If you are looking for a Thunderbolt 4 hub that offers you several outputs, then the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Slim Pro Hub is a great option to consider. It is essentially the older version of the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Slim Hub and the difference between the two is in terms of the power charger. The Pro version comes with a 95W power brick, while the other one comes with a 65W power brick.
The features
One of the best things about the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Slim Pro Hub is its simplicity. The front has a 10Gbps USB-A port that you can use for a keyboard or a mouse, along with a downstream Thunderbolt 4 port. Four Thunderbolt ports can be found on the back, which are good for dangling a USB-C dongle. There is also a small power LED.
Another excellent characteristic of this hub is its size. It can fit into a backpack easily because it is a bit smaller than 5.5 x 3 inches. As for the charging brick, it measures around 4.75 x 2 inches. This is small enough to take it around easily, even if the charger is on the ugly side. In fact, Satechi has also provided a pair of zipped plastic bags that you can use for storage.
The aluminum chassis used for the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Slim Pro Hub is to keep it cool and the weight of the dock is around 0.53 pounds, which means it is not too heavy.
The connectivity
As it is a Thunderbolt 4 hub, you can get Thunderbolt connectivity from each backside port. This means that you have the option of using each of them for driving a display through a direct cable, which would offer you support of up to 4K, 60Hz per port. You could also choose to connect a USB-C dock for providing the I/O flexibility that is not available in this Satechi hub. Even though it makes the entire arrangement ungainly, it is doable.
A dedicated smartphone charging port is not included is not included in the dock, but enough power is generated by every upstream Thunderbolt port to ensure it is not an issue. The power is enough for fast-charging your smartphones. One issue you will encounter is that the USB-A port on the front is a bit too close to the Thunderbolt downstream port. This can be a little annoying and is unnecessary, but the performance is fine.
The Verdict
Not every user will find the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Slim Pro Hub relevant given its price tag of $199.99 because there are plenty of other options you can explore if you are ready to expand your budget a little more. However, this Thunderbolt 4 connection gives you a bonus in the form of a USB-A port and it also provides a hefty amount of power, which definitely works in its favor.