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The ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Dock Gen 2 has earned its spot as one of the best Thunderbolt 3 docks you can buy. It’s fast, powerful, and gives you smooth, reliable connectivity to all your peripherals throughout the day.
This dock is designed with ThinkPad mobile workstations in mind, and it comes loaded with ports. It also tackles the double cable problem that trips up most mobile workstation setups.
A Closer Look at the ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Dock Gen 2
TB3 Docking Technology
Lenovo’s docking station runs on TB3 (Thunderbolt 3) technology, which means you can forget about mechanical docks or proprietary connectors for your workstation.
This technology also keeps things compatible across connected machines. One dock works with everything, and that’s a big deal.
The Double Cable Design
Lenovo developed a double cable setup specifically for this dock. Both ends of the cable have a connector, one for the Thunderbolt 3 connection and the other for power.
That means you don’t need separate cables for charging and connecting to the dock. The cable is also designed so the ports line up correctly when you plug in, which is a nice touch.
There are times when a single cable approach can feel limiting, especially with power delivery constraints. Still, most people find it way more convenient than juggling two separate wires.
Port Selection
This dock really shines when it comes to ports. Plus, you can power up the entire system just by tapping the power button on top of the dock.
You don’t even need to open your laptop’s lid. Just plug in the cable and press the power button.
Here’s what you get on the front panel:
– USB 3.1 Type-A port
– USB 3.1 Type-C port
– Headphone jack
On the left side, there’s a Kensington lock slot. The back of the dock is where most of the ports live:
– 230W input for pass-through power
– 65W input for the dock itself
– Power/TB3 output with the special cable
– 4x USB 3.1 Type-A ports
– Ethernet
– 2x DisplayPort
– 2x HDMI
Power Delivery for Mobile Workstations
Mobile workstations need a lot more juice than standard ultrabooks. The ThinkPad P1 and ThinkPad X1 Extreme need a 135W adapter, the ThinkPad P52 requires 170W, and the ThinkPad P72 needs a full 230W.
Here’s where things get tricky. The Thunderbolt 3 standard tops out at 100W of power delivery through a single TB3 connection. That means the dock can’t push enough power to mobile workstations over the TB3 cable alone.
For example, if you connect a standard ThinkPad Thunderbolt dock to the ThinkPad P52 with just the TB3 cable, the displays and other functions will work fine, but the notebook won’t charge. If the battery runs out, you’ll need a separate power cable.
In practice, this means you’ll need to carry two cables (not just one) when using TB3 docks with a mobile workstation. It’s something to think about when deciding if this dock fits your workflow.
The Bottom Line
If you’ve recently picked up a Lenovo mobile workstation, the ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Dock Gen 2 is well worth considering. It delivers reliable performance and makes it simple to connect all your devices.
The price is a bit steep, but the port selection and feature set make it a solid investment for professionals who need a dependable dock.
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