This docking station's 'hidden compartment' disrupted my desktop - for the better

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What you're looking at in the image above is not an Apple Mac Mini, but the new Satechi Thunderbolt 5 CubeDock . If you're familiar with laptop docking stations, you may be surprised by its design. Most docks are brick-shaped, wide and flat, or upright with an industrial look, like the Baseus Spacemate RD1 Pro . The CubeDock is a mixture of the two.

But that form isn't just for looks. It supports the CubeDock's main feature: an integrated NVMe SSD enclosure built into the bottom.

Also: The best laptop docking stations you can buy: Expert tested

This is the first docking station I've tested with a storage slot, and it made me wonder why I haven't seen it before. If your dock serves as a hub for your desktop, the enclosure turns it into centralized storage, providing a convenient place for large file libraries. The CubeDock executes this concept well and is a great accessory for power users. However, certain restrictions limit its usability.

Blazing-fast storage and an innovative design, but port selection that favors power users.

The dock supports various SSD sizes: 2280, 2260, 2242, and 2230. For this review, I installed a Samsung 9100 PRO NVMe SSD , a 2280 drive. Regardless of the drive's size, the installation process is the same: remove the bottom cover, apply the thin thermal pad, insert the drive (and secure it if it's a 2280), apply the thicker thermal pad, and replace the bottom cover. Satechi includes illustrated instructions in the box, and they're clear enough that even first-timers won't have trouble -- I didn't.