When it comes to Thunderbolt accessories, reliability comes with a price tag which I feel is justified. My work-issued Dell TB18DC paired with the Precision 7530 has been nothing but trouble for me (as evidenced by 2/5 rating on Amazon). The $300 Caldigit TB3 Plus, on the other hand, is the God of laptop docking stations and the killer of all dongles. According to the internet, the TB3 Plus is the only docking station that works reliably without surprises. I originally considered on buying one because I got these attached on my MBP 15:
- 1 Gb ethernet adapter
- Display cable to my LG monitor (doubles as charging cable)
- Charging cable for my iPhone and iPad
This leaves *only* ONE spare USB port *sad face*. I felt like I was running out of air to breathe. I was suffocating! Fortunately however (yes fortunately), the price tag of $300 was a really difficult to swallow. So I gave myself a plenty time for a decision. After doing a lot of self-reflection, I realized I really just wanted to save myself from having to unplug and replug those 3 cables. I didn’t *need* more USB ports. I already have more than enough on my MBP. I just liked the elegance of the solution this thing provides to the problem I actually didn’t have. I might revisit this product when I see the need, but for now I am going to pass.
$300 saved! Well done, me!