Do I need a Thunderbolt dock or will a regular USB-C hub work?

If your laptop has Thunderbolt 4 or Thunderbolt 5 ports and you need dual high-refresh 4K displays, fast external SSD speeds, or daisy-chained peripherals, reviewers consistently recommend a true Thunderbolt dock. For single-display setups, occasional travel, and basic peripheral expansion, a standard USB-C hub at a fraction of the price is enough — Wirecutter and How-To Geek both note most users overspend on Thunderbolt features they never use.