Sabrent Dual Docking Station Review

Introduction

If you've upgraded your laptop or desktop and have a couple of orphaned NVMe M.2 SSDs gathering dust, the Sabrent Dual Docking Station offers an elegant solution. This isn't just another external drive enclosure—it's a dual-bay docking station that transforms two bare PCIe NVMe drives into hot-swappable USB storage without any tools or permanent installation. Whether you're a content creator shuffling project files between machines, a data hoarder organizing your media library, or simply looking to breathe new life into old hardware, this dock sits in a unique spot: it's more versatile than single-drive enclosures but more affordable than full-featured Thunderbolt hubs.

The market for NVMe accessories has exploded alongside the format's popularity, and Sabrent has carved out a reputation for reliable, no-nonsense storage solutions. This dual-bay dock competes directly with offerings from UGREEN, Acasis, and SSK, but distinguishes itself through build quality and the convenience of handling two drives simultaneously. Let's explore whether this docking station deserves a permanent spot on your desk.

Design & Build Quality

The Sabrent Dual Docking Station opts for a tool-free design that prioritizes convenience over premium aesthetics. The housing is constructed from durable plastic rather than aluminum, which keeps costs down but doesn't feel cheap in hand. The matte black finish resists fingerprints, and the overall footprint is compact enough to tuck behind a monitor or alongside your laptop dock.

What matters most in any NVMe enclosure is the bridge chip—the controller that translates PCIe signals into USB. Sabrent typically uses reliable chipsets from manufacturers like Realtek or ASMedia (specific chip varies by production batch), which ensures stable connections and consistent transfer speeds. This matters because cheap, off-brand bridge chips can cause random disconnections, file corruption, or failure to recognize certain drives. While Sabrent doesn't always publicize the exact chip model, their track record suggests quality components.

The dual-bay design features spring-loaded drive slots that grip your M.2 SSD securely without screws. You simply slide the drive into the 2280 slot (the standard length for most consumer NVMe drives), and the mechanism locks it in place. Each bay has an LED indicator—blue when connected, blinking during data transfer—which provides helpful visual feedback. The dock supports both M.2 2280, 2260, 2242, and 2230 form factors, though shorter drives may require spacers (not included) for a snug fit.

One thoughtful detail: the drives install horizontally rather than vertically, which improves thermal contact with the dock's built-in heat spreader. Speaking of which, the dock includes a passive aluminum heat spreader that makes contact with both drives, helping dissipate heat during sustained transfers. While this isn't active cooling with a fan, it's sufficient for typical use cases. The unit draws power through the included USB-C cable—no separate power adapter required, though that does mean both drives share the available bus-powered wattage (around 4.5W total), which could be limiting for power-hungry Gen4 drives under extreme loads.

The included USB-C to USB-A cable is adequate at roughly 12 inches, though you'll want a longer cable or a USB-C to USB-C option if you're connecting to modern laptops positioned away from your monitor. Some users report the cable feels stiff, which can put strain on laptop ports—consider a right-angle adapter if this concerns you.

Performance & Efficiency

The Sabrent Dual Docking Station connects via USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps), which translates to a theoretical maximum of around 1,250 MB/s in ideal conditions. In real-world testing scenarios, users typically see sustained read/write speeds between 900–1,050 MB/s depending on the SSD used, which represents the practical limit of the USB interface rather than the drives themselves.

For context: a modern PCIe Gen3 NVMe drive can hit 3,500 MB/s internally, while Gen4 drives exceed 7,000 MB/s. The USB 3.2 Gen 2 interface becomes the bottleneck here—but that's true of virtually every USB-based NVMe enclosure under $100. If you need faster speeds, you'd need to step up to a Thunderbolt 3/4 enclosure (40Gbps), which costs 3–4× more and only works with Thunderbolt-equipped machines.

That said, 1GB/s is still excellent for external storage. You can transfer a 50GB 4K video file in under a minute, and it's far faster than SATA SSDs over USB (typically capped at 550 MB/s) or any mechanical hard drive. The dual-bay design means you can access two drives simultaneously—useful for comparing footage libraries or running separate work/personal drives without swapping enclosures.

Thermal performance is respectable for a passively cooled design. The aluminum heat spreader keeps drive temperatures in check during moderate use, typically staying below 60°C during sustained transfers. However, if you're hammering a high-performance Gen4 drive with continuous writes (think large video editing projects or extended file transfers), temperatures can climb toward 70°C, at which point some drives may thermal throttle (reduce speed to prevent overheating). This is less about the dock's design and more about the physics of cooling two drives with passive airflow. For typical use—copying files, accessing archives, occasional backups—thermals are never an issue.

One efficiency note: the dock does not support RAID configurations or drive spanning. Each drive appears as a separate volume in your operating system. Some competing dual-bay docks offer hardware RAID 0 (striping for speed) or RAID 1 (mirroring for redundancy), but Sabrent keeps this model simple. If you need RAID, you'll need to configure it through software on your host machine.

Compatibility & Fit

The Sabrent Dual Docking Station supports any PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD (not SATA M.2—make sure your drive has a single notch/B+M key or M-key). It works with drives from all major manufacturers: Samsung, WD, Crucial, SK Hynix, Kingston, etc. Both Gen3 and Gen4 drives function perfectly, though Gen4 drives will be capped by the USB 3.2 Gen 2 interface.

For PC Users:
Plug-and-play on Windows 10/11 and Linux. The dock appears immediately in File Explorer as removable storage. No drivers required. The USB-C connector works with both USB-C and USB-A ports (cable included for USB-A), though you'll get the full 10Gbps speed only on USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports or better. Older USB 3.0/3.1 Gen 1 ports will cap at 5Gbps (~500 MB/s).

For Mac Users:
Compatible with macOS 10.13+ and works beautifully with Apple Silicon Macs (M1/M2/M3/M4). However, note that this is a USB-C dock, not Thunderbolt, so it won't achieve Thunderbolt speeds even on Macs with Thunderbolt ports. It will work perfectly fine when plugged into a Thunderbolt/USB4 port, but you're still limited to 10Gbps USB speeds. If you need to format drives for Time Machine or APFS, that works seamlessly.

PS5 Compatibility:
This is crucial to understand: This docking station cannot be used to expand your PS5's internal storage or play PS5 games directly from it. The PS5's expansion slot requires a bare M.2 drive installed internally with a heatsink. However, you can use this dock with a PS5 to:

• Store and play PS4 games from the external USB drive

• Archive PS5 game data for later transfer back to internal storage

• Manage media files and screenshots

If you're looking to expand PS5 game storage, you need an M.2 heatsink that fits inside the console (height clearance under 11.25mm), not an external enclosure.

Other Compatibility Notes:
The dock works with USB-C equipped tablets and Android devices that support USB OTG (On-The-Go), though power draw may be an issue for battery-powered devices with two drives connected. The dock does not support TRIM command passthrough over USB, which means SSDs won't maintain optimal performance over very long-term use, but this is a limitation of all USB-connected SSDs, not specific to Sabrent.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Pros:

• Tool-free installation makes drive swapping incredibly fast—perfect for rotating project libraries or testing drives

• Dual-bay design eliminates the need for multiple single-drive enclosures cluttering your desk

• Solid transfer speeds (~1GB/s) that fully saturate the USB 3.2 Gen 2 interface

• Passive cooling adequate for typical workloads without fan noise

• Compact footprint and low-profile design fits easily on crowded desks

• Bus-powered operation means no bulky AC adapter to manage

• Wide OS compatibility including Windows, macOS, Linux, and limited console support

• Supports multiple M.2 lengths from 2230 to 2280 without adapters (for most use cases)

Cons:

• Plastic construction feels less premium than aluminum alternatives, though it's functionally sound

• No active cooling means hot Gen4 drives may throttle during sustained heavy workloads

• Short included cable (~12 inches) may require purchasing longer or right-angle options

• No RAID support for users who want hardware-level drive configurations

• Gen4 drives don't reach their full potential due to USB bandwidth limitations (but this applies to all USB enclosures)

• LED indicators are bright and may be distracting in dark environments (no way to disable)

• No TRIM support over USB (standard limitation, affects long-term SSD health)

Verdict: Should You Buy It?

The Sabrent Dual Docking Station occupies a sweet spot for anyone with multiple spare NVMe drives who wants fast, convenient external storage without the complexity of permanent enclosures. At its typical price point (usually $40–60), it delivers excellent value for its core mission: turning old or spare SSDs into hot-swappable USB storage.

Buy this if:

• You have two or more NVMe SSDs from upgrades or old builds sitting unused

• You frequently move large files between machines and want speeds faster than SATA SSDs

• You need separate work/personal/project drives accessible at a moment's notice

• You value tool-free convenience and don't want to fuss with tiny screws

• You're working with content creation projects (video editing, photography, music production) that demand fast external storage

• You want a desk-friendly form factor without sacrificing dual-drive access

Skip this if:

• You need absolute maximum speeds and have a Thunderbolt-equipped machine (invest in a Thunderbolt 3/4 enclosure instead)

• You require RAID configurations for redundancy or performance striping

• You're looking for an internal PS5 expansion solution (you need a heatsink, not an enclosure)

• You only have one spare drive—a single-bay enclosure would save you money

• You prioritize premium aesthetics and want an all-aluminum build

Compared to competitors, the Sabrent holds up well. UGREEN's dual-bay docks offer similar functionality at comparable prices but sometimes use less reliable bridge chips. Acasis aluminum enclosures feel more premium but typically cost 30–40% more and offer only marginal thermal improvements. SSK plastic docks undercut Sabrent on price but have spotty compatibility reports. Sabrent strikes the best balance of reliability, performance, and value in this category.

For most users, this dock represents a practical, reliable way to maximize the value of hardware you already own. It's not flashy, it's not the fastest option on the market, and it won't win design awards—but it works consistently, keeps your drives cool enough, and makes swapping storage as simple as changing a USB drive. That's exactly what a good docking station should do.