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Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics Dock vs OWC Mercury Helios 3: Comparison
What is the difference between Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics and OWC Mercury Helios 3?
The gap that matters here is host power delivery: Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics 135 W against OWC Mercury Helios 3 85 W, which puts Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics 37% ahead. Psu wattage runs the same way, 580 W on the Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics versus 400 W on the OWC Mercury Helios 3, another win for Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics.
Which should you buy, Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics or OWC Mercury Helios 3?
Buy the Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics for ThinkPad X1 Carbon/Yoga owners in fully validated firmware configurations and IT-managed business fleets needing dock plus light GPU boost, though it is not the pick for anyone wanting a trouble-free out-of-box experience and Non-ThinkPad laptop owners. The OWC Mercury Helios 3 is the one to take for simple, no-frills dual-slot GPU builds under 400W, though it is the wrong buy for cards that need more than 290mm of clearance and Windows users wanting extra I/O built into the box. It also earns its place with Mac users who find a used unit cheap and just need a bare Thunderbolt 3 enclosure. It is the wrong buy for anyone buying new, since the Mercury Helios FX replaced it with more PSU headroom. Our rating of the Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics (4.5/10): A promising idea, dock plus eGPU in one, undermined by well-documented compatibility and reliability issues at launch.
Which is cheaper, Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics or OWC Mercury Helios 3?
Cost splits them too. OWC Mercury Helios 3 sits at $299, Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics at $550, 84% more.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics and OWC Mercury Helios 3 differ on extra ports?
Yes. Extra Ports reads USB-A/C, Gigabit Ethernet, DisplayPort, HDMI, audio, full docking-station I/O on the Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics versus None onboard beyond the GPU's own outputs on the OWC Mercury Helios 3.
Is the Cooling Type the same on the Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics and OWC Mercury Helios 3?
It is. Both are listed at Active Fan, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics Dock
- Lenovo
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- OWC
Connection Standard
- Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics Dock
- Thunderbolt 3
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- Thunderbolt 3
Model Number
- Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics Dock
- 40AF0135US (also sold as G0A10170UL)
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- Mercury Helios 3
Extra Ports
- Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics Dock
- USB-A/C, Gigabit Ethernet, DisplayPort, HDMI, audio, full docking-station I/O
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- None onboard beyond the GPU's own outputs
PSU Wattage
- Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics Dock
- 580 WBest
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- 400 W-31%
Host Power Delivery
- Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics Dock
- 135 WBest
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- 85 W-37%
Cooling Type
- Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics Dock
- Active Fan
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- Active Fan
Price
- Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics Dock
- Launched around $549.99 (2017)
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- Launched around $299 (2018)
Which one should you pick?
Choose Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics Dock if you want the higher PSU wattage (580 W vs 400 W) and the higher host power delivery (135 W vs 85 W).
Choose OWC Mercury Helios 3 if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics Dock | OWC Mercury Helios 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Consumercarts listing | $549.99 View on Consumercarts listing | $299.00 View on Consumercarts listing |
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
Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics Dock
4.5 / 10 Expert Rating
A promising idea, dock plus eGPU in one, undermined by well-documented compatibility and reliability issues at launch.
OWC Mercury Helios 3
6 / 10 Expert Rating
Solid basic Mac eGPU box, superseded by the Helios FX which OWC still actively sells.