Belkin unveils the small and powerful Thunderbolt 3 Dock Core

If your laptop has Thunderbolt 3, a compatible dock can transform it into a desktop. With only one cable connecting the notebook to the dock, you can then connect multiple peripherals, displays, and storage solutions, such as USB mice, keyboards, and external hard drives -- all while charging. While they tend to be pricier than normal USB docks, they are totally worth it.

Today, Belkin unveils a new such product called "Dock Core" that it claims is "the world's first Thunderbolt-certified, dual-powered dock." What does that mean, exactly? This Thunderbolt 3 Dock Core is bus-powered, meaning that it can be powered by your laptop -- no additional power source needed. But also, the dock itself has a USB-C port for power delivery, meaning you can charge your computer through the dock while only taking up one TB3 port on the notebook. Very cool.

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Best of all, it has plenty of ports -- DisplayPort out, HDMI out, a USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 port, a USB-A 2.0 port, an audio jack, and Gigabit Ethernet. Believe it or not, this little dock can even output dual 4K at 60Hz! With only one monitor connected, it can also push a 5K screen at 60Hz or an 8K display at 30Hz. Since it is both small and powerful, it can pull double-duty as both a portable and desktop dock.

"The Thunderbolt 3 Dock Core, the world's first Thunderbolt-certified, dual-powered dock, offers compatibility to bring the benefits of Thunderbolt 3 technology to both Mac and Windows laptops. Like the entire Belkin Dock family, it's designed for users who need fast transfer rates and a one cable solution to connect laptops to peripherals. The Thunderbolt 3 Dock Core has a small, compact footprint, reducing clutter and multiple cables on a desk," says Belkin.

Jon Roepke, director of product management, explains, "Belkin's Thunderbolt 3 docks and adapters are perfect for remote workers, be it from the home, an RV beach vacation or a hotel room. They transform mobile devices into high productivity centers on-the-go. With one cable from the laptop, these docks are a clutter-free alternative to a tangled nest of cables on the desktop or dining room table now serving as an office. And since it's dual-power -- the dock can draw power directly from the laptop instead of from the wall outlet -- there's one less cable to worry about."

The Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Core can be ordered immediately here for $169.99. Unfortunately, it wont begin shipping until July 2, so you will have to wait a few days.