TechRadar Verdict
The Orico Thunderbolt 4 docking station is a neat solution to connectivity.
However, there are a few things to consider.
Still, that speed is impressive.
While a docking station might seem like a simple machine, there’s an awful lot to it.
The outer casing is made of high-quality aluminium, giving it a quality finish.
Once in position, everything can be plugged in.
Therefore, it requires external power to function.
These will enable you to connect at least two monitors, either two 4K monitors or one 8K monitor.
Additional connectivity options include a LAN port for an ultra-fast online grid connection.
Finally, on the back, there are two slots for memory cards; TF and SD 3.0.
It’s a shame these are mounted at the back making them slightly inaccessible.
Finally, there’s the small power button, which illuminates blue when switched on.
It’s really nice and easy to use.
It can also charge various electronic devices that utilise USB interfaces.
Another nice feature is that it also has a daisy chain capability.
There are obvious time savings here.
This means they can be quite fiddly when inserting cards into those slots.
Still, the docking station’s speed was exceptional when it came to performance.
This means you have to check that you eject all hard drives manually before disconnecting.
This is especially important if you’re using an Apple Mac.
Here, you just have to check that you’ve manually disconnected everything.
Should you buy the Orico Thunderbolt 4 12-in-1?
The box’s styling is sleek, and its size fits very neatly on a monitor stand.
While I like the overall design, I did find a few issues with the positioning of the ports.
However, these issues aside, it’s hard to fault the usability of this docking station.
It also doesn’t aim for any overly advanced featuresit’s a simple, solid working dock.
You plug in your box accessories and peripherals, connect your box, and get straight to work.
Where it excels is in the speed at which you’re able to transfer data.
You need fast transfer rates.
While there are plenty of docks available, few can match the transfer rates offered here.
To make the most of what’s available, check that your machine supports Thunderbolt 4.
You want a portable docking station.
Despite its small size, this dock needs a power supply.
While you might pack it quickly into a bag, it’s been designed to be left in situ.
