Image: Amazon / Kensington
Editor’s Note: This deal was originally $60, or 67% off. Amazon and Kensington have since adjusted the pricing.
If you’re looking for a modern Thunderbolt dock and don’t want to spend the usual $200 to $300, then here’s a killer Prime Day deal for you: Kensington’s SD2480T is on sale for $89.68 at Amazon. That’s 50% off!
Yes, this is older hardware. But here’s the deal with Thunderbolt: until the apparently delayed Thunderbolt 5 hardware rolls out next year, Thunderbolt 3 is still an up-to-date standard.
I’ve reviewed dozens of docks for PCWorld since 2020 when the pandemic hit and Thunderbolt docks became the must-have computer peripheral. I maintain PCWorld’s roundups for best Thunderbolt docks, best USB-C hubs, and best DisplayLink docks. You can trust me when it comes to the best Prime Day deals on Thunderbolt docks.
But let’s stick to the Kensington SD2480T. This does everything you’ll need it to do: it offers the capability to output to two 4K displays, either with DisplayPort or HDMI cables. No adapters needed here! It has tons of USB ports (5x USB-A, 1x USB-C) on the front and back, gigabit Ethernet, and UHS-11/SD 4.0-rated slots for both SD and microSD.
So, why is it so cheap? First, retailers hate old hardware, and Kensington and Amazon are clearing their shelves. But this one’s Thunderbolt 3 interface runs at 40Gbps—the same as the modern Thunderbolt 4 interface, so you’re not losing anything.
Where this dock does fall short is that it only supplies 60W of power to your laptop, meaning it works best with productivity machines or some of the latest power-sipping Core Ultra or Windows on Arm (Copilot+) devices. It also doesn’t put enough power out of the USB-C or USB-A ports to charge your laptop. That’s the other reason why it’s discounted.
Otherwise, this is a fantastic deal, and I don’t think the drawbacks outweigh the benefits, including the ultra-aggressive price.
Save 50% on the Kensington SD2480T for Prime DayBuy Now on Amazon
With Prime Day upon us, it’s the perfect time to consider a Prime subscription, especially since these enticing deals are reserved for Prime members. New to Prime? You can sign up for a 30-day Prime free trial and start enjoying these deals immediately.
For more deals across various categories, don’t forget to check out PCWorld’s broader coverage of Prime Day deals.
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Author: Mark Hachman, Senior Editor, PCWorld
Mark has written for PCWorld for the last decade, with 30 years of experience covering technology. He has authored over 3,500 articles for PCWorld alone, covering PC microprocessors, peripherals, and Microsoft Windows, among other topics. Mark has written for publications including PC Magazine, Byte, eWEEK, Popular Science and Electronic Buyers’ News, where he shared a Jesse H. Neal Award for breaking news. He recently handed over a collection of several dozen Thunderbolt docks and USB-C hubs because his office simply has no more room.
Recent stories by Mark Hachman:
Best Prime Day 2024 deals on Thunderbolt docks and USB-C hubsOrico Thunderbolt 4 12-in-1 dock review: Stability sells itBest USB-C hubs and dongles 2024: Add ports to your laptop or tablet
