The Dell Pro Thunderbolt 5 Smart Dock SD25TB5 is the ultimate power hub for modern professionals. From seamless remote management to expansive multi-display setups and pro-level connectivity, this dock means business.
Although this round of testing used an Apple-first setup (MacBook Air M4) and we did not have Dell laptops or monitors on the bench this time, the dock behaved like a premium unit: plug and play, stable HDR at 4K/144 Hz, fast external storage, and very quiet cooling.
With docks, the goal is to forget they exist, and this one disappears in daily use. It often felt like it was only idling at roughly 50 percent, never breaking a sweat. That impression may be influenced by today’s limited Thunderbolt 5 ecosystem, since most of our stress testing ran over TB4 links. Even so, it is an easy recommendation for non-Dell systems.
Pairing it with Dell hardware adds useful extras such as unified control and updates through Dell Display and Peripheral Manager, plus fleet features like Intel AMT and PXE Boot via the Device Management Console.
Best For
- Quick and efficient multi-display installations with up to 4x 4K@120Hz
- IT management across a vast enterprise
- Dell Commercial notebooks with USB-C Power Delivery 3.1 EPR, up to 300W
- Workflows needing plenty of connectivity options
Considerations
- Non-Dell laptops (with USB-C PD 3.1 EPR) get 240W Power Delivery
- The massive power brick occupies precious workstation space
- Several Dell-computer-only features
- The power button is unresponsive while using Mac-based laptops
Our Verdict
Dell’s SD25TB5 dock is the most convenient way to future-proof your Thunderbolt workstation by adopting Thunderbolt 5.
While it may be overkill for everyday use or modest workstations, the dock will feel most at home in hectic office environments with dynamic workloads.
With support for multiple high-resolution monitors, super-quick data transfers, an unmatched 300W Power Delivery, and several tools for IT managers, this dock is equipped to handle any professional-grade workflow.
One may rightfully argue that these are largely Thunderbolt 5 specifications, but the Dell Pro Thunderbolt 5 SD25TB5 combines this into a dock with plentiful ports and a thoughtful design that enables system administrators to harmonize Dell devices into a seamless environment.
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Table of Contents
What’s in the Box
The Dell SD25TB5 comes in a modest box that just has the Dell logo and no marketing buzzwords adorning the box.
Here is what’s inside.
- SD25TB5 Dock
- Power adapter (330W)
- Power Cord
- Quick Start Guide and other documentation.
The dock was wrapped in a fabric bag and neatly placed in the corrugated container beside the adapter.
At first, it looked like Dell had shipped us two docks instead of one. But on closer examination, we realized that the look-alike device was the SD25TB5’s power brick, which is about the same shape and size as the dock.
SD25TB5 Design and Build
The SD25TB5 may have a plastic chassis, but it feels sturdy and well-finished, with clean lines and no rough seams or gaps that catch and retain dust. Moreover, we didn’t feel any flex on the side or top panel while pushing the power button multiple times.
But the standout design feature, though, is the clever bottom groove that lets you tuck away the attached host cable, allowing you to switch its orientation. Depending on whether you’re left-handed or right-handed, you can place the dock on either side and keep your workspace free of cable clutter.
Top Panel
The top panel is home to the power button that supports Dell’s Dock Power Button Sync. Dell allows you to configure the dock’s power button to mimic the action of the power button on compatible laptops.
Unfortunately, this feature doesn’t work with Mac-based laptops. In fact, the button was unresponsive and did nothing when clicked repeatedly during testing.
Front Panel
The front panel has two ports that provide convenient connectivity for USB peripherals. You get two USB ports, a USB-A and a USB-C, 10Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 data-only ports. The USB-A port also supports PowerShare, allowing you to charge/power USB devices without powering your computer.
Back Panel
Clearly, the business end of the dock is where you’ll find the bulk of the connectivity ports. The rear panel has the following ports.
- 2x Thunderbolt 5
- 1x HDMI v2.1
- 2x DisplayPort v2.1
- 3x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps with PowerShare
- 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 Alt Mode DisplayPort v2.1
- 1x 2.5GbE Ethernet
Base Panel
The dock itself has a compact footprint and doesn’t take up much desk space. However, if your workspace is tight, we recommend using the 100x100mm VESA mounting holes to tuck it neatly out of the way, make room for its surprisingly large power brick, which stands out compared to most docks in its class.
Setup and Real-World Usage Insights
After the unboxing, we got right down to testing the Dell SD25TB5. We were using an M4 MacBook Air to connect to the dock. We were ready once we hooked up a 4K gaming monitor and our trusted OWC Envoy Pro TB3 SSD (Read full review), but not before charging our phone via the USB-A port on the front panel which features Dell PowerShare.
Right off the bat, things just worked! The M4 Mac instantly detected the dock and the attached SSD and monitor. There was no hassle of tinkering with settings, tweaking devices, or installing drivers.
Everything was stable, and there were no disconnects, allowing us to proceed with testing the dock.
Power Delivery
The Dell SD25TB5 is the IT equivalent of a power station. It delivers up to 300W to Dell Commercial Notebooks and 240W to non-Dell laptops that support USB PD 3.1 EPR (Extended Power Range), inluding Dell’s own machines. On the M4 MacBook Air, we measured 96W of power available through the dock, obviously a laptop limitation.
Most laptops in 2025 still rely on USB PD 3.0 or PD 3.1, which caps maximum power delivery at around 100W. This makes the SD25TB5 an excellent solution for handling a variety of power needs across different devices.
Interestingly, the Dell XPS 15 9530 is one of the few laptops that supports USB PD 3.1 EPR. However, its Embedded Controller (EC) limits negotiated power to 130W, even when connected to a high-capacity dock. Nonetheless, this points to the future of high-power USB-C charging, and the Dell Pro Thunderbolt 5 SD25TB5 is a perfect way to get ahead of the curve.
Displays and Monitors
We connected a 4K monitor running at a 144Hz refresh rate. And unlike Dell’s WD22TB4 Thunderbolt 4 dock, this one had no trouble displaying content in 10-bit HDR running at 4K@144Hz.
It worked like a charm right out of the box and remains stable as we write this review.
The dock has one HDMI v2.1, two DisplayPort v2.1, and Thunderbolt 5. So setting up a multi-display workstation is easy. And because the dock uses Thunderbolt 5 natively, handling high-resolution displays connected in a daisy chain is equally convenient.
Here are some common monitor configurations you won’t have a problem installing using Thunderbolt 5 and DisplayPort v2.1 via the dock.
- 1x 8K(7680×4320) at 60Hz
- 3x 4K(3840×2160) at 120Hz
- 4x 4K(3840×2160) at 120Hz
- 2x 6K(6144×3456) at 60Hz
External SSD
We ran the Blackmagic Disk Speed Test to compare the SSD’s performance with and without the dock. While testing the speed through the dock, the 4K 144hz HRD monitor was also connected and using some of host connector’s bandwidth.
Read speeds were nearly identical; in fact, the SSD was slightly faster through the dock.
Write speeds, however, told a different story, dropping by about 20% when connected via the dock instead of directly to the laptop.
The read and write speeds of the SSD, while connected to the dock, were 2528 MB/s and 1351 MB/s, respectively.
Fan Noise
With a simple setup, one monitor, and a Thunderbolt 3 SSD, we tried to increase the dock’s stress. After 30 minutes of sustained load, the fan kicked in, but barely made a sound.
The fan spun briefly and faded away moments later, remaining quiet, efficient, and delivering effortless performance. The dock stayed cool to the touch throughout, never breaking a sweat or showing signs of strain.
It’s the kind of silent reliability you want in a studio, editing suite, or focused workspace where performance matters, but noise isn’t an option.
Features and Performance
The SD25TB5 is a godsend for IT managers and network administrators who need remote access to the device for efficient management. The dock features plenty of tools you can use via Dell’s proprietary Dell Device Management Console, giving you access to a host of features on Dell devices.
- Intel AMT allows admins to remotely access/update/recover select Intel vPro-based computers over a Thunderbolt connection.
- MAC address Passthrough allows the dock to use your computer’s MAC address rather than list its own.
- PXE Boot enables computers to boot over a network rather than a local disk.
- Wake On LAN lets you wake your computer from sleep or shutdown mode by sending a request over a network.
Dell Device Management Console makes it convenient for IT administrators to control and configure systems remotely. More importantly, it even lets them download and deploy firmware updates on compatible (read Dell) devices across the enterprise.
And to conveniently manage the SD25TB5, Dell includes (among others) its proprietary Dell Display and Peripheral Manager (DDPM). It’s a software that allows admins to configure and tweak all Dell devices (monitors, desktops, laptops, docks, and such) via a single platform.
I used it in the past and had a good experience with the screen splitting, but this time, we didn’t have a Dell Monitor on premises to fully showcase the DDPM features.
Beyond its device management tools, the dock also packs in both digital and physical security features.
For physical protection, Dell includes a Kensington lock slot and a Noble Wedge security slot on the side panel, just below the fan vents.
On the digital front, Dell’s SD25TB5 dock features Kernel DMA protection that prevents Direct Memory Access-type attacks from unauthorized users targeting your data.
Conclusion
The Dell Pro Thunderbolt 5 SD25TB5 dock is a vital tool for professionals looking to multitask at a work desk equipped to handle demanding workloads.
We love how easy it is to install and that works hassle-free right out of the box. Even in a mid-range setup working over sustained load, the fans were quiet and delivered efficient cooling.
What we are not a crazy about its quirks which make several feature incompatible when you use the dock with computers other than compatible Dell PCs.
