A docking station might sound like an unassuming piece of peripheral equipment, but if you work with a laptop daily, you'll quickly realize what a huge difference it makes. Plugging in a single cable and instantly having access to multiple screens, a stable internet connection, and all your peripherals — that's the idea behind the HP Thunderbolt Dock 280W G4. But is this €299 model truly worth its price? We'll look at the specs, what users
think of it, and how its price compares to other providers.
What exactly does the HP G4 280W do?
The HP Thunderbolt Dock G4 280W is a docking station that connects to your laptop via a single Thunderbolt 4 or USB-C cable. From that single cable, it handles everything else: multiple monitors, peripherals, network, and charging your laptop. That sounds simple, but the details determine whether such a dock is good or great.
What sets this model apart from cheaper alternatives is primarily its charging capacity. While a standard dock provides 65 or 100 watts, the G4 280W delivers up to 230 watts to the laptop. This is relevant if you use a powerful business laptop or workstation that simply requires more power.
Specifications at a glance
- Connection: Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C (combo cable included)
- Laptop charging capacity: up to 230W
- Monitor support: maximum 4x 4K at 60Hz
- Video outputs: 2x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x HDMI 2.0
- Network: 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet
- USB ports: 4x USB-A 3.2, 1x USB-C 3.2, 1x Thunderbolt 4 USB-C
- Security: HP Sure Start, Intel vPro support
- Dimensions: 98 x 98 x 68 mm, 760 grams
- Compatibility: Windows, macOS, ChromeOS via USB-C
Who is this suitable for — and who is it not?
The G4 280W is clearly aimed at business users
and people who work intensively with their laptops daily. Think of home workers who connect and disconnect their laptop from a fixed setup every day, IT managers who need multiple screens, or professionals with an HP ZBook or similar powerful laptop.
For someone who occasionally connects a second screen and charges their laptop anyway, this model is probably overkill. The 120W variant of the same G4 series offers many of the same connections for a lower price and is more than sufficient for most ordinary laptops.
There are also a few things this dock does not have: no 3.5mm audio jack and no memory card reader. Anyone who wants to connect a headset or regularly reads SD cards will have to do so via the laptop itself or via a separate hub.
Also important to know: are you using a MacBo
ok with an M1 or M2 chip? Then this docking station supports a maximum of one external display via that Mac, regardless of the number of available video ports. This is a limitation of Apple's hardware, not of the dock itself.
What do users say?
On Coolblue, the G4 280W scores an average of 7.2 based on six reviews. The most positive user is enthusiastic about the stability with multiple 4K screens and calls it an improvement over a more expensive alternative they previously had. Another user emphasizes that the dock works excellently with their MacBook Pro M2, although it took some trial and error to figure out which monitor worked best via which port.
There is also criticism. One user experiences issues with flickering and black screens during intensive use with multiple monitors and finds the price disproportionate to the performance. This is a known concern with Thunderbolt docks in combination with certain GPU configurations: your laptop's graphics card partly determines how many external screens can run stably.
On Bol.com, there is similar feedback. A user rightly points out that the 280W version is mainly useful if you use an HP laptop with the included combo cable. With other laptops, the dock charges at the maximum wattage that laptop accepts, which for many models is just 65 or 100 watts.
Price comparison: where to buy it?
The HP Thunderbolt Dock 280W G4 is available at several Dutch webshops, although prices and availability vary. Here's an overview based on current information:
| Store | Price | Delivery | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| chomi. | €329.00 | Ordered before 5 PM, delivered tomorrow | Includes combo cable, free delivery from €25 |
| Bol.com | €360.73 | Varies per seller. Usually delivered tomorrow | Prices vary per provider |
| RedShell.nl | €369.05 | Delivered within 1 business day | Only 3 pieces available at the time of writing |
| NBB.com | €431.97 | Delivered within 5-10 business days | Not available at the time of writing |
| Paradigit | — | — | No longer in assortment |
Prices are indicative and may change. Always check the current price on the respective website. For a current overview of all providers, you can consult the Tweakers Pricewatch.
What you need to know before buying
A few practical things to consider:
- Check if your laptop has a Thunderbolt 4 or DisplayPort Alt Mode USB-C port. Not every USB-C port transmits a video signal.
- Do you want to connect three or four screens? Your laptop must also be able to handle that. Many laptops support a maximum of two external displays via USB-C, regardless of the dock.
- The high charging capacity of 230W is only useful if your laptop also accepts it. HP ZBook models and similar workstations do; most consumer laptops do not.
- There is a fan in the device. It can become audible under load.
Is it worth it?
If you have a powerful laptop that benefits from high charging power, and you want a stable multi-monitor setup without hassle, then the HP Thunderbolt Dock 280W G4 is a solid choice. The build is sturdy, the connections are complete, and the Thunderbolt 4 connection provides sufficient bandwidth.
Do you have a regular consumer laptop and connect a maximum of two screens? Then the 120W variant is probably cheaper and sufficient. And if you have a MacBook with an M-chip, it's wise to check in advance how many external screens your specific model supports.
Are you ready? The HP Thunderbolt Dock 280W G4 is available at chomi. for €329.00, including combo cable and fast delivery.