Sonnet Echo 13 Review: The Dock That's Also a Blazing-Fast SSD
The quest for the ultimate one-cable desk setup is a journey many Mac users know well. You want a single connection that handles power, multiple peripherals, fast networking, and external storage without cluttering your workspace. Sonnet's new Echo 13 Thunderbolt 5 Dock enters the scene with a powerful and unique proposition: what if your dock wasn't just a hub, but also your primary high-speed work drive?
Sonnet sent over their new dock for me to test, and it’s packed with future-proof technology and one killer feature that sets it apart from nearly every other dock on the market. Let's break down if this is the all-in-one powerhouse your desk has been waiting for.
(Suggested Image Timestamp: 00:00 - A high-quality "hero shot" of the Sonnet Echo 13 fully connected on a desk, showcasing its central role.)
The Killer Combo: A Dock with a Built-in NVMe SSD
The most compelling feature of the Sonnet Echo 13 is its integrated NVMe SSD. Instead of just being a collection of ports, this dock is also a high-performance storage solution. You can purchase it with a pre-installed 1TB, 2TB, or 4TB Kingston NVMe SSD.
This is a brilliant move for a few key reasons:
Ultimate Convenience: It combines two essential desk accessories into one, reducing clutter.
Blazing Speed: The SSD connects via the internal Thunderbolt 5 pipeline, delivering incredible speeds that are perfect for video editing, music production, and other demanding tasks.
Cost-Effective: When you price out a high-end Thunderbolt dock and a separate high-speed external SSD, the Echo 13 often comes out as a more affordable all-in-one package.
(Suggested Image Timestamp: 08:37 - The graphic showing the built-in Kingston PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD, visually explaining the core feature.)
Future-Proof Performance & Compatibility
The Echo 13 is built on the Thunderbolt 5 standard, offering a massive 80Gbps of throughput. While you need a newer Mac (like an M4 Pro/Max model) to get the absolute peak speeds, the performance is stunning.
In my tests with an M4 Max Mac Studio, the internal 2TB SSD hit write speeds of ~4100 MB/s and read speeds of ~4900 MB/s. This is faster than the internal SSDs in most Macs and is more than enough to handle multiple streams of 6K and 8K video footage.
Crucially, the dock is fully backward compatible with Thunderbolt 4 and Thunderbolt 3. When connected to my M4 MacBook Air (a Thunderbolt 4 machine), it still delivered incredible speeds of around 3000 MB/s. It also performs exceptionally well at keeping cool, with a quiet internal fan that I never heard, even under heavy load.
(Suggested Image Timestamp: 01:27 - The speed test result on the M4 Max Mac Studio, showing the impressive ~4900 MB/s read speed.)
A Smart and Accessible Port Selection
Sonnet made some excellent choices with the port layout, especially on the front.
Front Ports:
1x Thunderbolt 5 Host Port (to computer, delivering 140W of power)
1x Downstream Thunderbolt 5 Port (for peripherals, delivering 60W of power)
1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) Type-A Port
1x UHS-II SD Card Slot
1x UHS-II MicroSD Card Slot
1x 3.5mm Headset Jack
Power Button & Status Lights
Having both the host port and an extra Thunderbolt port on the front is a fantastic design choice. It makes it incredibly easy to plug in your laptop or quickly connect another high-speed device like an external drive or camera.
Rear Ports:
3x USB Type-A Ports (two 10Gbps, one 5Gbps)
1x 2.5 GbE Ethernet Port
2x Downstream Thunderbolt 5 Ports (15W each)
1x DC Power Input
This gives you a total of four Thunderbolt ports, which is a generous amount of high-speed connectivity.
(Suggested Image Timestamp: 00:02 - A clear, head-on shot of the front ports, highlighting their accessibility and variety.)
The Trade-Offs: What's Missing?
While the Echo 13 is impressive, it's not without its compromises.
No Dedicated Display Ports: This is the biggest potential issue. The dock has no HDMI or DisplayPort outputs. To connect a monitor, you must use one of the Thunderbolt ports. If you're running two Apple Studio Displays, for example, you'll use up both rear Thunderbolt ports, leaving you with only the front-facing one for other high-speed peripherals.
Only 2.5 GbE Ethernet: For a premium, future-proof dock, a 2.5GbE port feels a bit dated. A 10GbE port would have been a better fit for users connecting to high-speed NAS systems.
The Power Brick: The dock requires a massive external power brick, which can be a challenge for cable management and maintaining a minimalist desk.
Build Materials: The enclosure is primarily plastic. While it feels sturdy, it lacks the premium all-metal feel of some of Sonnet's older docks.
(Suggested Image Timestamp: 07:43 - The shot showing the dock next to its large external power brick, illustrating the size.)
Final Verdict: The Ultimate All-in-One?
The Sonnet Echo 13 Thunderbolt 5 Dock is a unique and powerful solution for a specific type of user.
This dock is perfect for you if:
You have a MacBook or Mac Mini with limited internal storage and need a fast, integrated drive to work from.
You want to future-proof your setup with the latest Thunderbolt 5 technology.
Your workflow benefits from having a massive amount of high-speed ports, particularly the three extra Thunderbolt ports.
This dock brilliantly solves the problem of needing both a powerful hub and a fast external drive. It's a fantastic, high-performance, and forward-thinking product that I can easily recommend, as long as you can live without a dedicated display port.
Interested in picking one up? You can find the Sonnet Echo 13 SSD Dock on Sonnet's website or check for availability on Amazon (affiliate link). Got any questions? Drop them in the comments below!
