable tightly, and pulled on each end. I was impressed with the robust design, and that they included such a high-quality accessory. Interestingly, it appeared to be one of the main features rather than a simple inclusion.
The massive power box seemed to dwarf the Orico docking station, reminding me of the Xbox 360 power adapter. The 6 3/4 inches long by 2 13/16 inches wide by 1 9/16 inches tall power brick had four 1/2-inch diameter rubberized feet, a product information panel (50/60Hz 3.0A input, 24V/5A output), an input power port on one side, and a 47 1/2 inches long D/C plug on the other side. Quite robust, the power brick weighed over a pound.
I plugged the 49-inches long type-A wall plug cable into the docking station and then the power cable into my wall outlet. Once connected, an internal fan quietly powered on. I turned to the Decibel X App and found my ambient background noise to be 37 dB. With the fan activated, the meter registered 42.2 dB and noted: “Quiet Home.” Quite impressed with the cooling features of the device, I was excited to test more of the features.
I plugged the included USB-C cable into the rear USB-C power port and then into one of the ports on my MacBook Pro. Starting at 10:34 am with 41% power, the computer increased to 52% by 10:48 am, 66% by 11:07 am, 74% by 11:17 am and the MacBook was fully charged by 12:25 pm. I plugged a DisplayPort to HDMI cable into the DisplayPort and then into my monitor to add a second screen.
I found the docking station responded quickly and provided clear/quality video output to my non-8K monitor. I do not yet have an 8K monitor, but loved that the tech could accommodate expansion with future purchases. Similarly, even though I did not need to use a LAN port (thanks to my home mesh WIFi), I loved that they included the port for travel/hotel situations.
I let the ORICO docking station charge my MacBook from <50% to full and noted only marginal increases in surface temperature. The quiet internal fan, paired with 20 small holes in the top/side of the heat sync surfaces, proved to offload heat amazingly well. The instruction manual noted that the device may get hot to the touch, which was an intended function of the surface heat dissipation.
Throughout my testing, I did not find the temperature to exceed a comfortable level of warmth. I used a Nubee Infrared Thermometer and found the surface temperature of my table to be 77.1F (25.1C), while my MacBook Pro registered 83.3F (28.5C). As I completed the above testing steps, the surface of the dock registered 94.1F-107.6F (34.5C-42C). I was pleased to find that the ORICO docking station did not reach the limits of some other reported devices (up to 83C/181F).
I plugged a 1TB TOSHIBA USB-A USB 3.0 drive into the 5Gbps USB-A port and then tried the drive in the 10Gbps port as well. I ran a Blackmagic speed test and found ~101-103.8 MB/s write and ~101-105 MB/s read speed, which was the limit of the drive and not the theoretical output of the docking station. I had no issues with the Finder App, with ejecting the drive, or with adding new USB-A devices like a wired mouse, or a second portable drive.
Like the display output above, I would much rather have a future-proof tech than something requiring frequent upgrades. I plugged a Klein Tools Multimeter into the 10Gbps USB-A port, a USB-A to Lightning cable between the multimeter and my iPhone 13 Pro Max, and found the multimeter displayed 5.02V/0.48A. When I moved it over to the 10Gbps port, I found the same result.
I then plugged the USB-C prong of the multimeter into the rear USB-C port and then a USB-C to lightning cable into the multimeter. I was pleased to find that the multimeter displayed 5.09F/1.59A and allowed my iPhone to charge optimally.
If you are looking to expand the base capabilities of your MacBook, the ORICO Thunderbolt 3 TBS-S2 may be an ideal option for you. The device can output to two 4K monitors (one via Thunderbolt 3 and the other by DisplayPort) or to a single 8K monitor, once available/cost-friendly.
I tried to think about this device and the role that it would play for the end-user. If you had a MacBook with the bare minimum specifications, or you are creating data-heavy projects, you may run out of memory space. Perhaps you need quicker data transfers than external flash drives. If these stories reach you, please note that you can remove the lower plate and add up to 4TB of internal SSD (M.2NGFF 2280 SSD support).
If you already had the drives laying around, it makes sense to add them to the enclosure for the 40Gbps Thunderbolt 3 data transfer speeds. At the cost of $100+ dollars per SSD stick, this particular expansion may be less cost-effective.
As the ORICO Docking station plus charging brick weighed > 2 pounds, it will not be particularly portable. Thus, the device will likely sit on a desk or workspace and will be at risk for drink spills. I would have loved a rubber/silicone seal around the lower access plate to prevent potential water ingress into the dock.
Additionally, I am not sure if the drives will serve as individual units or if they will form some level of redundancy/RAID. The website demonstrated external graphics processing that would likely benefit from RAID 0, and amazingly fast speeds for modern and future devices. The ORICO Station will charge your MacBook at 60W through a single USB-C cable and will leave another 15W for the other powered USB-C/Thunderbolt-3 port.
At the cost of a single charge/function port, you gain extra monitor functionality, wired internet connection, three 3 USB-A ports, 2 USB-C ports (1 fully powered), and an extra 3.5mm microphone port for a microphone/headphone.
Those likely represent the basic functionality of the docking station. With the ability to expand memory space into the SSD enclosure, the ORICO device may even save you money instead of buying a newer device with larger HD space. There is a lot of potential within the TBS-S2 device and the features abound. Thanks to the high-end parameters, ports, and expansion, the device should grow nicely alongside your needs.
The ORICO Thunderbolt 3 M.2 Dual Bay Docking Station can be purchased online at newegg.com, ebay.com, and amazon.com.
Learn more about the ORICO Thunderbolt 3 Multifunction Docking Station and ORICO Products.
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