It’s turning into more and more uncommon to discover a tech accent in 2025 that’s each practical and enjoyable to make use of. As so many of those equipment change into extra commoditized, they start to perform and look the identical, making them fade into the background. So once I noticed the Wokyis Retro Docking Station for the M4 Mac mini, I used to be instantly intrigued. It transforms the Mac mini into one thing straight out of 1984. On paper, it had all of the capabilities I wanted out of a dock, however it was additionally such a cool-looking product. After utilizing it for 3 weeks, it checked off each field. Here’s what that you must know.
Earlier than we leap into the put up, if you wish to see my hands-on unboxing, setup, and evaluate to see what this hub is admittedly all about, make sure to take a look at the video beneath.
Specs and options
At its core, this can be a USB-C hub, a 13-in-1, to be precise. So it covers virtually each port you need to add to your setup. The dock is designed to bodily match the M4 and M4 Professional Mac mini, virtually like a customized enclosure. That stated, it’s going to nonetheless work with different Macs, MacBooks, or actually any pc with a USB-C port, you’d simply hold it alongside your machine as a substitute of mounting it immediately on prime. Here’s what you get:
- 5-inch Show – 1280 × 720 IPS panel
- USB Ports – 4× USB-A (10Gbps), 2× USB-C (10Gbps), 1× USB-C host
- Card Readers – SD + microSD 4.0 (UHS-II, 312MB/s)
- Audio – 3.5mm headphone jack (32-bit, 8–384kHz assist)
- Video – HDMI-In
- Storage slot – M.2 NVMe SSD slot, as much as 8TB (10Gbps switch speeds)
- Dimensions – 145 × 131 × 154mm, weight 510g
The dock will are available two variations:
So now that we have now the specs out of the way in which lets speak about my expertise with this little man.
Unboxing & setup
The unboxing was truly very nice. Remember to see my response within the video. However it brings every little thing you want within the packaging. They provide you three completely different USB-C cables. One quick one which plugs from Mac mini to the hub, after which two extra in the event you want them for energy or daisy chaining. It additionally brings thermal pads, screws, and a screwdriver so you may simply set up your NVMe drive to the rear. As I acknowledged, it helps as much as 8TBs on each fashions.
The setup was additionally simple. The Mac mini slides neatly into place and matches completely; it’s very satisfying to place into place. I used to be pleasantly stunned that the built-in 5-inch show powered on immediately from the Mac mini; no further energy cable was required.
My expertise
The very first thing I attempted was utilizing it as a standalone monitor. I’ll admit, it’s tiny. You can technically do every little thing that you must, particularly in the event you go to the complete 2560×1600 decision, however it will get tiny! In principle, if it have been your solely display and also you wanted to get one thing executed, it might get the job executed. You’ll be able to see beneath all of the resolutions it helps.
Whereas it’s too small to be a major monitor, it really works nice as a secondary glanceable display or perhaps a fast transportable show when wanted. I’ve been utilizing it to play YouTube movies, the place I principally take heed to the content material however nonetheless need to look over it every now and then. For instance, I play video podcasts on that show, or have some “Paris jazz atmosphere” video to assist me focus whereas working. The show is generally for passive duties. Possibly for a to-do listing, or have diagnostics or widgets on that show. However regardless, it matches seamlessly with my desk setup.
Then you’ve got the hub itself. I examined the 10Gbps model, and it delivered on pace and comfort. The SD and microSD slots on the entrance are a recreation changer for me—I’m consistently shifting recordsdata off my Sony digicam, and having them inbuilt beats digging round for a dongle. The M.2 NVMe slot additionally means I can add as much as 8TB of storage contained in the dock itself. The port choice and the situation of the ports are nice, too. Those you want fixed entry to are on the entrance, and the others are hidden behind. It additionally leaves the Mac Mini ports very simply accessible. It’s additionally light-weight and well-ventilated because of the built-in cooling cutouts.
Lastly, it simply seems enjoyable on the desk. Folks discover it instantly, which is one thing I can’t say about every other hub I’ve ever used.
Pricing & availability
The Wokyis Retro Dock is obtainable to order now by way of Kickstarter. As I stated there are two choices:
- 10Gbps mannequin: This consists of the 13-in-1 hub, 5-inch show, NVMe slot (as much as 8TB), and all important ports. The early fowl particular is $99, and the eventual retail worth is $169.
- 80Gbps mannequin: Provides quicker SSD switch speeds and DisplayPort 2.1 with 8K/60Hz assist. The early fowl particular is $199, with the eventual retail worth being $389.
At $99, the entry-level mannequin is already one of many best-value USB-C hubs you will get for the Mac mini, to not point out the very fact that there’s a usable show and that it seems superior. Delivery of those will occur in September. As of penning this, they’ve already surpassed their objective. I feel this can be a no-brainer for anybody who simply needs a hub for his or her desk that may give them just a little reminder of the previous, but in addition one thing distinctive that provides a perform I’ve by no means seen.
What do you suppose? Is that this price it? Would you again this? Let’s talk about beneath!
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