OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock review: Smart design and solid build quality make it a versatile dock

Note: This review was first published on 3 January 2025.

Docking stations have become an important gadget for some of us (especially content creators and professionals) juggling multiple devices and computers. Among the plethora of choices available in the market, the OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock stands out for its thoughtful design and robust build. I’ve used quite a number of such gadgets in my personal capacity, but OWC’s intrigued me because not only does it come with Thunderbolt 4 support but also a built-in power supply – eliminating the need for an external power brick.

The integration of a power supply makes it a great choice for anyone looking to have less cable clutter on their desk. While this makes the dock slightly larger than some competitors, I’d say it’s a compromise that’s well worth it. The Go Dock’s build quality is equally impressive, featuring a solid aluminium body that exudes a premium feel and robustness. It’s fair to say this is one docking station that you can bring along with you on your travels. The weight of the built-in power supply also adds to the dock’s heft and, intentionally or not, adds stability to it. So it never really moves a lot despite frequently plugging and unplugging peripherals from it.

It’s rare to encounter a docking station that feels this well-engineered, and OWC has clearly put thought into both function and form.

For connectivity, the Thunderbolt Go Dock has a pretty well-rounded selection of ports. On the back, you’ll find two Thunderbolt downstream ports, an HDMI 2.1 output, two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports, and a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port. The last one is very useful since almost all of today’s slim and thin laptops exclude one. Over at the front, there’s one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, a USB -A 2.0 port, a headphone jack, and an SD card reader. After hooking up my Macbook Air with the Thunderbolt Go Dock, it easily handled an external monitor, a Thunderbolt 4 external drive, a wired connection to my LAN point, and my wireless keyboard and mouse dongles without breaking a sweat. I’ve also tethered it to my Windows PC (see how the built-in power supply makes it so easy to move around), where it’s easy to hook up my external drive and use my SD Card with it.

That said, there are a few areas where I thought OWC could have gone further with the docking station. While the HDMI port covers one display output, I felt a DisplayPort would add more versatility. Admittedly, this wasn’t a deal-breaker but it’s something to consider if you’re using a mixed-display setup. Another is the limited number of USB ports on the front. I think it would have been nice to have an additional USB-A or -C here. Even a power switch would have been welcome, allowing for better energy management – especially in today’s economy climate – but I’m also being a little nit-picky here.

In terms of performance, the OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock delivers exactly what you’d expect from a high-end Thunderbolt device. Data transfer speeds are excellent, and the dock handled multiple connections without any incidents – it just works as it should.

For all of the above highlights, OWC has priced the Thunderbolt Go Dock at a premium US$299.99. It’s definitely one of the pricier docking stations in the market now, but the excellent build quality, integrated power supply and 10 ports justify the value in my opinion. That it looks pretty good with a sleek aluminium finish is a bonus too, compared to some other brands that either look too “plastic” or too utilitarian.

All in all, I’d say the OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock is a compelling choice for anyone seeking a streamlined, high-quality docking solution. I really do like that it comes with an integrated power supply, and that its build quality is really second to none – the fins along the surface helps to dissipate heat passively too. It might be pricey or lacks some features (like DisplayPort) for some users, but if you can overlook these then the Thunderbolt Go Dock s quite possibly one of the best docking stations in the market to get right now.

Note: The OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock is available at Amazon with an SRP of US$299.99.

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