A Thunderbolt 5 Docking Station usually sits quietly on a desk, handling displays, storage, and peripherals without giving users much information about what is happening. Pexar is taking a different approach with its new PexarBolt Ultra TBT5 Dock, which adds a 5-inch touchscreen designed to turn the dock itself into a control and monitoring center.
Pexar has launched the PexarBolt Ultra TBT5 Dock on Kickstarter, targeting professional creators and users who need high-speed connectivity across multiple devices. The 22-in-1 dock supports both macOS and Windows and uses Thunderbolt 5 to deliver up to 80 Gbps of bidirectional bandwidth. With Bandwidth Boost enabled, transmit bandwidth can reach up to 120 Gbps for display-heavy workloads.
The built-in 5-inch touch dashboard is the main difference between the PexarBolt and more conventional docking stations. It can display connection status, transfer activity, storage information, power readings on supported ports, temperature, and fan status. This gives users a quick way to check the dock without interrupting their work.
A precision metal dial is also included for navigating the interface. Pexar says its AI Status feature can allow users to approve or reject requests from supported AI coding agents directly through the dock.
For professional media workflows, the PexarBolt includes CFexpress Type B, SD UHS-II, and microSD UHS-II card readers. There is also a PCIe Gen 4 x2 M.2 NVMe slot, allowing users to install their own SSD for local storage or backups.
Display connectivity includes DisplayPort 2.1 or HDMI 2.1, along with two downstream Thunderbolt 5 ports. Depending on the configuration, the dock supports up to dual 8K 60 Hz displays or triple 4K 144 Hz displays. A 10GbE port provides high-speed networking for compatible networks and NAS devices.
The Thunderbolt 5 host port supports up to 140 W USB PD 3.1 charging for compatible laptops, while two front USB-C ports share up to 45 W for phones, tablets and other accessories.
Pexar has also fitted the dock with an active cooling system that monitors fan speed and directs airflow through an internal cooling path. The aluminium enclosure is designed to provide stability while helping dissipate heat during sustained workloads.
Wilson Chen, Founder of Pexar, said:
“We’re in an era where every device on your desk has a screen and a brain—except your dock. We built PexarBolt Ultra TBT5 Dock to close that gap. For the first time, every port, every transfer, every watt is visible, right where you work.”
The PexarBolt Ultra TBT5 Dock has also been named a 2026 IFA Innovation Awards Honoree in the Content Creation Technology category. The Kickstarter campaign launched on September 8 with an early-bird price of $479. Following the campaign, Pexar plans to sell the dock at an official retail price of $649.
PexarBolt Ultra TBT5 Dock Specifications
| Specification | PexarBolt Ultra TBT5 Dock |
|---|---|
| Type | Thunderbolt 5 Dock |
| Ports | 22-in-1 |
| Touchscreen | 5-inch Touch Control Dashboard |
| Host Interface | Thunderbolt 5 |
| Bandwidth | Up to 80 Gbps bidirectional |
| Bandwidth Boost | Up to 120 Gbps transmit |
| Networking | 10GbE |
| SSD Slot | M.2 NVMe, PCIe Gen 4 x2 |
| Card Readers | CFexpress Type B, SD UHS-II, microSD UHS-II |
| Display Output | DisplayPort 2.1 / HDMI 2.1 |
| Display Support | Up to 2× 8K 60Hz or 3× 4K 144Hz |
| Downstream Thunderbolt | 2× Thunderbolt 5 |
| Laptop Charging | Up to 140W USB PD 3.1 |
| Front USB-C Charging | Up to 45W shared |
| Cooling | Active cooling with fan monitoring |
| Operating Systems | macOS / Windows |
| Build | Aluminium |
| Kickstarter Price | $479 |
| Retail Price | $649 |
