Ugreen is primarily known for its smartphone accessories, but it also sells USB-C hubs and Thunderbolt docks. While you’ll find plenty of USB-C hubs on the market, good Thunderbolt docks with the right set of ports are hard to find. But the Ugreen Revodok Max 213 changes that, featuring almost all the connectivity options you’ll need and offering a one-cable solution for Windows or MacBook Pro setups. However, it comes at a hefty price tag of $400.
Does Ugreen’s Thunderbolt 4 live up to its high price tag, or does it come with specs that aren’t useful for everyday use? Find out in this review.
Ugreen Revodok Max 213 Thunderbolt 4 Dock
The Ugreen Revodok Max 213 is a pricey Thunderbolt 4 docking station that has almost all the ports you could possibly need. It also looks and feels premium, ensuring it won’t look out of place on your desk next to your MacBook Pro or Windows laptop.
- Front USB-A 3.2 ports
- Selecting versatile outlets
- 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports for connecting high-bandwidth accessories
- beloved
- Port markings are hard to read.
- No HDMI port
Price and availability
beloved
You can buy the Ugreen Revodok Max 213 from Amazon or directly from the Ugreen website in the US. It costs $400, which is about the same as some other popular Thunderbolt 4 devices that have more ports.
Note that the dock only works with Windows and Mac operating systems, not Chromebooks. So if you’re looking to buy a Thunderbolt dock for your Chromebook, look elsewhere.
What are the good features of the Ugreen Revodok Max 213 Thunderbolt 4 Dock?
Almost all the outlets you can order
Made entirely of metal, the Revodok Max 213 looks premium. If you have a Mac or any other Windows laptop, the Revodok won’t feel out of place next to it. Ugreen has also elegantly integrated passive cooling vents, ensuring proper ventilation.
It’s certainly not the most compact Thunderbolt dock. The Revodok Max 213 is noticeably larger and thicker than the CalDigit TS3 Plus I used previously, while offering fewer ports. However, size is no concern, and the dock will easily blend in with other accessories and devices on your desk. Compared to the CalDigit TS3 Plus, the Ugreen dock also got a lot less hot while running dual monitors and other accessories on my desk. So, at least that’s a plus for its larger body.
When purchasing a Thunderbolt docking station, you want it to have as many ports and connectivity options as possible. The Revodok Max 213 docking station here features a wide range of ports, including 2x Thunderbolt 4 and four USB-A ports. Here’s a list of the 13 ports you can get on the dock:
- 2x Thunderbolt 4
- 1 x Display Port
- 4 USB Type A ports
- 1 x 2.5Gbps Ethernet
- 1 x SD Card Slot
- 1 x TF card slot
- 1 x 3.5mm jack
The front conveniently houses two 10Gbps USB-A ports, a USB-C port, and an SD card slot. All other ports are located on the back, ensuring that any cable clutter is hidden. My previous CalDigit TS3 Plus only had one USB-A port on the front, which can be inconvenient at times. I also found the front TF card slot to be useful for my usage, as I don’t have to fumble around for an SD card adapter when transferring footage from a GoPro or car dash cam.
The single USB-C port on the front supports data transfer speeds of up to 10Gbps, so transferring large data from the Samsung T5 portable SSD was quick and easy. Better yet, it outputs 20W of power, allowing me to use it frequently to charge my Pixel 8 Pro, GoPro, or other USB-C accessories.
However, in my testing, the power output was 17.6 watts. However, this did free up an extra power outlet on my desk, which is always welcome, especially when you have a large number of devices like me.
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With my MacBook Pro M1 Pro, the Revodox Max 213 allowed for a plug-and-play solution with virtually no cable. By connecting just a single Thunderbolt 4 cable to my MacBook, the dock could power dual displays, external hard drives, and other connected USB accessories. And it would do this while also charging my MacBook’s battery at speeds of up to 80-90W. Note that most MacBook Pro models now require 100-140W of power for fast charging. So, the Revodok Max’s power output could fast charge MacBook Airs but not Pro models.
While I wasn’t able to test the speed of the 2.5Gbps Ethernet port, it’s a useful option if you have a NAS or other network-attached storage in your office. The dock has a power button, which you can use to turn it off. I’ve never needed to turn the dock off on its own, but it could be useful if your use case requires it.
What’s bad about the Ugreen Revodok Max 213 Thunderbolt 4 Dock?
Limited support for multiple monitors
I don’t see any problem with the Revodok’s design, as all the ports are evenly distributed. However, Ugreen should consider tweaking the color scheme. The metallic gray color looks subtle, but since it absorbs more light, the port markings are not very legible in most conditions. This won’t matter much in daily use after a few weeks of use, but the company should use a lighter color on its dock or make the port markings brighter for easier reading.
The sidewalk can be used in either horizontal or vertical orientation, with rubber feet on both sides. Ideally, they should be removable. This way, you can remove the feet from the unused orientation for a cleaner look.
The Revodok Max 213 supports 8K displays but is limited to a 30Hz refresh rate. Additionally, it only works with select Windows laptops. If you have a Mac, depending on your model, the dock can drive two 4K displays at the same time at 60Hz, but it’s not possible to drive an 8K display. This can also be an issue if you have a 5K display and are using a Mac, as you can’t power it through the dock.
I would also have liked to see an HDMI port on the Revodok Max 213. It would have made the base more versatile. One of the monitors in the dual-monitor setup was connected using an HDMI cable, so I had to get a USB-C to DisplayPort cable to get around the Revodok’s lack of an HDMI port.
One odd flaw with the Revodok 213 is its 180-watt power supply. The DC port accepts 21V at 8.57A, which is an odd number. So if the included power adapter stops working, you may have a hard time finding a replacement. Ugreen also should have included a slightly longer power cable. I had to make some adjustments to ensure the cable from the adapter reached the dock on top of my standing desk.
My biggest gripe with the Ugreen Revodok 213 is its steep $400 price tag. While the dock has pretty much every port you could ask for, that’s still a pretty steep price. For about the same price, you can get the CalDigit TS4, which is among the best Thunderbolt 4 docks around. It has 18 ports — five more than the Revodok 213 — in a more compact design and supports 98W of power output. Plus, it supports 6K 60Hz displays with Macs.
Should you buy it?
There’s a lot to like about the Revodok 213. It can work as a the You can connect all your accessories and displays to your MacBook or Windows laptop with a single cable. But that’s as long as you don’t plan on running a display higher than 4K with your Mac. For higher resolution, you may have to look elsewhere.
Given its versatility, the Revodok 213 has effectively replaced the old CalDigit TS3 Plus dock. But at $400, I find the dock to be quite expensive and wouldn’t recommend it. But if you can get it for less, it’s worth buying over the competition — as long as you don’t own a Chromebook.
Ugreen Revodok Max 213 Thunderbolt 4 Dock
The Ugreen Revodok Max 213 is a great Thunderbolt 4 docking station for your Mac or Windows laptop. It features multiple USB ports, a 90W power pass-through, DisplayPort 1.4, and 8K display support.
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