StarTech.com 4-Port Thunderbolt 5 Hub with Thunderbolt Share KVM, 80/120Gbps, 8K Multi-Display, 140W PD, USB-A 10Gbps, TB4 & USB4, MacBook M4 Pro M4 Max M5

Product Overview

AI-generated summary

At £235.86 ex‑VAT, this StarTech hub feels like a “works every day” solution rather than a bargain, and that’s the right mindset for a 4‑port Thunderbolt 5 dock. The big differentiator is the KVM/Thunderbolt Share angle — if you regularly swap between a laptop and a desktop (or you dock a shared monitor/keyboard/mouse setup in a small office), it can save you from the constant cabling hassle. It’s also the sort of dock you buy when you want reliable multi‑display behaviour and fast peripherals without getting pulled into the trial‑and‑error zone that some cheaper Thunderbolt docks invite.

That said, it’s not for everyone. If you just need a simple “plug in one laptop” dock with a couple of USB devices and a single display, you’ll likely pay for features you won’t use, and the setup complexity can be more than you need. It also makes the most sense for teams on macOS/Apple Silicon (your MacBook M4 Pro/Max/M5 examples) or mixed environments where standards compliance matters. If you’re mainly a Windows office with basic docking needs, I’d usually look for a cheaper USB‑C/Thunderbolt dock and spend the difference elsewhere. But if your workflow genuinely benefits from a KVM-style shared workstation, this is one of those spend-a-bit-more, get-less-annoyed docks — good value for the right use case.