Just watching this review I'm going to get one. I was looking for a good dock for my office, but the one I have uses Display Link Software & it sucks on my M2 Pro MacBook Pro. I just started the return process with Amazon for the iVanky dock. Thank you for the review.
Hi, great vid, thanks. I have a Macbook air M3, which one should get in order to use 2 screens (4k) with the lid open? Without breaking the Bank. Thank you.
@@FranklinColmenaresSilva hey Franklin, thanks for watching! I believe the iVANKY Fusion Dock Pro 1+ would be your best bet. I'm pretty sure you can use the discount code I put for it in the description to stack on top of whatever discount they may have going at the moment to get the best price. Also check on Amazon for comparison. But if you're on a real tight budget and really only need the dual 4k monitors and not many additional ports, then perhaps a dock from the brand 'plugable' would suffice though I have not tried those myself and so cannot vouch for their efficacy.
Heya, so the macbook pro m1 pro chip supports up to two 6k displays at 60hz. but if you have monitors that are like 1080p 60 or whatever u should be able to do 3 no problem. What are the resolution and refresh rate of each of the monitors you are connecting to the iVANKY Fusion Dock Max 1 ? Also, are you connecting them via the HDMI ports on the dock or are you using the 6k labelled usb-c ports?
Nice vid. I got one coming soon with 3 5k monitors to test it. It better deliver! lol I got a Max chip. Those can handle a bunch of 5k and even 6k monitors with the iVanky Pro Max
@@UrbanBDKNY thanks man 🙏 and woah best of luck with all that! as far as I saw on unboxing therapy it worked with 4 pro XDR displays so you should be good!
Hey love the channel. Wondering if you can help me with my situation. I have 3 Apple cinema displays (previous generation) and use a mac studio. I am looking to find a docking station that will allow me to use the same 3 displays with a PC. Do you have a recommendation on which docking station would you get?
hey Vikesh, not sure what ports your apple cinema displays use? But if I were to make a bet regardless, on which dock will most likely serve you in your setup, it would be the caldigit TS4. Hope that helps!
I have one Mac M1 Desktop and two Mac Thunderbolt Display Monitors and trying to have the two display monitors as an extension screen to the Mac M1. Which do you recommend?
@@nickelcuffy300 do they work when you connect them directly to your mac M1 desktop currently? If so, I think the iVANKY Fusion Dock Pro 1+ is your best bet without going overboard.
I recently ordered a new M4 Pro Mac Mini and new that I would need a dock and price is not a huge concern I just want the best however since the M4 Pro has Thunderbolt 5 I feel like it would be a waste to spend $400 on a dock that woill be replaced soon when a Thunderbolt 5 version comes out, so I will wait for that. However for $100 I bought the Gewokliy Mac Mini M4 Dock because I need USB type A day 1 when my Mini arrives plus this dock raises the Mini for better airflow and offers an easy way to turn on off the Mini with a clever design. I'd rather replace a $100 dock than a $400 dock. Anyways, thanks for the video!
@@ichigen511 truee, thanks for sharing! I too am looking forward to thunderbolt 5 docks whenever those come out. I think there is one out already but it doesn't have anywhere near as many ports as the ivanky nor caldigit and can handle less data than the ivanky's dual thunderbolt 4 chips.
@@seifbuys Yeah I'm really looking for the Thunderbolt 5 version of this Ivanky dock you reviewed, it's an AWESOME dock with tons of high speed ports and video options.
Thanks for doing this video. I have the older Caldigit model. Onlt thing I don't like about it is that it creates this high pitched whine when I plug it in. Does the Ivanky dock do the same thing??
@@nelsong3410 hey Nelson, thanks for watching! interesting... can't say i've run into any high pitched whining to date, not with the Caldigit TS4 and not with the iVanky Fusion Dock Max 1. Let me know if you have any other questions 🙏
Thanks for this video! Would a Macbook Pro M1 Max (2021) need an adapter to use dual displays (different content on each) or can each monitor be plugged directly into the Macbook using HDMI and USB-C?
@@SkylarTheWriter Thanks for watching Skylar! you should be able to plug those directly into your M1 Max Macbook without issue. One HDMI and one USB-C as you said 👌
@@seifbuys OMG, you don't know the RELIEF you just gave me. I bought a 2nd screen not knowing about the M1 limitations, so I felt kind of hoodwinked by Apple. Then when I saw all these options and high prices (for the REALLY good adapters), I kind of stressed a bit. But now I have some breathing room to take my time and save up for an adapter if I need one in the future. THANK YOU so much, Seif!!! #Subscribed 💯💯💯
Hi, I wanted to ask you. Did you connect two capture cards to Ivanka at the same time? one for the camera, the other for the game console? Elgato Cam Link 4K for sony zv-1, and Elgato 4K X for PS5
@@Regi89_1 Hey Regi, no can't say I've tried that but don't see why it wouldn't work. I only have one elgato cam link 4K and can confirm that works for the camera. Never tried capturing my ps5 footage onto my mac 🤔
@@seifbuys I tried another hub, from the Anker brand, it is many times cheaper, but the speed on the ports should be enough, and I have the original central wire from apple, the speed is up to 40 gb / s, and my camera at the beginning gives about 10 frames, and then it completely freezes and turns off, although ps 5 in 4k resolution and 60 fps with elgato 4k x continues to work flawlessly
@@Regi89_1 ahh I see, good to know! ya, honestly the more overall bandwidth the hub had the less likely you run into such issues. Like the Caldigit TS4 would crash on me more frequently than the iVANKY Fusion Dock Max when overloaded. But they both can and do crash still. Maybe we have to wait for Thunderbolt 5 to get new docks and new macbooks that never crash idk 🤷
@@alantjspace231 Hey Alan, no I can confirm it does not block neither the audio jack nor the power port. I can still fit a thick audio jack cable and the magsafe power plug without issue. Not that I need to because the dock charges the macbook already and has an audio jack in it. But I just checked for you anyway. Hope that helps!
Hi Seif, new to the channel. I’ve been looking for a quality dock that will allow me to adapt to as many use cases as possible. I’ve just bought the M4 Mac Mini (base model with 512GB) but I mainly use my M4 iPad Pro (2TB) as my workhorse these days. I have aimed to be an on the go user for quite some time and just use my iPhone 15Pro Max as my content creation device. I was swayed by the M4 Mac mini as a great all rounder as a desktop to cover any shortfalls the iPad has. I didn’t plan on getting one by any means but my ancient MacBook Air (2014) was on its last legs. So, will the iVanky dock cover me for most things such as monitors, speakers, keyboard, mouse, charging tech, SSD’s, and all work with my iPad Pro when switching from the Mac to the iPad? I’m slowly getting to grip with tech but it’s moving so fast I’m struggling to keep up. My dyslexic brain is fried from trying to work this stuff out. I just want to be modular/adaptable from now and across the next 5yrs. What would you suggest? Thanks
@@paulleon6057 hey Paul, thanks for watching! hmm so I do have very limited experience with ipads and currently do not own one so take what I say with that in mind. I'm going off of what I believe to be true but have not experienced myself. I think the best dock in your situation is either the iVANKY Fusion Dock Pro 1+ or the Caldigit TS4. This is because it just requires the single usb-c connection to your device vs the dual on the Fusion Dock Max 1. As far as I know and have researched both of those docks should accommodate all your peripherals mentioned on both your ipad and mac. But please just know i'm going off what I'm reading, haven't tested any of them with ipad Pros myself.
@@chionyenkwu2253 hey Chi, thanks for watching! hmm I don't believe Mac M4 mini can accommodate the Fusion Dock Max 1 because of the way the thunderbolt cable is positioned, it looks like it was made for macbooks. While I can't confirm for sure since I don't have the M4 Mac mini, everything I'm reading and seeing online makes me believe it should work with the iVANKY Fusion Dock Pro 1+ OR the Caldigit TS4 without issue though. Hope that helps!
@@seifbuys I have subsequently seen comments on manufacturers website; just need to use own cables as ones supplied are specifically for Mac book however generic cables with the correct speed rating WILL work 🙂🙂
@@chionyenkwu2253 nice! I really haven't seen any dual thunderbolt 4 cables like the ones supplied with the Fusion Dock Max 1 anywhere before so cool to know those exist 💡
Hey Seif! Great review, best one I'd found!🎉 Quick question: can you use all typce c ports for data transfer, too? Say, could I use an external ssd through one of the '6k' labeled ports? Or are those for displays only? Also: The ivanky would also work well with a m3 pro chip, right? Thanks in advance for your help! Would really appreciate it.
Hey Ben, thanks for watching and kind comment! Confirming yes, you can use any of the 6k display labeled usb-c ports as a data port with full 40gbps max transfer speed. I'm using one of those ones on the front with my Sandisk Extreme Pro SSD and it works perfectly, really fast transfer speeds 👌 and yes! i'm using it with my M3 Max 16 inch macbook so should work perfectly well with an M3 Pro chip as well 👌
@@seifbuys Thanks man, appreciate the swift feedback! That's fantastic news, because I'm only planning on using one external display through 1x hdmi & using all type c ports for my other gear (midi controllers/synths, audio interface, SSDSs etc.)! Thanks for your help & keep up the great channel! < 3
Hi! awesome comparison! Would either of theses charge a 16 inch M3 Pro Macbook pro when using it as dock? or would I need to keep my laptop plugged using the power adapter that came with the laptop?
@@rios_vision Hey Rios, thanks for watching! good question, I forgot to mention they both charge your macbook at the same time through just the one cable at fast/strong enough speeds even for my Macbook 16 M3 Max. I think it's like 96W charging or something like that for them both. Never had to charge my MacBook any other way to this day.
@seifbuys awesome! Thank you! I never thought 96w would be enough to charge the laptop. I've always assumed we need 140w for it cause that's what came with the MBP.
@@rios_vision yep, I thought the same but rest assured it's more than enough to charge it up even while I'm working on my macbook at same time. The only time the 140W is really needed is if we are on the go and need a quick top up somewhere.
thanks for the video. what is your experience with both of the docks when it comes to waking up from sleep? i am using my macbook in clampshell mode a lot of the time so this is a big factor for me when it comes to which dock i am going to buy. some reviews say that there have been issues with both docks but new firmware should have resolved this issue
@@tobiasschulz1336 Thanks for watching Tobias! okay so neither of these docks work perfect when waking from sleep in clamshell mode. Nor are there any docks out there that have perfected this art. What I can say is that they both work more often than not, the caldigit took some firmware updates as you mentioned. For both, I would say make sure the dock is unplugged from ur macbook when you do a software update on your mac. This just can mess things up so best to avoid and avoid a potential troubleshooting headache. Hope that helps 🙏
Hey Dean, thanks for watching! yes looks like they have a 'for mac mini set' of the fusion dock max 1 if you scroll down on iVANKYs website here: geni.us/iFusionDockMax1 if you end up buying it, make sure to use the discount code 'SEIFBUYS' if you buy it from there as I believe it stacks on top of whatever cyber monday deal they have going.
Do you have a TB4 dock recommendation for a user that will switch the dock between a M3 Pro MBP and Lenovo Thinkpad w/ TB4? I have dual monitor setup, 4k165hz and 1440p 144hz. I'd prefer to utilize the high refresh rate. Thanks!
Hi Seif, I Was hoping for some advice in terms of Docks, As im currently making huge changes to my setup in the coming weeks. and was hoping for an all in one solution to transfer peripherals and displays across devices, the idea of the setup is. 2 displays one -34 inch Samsung g8 and one 27 inch UHD 60hz monitor peripherals are - a custom MX keyboard, a Wireless mouse, A screenbar pro, an instalink 2. and a pair of speakers. A microphone and maybe a streamdeck? Im kinda adding to the setup and trying to visualise it in my head so excuse the incoherence.. and probably the odd type c charger here and there and an SSD and the Ethernet port of course so my idea is, when i use my macbook i would have a thunderbolt port to charge the mac and plug the two monitors into the caldigit for a dual monitor setup. The samsung monitor i can use a Usb C cable for but for the older lG monitor id probably have to use a Type c to HDMI adapter If i change to my work laptop it would be a simple switch of the charging thunderbolt wire from the Caldigit and instead of connecting it to the mac i can connect it to the work laptop to transfer all the peripherals Now when I need to use a PC thats when ill connect the same wire from the laptops into a PC port, But ot keep the high refresh rate from the Monitors id manually switch to the Display ports. So i can keep the peripherals in one dock but maximise the specs of the monitors for when im gaming etc. I haven't built the PC yet but I intend to over the coming months as I'd like to do it last, which makes testing this out all the more difficult. In theory I think this should be able to work, If you could provide any insight or better ideas or what would be a better dock i would much appreciate it!
hey, thanks for watching! wow a lot to go through there for sure. What I can say is the caldigit TS4 is the BEST operating system agnostic thunderbolt 4 dock out there right now to my knowledge. So if anything can do the job you outlined, it's that dock, otherwise I'm not aware of a more capable dock for the job.. at least not as of today 🤔
thank you so much for the endorsement! Thought I had it all ready but I've just learnt the M1 Pro macs can only support 1 display! The alternative fix is getting a display link adapter but they usually only come with 2 hdmi ports when I only need one and therefore tend to be more expensive than what it's needed for 😭
hey, do you have any recommendations for a smaller more portable thunderbolt dongle which I can use to connect wireless mouse/kbd dongles and maybe a DP/HDMI cable if I chose to dock to a single 1080p 144hz monitor? (I have just got my m2 air)
@@G.Dean100 Hey Dean, so someone enlightened me in the comments, the iVanky hdmi ports are actually 2.1 but it is apple that has something in software that prevents hdmi 2.1 from being transmitted over the thunderbolt ports. Presumably that can be patched at some point idk though, wouldn't bank on it. Regardless, I am able to get 165hz either by connecting directly to any of the 6k usb-c display ports on the iVanky.. of which there are 4. I'm just using a high quality display port to usb-c cable for my samsung odyssey neo G7 monitor to get the 4k 165hz variable since that monitor doesn't have any usb-c ports if its own. Hope that clarifies!
Yes! I'm doing 4K 240Hz right now as I type AND running my LG Dual Up SDQHD 60Hz monitor at the same time through the iVANKY Fusion Dock Max 1 on my M3 Max Macbook Pro.
Great video. Just had a question and a comment for you: Question about the dock: The Ivanky is marketed to drive 4 monitors at 6K@60Hz but what about if you resolution needs aren't as high but you want to run at a higher refresh rate,...is that possible? To simplify with an example, if I want to have a 4 monitor setup - say 3 x 1440p monitors @ 120/144Hz refresh rates, and 1 at 4K@60Hz... will I be able to use the Ivanky dock to get the higher refresh rates on the 3 x 1440p monitors? Or would the Ivanky limit the refresh rates to 60Hz even if the bandwidth needs are less? The dock says 6K at 60Hz, but if I'm driving 1440p can I drive that at 120/144Hz? Or will I only get 60Hz even from the 1440p monitor? 2) Since you say you go for the best, there's a Thunderbolt 5 dock that's planned to come out soon by Hyper (another excellent peripheral manufacturer). I'd love for you to compare the Ivanky with that one when you have a chance. The item details are here www.hypershop.com/products/hyperdrive-next-thunderbolt-5-dock
@@ne0nlightz heya - thanks for watching! pls see my responses below: 1) you're line of thinking is correct. in theory, should be able to run 3x 1440p monitors at 144hz without issue. I would probably run it by iVanky customer support themselves though beforehand to make sure of that specific 4 monitor intense config feasibility. Note the monitors will need thunderbolt ports/usb-c or you will have to use a display port to usb-c or hdmi 2.1 to usb-c adapter like I did with my samsung odyssey neo G7. 2) Just checked it out and went down a thunderbolt 5 rabbit hole 🕳️. Looks very exciting, but i don't believe current nor even upcoming M4 macbooks will come equipped with thunderbolt 5 so not sure I'd be able to provide any useful opinion for comparison as I don't use PC (presuming there's prob pcs out there already with thunderbolt 5). Regardless, looking forward to thunderbolt 5 when it comes to macbooks!
@@yonallb ahh didn't know that was a thing, good to know! thanks for sharing 🙏 Going to run off my own personal firsthand experience though over lab testing and corporate licensing fees as the iVANKY works more reliably to me than the caldigit TS4 still to this day.. at least on my Macbook Pro M3 Max. Nice to see iVANKY are passing the savings onto the consumer too rather than eating it up in higher profit margins.
@@piotr.czechowski haha Piotr i'll assume you're joking. I thought I made it pretty clear that did not affect what I said. It supports more and can handle more because it has double the thunderbolt chips. I wouldn't say something is good or better or the best unless that was genuinely my opinion. That would go against my credibility as a reviewer 🤷
Hey bro, do you think you could compare the Ivanky with the new Anker Prime 14-port? I have a MacBook Air M3 and the CalDigit USB-C Pro Dock, but I've had nothing but issues running the Cam Link and Rodecaster Pro 2.
@@cakeojames4204 Hey James, funny enough I did consider that dock when i was shopping around but it's way less powerful and less ports than the Caldigit TS4 and iVanky FusionDock Max 1 that I mention in this video. I can confirm cam link works perfect on both of these for me. Can't say I've had the pleasure of buying my own Rodecaster Pro 2 quite yet 😍 but i've watched plenty of vids on it! The most powerful dock out now is the FusionDock Max 1 so I would go with that if I wanted to eliminate any shadow of a doubt as to whether I would run into issues. If I was more budget conscious I would maybe take a risk with the cheaper iVANKY FusionDock Pro 1.
That monitor issue is a MacOS limitation. Ivankey is actually HDMI 2.1 but is advertised as 2.0 because macOS doesn’t allow HDMI 2.1 over thunderbolt/usb c. I hope that Apple patches that in the future.
iVANKY FusionDock Max 1 ('SEIFBUYS' Discount code): geni.us/iFusionDockMax1
iVANKY FusionDock Pro 1+ ('SEIFBUYS2' Discount code): geni.us/iFusionDockPro1P
iVANKY FusionDock Max 1 (Amazon): geni.us/aFusionDockMax1
iVANKY FusionDock Pro 1+ (Amazon): geni.us/aFusionDockPro1
Just watching this review I'm going to get one. I was looking for a good dock for my office, but the one I have uses Display Link Software & it sucks on my M2 Pro MacBook Pro. I just started the return process with Amazon for the iVanky dock. Thank you for the review.
great to see you again! nice video!!
Thanks so much for the support and kind words Javier 🙏 🙏
The review I was looking for. Thanks a lot!
Awesome that the code applies on top of the Black Friday deal. Save quite some money also.
Nicee, love to hear it! thanks for watching Andrei 🙏
Very interesting video. Great review.
@@garyclement2888 Thanks for watching and the kind comment Gary 🙏
Hi, great vid, thanks. I have a Macbook air M3, which one should get in order to use 2 screens (4k) with the lid open? Without breaking the Bank. Thank you.
@@FranklinColmenaresSilva hey Franklin, thanks for watching! I believe the iVANKY Fusion Dock Pro 1+ would be your best bet. I'm pretty sure you can use the discount code I put for it in the description to stack on top of whatever discount they may have going at the moment to get the best price. Also check on Amazon for comparison. But if you're on a real tight budget and really only need the dual 4k monitors and not many additional ports, then perhaps a dock from the brand 'plugable' would suffice though I have not tried those myself and so cannot vouch for their efficacy.
How do I connect 3 monitors with iVanky FusionDock Max 1. I have Macbook Pro M1, I have hard time with having all display on. Please help
Heya, so the macbook pro m1 pro chip supports up to two 6k displays at 60hz. but if you have monitors that are like 1080p 60 or whatever u should be able to do 3 no problem. What are the resolution and refresh rate of each of the monitors you are connecting to the iVANKY Fusion Dock Max 1 ?
Also, are you connecting them via the HDMI ports on the dock or are you using the 6k labelled usb-c ports?
Nice vid. I got one coming soon with 3 5k monitors to test it. It better deliver! lol I got a Max chip. Those can handle a bunch of 5k and even 6k monitors with the iVanky Pro Max
@@UrbanBDKNY thanks man 🙏 and woah best of luck with all that! as far as I saw on unboxing therapy it worked with 4 pro XDR displays so you should be good!
@@seifbuys insane right 😂
@@UrbanBDKNY 💯 🤯
Hey love the channel. Wondering if you can help me with my situation.
I have 3 Apple cinema displays (previous generation) and use a mac studio.
I am looking to find a docking station that will allow me to use the same 3 displays with a PC.
Do you have a recommendation on which docking station would you get?
hey Vikesh, not sure what ports your apple cinema displays use? But if I were to make a bet regardless, on which dock will most likely serve you in your setup, it would be the caldigit TS4. Hope that helps!
I have one Mac M1 Desktop and two Mac Thunderbolt Display Monitors and trying to have the two display monitors as an extension screen to the Mac M1. Which do you recommend?
@@nickelcuffy300 do they work when you connect them directly to your mac M1 desktop currently? If so, I think the iVANKY Fusion Dock Pro 1+ is your best bet without going overboard.
I recently ordered a new M4 Pro Mac Mini and new that I would need a dock and price is not a huge concern I just want the best however since the M4 Pro has Thunderbolt 5 I feel like it would be a waste to spend $400 on a dock that woill be replaced soon when a Thunderbolt 5 version comes out, so I will wait for that. However for $100 I bought the Gewokliy Mac Mini M4 Dock because I need USB type A day 1 when my Mini arrives plus this dock raises the Mini for better airflow and offers an easy way to turn on off the Mini with a clever design. I'd rather replace a $100 dock than a $400 dock. Anyways, thanks for the video!
@@ichigen511 truee, thanks for sharing! I too am looking forward to thunderbolt 5 docks whenever those come out. I think there is one out already but it doesn't have anywhere near as many ports as the ivanky nor caldigit and can handle less data than the ivanky's dual thunderbolt 4 chips.
@@seifbuys Yeah I'm really looking for the Thunderbolt 5 version of this Ivanky dock you reviewed, it's an AWESOME dock with tons of high speed ports and video options.
@ 💯 💯
Thanks for doing this video. I have the older Caldigit model. Onlt thing I don't like about it is that it creates this high pitched whine when I plug it in. Does the Ivanky dock do the same thing??
@@nelsong3410 hey Nelson, thanks for watching! interesting... can't say i've run into any high pitched whining to date, not with the Caldigit TS4 and not with the iVanky Fusion Dock Max 1. Let me know if you have any other questions 🙏
Thanks for this video! Would a Macbook Pro M1 Max (2021) need an adapter to use dual displays (different content on each) or can each monitor be plugged directly into the Macbook using HDMI and USB-C?
@@SkylarTheWriter Thanks for watching Skylar! you should be able to plug those directly into your M1 Max Macbook without issue. One HDMI and one USB-C as you said 👌
@@seifbuys OMG, you don't know the RELIEF you just gave me. I bought a 2nd screen not knowing about the M1 limitations, so I felt kind of hoodwinked by Apple. Then when I saw all these options and high prices (for the REALLY good adapters), I kind of stressed a bit. But now I have some breathing room to take my time and save up for an adapter if I need one in the future. THANK YOU so much, Seif!!! #Subscribed 💯💯💯
@ yeap! happy to help and love to hear that you're in the clear 🙏
Hi, I wanted to ask you. Did you connect two capture cards to Ivanka at the same time? one for the camera, the other for the game console? Elgato Cam Link 4K for sony zv-1, and Elgato 4K X for PS5
@@Regi89_1 Hey Regi, no can't say I've tried that but don't see why it wouldn't work. I only have one elgato cam link 4K and can confirm that works for the camera. Never tried capturing my ps5 footage onto my mac 🤔
@@seifbuys I tried another hub, from the Anker brand, it is many times cheaper, but the speed on the ports should be enough, and I have the original central wire from apple, the speed is up to 40 gb / s, and my camera at the beginning gives about 10 frames, and then it completely freezes and turns off, although ps 5 in 4k resolution and 60 fps with elgato 4k x continues to work flawlessly
@@Regi89_1 ahh I see, good to know! ya, honestly the more overall bandwidth the hub had the less likely you run into such issues. Like the Caldigit TS4 would crash on me more frequently than the iVANKY Fusion Dock Max when overloaded. But they both can and do crash still. Maybe we have to wait for Thunderbolt 5 to get new docks and new macbooks that never crash idk 🤷
the dual thunderbolt cable connect to macbook pro, the head of cable will block the nearby macbook pro audio jack and power port?
@@alantjspace231 Hey Alan, no I can confirm it does not block neither the audio jack nor the power port. I can still fit a thick audio jack cable and the magsafe power plug without issue. Not that I need to because the dock charges the macbook already and has an audio jack in it. But I just checked for you anyway. Hope that helps!
@ thank you!
Hi Seif, new to the channel. I’ve been looking for a quality dock that will allow me to adapt to as many use cases as possible. I’ve just bought the M4 Mac Mini (base model with 512GB) but I mainly use my M4 iPad Pro (2TB) as my workhorse these days. I have aimed to be an on the go user for quite some time and just use my iPhone 15Pro Max as my content creation device.
I was swayed by the M4 Mac mini as a great all rounder as a desktop to cover any shortfalls the iPad has. I didn’t plan on getting one by any means but my ancient MacBook Air (2014) was on its last legs.
So, will the iVanky dock cover me for most things such as monitors, speakers, keyboard, mouse, charging tech, SSD’s, and all work with my iPad Pro when switching from the Mac to the iPad?
I’m slowly getting to grip with tech but it’s moving so fast I’m struggling to keep up. My dyslexic brain is fried from trying to work this stuff out.
I just want to be modular/adaptable from now and across the next 5yrs.
What would you suggest?
Thanks
@@paulleon6057 hey Paul, thanks for watching! hmm so I do have very limited experience with ipads and currently do not own one so take what I say with that in mind. I'm going off of what I believe to be true but have not experienced myself.
I think the best dock in your situation is either the iVANKY Fusion Dock Pro 1+ or the Caldigit TS4. This is because it just requires the single usb-c connection to your device vs the dual on the Fusion Dock Max 1. As far as I know and have researched both of those docks should accommodate all your peripherals mentioned on both your ipad and mac. But please just know i'm going off what I'm reading, haven't tested any of them with ipad Pros myself.
Hi, great vid; one question==> will the ivanky work with a Mac M4 mini ?
@@chionyenkwu2253 hey Chi, thanks for watching! hmm I don't believe Mac M4 mini can accommodate the Fusion Dock Max 1 because of the way the thunderbolt cable is positioned, it looks like it was made for macbooks.
While I can't confirm for sure since I don't have the M4 Mac mini, everything I'm reading and seeing online makes me believe it should work with the iVANKY Fusion Dock Pro 1+ OR the Caldigit TS4 without issue though. Hope that helps!
@@seifbuys I have subsequently seen comments on manufacturers website; just need to use own cables as ones supplied are specifically for Mac book however generic cables with the correct speed rating WILL work 🙂🙂
@@chionyenkwu2253 nice! I really haven't seen any dual thunderbolt 4 cables like the ones supplied with the Fusion Dock Max 1 anywhere before so cool to know those exist 💡
Hey Seif! Great review, best one I'd found!🎉
Quick question: can you use all typce c ports for data transfer, too? Say, could I use an external ssd through one of the '6k' labeled ports? Or are those for displays only?
Also: The ivanky would also work well with a m3 pro chip, right?
Thanks in advance for your help! Would really appreciate it.
Hey Ben, thanks for watching and kind comment! Confirming yes, you can use any of the 6k display labeled usb-c ports as a data port with full 40gbps max transfer speed. I'm using one of those ones on the front with my Sandisk Extreme Pro SSD and it works perfectly, really fast transfer speeds 👌 and yes! i'm using it with my M3 Max 16 inch macbook so should work perfectly well with an M3 Pro chip as well 👌
@@seifbuys Thanks man, appreciate the swift feedback! That's fantastic news, because I'm only planning on using one external display through 1x hdmi & using all type c ports for my other gear (midi controllers/synths, audio interface, SSDSs etc.)!
Thanks for your help & keep up the great channel! < 3
@ love to hear it Ben! sounds like the ideal tool for the job then 👌 Thanks again and enjoy your new setup man 🙏
Hi! awesome comparison! Would either of theses charge a 16 inch M3 Pro Macbook pro when using it as dock? or would I need to keep my laptop plugged using the power adapter that came with the laptop?
@@rios_vision Hey Rios, thanks for watching! good question, I forgot to mention they both charge your macbook at the same time through just the one cable at fast/strong enough speeds even for my Macbook 16 M3 Max. I think it's like 96W charging or something like that for them both. Never had to charge my MacBook any other way to this day.
@seifbuys awesome! Thank you! I never thought 96w would be enough to charge the laptop. I've always assumed we need 140w for it cause that's what came with the MBP.
@@rios_vision yep, I thought the same but rest assured it's more than enough to charge it up even while I'm working on my macbook at same time. The only time the 140W is really needed is if we are on the go and need a quick top up somewhere.
thanks for the video. what is your experience with both of the docks when it comes to waking up from sleep? i am using my macbook in clampshell mode a lot of the time so this is a big factor for me when it comes to which dock i am going to buy. some reviews say that there have been issues with both docks but new firmware should have resolved this issue
@@tobiasschulz1336 Thanks for watching Tobias! okay so neither of these docks work perfect when waking from sleep in clamshell mode. Nor are there any docks out there that have perfected this art. What I can say is that they both work more often than not, the caldigit took some firmware updates as you mentioned. For both, I would say make sure the dock is unplugged from ur macbook when you do a software update on your mac. This just can mess things up so best to avoid and avoid a potential troubleshooting headache. Hope that helps 🙏
Will android tablets work with ivanky?
@@AchillesNYC Pretty sure no they will not.
Will this ivanky max work with the new Mac mini?
Hey Dean, thanks for watching! yes looks like they have a 'for mac mini set' of the fusion dock max 1 if you scroll down on iVANKYs website here: geni.us/iFusionDockMax1
if you end up buying it, make sure to use the discount code 'SEIFBUYS' if you buy it from there as I believe it stacks on top of whatever cyber monday deal they have going.
Do you have a TB4 dock recommendation for a user that will switch the dock between a M3 Pro MBP and Lenovo Thinkpad w/ TB4? I have dual monitor setup, 4k165hz and 1440p 144hz. I'd prefer to utilize the high refresh rate. Thanks!
@@jaguthva hey Jackson, thanks for watching! the caldigit TS4 is your best bet for sure in that case 🙏
Hi Seif,
I Was hoping for some advice in terms of Docks, As im currently making huge changes to my setup in the coming weeks. and was hoping for an all in one solution to transfer peripherals and displays across devices,
the idea of the setup is.
2 displays one -34 inch Samsung g8 and one 27 inch UHD 60hz monitor
peripherals are - a custom MX keyboard, a Wireless mouse, A screenbar pro, an instalink 2. and a pair of speakers. A microphone and maybe a streamdeck? Im kinda adding to the setup and trying to visualise it in my head so excuse the incoherence..
and probably the odd type c charger here and there and an SSD and the Ethernet port of course
so my idea is, when i use my macbook i would have a thunderbolt port to charge the mac and plug the two monitors into the caldigit for a dual monitor setup. The samsung monitor i can use a Usb C cable for but for the older lG monitor id probably have to use a Type c to HDMI adapter
If i change to my work laptop it would be a simple switch of the charging thunderbolt wire from the Caldigit and instead of connecting it to the mac i can connect it to the work laptop to transfer all the peripherals
Now when I need to use a PC thats when ill connect the same wire from the laptops into a PC port, But ot keep the high refresh rate from the Monitors id manually switch to the Display ports. So i can keep the peripherals in one dock but maximise the specs of the monitors for when im gaming etc.
I haven't built the PC yet but I intend to over the coming months as I'd like to do it last, which makes testing this out all the more difficult.
In theory I think this should be able to work, If you could provide any insight or better ideas or what would be a better dock i would much appreciate it!
hey, thanks for watching! wow a lot to go through there for sure. What I can say is the caldigit TS4 is the BEST operating system agnostic thunderbolt 4 dock out there right now to my knowledge. So if anything can do the job you outlined, it's that dock, otherwise I'm not aware of a more capable dock for the job.. at least not as of today 🤔
thank you so much for the endorsement!
Thought I had it all ready but I've just learnt the M1 Pro macs can only support 1 display!
The alternative fix is getting a display link adapter but they usually only come with 2 hdmi ports when I only need one and therefore tend to be more expensive than what it's needed for 😭
@@BigmanShy no! and oh I see. Rough! best of luck out there man 🙏
hey, do you have any recommendations for a smaller more portable thunderbolt dongle which I can use to connect wireless mouse/kbd dongles and maybe a DP/HDMI cable if I chose to dock to a single 1080p 144hz monitor? (I have just got my m2 air)
@@siddharthdua4926 thanks for watching Siddharth! for that specific use case, personally I would go with the Anker 555 8-in-1 here: geni.us/Anker55
@@seifbuys thanks seif!
@@siddharthdua4926 np, thank you! 🙏 🙏
Hey seif,
You forget to mention that also the mac studio m1, 2, 3, and 4 max will work with the fusiondock max 1
@@harrydepunter hey Harry, not sure how that dual ivanky thunderbolt thing which has the usb-cs laterally would fit in the mac studios mentioned 🤔
The ivanky is only hdmi 2.0? How are you getting 165hz?
@@G.Dean100 Hey Dean, so someone enlightened me in the comments, the iVanky hdmi ports are actually 2.1 but it is apple that has something in software that prevents hdmi 2.1 from being transmitted over the thunderbolt ports. Presumably that can be patched at some point idk though, wouldn't bank on it. Regardless, I am able to get 165hz either by connecting directly to any of the 6k usb-c display ports on the iVanky.. of which there are 4. I'm just using a high quality display port to usb-c cable for my samsung odyssey neo G7 monitor to get the 4k 165hz variable since that monitor doesn't have any usb-c ports if its own. Hope that clarifies!
Can I get 4K/240hz out of an M4 Max MacBook using the ivanky
Yes! I'm doing 4K 240Hz right now as I type AND running my LG Dual Up SDQHD 60Hz monitor at the same time through the iVANKY Fusion Dock Max 1 on my M3 Max Macbook Pro.
@ thanks man!
Great video. Just had a question and a comment for you:
Question about the dock: The Ivanky is marketed to drive 4 monitors at 6K@60Hz but what about if you resolution needs aren't as high but you want to run at a higher refresh rate,...is that possible? To simplify with an example, if I want to have a 4 monitor setup - say 3 x 1440p monitors @ 120/144Hz refresh rates, and 1 at 4K@60Hz... will I be able to use the Ivanky dock to get the higher refresh rates on the 3 x 1440p monitors? Or would the Ivanky limit the refresh rates to 60Hz even if the bandwidth needs are less? The dock says 6K at 60Hz, but if I'm driving 1440p can I drive that at 120/144Hz? Or will I only get 60Hz even from the 1440p monitor?
2) Since you say you go for the best, there's a Thunderbolt 5 dock that's planned to come out soon by Hyper (another excellent peripheral manufacturer). I'd love for you to compare the Ivanky with that one when you have a chance. The item details are here www.hypershop.com/products/hyperdrive-next-thunderbolt-5-dock
@@ne0nlightz heya - thanks for watching! pls see my responses below:
1) you're line of thinking is correct. in theory, should be able to run 3x 1440p monitors at 144hz without issue. I would probably run it by iVanky customer support themselves though beforehand to make sure of that specific 4 monitor intense config feasibility. Note the monitors will need thunderbolt ports/usb-c or you will have to use a display port to usb-c or hdmi 2.1 to usb-c adapter like I did with my samsung odyssey neo G7.
2) Just checked it out and went down a thunderbolt 5 rabbit hole 🕳️. Looks very exciting, but i don't believe current nor even upcoming M4 macbooks will come equipped with thunderbolt 5 so not sure I'd be able to provide any useful opinion for comparison as I don't use PC (presuming there's prob pcs out there already with thunderbolt 5). Regardless, looking forward to thunderbolt 5 when it comes to macbooks!
The Ivanky isn't thunderbolt certified.
@@yonallb ahh didn't know that was a thing, good to know! thanks for sharing 🙏 Going to run off my own personal firsthand experience though over lab testing and corporate licensing fees as the iVANKY works more reliably to me than the caldigit TS4 still to this day.. at least on my Macbook Pro M3 Max. Nice to see iVANKY are passing the savings onto the consumer too rather than eating it up in higher profit margins.
Its better because they gave it for free?
@@piotr.czechowski haha Piotr i'll assume you're joking. I thought I made it pretty clear that did not affect what I said. It supports more and can handle more because it has double the thunderbolt chips. I wouldn't say something is good or better or the best unless that was genuinely my opinion. That would go against my credibility as a reviewer 🤷
Hey bro, do you think you could compare the Ivanky with the new Anker Prime 14-port? I have a MacBook Air M3 and the CalDigit USB-C Pro Dock, but I've had nothing but issues running the Cam Link and Rodecaster Pro 2.
@@cakeojames4204 Hey James, funny enough I did consider that dock when i was shopping around but it's way less powerful and less ports than the Caldigit TS4 and iVanky FusionDock Max 1 that I mention in this video. I can confirm cam link works perfect on both of these for me. Can't say I've had the pleasure of buying my own Rodecaster Pro 2 quite yet 😍 but i've watched plenty of vids on it! The most powerful dock out now is the FusionDock Max 1 so I would go with that if I wanted to eliminate any shadow of a doubt as to whether I would run into issues. If I was more budget conscious I would maybe take a risk with the cheaper iVANKY FusionDock Pro 1.
@@seifbuysthanks bro appreciate the reply, I'll let you know what I go for and I'll keep you updated 🫡
@@cakeojames4204 do itt 🫡
That monitor issue is a MacOS limitation. Ivankey is actually HDMI 2.1 but is advertised as 2.0 because macOS doesn’t allow HDMI 2.1 over thunderbolt/usb c. I hope that Apple patches that in the future.
@@dellenrules oh! no way, thanks for the intel Dellen. Then the iVANKY is even better than I thought.. the more u know 💡
I have Del WD19TBS and its also working perfect with my mac mini m1 😃
@@OnlySufyanKhan Heh Sufyan, I just looked that one up, looks great! thanks for sharing 🙏