What you need to know
- The DockCase Smart Dock comes with a handy screen to show connection speeds and more.
- The Smart Dock Pro is available in 7 and 9-port configurations.
With Macs coming with fewer and fewer ports people are finding that they need docks and hubs more than ever before. There is no shortage of selection, but there's one that stands out from the crowd – because it has a display.
The DockCase Smart Dock Pro has a built-in display that can show you what kinds of connections are active and how fast those connections can shift data. It'll show how much power is being used, too. And, honestly, it makes the normally boring world of hubs and docks more interesting!
The HD display on the dock intelligently gives you the real-time information upon each port inserted.
- 100W PD 3.0: Voltage, current and temperature
- 4K@60Hz HDMI: Monitor's brand, size, the current and max resolution, manufacturing date, and temperature, etc
- USB-A 3.0 Ports: USB 3.0 or USB 2.0 and the temperature
- SD/TF Card Reader: Card type and temperature
Of course, these things are no good if you don't have the required ports. I've been testing one of these things out for a while now, in seven-port configuration, and I've definitely not found myself missing a port – although some might want to go for the nine-port option for the added Ethernet.
Here's the table of features for the version I've been testing out.
If you don't need the 4K60 output of the Smart Dock Pro, the Smart Dock starts at just $39 right now kover on Kickstarter, while the Smart Dock Pro kicks things off at $42. Both are great additions to your setup if you need more ports than the couple of USB-C ports your Mac likely has.
You're going to need to be quick, though – this Kickstarter program comes to a close in less than 24 hours!
