The right hub or dock depends on two things: which chip your MacBook has, and how many external displays you want to run. This guide matches every current Satechi hub and dock to your setup in three steps.

Not sure which model you have? Start here

These picks work on every USB-C MacBook, from the M1 through the latest M5 models.

• OntheGo 7-in-1 Multiport Adapter: the travel pick. HDMI up to 4K 60Hz, gigabit Ethernet, SD and microSD card readers, two USB-A ports, and up to 100W pass-through charging, with a coiled cable and magnetic mount that keep your setup tidy.
• USB-C Multiport Adapter 8K with Ethernet V3: the desk pick for a single monitor. 8K HDMI 2.1, Ethernet, four USB-C ports, SD card slot, and pass-through charging.
• Thunderbolt 5 CubeDock with SSD Enclosure: the full workstation pick. One cable delivers 140W charging, dual high-resolution displays, and a built-in NVMe SSD enclosure that holds up to 8TB.

Step 1: Find your chip

Click the Apple menu, then About This Mac. The chip name (for example, Apple M5 Max) is on the first line. That one word after the number, Pro, Max, or nothing, decides how many external displays your MacBook can run.

Step 2: How many external displays does your MacBook support?

These are the native limits set by Apple, using Thunderbolt or HDMI with no extra software. Full details are in Apple's display support guide.

Rule of thumb: your monitor count is whichever is lower, what your chip supports or what your hub or dock supports. A dock cannot raise your chip's native limit, but DisplayLink software can work around it (covered in Step 3).

Quick answers for popular models

• MacBook Pro 14-inch or 16-inch M5 Max or M4 Max: up to 4 external displays. Best picks: Thunderbolt 5 CubeDock with SSD Enclosure for the desk, OntheGo 7-in-1 Multiport Adapter for travel.
• MacBook Pro 14-inch or 16-inch M5 Pro: up to 3 external displays. Same picks as above.
• MacBook Pro M5, M4, or M4 Pro: up to 2 external displays. Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Pro Dock for dual monitors, USB-C Multiport Adapter 8K with Ethernet V3 for one monitor.
• MacBook Air or MacBook Pro with M1, M2, or M3: one external display natively. OntheGo 7-in-1 Multiport Adapter for one monitor, or a DisplayLink dock from Step 3 for more.

Step 3: Match your setup to the right product

One display, or ports on the go

• OntheGo 7-in-1 Multiport Adapter: HDMI 4K 60Hz, Ethernet, SD and microSD, two USB-A, 100W pass-through. Best all-rounder for travel.
• 4-in-1 USB-C Slim Multiport Adapter 4K and 6-in-1 USB-C Slim Multiport Adapter: the slimmest options when you need just the essentials.
• 7-in-1 USB-C Slim Multiport Adapter with Ethernet: slim profile plus a wired network port.
• USB-C Multiport Adapter 8K with Ethernet V3: the strongest single-display adapter, with 8K HDMI 2.1 headroom for high refresh rate monitors.
• Pro Hub Slim: connects through both USB-C ports on MacBook Air and MacBook Pro for a flush, built-in look.

Two or more displays on Pro, Max, M4, or M5 chips (no software needed)

If your chip natively supports the display count you want, use Thunderbolt and skip DisplayLink entirely. No drivers, no screen recording permissions, full performance.

• Thunderbolt 4 Slim Hub: turns one Thunderbolt 4 port into three, plus USB-A. Ideal for Thunderbolt displays and fast drives in a compact footprint.
• Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Pro Dock: 16 ports and 96W charging over one cable. Supports up to four external screens depending on your chip (see the table above).
• Thunderbolt 5 CubeDock with SSD Enclosure: the flagship. 140W charging, dual displays at up to 6K 60Hz each on macOS (up to dual 8K 120Hz or triple 8K on Windows), and a built-in NVMe enclosure for up to 8TB of storage. The dock supports a maximum of two external monitors on macOS on any chip; on Pro and Max chips you can drive additional displays from your MacBook's remaining Thunderbolt ports.

More displays than your chip supports natively (M1, M2, M3)

DisplayLink software bypasses the native limit, so a single-display chip can run two or three monitors. It requires installing the DisplayLink driver and granting screen recording permission on macOS. If your chip is Pro or Max tier, or M4 or newer needing two displays, you do not need these products.

• Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station with DisplayLink: multi-display support on Macs that are limited to one native display.
• Triple 4K Display Docking Station: up to three 4K 60Hz displays; displays two and three run through DisplayLink.

Using Windows too?

The 13-in-1 USB-C Triple Display Multiport Adapter runs triple extended displays on Windows through MST with no drivers. On Apple silicon Macs, MST does not extend displays, so this adapter is best for Windows or mixed setups.

MacBook Neo

The OntheGo 5-in-1 Multiport Adapter and USB-C Snap Hub are designed for MacBook Neo and color-matched to every Neo finish: Citrus, Blush, Indigo, and Silver.

Still deciding?

These guides go deeper on specific questions:

• Thunderbolt 4 vs Thunderbolt 5 CubeDock: Comparison Guide
• Which Satechi product is best for dual monitor setups?
• Which Satechi USB-C hub or adapter is best for travel?

Or tell us your MacBook model and how many monitors you want to run, and we will point you to the exact product.