M1 Air to Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Pro to Apple Thunderbolt Display

[ThunderRobot]

I have an M1 Air arriving soon and I already have an Apple Thunderbolt Display. I have the Apple thunderbolt 2 to 3 dongle, so I'm reasonably sure that plugging it in to the Air directly will work.

What I'd like to know is if I plug the Thunderbolt Display into a Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Pro and then plug that into the Air, will it work (including the speakers, mic, webcam and USB2 and FW ports on the display) and will it provide power to the Air with a single cable?

Eventually I'll probably replace the Thunderbolt Display, but for now it it feels like this would give me everything I want as well as the option to swap out the TB Display with a different TB, USB-C or DP monitor in future.

In theory it should work, but I'd love to hear from anyone who has actually done it before I spend some extra cash.

 

[xraydoc]

I have an M1 Air arriving soon and I already have an Apple Thunderbolt Display. I have the Apple thunderbolt 2 to 3 dongle, so I'm reasonably sure that plugging it in to the Air directly will work.

What I'd like to know is if I plug the Thunderbolt Display into a Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Pro and then plug that into the Air, will it work (including the speakers, mic, webcam and USB2 and FW ports on the display) and will it provide power to the Air with a single cable?

Eventually I'll probably replace the Thunderbolt Display, but for now it it feels like this would give me everything I want as well as the option to swap out the TB Display with a different TB, USB-C or DP monitor in future.

In theory it should work, but I'd love to hear from anyone who has actually done it before I spend some extra cash.

I believe it'll all work EXCEPT the power. The Apple Thunderbolt Display will not provide power to the laptop (except the old pre-USB-C MagSafe MacBooks), so you'll need to have a separate cable for power plugged in to the other USB-C/Thunderbolt port.

Edit: misread your original post. If you're going through a thunderbolt dock that also provides downstream power, then I don't see why it wouldn't work. You should be good to go.

 

[ThunderRobot]

If you're going through a thunderbolt dock that also provides downstream power, then I don't see why it wouldn't work. You should be good to go.

Thanks. I agree that I can't see why it wouldn't. But before spending the money, I'd love just one person to say they have tried it and it does work. But I think this specific use case is so narrow that I'm probably going to have to wait until the Air arrives, then buy the dock and test it, hoping I can return it if it doesn't work.

 

[xraydoc]

Thanks. I agree that I can't see why it wouldn't. But before spending the money, I'd love just one person to say they have tried it and it does work. But I think this specific use case is so narrow that I'm probably going to have to wait until the Air arrives, then buy the dock and test it, hoping I can return it if it doesn't work.

I know with certainty that my old Thunderbolt Display worked on my 2016 MacBook Pro through the Apple TB2-TB3 adapter. Camera, speakers and USB ports. Didn't actually try the Firewire port, though likely that will work, too. I did not have a power delivery hub, however, back then to confirm your power solution.

 

[ThunderRobot]

I know with certainty that my old Thunderbolt Display worked on my 2016 MacBook Pro through the Apple TB2-TB3 adapter. Camera, speakers and USB ports. Didn't actually try the Firewire port, though likely that will work, too. I did not have a power delivery hub, however, back then to confirm your power solution.

Well I’ve found a reasonably priced ‘as new’ model on eBay so will update the thread when it arrives, just in case anyone else has a similar question.

 

[ThunderRobot]

For anyone who finds this thread and has the same question, I can confirm that M1 Air to Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Pro to Apple Thunderbolt Display works perfectly.

The Air connects with a single thunderbolt cable, it charges and has access to all of the ports on the display and the dock. The display webcam, speakers and mic work. Really happy with this setup.

 

[Chagoyan]

For anyone who finds this thread and has the same question, I can confirm that M1 Air to Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Pro to Apple Thunderbolt Display works perfectly.

The Air connects with a single thunderbolt cable, it charges and has access to all of the ports on the display and the dock. The display webcam, speakers and mic work. Really happy with this setup.

Thank you! I am in the same boat. I have a new M1 coming soon and want to use my Thunderbolt Display.