UGREEN Maxidok: one dock for my AI PC and Mac

I bought the UGREEN Maxidok because using my desk had become more annoying than it needed to be. My AI mini PC, camera capture hardware, microphone setup, keyboard, mouse, and monitor all needed connections. Recording meant moving things around. Using my laptop meant another round of cable juggling.

After a few days with this dock, the difference I care about is simple: I can move one host cable between my EVO-X2 and my MacBook Pro and use the same desk.

The problem at my desk

My GMKtec EVO-X2 is the 128GB machine I've been using to learn local AI. I like having that much memory available. The physical connections were the frustrating part of my setup.

Some connectors crowded each other. I had dongles for the capture and audio gear. The mix of ports didn't match what I wanted to plug in, and I kept rearranging things when I wanted to record.

I also wanted to share one good Dell ultrawide between that machine and my laptop. I've tried multiple monitors, but one screen works well for how I use this desk now.

Moving the host cable

In the demonstration, I unplug the dock's host cable from the front of the EVO-X2 and connect it to my 14-inch MacBook Pro from 2021. I check the keyboard, display, and other peripherals, then move the cable back to the PC.

The dock also charges the Mac. The EVO-X2 still uses its own power supply. This is a physical cable swap between computers, so both machines aren't using the dock at once.

One naming detail matters: the EVO-X2's host ports are USB4 at 40Gbps. My 2021 MacBook Pro has Thunderbolt 4. The UGREEN Maxidok is a Thunderbolt 5 dock, but I haven't measured Thunderbolt 5 transfer speeds with this setup.

For me, getting the shared desk working smoothly is the useful result. It makes sitting down to record feel less like a cabling project.

What I haven't tested

The M.2 NVMe SSD slot is a bonus I haven't used yet. UGREEN lists support for up to 8TB, but my shopping decision is between 2TB and 4TB. I'm curious about adding storage while also running the display and peripherals through the same host connection. That still needs testing. The EVO-X2's 40Gbps host connection is the limit I'm considering here. A Thunderbolt 5 host can give the dock more bandwidth, but that doesn't establish SSD performance under a combined storage and display workload.

I can't tell you how an SSD performs in this dock or what happens under a sustained storage workload. My first impression comes from the desk setup shown in the video.

In the shopping section, I narrow the storage decision to 2TB or 4TB. I look at the Corsair MP600 CORE XT 2TB, Crucial P310 2TB, WD Blue SN5100 4TB and WD Blue SN5000 4TB. I'm leaning toward the newer WD option, but I haven't bought one. The prices are from the recording, and the listed SSD speeds are not measurements through this dock.

I also recently added ADAM Audio D3V speakers. I've liked them so far, but those impressions are early too.

The unboxing and the tradeoff

The packaging feels more considered than the inexpensive UGREEN accessories I remember buying. The accessories have protective covers, and the box includes regional power cords and a Thunderbolt 5 cable.

One practical detail to check before buying: this dock has DisplayPort, but no HDMI. That matters if your monitor or existing cable expects HDMI.

The external power brick is substantial. It needs space behind the desk, even though the host connection makes switching computers easier. My cable management is still a work in progress.

This is an expensive dock, and my experience doesn't establish that everyone needs it. What makes it worthwhile for me is having the connections I need and being able to move between two computers without rebuilding the desk each time.

Sources

• UGREEN Maxidok specifications
• GMKtec's EVO-X2 overview and USB4 specification
• Apple's 14-inch MacBook Pro (2021) specifications