For power users using one or two high-resolution monitors, large data transfers, a few PC accessories that require power, and possibly 10 Gigabit Ethernet, a Thunderbolt dock can add useful high-speed ports when powered by a supporting PC. like a MacBook. This helps simplify the office setup, but also usually comes with a clumsy power pack to add to the mix. The gallium nitride (GaN) based HyperDrive Thunderbolt 4 Hub, which began fundraising on Monday, hopes to change that.
Hyper, a 7-year-old maker of PC hubs, docking stations, portable chargers and more, is seeking crowdfunding for a Thunderbolt 4 hub that it claims is the first “Thunderbolt 4 hub with built-in GaN power supply.”The docking station is a small square with rounded edges, offering one Thunderbolt 4 upstream port and three Thunderbolt4 downstream ports with up to 40Gb/s operation and not accompanied by clunky power supplies.
However, Hyper is not yet ready to release its docking station; it is currently running a Kickstarter campaign.
Kickstarter issues
Crowdfunding projects are a risky venture, as Hyper acknowledges on the Thunderbolt 4 Dock crowdfunding page. But it’s worth noting that Hyper has been successful in funding similar projects, such as the HyperDrive Duo USB-C hub built for the MacBook, which is claimed to be “the most a popular accessory for MacBooks and USB-C”, and the HyperJuice 100W GaN charger, which the manufacturer says. is “the most popular USB-C charger”. Thunderbolt 4 Power Hub is Hyper’s 28th crowdfunding project.
The Thunderbolt 4 Hub Kickstarter page states that development began in February 2021. The device is said to be certified by Intel and should ship to first backers this November.
Development has at least advanced far enough for Hyper to be able to provide samples of Cult of Mac (which reported speeds matching competing Thunderbolt products).
For those who prefer to have product security official before investing, Hyper expects the Thunderbolt 4 Power Hub to sell at a premium, even by Thunderbolt 4 standards: $300.
GaN wins
The secret to the portability of the Thunderbolt 4 Power Hub lies in the use of GaN rather than silicon semiconductors for the smaller size. Other Thunderbolt 4 docking stations, such as the Plugable Thunderbolt 4 Hub, may have a small central dock, but can also be plugged into a decent-sized power supply before plugging into the wall.
Meanwhile, according to Cult of Mac, Hyper’s brickless hub measures 4.9×4.9×1.25 inches and 1.4 pounds (although final specs may vary as the hub is still in the crowdfunding phase).
Its single upstream port supports 96W of power delivery, which is enough to power many small laptops like the MacBook Pro, but not enough for very power-hungry machines like a gaming laptop. Notably, the included Thunderbolt 4 cable is 2.6 feet long, while the power cable is 6 feet long.
The three downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports, meanwhile, can deliver 15W of power, which is enough for small devices like a smartphone.
Thunderbolt 4 boosts Thunderbolt 3’s PCIe speed from 16Gbps to 32Gbps, and the Hyper hub claims it can make the most of this, making it suitable for external storage devices and eGPUs.
Hyper notes that its Thunderbolt 4 hub cannot address Apple’s M1 and M2 multi-monitor limitations. While the hub claims to support up to one 8K monitor at 60Hz (or 4K at 144Hz) or two 6K monitors at 60Hz, this won’t work with an M1 or M2 based Mac.
To run dual monitors above 4K at 60Hz, displays and GPU must support Display Stream Compression 1.2 and DisplayPort 1.4 HBR3. This means you cannot use the LG UltraFine 5K in a dual monitor configuration with a hub.
It’s also worth emphasizing that this is purely a Thunderbolt 4 hub, meaning there are no other connections available. The aforementioned Thunderbolt Plugable hub, by comparison, has a USB-A port for more variety.