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As laptops get slimmer in the modern era (which comes with so many benefits) there's one big downside. Dongles.
If you're using a high-performance machine, like a MacBook Air or an ultra-slim Windows laptop, you know the pain.
For your main work station, you need to plug in monitors, a hard drive, a mouse, a keyboard, an audio interface, and suddenly your sleek, minimalist desk looks like a robot pigeon's nest after an all-night rager.
This is where a good docking station comes in. Enter the Kensington EQ Pro This 19-in-1 command center from Kensington cuts clutter, adds, ports, and even has a hidden trick up its sleeve, all while tapping into the highest transfer speeds available through Thunderbolt 5.
If you want a no-comprises dock with virtually every bell and whistle and modern and legacy port, then this is going to be your desk's new best bud.
What is Thunderbolt 5 (And Why Should I Care?)
Okay, quick tech lesson on Thunderbolt 5.
You've heard of Thunderbolt. It's that one super-port that does video, data, and power all at once. Thunderbolt 5 is the latest, super-charged version of that. Combine that extra bandwidth and speed of the latest data transfer technology with thoughtfully designed hardware and you get a recipe for a top-notch dock for your laptop or computer:
It's Ridiculously Fast: This dock can transfer data at speeds up to 80Gbps. That's not a typo. It's fast enough to move massive files in seconds.
It Boosts for Video: It has a feature called Bandwidth Boost, which can crank things up to 120Gbps for video-heavy tasks. This is a huge deal for video editors and creative pros.
It's Got the Power: The SD7100T5 delivers up to 140W of power. This is key. It means a single cable can power and charge even the most demanding, high-performance laptops. No more separate power brick for your laptop.
Kensington Adds Expandable Storage Bay
The most unique feature that differentiates this dock from the company's other Thunderbolt 5 docks is the hidden hard drive. This dock has a built-in lockable PCIe M.2 SSD slot.
In plain English? You can pop the top off this dock (you'll need a Phillips screwdriver ), and install your own M.2 SSD stick —the same kind of super-fast storage you'd put inside a PC or a PlayStation 5 and you now have extra storage for whatever computer you're plugging into your dock.
This can be hugely beneficial. Your dock isn't just a port hub anymore; it's also a massive, high-speed external drive. For creative pros, this means you can have a huge, fast-access media library right on your desk.
Kensington even built a special feature for this. If you're a Mac user, you can use the included Kensington Konnect software and press a button on the dock to back up your iPhone's photos and videos directly to that SSD or your MacBook. To do this, you just plug your phone into the dedicated 30W USB-C port on the front.
Does the Kensington EQ Pro work with Mac and/or PC?
This dock is designed to play nice with both high-performance Windows and Mac machines, but it offers slightly different (and awesome) things for each.
It's compatible with Thunderbolt 5, Thunderbolt 4, USB4, and even regular USB-C devices, as long as you're running Windows 11 (23H2 or later) or macOS (14.5 or later).
Is the Kensington EQ Pro Good For Windows Users
If you're running a high-performance Windows laptop, this dock turns it into a full-blown battle station:
- Triple 4K Displays: You can run up to three 4K monitors at a buttery-smooth 144Hz.
- Or Go 8K: If you'd rather, it can support two 8K monitors at 60Hz.
- Custom Buttons: Using the Konnect™ software, Windows users can customize two hotkeys on the dock. By default, they're set to lock your screen and launch Microsoft Co-Pilot, but you can change them to whatever you want.
Is the Kensington EQ Pro Good For Mac Users
This dock is a dream for anyone with an M-Series Pro or Max chip:
- Dual 6K Displays: It fully supports driving two 6K monitors at 60Hz, which is the sweet spot for Apple's Pro Display XDRs or other high-res screens.
- Smart Buttons: For Mac users, those two dock buttons are pre-configured for productivity. One is the iPhone Photo Backup button I mentioned earlier , and the other is a 'Do Not Disturb' button to instantly activate Focus Mode.
Back to the built-in storage for a moment. Having this integrated into your docking station is particularly handy for people who switch between Mac and PC often (like tech writers for geekingout.ca). It allows you to keep key files available for whatever machine you have plugged in at any given time.
One Dock to Rule them All (where "them" is Ports)
Calling this a "19-in-1" dock is almost an understatement. It's loaded. These are the available ports (and how you can use them) on the Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro.
- Thunderbolt: You get four total Thunderbolt 5 ports (one to the host laptop, three downstream for other devices).
- USB Ports: A whopping four USB-A 3.2 Gen2 ports (10Gbps) and two USB-C Gen 2 ports (10Gbps).
- Creative/Pro Workflow Support: A triple-threat card reader for CF, SD, and Micro SD cards.
- Audio: Four different audio options, including front and back headset jacks, a pro mic jack, and even a Toslink Optical Audio port for high-end speakers.
- Networking: A 2.5Gbps Ethernet port for a rock-solid, high-speed internet connection.
The Bottom Line: Is the Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro Worth It?
This is an easy recommendation for anyone who wants a no-compromise docking solution and is comfortable with spending a few hundred bucks to reap the benefits of Thunderbolt 5.
If I was going to be really picky I'd yearn for ThunderBolt Share (allows you to use the same hardware accessories with more than one device plugged into the docking station), but that's maybe a bit too niche.
Docking Stations
Kensington EQ Pro
Geeking Out Shop
With an abundance of ports, the lastest data trasnfer standard, and expandable storage options, the Kensington EQ Pro checks virtually every box a person could need to make their home workstation a productivity hub.
Is it overkill if you just want to plug in a mouse and a single 1080p monitor? Yes.
This is not the dock for casual browsing. You should look at a lower cost option in our "Best docking stations article" linked here.
This is a professional-grade tool for people who demand serious performance. It's for the video editor who needs 8K support, the developer running multiple high-refresh-rate screens, or the creative pro who loves the idea of a dock and a massive SSD being the same device.
The single-cable setup, 140W of power , and the raw speed of Thunderbolt 5 make this a truly elite, desk-clearing solution. It's a serious investment, but for a serious workflow, it's one of the most capable and future-proof docks you can buy.
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