OWC’s new Thunderbolt 5 Hub addresses the major issue of not having enough Thunderbolt 5 ports by allowing users to connect many devices to their computer via a single cable connection. For increased bandwidth demands, the hub promises data speeds of up to 80Gb/s bi-directional and 120Gb/s one-way. The device has four USB-C ports and one USB Type A port (USB 3.2 / 10Gb/s). It also features a DC IN port and a Kensington security slot. Using a compatible USB-PD connector, the hub can provide up to 140 watts of power via USB-C.

While the USB-C ports are Thunderbolt 5 compatible, it is important to note that Thunderbolt supports backward and cross-compatibility with Thunderbolt 3 and 4 standards, USB4, and previous USB-C standards. It also supports DisplayPort over USB-C. Although the Thunderbolt 5 Hub is now receiving a lot of attention from Mac users, it is worth mentioning that it also works with Windows devices.

OWC presents a few possible workflows for its new Thunderbolt 5 Hub, including the use of the company’s latest OWC Atlas UCB4 CFexpress 4.0 Type B memory card reader, the Envoy Ultra SSD, and the ThunderBlade NVMe RAID SSD. The hub is also compatible with the iPad Pro, allowing users to connect several devices using the tablet’s single USB-C connector.

The OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub is available for preorder at $189.99. OWC anticipates the device to arrive in early December. The hub comes with a Thunderbolt-certified USB-C cable (0.8 m).