OWC Reveals their new OWC Thunderbolt 5 Docking Station

At COMPUTEX 2025, OWC unveiled its latest leap in desktop connectivity with the introduction of the OWC Thunderbolt 5 Dock, a next-generation expansion solution aimed squarely at creative professionals, power users, and demanding hybrid workflows. Demonstrated live at the company’s booth in TaiNEX 1, the new dock consolidates high-speed data transfer, multiple display outputs, wide device compatibility, and substantial power delivery into a single desktop hub. Building on OWC’s legacy of designing hardware that blends reliability with real-world flexibility, the Thunderbolt 5 Dock offers users a central point for managing content-heavy projects, transforming USB-C tablets into full production stations, or anchoring a high-performance workstation setup. Its ability to handle up to three 8K displays, daisy-chain multiple devices, and deliver up to 140W of charging—all while being backward compatible with Thunderbolt 3, 4, USB4, and USB-C—makes it a standout solution for those needing a streamlined, forward-looking expansion unit. Just as importantly, the inclusion of certified Thunderbolt and Dock Ejector software integration ensures data integrity and safe disconnection, a key consideration for anyone working with volatile assets like live video edits, audio mixes, or large-scale backups.

OWC Thunderbolt 5 Dock – Hardware Specifications and Performance

The OWC Thunderbolt 5 Dock introduces a significant step up in performance and versatility for desktop users, particularly those in content creation and technical workflows. Central to the dock’s appeal is its Thunderbolt 5 controller, which supports up to 80Gb/s of bi-directional bandwidth, enabling simultaneous high-speed data transfers and display outputs without bottlenecking. For visual workflows, the dock supports up to three 8K displays or dual 6K monitors on macOS systems, making it a practical tool for video editors working with ultra-high-resolution footage or multitaskers using panoramic screen real estate. The dock also supports multiple daisy chains, allowing professionals to maintain full performance across chained devices, such as external RAID storage, 10GbE adapters, or A/V capture devices, without sacrificing throughput.

Port selection on the Thunderbolt 5 Dock is deliberately broad, designed to cater to nearly every desktop connectivity requirement. The dock features three Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) ports, two USB-A 10Gb/s, one USB-A 5Gb/s, and a 2.5GbE Ethernet port that supports remote management protocols like Mobile Device Management (MDM), making it suitable for enterprise setups. For storage and media ingestion, dual card slots supporting UHS-II SD and microSD formats allow fast transfers for photographers and videographers. Additionally, a 3.5mm audio combo jack is present for audio input/output, and the dock retains support for Apple’s SuperDrive, offering legacy compatibility that is often overlooked in newer designs.

Beyond the raw hardware, the inclusion of OWC Dock Ejector software adds a layer of operational safety not often found in third-party docks. This utility ensures that all connected drives are safely unmounted before disconnection, protecting against file corruption and data loss. This is particularly important when working with DAW projects or active NLE libraries. Moreover, thanks to Thunderbolt certification, users can rely on cross-platform interoperability and consistent performance whether they’re using macOS, Windows, or even supported Linux distributions. For iPad Pro and USB-C tablet users, the dock serves as a conversion point into a full workstation—adding monitor output, keyboard, storage, and audio capability through a single connection.

Power delivery is another area where the Thunderbolt 5 Dock asserts its future-ready stance. Capable of supplying up to 140W of charging power, it can easily handle even power-hungry notebooks like MacBook Pros or high-end Windows workstations, while also distributing power to connected accessories. The dock intelligently manages power distribution across the ports to maintain stability and avoid overdraw scenarios. As more users transition to single-cable workflows for portable performance and desktop-grade expansion, the OWC Thunderbolt 5 Dock stands out by balancing power, speed, and compatibility in a consolidated form factor.

Is Thunderbolt 5 a Big Jump on Thunderbolt 4, REALLY?

Thunderbolt 5 represents a major leap over Thunderbolt 4 in terms of bandwidth, display support, PCIe throughput, and power delivery—pushing the connectivity standard into a new performance tier. Where Thunderbolt 4 maxed out at 40Gbps, Thunderbolt 5 doubles that with 80Gbps of standard bi-directional bandwidth, and introduces a Bandwidth Boost mode of up to 120Gbps—a key benefit for multi-display setups and high-frame-rate output. Video support has also improved dramatically: while Thunderbolt 4 can manage a single 8K display at 60Hz or two 4K displays, Thunderbolt 5 enables multiple 8K displays or three 4K displays at 144Hz, and even supports a single 540Hz panel—important for ultra-responsive applications like game design, simulation, and high-end color grading.

PCIe bandwidth also sees a doubling, moving from 32Gbps (PCIe 3.0) in Thunderbolt 4 to 64Gbps (PCIe 4.0) in Thunderbolt 5, allowing external SSDs, GPUs, and fast capture cards to perform at significantly higher throughput levels. Similarly, power delivery has increased from 100W to up to 240W, with a new mandatory 140W standard for device charging—enabling the dock to power even high-performance mobile workstations over a single cable. Despite these gains, Thunderbolt 5 remains fully backward compatible with Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3, and USB-C/USB4 devices, scaling features based on host and peripheral support. As manufacturers like Apple, Dell, and Lenovo begin integrating Thunderbolt 5 into new devices, docks like OWC’s Thunderbolt 5 model are well-positioned to deliver the full benefits of this next-gen interface, particularly in workflows involving heavy media processing, multi-monitor editing suites, and mobile-first productivity ecosystems.

What else did OWC show at Computex 2025?

OWC Envoy Ultra – This rugged portable SSD is built for real-world use in demanding environments. With integrated cable design and speeds exceeding 6000MB/s, it’s ideal for creatives working on location. Compatible across macOS, Windows, iPad Pro, Chromebooks, and Surface devices, the Envoy Ultra offers high-performance external storage in a bus-powered form factor.

OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub – Designed for users who need more high-speed ports, this compact hub expands a single Thunderbolt 5 connection into three Thunderbolt 5 ports and an additional USB-A port. It supports full 80Gb/s bi-directional bandwidth and up to 120Gb/s for display tasks, making it a scalable solution for device-heavy workspaces.

OWC ThunderBlade X12 – Aimed at film editors and content studios, the ThunderBlade X12 is a RAID-capable SSD offering peak write speeds of 6600MB/s and sustained write speeds of 5990MB/s. It’s designed for high-resolution video workflows where real-time editing and transfer speeds are mission-critical.

OWC Jellyfish – This shared storage solution caters to collaborative editing environments, with scalable capacity from terabytes to petabytes. Supporting 4K to 12K media editing, Jellyfish includes management software and robust security, ideal for teams handling post-production and asset-heavy projects.

OWC Memory Cards and Readers – Built with performance and reliability in mind, OWC’s CFexpress and SD card lines offer fast write speeds and integration with OWC Innergize software, which optimizes performance and checks card health for professional photographers and videographers.

OWC Portable SSDs – Models like the Envoy Pro FX and Express 1M2 continue to serve mobile users with cross-platform support, rugged construction, and high throughput, ensuring reliable data transfer in the field or on set.

OWC Desktop Storage – The Mercury Elite Pro and ThunderBay lines offer RAID-enabled storage for desktop users, with Thunderbolt and USB-C interfaces for speed and versatility. These units are designed for high-capacity needs in media production, backup, and archiving.

OWC Archive Pro Ethernet – A robust LTO-based solution for long-term, high-volume data backup over the network. Tailored for enterprise, media, and government use cases, it supports automated workflows and is optimized for data integrity and longevity in cold storage environments.

OWC Thunderbolt 5 Dock – Release Date and Price

The OWC Thunderbolt 5 Dock is now available for pre-order at $329.99 USD, positioning it as a premium but competitively priced solution for professionals seeking cutting-edge desktop expansion. Each unit includes a certified Thunderbolt 5 cable, external power supply, and access to OWC’s Dock Ejector software, with customer support included. Shipping is expected to begin in early July 2025, following its live showcase at COMPUTEX Taipei. With Thunderbolt 5-equipped laptops and devices entering the market, this dock is one of the first fully certified options to deliver the expanded bandwidth, power delivery, and device flexibility that next-generation workflows demand.

 

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