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Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics Dock vs OWC Mercury Helios 3: Comparison
Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics Dock and OWC Mercury Helios 3 separate most on host power delivery: Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics Dock at 135, OWC Mercury Helios 3 at 85, 37% in favour of Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics Dock. PSU Wattage splits them by another 31%, again favouring Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics Dock. They match on connection standard and cooling type.
Specs
| Specification |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Connection Standard | Thunderbolt 3 | Thunderbolt 3 |
| Brand | Lenovo | OWC |
| Extra Ports | USB-A/C, Gigabit Ethernet, DisplayPort, HDMI, audio — full docking-station I/O | None onboard beyond the GPU's own outputs |
| PSU Wattage | 580 | 400-31% |
| Host Power Delivery | 135 | 85-37% |
| Cooling Type | Active Fan | Active Fan |
| Model | 40AF0135US (also sold as G0A10170UL) | Mercury Helios 3 |
| Price | Launched around $549.99 (2017) | Launched around $299 (2018) |
Price comparison
| Retailer | Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics Dock | OWC Mercury Helios 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | View on Amazon |
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Solid basic Mac eGPU box, superseded by the Helios FX which OWC still actively sells.
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