Keychron Thunderbolt 5 Dock review: 14 ports, 140W power and a $350 push beyond keyboards

On the front, the dock has three USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports supporting 10Gbps data transfer: two Type-A and one Type-C. It also has full-size SD and microSD card slots and a 3.5mm audio jack with an internal audio interface that supports inline mics for calls and basic audio input. Engadget said it would have preferred at least two Type-C ports on the front, but praised the front placement of the card slots.

Rear ports include three Thunderbolt 5 ports, one upstream to a computer and two downstream for devices such as high-speed SSDs. There are also two more USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, a 2.5Gb Ethernet port and a Kensington security lock. Two HDMI output ports are included for multi-display setups.

Display support is more complicated than the port count suggests. The dock can support up to four displays simultaneously over HDMI and Thunderbolt, but macOS does not natively support multiple displays over HDMI hubs or splitters, according to the review. If a user plugs two monitors into the HDMI ports on the dock and connects it to a Mac, the screen is mirrored on both. Users can instead combine one HDMI input, a display connected directly to the Mac and a Thunderbolt port for a true multi-display setup. Windows is more flexible, with dual-HDMI support being more common. The HDMI outputs max out at 4K/60Hz, so 8K or higher refresh rates require a Thunderbolt port.

In testing, Engadget said the dock recognized storage every time and delivered maximum or near-maximum data speeds even when moving files from multiple sources at the same time. The reviewer also highlighted the dock's weight and stability, saying it stays put when a microSD card is clicked in with one finger. That contrasted with an older, cheaper Ugreen dock that could move or fail to register an SD card if inserted before the computer woke up.

The review said the dock becomes more transformative with a laptop. A 13-inch Asus foldable that is powerful enough for most desktop tasks can become a podcast and video studio when connected to a Rodecaster and mirrorless camera or capture card with multiple displays and full power supply over one cable.

The dock has an aluminum design that Engadget described as Apple-inspired, with rubber feet on two sides so it can sit upright or flat. Rival docks force one orientation, the review said, which can be frustrating for users with space limitations or visual and ergonomic preferences.