The Razer Thunderbolt 5 Dock Chroma is the latest iteration of the Thunderbolt Dock Chroma. Designed as the One Stop Shop Dock for gamers and content creators, the Thunderbolt 5 Dock Chroma is equipped with the latest Thunderbolt 5 technology, an impressive list of ports, an M.2 storage bay and support for a wide range of monitor configurations. With a legacy of excellence, the Thunderbolt 5 Dock Chroma could be the solution for gamers and creators alike.
A refinement of what has come before, the Thunderbolt 5 Dock Chroma brings over many of the design elements of its predecessor, with a few subtle design changes. While it features the same number of ports as the Thunderbolt 4 Dock Chroma, the 5 Dock Chroma has moved all ports to the back panel of the case, except the SD card slot, which has been moved to the right side of the unit.
This shift communicates a slight change in overall design philosophy, creating a much sleeker and low-profile feel to the Thunderbolt 5 Dock Chroma. The advantage of the all-business in the back port design is that it does clean up cable management quite a bit, reducing the clutter on the front of the unit. The result is a clean desk area, even with all ten ports in use. It’s a small but impactful change that I am happy to see.
“The Thunderbolt 5 Dock Chroma could be the solution for gamers and creators alike.”
Admittedly, with RGB off, the Dock would blend quite well in any office setting, not revealing any of its powerful features or purpose. I like the look of this latest iteration. Its clean, low-profile look is subtle and works well in most settings.
With that being said, Razer has, of course, included its signature RGB support with multi-zone lighting available through the Razer Chroma software. Leaning heavily on underglow zoning, the Thunderbolt 5 Dock Chroma looks sharp with RGB turned on and offers the same robust customization as the rest of Razer’s extensive peripheral lineup.
One major update to the design of the Thunderbolt 5 Dock Chroma is the inclusion of an M.2 PCIe Gen 4 bay tucked in the underside of the unit. Supporting up to 8 TB of SSD storage, the 5 Dock Chroma becomes a seriously cross-device storage machine. When coupled with the Windows Thunderbolt Share feature (supported on most Windows 11 devices with compatible Thunderbolt Gen4/Gen5), Razer’s darling Dock becomes a powerful tool for content creators.
For those unfamiliar with Thunderbolt Share, it allows for the connection of two supported PC’s to connect through the Thunderbolt 5 Dock Chroma. This allows for both easy data transfer, centralized data storage, and single KBM control between the connected devices. It’s incredibly powerful and easy to set up.
Simply install the Thunderbolt Share software and connect the PC’s to the Thunderbolt 5 Dock Chroma. Moving files is straightforward, and thanks to Thunderbolt, ridiculously fast. Even storing data on the Dock via your separately purchased M.2 SSD is easy and works well.
This is one of the key features of the Thunderbolt 5 protocol; it can manage data, video and power through a single connection quickly. Data, by default, moves bidirectionally at up to an impressive 80Gbps and can even boost the speeds for outbound bandwidth if needed for higher-res video file transfer.
“Supporting up to 8 TB of SSD storage, the 5 Dock Chroma becomes a seriously cross-device storage machine.”
Power, likewise, is quite impressive, allowing for up to 140W charging. In my testing, I was easily able to both power my Omen and move large 4K video files with ease, while still operating the laptop via the connected Keyboard and mouse. No major setup or configuration, simply plug it in and let the Thunderbolt 5 Dock Chroma handle the heavy lifting.
While there are many scenarios where this type of technology can be implemented, I found it to work quite well as a central hub for my recording/streaming/editing rig and my gaming PC. I was able to manage the recording while playing a game and then easily move data and assets between the computers while editing the footage.
No need to move to my second keyboard and mouse or even roll over to the second station set up in the office. I simply moved my second PC’s monitor to my main station, and I was in business. It’s slick and professional and could be a game-changer for your productivity workflow.
On the note of monitors, the Thunderbolt 5 Dock Chroma is rated and ready for up to three 4K monitors at 144 Hz refresh via USB-C connection. While I didn’t have three to test here at the office, I did connect an ultrawide 34” 4K, and it worked as expected and was immediately recognized by Windows. If you work on a laptop with a limited port selection, this dock is a game-changer.
“It’s slick and professional and could be a game-changer for your productivity workflow.”
The other welcome feature is the inclusion of such a wide array of ports to work with. It’s no secret that one of my biggest frustrations with modern gaming laptops is the lack of usable ports, especially with so many amazing peripherals on the market to work with. Even with budget-friendly docks, I find I’m often hampered by their limited data transfer speeds and lack of port selection.
The Thunderbolt 5 Dock Chroma solves this with its excellent selection of USB-A, Gigabit Ethernet, 3.5mm audio combo jack and SD card slot reader. All this is at your fingertips via a single Thunderbolt cable. As someone who needs both portability and a workstation, the 5 Dock Chroma is an amazing solution that gives me the best of both worlds.
I am quite impressed with all the Thunderbolt 5 Dock Chroma has to offer. It’s a smart update to the Dock Chroma lineup and leverages these new innovations in data transfer in practical and helpful ways. While the $400 price point might feel a bit steep, if you are someone who manages multiple systems, needs centralized data, creates content or, like me, needs both portable and stationary workspaces, Razer’s latest Dock is a great solution and worth the cost.
