Apple hasn't sold a notebook docking solution since the Duo Dock for the PowerBook Duo. However, a new campaign on Kickstarter has designed a new dock that can be used with any current MacBook Pro model, including the new Retina units.

The ZenDock connects to the Thunderbolt, USB, Gigabit Ethernet, and FireWire ports, while leaving a clever gap for the MagSafe power adapter to slide through. A single cable connects to a mountable base equipped for desktop accessories to be permanently connected to.

Zendock

Our team of 4 has been developing ZenDock for just a year. About 4 months ago we tested the concept and the response was overwhelming and so we dove head first into creating our vision. We set out to build ZenDock with 2 design principles in mind. First was to build an elegant solution that would seamlessly integrate with your MacBook. Second was to build a device that just works, yet doesn't get in your way. Both versions always leave at least one USB, SD and headphone port accessible right on your Macbook, while allowing more permanent devices to be connected to the base. The ZenDock is CNC milled from solid blocks of ultra high quality T6061 aluminum, bead blasted and anodized to beautifully match your MacBook.

The ZenDock is available to Kickstarter backers starting at $109 for a limited early-bird backing price, though the company expects to sell the dock for $179 when it hits retail shelves. ZenDock expects to ship to backers in October of this year.

There are a number of Thunderbolt docks on the market that perform a similar function, but they are significantly more expensive -- though they do provide much more functionality. Sonnet has announced a dock with an internal drive bay and optical drive starting at $400, while Matrox and Belkin have announced their own Thunderbolt docking stations.

Top Rated Comments

ColeFlournoy Avatar
160 months ago
A Public Service Announcement from the ZenBoxx Founder.

Hello MacRumor people!

I’m the creator of ZenDock. It has come to my attention some people may have been on psychedelic drugs while viewing our Kickstarter page. Please allow me to clear the air:

To my knowledge:


* ZenDock is the only dock for the Macbook Pro and Retina that allows you to actually dock with a single connection since it also holds your Magsafe power adapter.

* ZenDock is the only dock for the Macbook Pro and Retina designed to allow you to completely clear the mess of wires from your desk, by mounting the dock behind your desk.

* ZenDock Retina can definitely support multiple monitors. In fact, I often use 4 monitors (one monitor connected via mini DisplayPort on the ZenDock Retina base, one connected through the ZenDock Retina Thunderbolt pass through, one via HDMI on the other side of the Macbook, and the Macbook screen itself).

* Many consider Zendock to have a much higher build quality and to better match the Macbook than any other similar dock due to it's high quality CNC'ed aluminum construction.

* Removing the ZenDock is easy, and does NOT require messing with any RJ-45 latch or other.

* The ZenDock Pro includes Firewire and Ethernet.

* The ZenDock Retina can support Firewire by using the Apple Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter, which you probably already own if you have a Macbook Retina and a Firewire harddrive that you use.

* The ZenBoxx team found that many users only wanted to connect a mini-display port monitor to the Zendock Retina base, and decided to convert that base port to mini-display port only since the cost savings would allow the ZenDock to be priced significantly less than any other Thunderbolt docks available.

* The ZenDock Retina optionally includes Ethernet via USB 3.0 (therefore not tying up the thunderbolt pass through).

* Zendock does not require an external power brick, and considered more portable than similar solutions.

* Versus one of the only close competitors with a product currently available the ZenDock has more USB 3.0 ports, allows you to connect twice as many monitors, doesn't require a power brick, matches its ability with audio ports, still has more USB 3.0 ports AFTER attaching the optional Ethernet adapter, and costs close to half as much if you get the Kick Starter special available at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/coleflournoy/zendock-the-best-dock-for-your-macbook?ref=live

* The Zenboxx team is better at making websites then videos.

* The Zenboxx team thought they would be cool by taking odd camera shots.

* Unbenounced to Zenboxx, odd camera shots were in fact - not cool.

* Luckily the product kicks ass, and is currently the number 2 most popular Kickstarter project in it's category.


All in good fun people, I hope you enjoy the ZenDock, we truly think it’s the best solution out there for most (but not all) people.

For more info see our website at www.ZenBoxx.com or if you want to get the ZenDock cheaper and faster than anybody else, you can pre-order it for $139 on the Kickstarter page http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/coleflournoy/zendock-the-best-dock-for-your-macbook/
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rdas7 Avatar
160 months ago
The Retina one takes out two thunderbolt ports and only gives you one? It should at least include an ethernet port to make up for this

No, worse: it takes up 2 Thunderbolt ports and gives you one DISPLAYPORT. That's a major oversight.

With those Sonnet or Belkin Thunderbolt solutions you don't even really need a dock. You can just connect the one Thunderbolt cable, and you're done —*leaving all the ports on your laptop free.

Looks like they somewhat missed the point of Thunderbolt :/
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
roland.g Avatar
160 months ago
As did this (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1251721352/w1pps-the-cord-integration-solution-for-apple-macb). Not identical but in the same ballpark.

That video was painful.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AbSoluTc Avatar
160 months ago
Nice until Apple refreshes the ports and changes the entire getup rendering the device useless.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Repo Avatar
160 months ago
Nice until Apple refreshes the ports and changes the entire getup rendering the device useless.

It's pretty much the same for any Windows laptop.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gatearray Avatar
160 months ago
No, worse: it takes up 2 Thunderbolt ports and gives you one DISPLAYPORT. That's a major oversight.

With those Sonnet or Belkin Thunderbolt solutions you don't even really need a dock. You can just connect the one Thunderbolt cable, and you're done —*leaving all the ports on your laptop free.

Looks like they somewhat missed the point of Thunderbolt :/
you hit the nail on the head, thank you for posting!

many people miss the point of Thuderbolt, it acts a lot like the PCIe slots on a Mac Pro, a direct injection into the brain of your computer. it's backwards compatible with all previous connectors like FW and USB, and has plenty of thoughput to handle multiple instances of each, it's wonderful tech that often gets a bad rap from those without a clue! :eek:

anyway, those belkin/sonnet docks you mentioned take a single cable and in the end, turn it into what what looks like the back of a Mac Mini. :)
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Lower Logo Feature 1

iPhone 17 Pro Coming Soon With These 14 New Features

Monday June 30, 2025 1:08 pm PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are less than three months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max in September this year. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models:Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an...
Apple Watch Ultra Night Mode Screen

Apple Watch Ultra 3 Launching Later This Year With Two Key Upgrades

Wednesday July 2, 2025 1:13 pm PDT by
The long wait for an Apple Watch Ultra 3 appears to be nearly over, and it is rumored to feature both satellite connectivity and 5G support. Apple Watch Ultra's existing Night Mode In his latest Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is on track to launch this year with "significant" new features, including satellite connectivity, which would let you...
iPhone 17 Pro Lower Logo Magsafe

iPhone 17 Pro's New MagSafe Design Revealed in Leaked Photo

Wednesday July 2, 2025 8:37 am PDT by
The upcoming iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are rumored to have a slightly different MagSafe magnet layout compared to existing iPhone models, and a leaked photo has offered a closer look at the supposed new design. The leaker Majin Bu today shared a photo of alleged MagSafe magnet arrays for third-party iPhone 17 Pro cases. On existing iPhone models with MagSafe, the magnets form a...
Wi Fi WiFi General Feature

iOS 26 Adds a Useful New Wi-Fi Feature to Your iPhone

Wednesday July 2, 2025 6:36 am PDT by
iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 add a smaller yet useful Wi-Fi feature to iPhones and iPads. As spotted by Creative Strategies analyst Max Weinbach, sign-in details for captive Wi-Fi networks are now synced across iPhones and iPads running iOS 26 and iPadOS 26. For example, while Weinbach was staying at a Hilton hotel, his iPhone prompted him to fill in Wi-Fi details from his iPad that was already...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro Max Battery Capacity Leaked

Thursday July 3, 2025 5:40 am PDT by
The iPhone 17 Pro Max will feature the biggest ever battery in an iPhone, according to the Weibo leaker known as "Instant Digital." In a new post, the leaker listed the battery capacities of the iPhone 11 Pro Max through to the iPhone 16 Pro Max, and added that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will feature a battery capacity of 5,000mAh: iPhone 11 Pro Max: 3,969mAh iPhone 12 Pro Max: 3,687mAh...
iOS 18

Apple Releases Second iOS 18.6 Public Beta

Tuesday July 1, 2025 10:19 am PDT by
Apple today seeded the second betas of upcoming iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6 updates to public beta testers, with the betas coming just a day after Apple provided the betas to developers. Apple has also released a second beta of macOS Sequoia 15.6. Testers who have signed up for beta updates through Apple's beta site can download iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6 from the Settings app on a compatible...
maxresdefault

New MacBook With A18 Pro Chip Spotted in Apple Code

Monday June 30, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
Apple is developing a MacBook with the A18 Pro chip, according to findings in backend code uncovered by MacRumors. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Earlier today, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple is planning to launch a low-cost MacBook powered by an iPhone chip. The machine is expected to feature a 13-inch display, the A18 Pro chip, and color options...
airpods pro 2

AirPods Pro 3 to Help Maintain Apple's Place in Earbud Market Amid Increasing Low-Cost Competition

Thursday July 3, 2025 7:25 am PDT by
Apple's position as the dominant force in the global true wireless stereo (TWS) earbud market is expected to continue through 2025, according to Counterpoint Research. The forecast outlines a 3% year-over-year increase in global TWS unit shipments for 2025, signaling a transition from rapid growth to a more mature phase for the category. While Apple is set to remain the leading brand by...