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Elgato Thunderbolt Dock vs Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dock: Comparison
Elgato Thunderbolt Dock vs Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dock: the host power delivery difference
They are built to different briefs, and host power delivery shows it, Elgato Thunderbolt Dock 96W host charging against Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dock 90 W. Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dock also leads on total ports, 8 on the Elgato Thunderbolt Dock versus 11 on the Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dock. There is a split on os compatibility as well, Mac, Windows on the Elgato Thunderbolt Dock versus macOS 11+, Windows 10+, ChromeOS 91+ on the Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dock.
Which should you buy, Elgato Thunderbolt Dock or Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dock?
Take the Elgato Thunderbolt Dock for streamers and content creators organizing capture cards, mics, and stream decks around one dock. It is the wrong buy for buyers needing wired Ethernet, since this dock has no LAN port. Take the Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dock for home-office setups that want wired 2.5GbE without stepping up to Thunderbolt 5 pricing. It is not the one for buyers already committed to a Thunderbolt 5 laptop wanting maximum bandwidth. Our rating of the Elgato Thunderbolt Dock (8/10): A streaming-oriented Thunderbolt 4 dock that trades some port count for a layout built around creator workflows. Our rating of the Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dock (8/10): A well-tested, reliable Thunderbolt 4 dock with 2.5GbE that undercuts CalDigit slightly on price.
Elgato Thunderbolt Dock vs Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dock price
The Elgato Thunderbolt Dock asks 11% more, $300 against $270 for the Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dock.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Elgato Thunderbolt Dock and Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dock differ on port configuration?
Yes. Port Configuration reads 2x TB4 40Gbps, 3x USB-A 10Gbps, 1x USB-C 10Gbps,... on the Elgato Thunderbolt Dock versus 1x TB4 host, 3x TB4 downstream 40Gbps, 3x USB-A... on the Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dock.
Is the Connection Type the same on the Elgato Thunderbolt Dock and Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dock?
It is. Both are listed at Thunderbolt 4, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- Elgato Thunderbolt Dock
- Elgato
- Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dock
- Kensington
Connection Type
- Elgato Thunderbolt Dock
- Thunderbolt 4
- Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dock
- Thunderbolt 4
Model Number
- Elgato Thunderbolt Dock
- Thunderbolt Dock
- Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dock
- SD5700T
Port Configuration
- Elgato Thunderbolt Dock
- 2x TB4 40Gbps, 3x USB-A 10Gbps, 1x USB-C 10Gbps, 3.5mm audio
- Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dock
- 1x TB4 host, 3x TB4 downstream 40Gbps, 3x USB-A 10Gbps, 1x USB-A 2.0, GbE, SD UHS-II, 3.5mm combo audio
Max Display Support
- Elgato Thunderbolt Dock
- Dual 4K
- Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dock
- Dual 4K
Max Display Resolution
- Elgato Thunderbolt Dock
- Dual 4K@60Hz
- Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dock
- Dual 4K@60Hz or single 8K@30Hz
Total Ports
- Elgato Thunderbolt Dock
- 8-27%
- Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dock
- 11Best
Host Power Delivery
- Elgato Thunderbolt Dock
- 96W host charging
- Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dock
- 90 W
Ethernet
- Elgato Thunderbolt Dock
- No
- Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dock
- Yes
OS Compatibility
- Elgato Thunderbolt Dock
- Mac, Windows
- Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dock
- macOS 11+, Windows 10+, ChromeOS 91+
Price
- Elgato Thunderbolt Dock
- ~$300
- Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dock
- ~$270
Which one should you pick?
Choose Elgato Thunderbolt Dock if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Choose Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dock if you want the higher total ports (11 vs 8).
Price comparison
| Retailer | Elgato Thunderbolt Dock | Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dock |
|---|---|---|
| Consumercarts listing | $300.00 View on Consumercarts listing | |
| Amazon | $270.00 View on Amazon | |
| Newegg | View on Newegg |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.
Verdict
Elgato Thunderbolt Dock
8 / 10 Expert Rating
A streaming-oriented Thunderbolt 4 dock that trades some port count for a layout built around creator workflows.
Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dock
8 / 10 Expert Rating
A well-tested, reliable Thunderbolt 4 dock with 2.5GbE that undercuts CalDigit slightly on price.