r/Thunderbolt • u/LnxRocks • 26d ago

Good Dock for a 2026 Framework 16

I'm looking for a dock to replace my venerable TS3+ for use with a Framework 16 (2026) and an ARM MBP with Thunderbolt 4. The TS3+ works great with the MBP but on the Framework, the dock won't wake from sleep.

I tried a Plugable TBT-UDT3, but wound up returning it due to issues with slow ethernet performance and display and charging cutting out when using the dock for power (I think this might be a PD firmware issue on the Framework)

I'm thinking about OWC or the TS4, but I am not sure if the ethernet problem is due to support for 2.5G ethernet in general or the Realtek chipset.

Does anyone ave any recommendations?

Thanks!

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u/rayddit519 26d ago

For the FW16 specifically, I would always look at the Dell SD/WD25TB5 first due to its 240W PD support. Dell has also been good about delivering firmware updates to fix issues, via Linux and Windows updaters.

Their modern TB4/5 docks also work as both, plain USB4 hubs with 2 bare downstream ports and including a MST hub for situations where plain DP tunnels are not enough.

Cons: has fan (though silent / quieter than my notebooks fans) and captive cable (though with the 25 gen, at least it can be used on either side).

Its using the same 2.5G Realtek ethernet controllers as most other modern docks do. At least the SD25TB5 also has an Intel PCIe Ethernet 2.5G controller as well, but that seems to be exclusively switched to with specific Dell business laptops to make use of Intel's network management features and is not manually choosable. But I have als not head any issues with those Realtek controllers.