Belkin Introduces 14-in-1 Thunderbolt 5 Dock in China, Nearing $340
Belkin has quietly entered the next-generation docking station market in China with a new 14-in-1 Thunderbolt 5 Dock, priced at 2,299 yuan (approximately $338). The launch comes just days after Baseus unveiled its own Spacemate RD1 Pro, a 15-port alternative priced at $300, signaling fresh competition in the premium universal docking segment.
Port Configuration and Power Delivery
The Belkin dock connects to a host computer through a single Thunderbolt 5 upstream port and ships with both a 180-watt power adapter and a one-meter Thunderbolt 5 cable. It delivers up to 140W of power to a laptop over that single connection. For data throughput, the dock operates at 80Gbps by default and can dynamically scale bandwidth up to 120Gbps when higher-resolution monitors demand additional system resources and the connection supports it.
Display Capabilities Across Platforms
On the video output side, the unit includes one DisplayPort 2.1 port and one HDMI 2.1 port, each capable of driving up to 8K resolution at 60Hz or 4K at 240Hz, depending on the connected display. Two downstream Thunderbolt 5 ports also carry video signals and provide up to 15W of power each for accessories. When paired with a Windows machine, the dock can run up to three external 4K displays at 144Hz simultaneously, or support a total of four screens. Mac compatibility varies by chip generation; M4 and M5 Apple Silicon models can handle multiple external monitors, while M1, M2, and M3 chips are limited by Apple’s own architectural constraints.
Additional Ports and Physical Design
The peripheral selection covers a broad range of desktop requirements. Wired networking is handled by a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port, complemented by a 3.5mm audio jack. USB connectivity includes one USB-C 3.2 port with 30W output, a second USB-C 3.2 port supplying 7.5W, one USB-A 3.2 port operating at 10Gbps, and two USB-A 3.0 ports each delivering 5Gbps. UHS-II SD 4.0 and microSD 4.0 card readers are built in, each capable of transfer speeds up to 312MB/s. The dock’s aluminum chassis measures 22.2 by 8.5 by 2 centimeters and weighs 510 grams, incorporating a thermal management system, a power button, an LED status indicator, and a Kensington lock slot.
Compatibility and Global Availability
The dock works with Thunderbolt 4, USB4, and USB-C devices at reduced bandwidth, though it does not support Thunderbolt 3 connections. While Belkin has not yet made an official announcement for markets outside China, the company briefly listed the product on its global website at a $350 price point before removing the page, suggesting a broader launch may be under consideration.
Source: www.gizmochina.com