One of the main issues with the recent MacBook laptops is their lack of ports. Apple has chopped the MacBook Pro and MacBook Airport availability to either two or four Thunderbolt ports, along with the 3.5mm headphone jack. While this change is aesthetically pleasing, some users have to compromise on which external devices they use.
That’s why iVANKY, a professional A/V cabling and adapters brand, decided to take a further step to provide better productivity tools and developed its new USB-C Docking Station Pro. This docking station aims to solve the problem of ports on MacBook models while also allowing dual 4K 60Hz display capability. That means MacBook owners will no longer have to choose between their dual monitor setup or the rest of their peripherals. But how does this new docking station stack up? Let’s find out.
Meet the iVANKY Docking Station Pro
Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by iVANKY, and we would like to thank the company for generously providing this unit for testing and review.
When you first look at the iVANKY USB-C Docking Station Pro, you’ll notice two things: the dual USB-C connector explicitly designed for newer MacBooks and the vast array of ports on the unit. Like a multitool for MacBook laptops, it offers 12 individual connections, including video output to dual 4K displays at 60 Hz. Right now, you can pick up the iVANKY Docking Station Pro for $139 at Amazon.
The reason this resolution and refresh rate are so important is that many docking stations on the market today say they support 4K, but when you look closely at the specs many only offer 4k at a stuttering 30Hz. What’s worse is that some docks only support mirrored mode. The iVANKY Docking Station Pro solves these issues and works in either mirrored or extended modes.
The unit offers 4K via its two dedicated HDMI 2.0 ports. Additionally, there are two USB-C 3.0 ports, one of which is a quick-charge PD port, four USB-A 3.0 ports, an SD/TF card slot that will support two cards simultaneously, an ethernet port, and a 3.5 mm audio output.
Docking Station Technical Specifications
- Length: 5.6 inches (142 mm)-
- Width: 3.0 inches (76 mm)
- Height: 0.89 inches (22.5 mm)
- Weight: 18 oz (500 g)
- Input: 20V 9A
- Laptop charging output: 20V 4.8A (96W)
- PD port: 5V 3A/9V 2A (18w)
Hardware Requirements and Compatibility
- Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch, 2016 or later with 2 Thunderbolt 3 ports
- Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch, 2016 or later with 4 Thunderbolt 3 ports
- Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch, 2016 and later
- Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch
- Apple MacBook Air 13-Inch, 2018
Unfortunately, the Apple Silicon M1 MacBooks are not currently supported. However, we used the docking station and achieved dual-monitor output on a new Mac Mini M1. More on that in a moment.
What’s in the Box?
Included with the iVANKY Docking Station Pro, you’ll get:
- The docking station
- The owner’s manual
- The power adapter and power cable
Setup and Installation
iVANKY’s docking station is easy to install. First, you’ll plug the unit into your MacBook before connecting your peripherals. Next, you’ll plug the unit into AC power. That’s it. There are no drivers to install, apps to download, or complicated setup procedures to perform. It’s simple.
Plug-and-play installation is one of the best features of the USB-C Docking Station Pro, and users will be astonished at how fast they can be up and running. To date, this is one of the easiest product set-ups we’ve encountered.
Using the iVANKY Docking Station Pro
To test this unit, we used a 2018 MacBook Air running macOS Big Sur 11.4. Using a single HDMI 2.0 port resulted in a clear 4K picture running at 60Hz per the monitor inputs. The maximum resolution offered was 3840 x 2160, and even on our 27-inch screen, the text was nice and sharp with no artifacts. Connecting a second monitor also worked well, and even mixed display resolutions looked great.
A unique feature here is the 96W charging capability of the iVANKY dock. For those using the Docking Station Pro as part of a work-from-home or mobile setup, that means no stopping important work to hunt down a laptop charger.
Data transfer was also reasonably fast, and a 1.14 GB file copied from the laptop to a USB-C stick took less than five minutes. Transferring data both to and from an SD card offered much faster speeds. For example, a 1.09 GB file took less than a minute to download to an inserted card—excellent news for people who constantly swap files from computer to laptop using external SD or USB storage.
One surprising superpower of this unit is that it offered dual-display support for a Mac mini M1 we had on hand. While iVANKY doesn’t officially support M1 MacBooks, the USB-C Docking Station Pro worked perfectly for the mini.
The unit has now replaced a cheaper USB hub we were using for the M1 mini, but don’t expect this to work with the MacBook M1. The display specs of the mini are different.
What’s to Love About the iVANKY Docking Station Pro?
This docking station has a massive amount of ports for the price, and the ability to use dual monitors without daisy-chaining will be useful for many people. If you work from a Mac laptop, then the unit is perfect for giving you some extra 4K screen real estate.
Data transfer speeds here are also excellent, and the dock’s ability to power your Mac while connected is a huge benefit for folks who like to travel light. Finally, the unit is sleek and will complement almost every desk setup imaginable. It’s also got a terrific 54-month warranty.
What’s Not to Love?
There are only two slight issues with this unit. First is the hefty power brick. The brick is larger than the dock itself, and carrying it around adds some significant weight. So if you’re using this dock as a portable unit, be prepared for a little extra bulk.
Second, this dock does not support audio or video over USB-C. That means if you have a USB-C monitor without HDMI ports, then you’ll probably want to skip this unit. However, most setups still use HDMI ports, so this might not be an issue.
Should You Buy the iVANKY USB-C Docking Station Pro?
Absolutely, you should. At the $139 price point, there aren’t many docks on the market that will give you the large array of ports or the dual 4K 60Hz support of this one. The warranty, the aesthetics, the easy setup, and the lack of drivers all make this dock a great buy.
So, if you’re looking for a dock that will turn that MacBook Pro into a professional workstation, then you should hop over to Amazon and pick this unit up. You’ll be glad you did.