It is understandable why Apple would swap out the USB 3.0 ports on the MacBooks for USB-C. This is because USB-C is expected to be the new standard in the future and Apple is preparing for that. However as to why Apple did away with the other ports, such as an SD card reader is anyone’s guess.
This has resulted in a rise of accessories such as dongles and docks, which if you’re looking for something similar, you’ll be pleased to learn that Sonnet has unveiled its new Echo 11 Thunderbolt 3 dock. This dock will offer up MacBook users all the connectivity options that they might need.
This includes 87W of USB-C power delivery, 5x USB 3.0 ports, a Gigabit Ethernet port, a HDMI 2.0 port, and another Thunderbolt 3 port. There is also a built-in SD card reader which will come in handy for photographers and videographers looking to transfer photos and videos from their cameras onto their laptops.
However the Sonnet Echo 11 does not come cheap as it is priced at $299. Clearly this is aimed more at the power user rather than your average user. However that being said, there are plenty of alternative and cheaper docks out there if you’re simply looking for USB 3.0 ports, but the Echo 11 could be considered if you’re looking for something more robust.
Filed in . Read more about Laptops and Macbook Pro.