OWC updates its USB-C Travel Dock with 100W passthrough power, built-in cable & storage

Other World Computing (OWC), which has been selling some of the most compelling accessories and upgrade kits for a fraction of Apple’s exorbitant prices, today unveiled a new version of its USB-C Travel Dock that brings up to a hundred Watts of passthrough power so you can recharge even the 15-inch MacBook Pro (which ships with an 87-watt adapter).

Based on the original model, the new version provides these five ports of connectivity:

  • 2x USB-A: USB 3.1 Gen 1, up to 5 Gbps
  • 1x HDMI 2.0: 24-bit color in 4K resolution (up to 4,096 x 2,160) at 30 Hz
  • 1x SD card: SD, SDHC, SDXC and UHS-II cards, up to 312 MB per second
  • 1x USB-C: 100 Watts passthrough power

Two USB-A ports let you connect all your legacy USB peripherals without buying expensive USB-C adapters, and the same goes for a built-in HDMI port—MacBooks no longer have HDMI so connecting your Mac notebook to an external HDMI monitor requires an adapter. And with an SD card reader, you can easily transfer your DSLR photos, drone footage and more.

Data coming from all these ports, along with power (provided the accessory is connected to a wall socket or a powerful brick), is delivered to your computer via the use of a single cable connection. The palm-sized device measures 3.1 inches square and weighs in at only six ounces, meaning it will take up very little space in your backpack, pocket or desk.

When connected to power, the dock can deliver up to 100 Watts of passthrough power.

By comparison, the USB Type-C port found on the original USB-C Travel Dock from OWC, dating back to 2017, was capable of delivering up to 60 Watts of power.

In other words, this is one of the rare USB-C docks on the market capable of delivering enough passthrough power to recharge even Apple’s power-hungriest notebook, the 15-inch MacBook Pro that requires an 87-watt adapter. At the bottom of the enclosure, you’ll find an integrated USB-C cable with built-in cable management (the cable tucks into a small channel on the bottom of the dock). Built-in storage frees you from worrying about losing the cable, similar to Twelve South’s smart StayGo USB-C hub that I reviewed recently.

The original Travel Dock lacked cable storage hidden in the base.

Because it takes advantage of the USB-C protocol, an industry standard, you can use this accessory with any USB-C-enabled computer, whether it be your Mac notebook/desktop, another notebook brand, your iPad Pro, an Android tablet, a Mac and Windows PC, no need to install any drivers or additional software whatsoever.

Check out the features highlight:

  • 5 ports: (2x) USB-A, (1x) HDMI, (1x) SD card and (1)x USB-C power pass-through
  • Power options: bus powered or use existing USB-C power adapter
  • Charge while working: 100 Watts of passthrough power for a notebook or other devices
  • Cable management: built-in USB-C cable storage keeps it neat and tidy
  • Compatibility: notebooks, tablets, Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android and Chrome

The dock is available now in Space Gray for $55 at MacSales.com.