Up front, you’ll find an SD 4.0 slot, a microSD 4.0 slot, three USB-A ports (10 Gbps), one USB-C port (also 10 Gbps), and one Thunderbolt 5 downstream port. On the back, there’s one Thunderbolt 5 upstream port, one Thunderbolt 5 downstream port, one USB-C port, one DisplayPort, one HDMI port, a 2.5 GbE port, and a 3.5mm audio combo jack.
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) Image 1 of 2 View Original
I was somewhat surprised to see both HDMI and DisplayPort in this relatively compact Thunderbolt 5 dock, but they are welcome additions here. It’s hard to be disappointed with Orico’s choice of ports on the TB5, as there’s a nice balance of USB-A, USB-C, and video outputs.
But my absolute favorite design feature of the TB5 is on its underside. Most Thunderbolt docks that feature an internal SSD slot require you to remove a screw to access the M.2 slot. However, the TB5 uses a magnetic cover that is easily removed with a fingernail, yet strong enough to remain attached when moving the dock around. It’s a small touch, but appreciated when swapping SSDs. The M.2 slot can accommodate 2280 form-factor SSDs.
The lack of native DisplayPort and HDMI ports didn’t hamper my testing with the V-Core. My primary desktop rig uses a 49-inch WQHD monitor with native USB-C support, and it connected to the V-Core without issue at its native 240 Hz refresh rate with a Windows 11 PC and a Mac running macOS 27. I also tested the same monitor using the HDMI-to-USB-C and DisplayPort-to-USB-C adapters that I have on hand. Again, I had no issues with this setup.
The dock itself did get very hot; just as hot as the many aluminum-shelled Thunderbolt 5 docks I’ve tested. Although I didn’t experience any slowdowns or errors after extended use, I do wonder about heat soak with the plastic enclosure over time. The internal fan definitely helps, but it’s a concern that lingers at the back of my mind.
I tested the Orico TB5 across USB-C, DisplayPort, and HDMI connections without any performance issues or hiccups. Like the V-Core, the TB5 also includes an internal cooling fan.
Among recent Thunderbolt 5 docks we've tested, the V-Core was at the back of the pack in both sequential read and write speeds (5,371.96 MBps and 4,083.95 MBps, respectively). Orico’s TB5, on the other hand, landed in second place, behind the UGREEN Revodock MaxiDok in sequential reads (5,745.11 MBps), and led the pack in sequential writes (4,335.56 MBps).
When testing the 2.5 GbE LAN on both docks, both maxed out at around 2,300 Mbps using iPerf3, which is right in line with what we would expect after taking into account TCP/IP packet overhead.
The VectoTech V-Core and the Orico TB5 are similarly priced and feature a similar form factor, but Orico’s TB5 is by far the superior entry here. For starters, it just feels like a more premium product, with its aluminum enclosure versus the V-Core's plastic. And accessing the internal M.2 slot on the TB5 is much easier, requiring a simple tug on the magnetic access door, versus prying off the plastic cover on the V-Core, removing two screws, and then prying off the internal heatsink.
In other ways that matter to most people, the TB5 includes native DisplayPort and HDMI connections for your monitors. The V-Core is USB only (necessitating a USB-C adapter for most monitors). And finally, while the V-Core was at the back of the pack in storage performance compared to its peers, the TB5 trended near the front.
Right now, the VectoTech V-Core is priced at $349 on Amazon , versus $399 for the Orico TB5. A $50 premium is certainly enough to consider going with the cheaper option. But more and better ports, faster throughput, and a better, more premium design make the Orico worth paying extra for.
Brandon Hill Social Links Navigation Senior Editor Brandon Hill is a senior editor at Tom's Hardware. He has written about PC and Mac tech since the late 1990s with bylines at AnandTech, DailyTech, and Hot Hardware. When he is not consuming copious amounts of tech news, he can be found enjoying the NC mountains or the beach with his wife and two sons.
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Reference reading
- https://www.tomshardware.com/peripherals/docking-stations-hubs/SPONSORED_LINK_URL
- https://www.tomshardware.com/peripherals/docking-stations-hubs/testing-thunderbolt-5-docks-vectotech-v-core-vs-orico-tb5-thunderbolt-5-dock#main
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