Dell WD22TB4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock: ports, charging and who it suits

The Dell WD22TB4 is a Thunderbolt 4 docking station that connects a laptop to displays, wired networking and peripherals through a single cable. It is designed mainly for business use with Dell commercial laptops, though Dell says it also works with notebooks from other makers that support Thunderbolt docking.

One cable, many connections

A dock replaces a handful of separate plugs with one. You connect the dock to a monitor, keyboard, mouse and network once, then attach a single Thunderbolt cable to the laptop. That makes it easy to move between desk and meeting room.

Dell lists these ports:

• 2 x Thunderbolt 4
• 1 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2
• 1 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 with PowerShare
• 2 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1
• 2 x DisplayPort 1.4
• 1 x HDMI 2.0
• 1 x USB-C multifunction DisplayPort
• 1 x Gigabit Ethernet (RJ45)

Dell says this is the highest number of ports on a Thunderbolt 4 dock, allowing several 4K displays and Thunderbolt peripherals. PowerShare means the marked USB-A port can charge a phone even when the laptop is asleep or off, as Dell generally describes it.

Data speed

Dell quotes a data transfer rate of 40 Gb/s, the Thunderbolt 4 maximum. Note that this is gigabits per second, not gigabytes. Thunderbolt 4 also sets minimum requirements, such as support for two 4K displays and PCIe data transfer. Real-world speed depends on the laptop and the devices attached.

Charging

The dock comes with a 180W power adapter and delivers up to 130W to Dell laptops through ExpressCharge. Dell says this can charge up to 80 percent in an hour and up to 35 percent in 20 minutes. Charging speed depends on the laptop model and its own limits. Laptops from other manufacturers may receive less power, so check how much your laptop needs.

Modular and manageable

The connectivity module and power cable are swappable. Dell says this allows field replacement and later upgrades, and each part has its own service tag, so IT teams can push firmware updates to specific docks. Firmware updates take five to seven minutes without a reboot, according to Dell, and work with Dell Client Command Suite and Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager.

For IT teams, Dell also lists MAC Address pass-thru, remote port disablement, PXE Boot and Wake-on-LAN. Those features help manage laptops on corporate networks.

Size and system support

The dock measures about 11.9 x 11.4 x 2.4 inches (30 x 29 x 6 cm) and weighs about 1 lb (0.45 kg) without the power supply. The listing names Windows 10 and Windows 11. It accepts 120/230 V AC at 50/60 Hz.

Who it suits

It suits professionals and IT departments that set up shared or multi-monitor desks, particularly with Dell commercial laptops. A person with a single monitor and few accessories may not need so many ports.

What to check before you buy

• Laptop support: confirm your laptop supports Thunderbolt docking and the dock's features.
• Displays: match the number and resolution of your monitors with the laptop's graphics limits and the dock's video ports.
• Charging power: check how much power your laptop needs, and whether 130W is enough.
• Cable length and desk layout: the dock's connection cable has a fixed length.
• Operating system: the listing names Windows only.

The short version

• A modular Thunderbolt 4 dock, model WD22TB4, with 130W charging to Dell laptops.
• Two Thunderbolt 4 ports, two DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.0, several USB ports and Gigabit Ethernet.
• 40 Gb/s data transfer and a 180W power adapter.
• Swappable modules and managed firmware updates for IT teams.

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