Thoughts on a second charger?

[OZsMac]

Hi All,

I'm going to purchase a second charger for my 13" 2016 MacBook Pro, one that will stay at my home office desk, so not that fussed about size, packaging or portability.

a) Apple charger

b) A good quality third party charger

c) **but** I'm also trying to drive a 28" Samsung 4k monitor at 60Hz, so perhaps a docking station that has a charger might be the more cost effective solution.

Anyone have ideas?

 

[Just_Me_D]

Go with an Apple charger. I'm not saying a 3rd-party charger wouldn't work, but since you're buying one for your brand new 2016 MBP, why risk it?

 

[OZsMac]

Thanks Just_Me_D, you are spot on, I guess option two really isn't on the cards.

 

[Just_Me_D]

Thanks Just_Me_D, you are spot on, I guess option two really isn't on the cards.

You're very welcome.......and option B wouldn't even be a consideration for me with a brand new MBP.

 

[robertk328]

Go with an Apple charger. I'm not saying a 3rd-party charger wouldn't work, but since you're buying one for your brand new 2016 MBP, why risk it?

This. 1,000x.

 

[OZsMac]

So I think I'll most likely go with the OWC Thunderbolt 3 docking station, in Au$ they are about $400 (when they come out that is) and this will deliver a charger (for the Apple wall plug and Thunderbolt cable this is approx Au$140 alone), will also drive my 28" 4k monitor at 60Hz via display port, allow me to 3.5m jack into my speakers and have plenty of other I/O.

All this from a single cable from my laptop.

Also still looking at the options from Belkin and Eligato, anyone got other things to check out?

 

[C6TX6]

I'm waiting for the Arc Hub.

https://www.bourgedesign.com/

And as far as chargers go...

ALWAYS buy Apple OEM chargers. Even if they are labeled as such and the price is too good to be true, it most likely IS! Lot of fakes out there. These are not only a risk to your Apple hardware, they can be a risk to your personal safety! I don't want to spend $80 for that little white box any more than anyone else but paying less than half and think you're getting a bargain when you could be risking life and property surely isn't worth it!

IMHO of course.

 

[OZsMac]

@CTX6 I'd jump on the Arc Hub, if only it supported HDMI 2.0 (hence 4k @ 60Hz), as it is only 1.4b it doesn't (I'm guessing because it doesn't actually use Thunderbolt, just USB 3.1). I know that the DisplayPort does, however if I needed to drive two monitors at some point (I suspect I might), this would be an issue.

 

[C6TX6]

Yeah that's a bummer indeed. My LG panel can only do 30Hz via HDMI but will do 4096x2160/60/4.4.4 via display port. 30Hz is OK for most coding but animations isn't.

In the meantime, this will do!

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...tml/BI/20079/KBID/13844/SID/UUimUvbUpU2880342