Dell WD25TB4 vs WD22TB4 - Thunderbolt 4 Dock Comparison 2026

Dell WD25TB4 vs WD22TB4: The Short Version

The Dell WD25TB4 and Dell WD22TB4 are easy to confuse. Both are Thunderbolt 4 docks for Dell-heavy desks. Both use external power. Both can charge compatible Dell laptops at up to 130W. Both avoid DisplayLink drivers and rely on native Thunderbolt display paths. Both carry Dell’s 3-year limited warranty.

The difference is that the WD25TB4 is the newer Dell Pro Thunderbolt 4 Dock, while the WD22TB4 is the older modular Thunderbolt 4 dock. The WD25TB4 is not just a renamed version of the same product. Its YAML gives it a stronger port mix, 2.5GbE networking, HDMI 2.1 instead of HDMI 2.0, two downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports, a rear USB-C display output, higher standard USB-C charging for non-Dell laptops, and a newer display support table that goes beyond dual displays on capable systems.

The short verdict: The Dell WD25TB4 is the better Dell Thunderbolt 4 dock for most people buying new in 2026. It scores 7.9/10 in our product data compared with 7.5/10 for the WD22TB4, lists at $299.99 instead of $319.99, and has the cleaner modern spec sheet. The WD22TB4 is still worth considering if you already own one, find it heavily discounted, or specifically like the modular host-module design.

If you are comparing these because you are unsure whether Thunderbolt is the right connection type at all, start with our USB-C vs Thunderbolt docking station guide. If you already know you want a Dell Thunderbolt dock, this page is about whether the newer WD25TB4 is worth choosing over the older WD22TB4.

Quick Specs Comparison

What Changed from WD22TB4 to WD25TB4?

The cleanest way to understand this comparison is not “old dock versus totally different dock.” It is “older Dell Thunderbolt 4 desk dock versus newer Dell Pro Thunderbolt 4 desk dock.”

The WD22TB4 already covered the basics well. Its YAML lists Thunderbolt 4 at 40 Gbps, 130W ExpressCharge for Dell laptops, 90W USB-C Power Delivery for non-Dell laptops, dual 4K@60Hz display support, two DisplayPort 1.4 outputs, one HDMI 2.0 output, Gigabit Ethernet, a compact professional design, and a 3-year warranty. For a simple Dell office setup with two monitors, Ethernet, keyboard, mouse, and a webcam, that is still enough.

The WD25TB4 moves the Dell dock formula forward in several practical ways. Ethernet moves from 1GbE to a port that lists both 1GbE and 2.5GbE speeds. HDMI moves from 2.0 to 2.1. The product data lists a rear USB-C display output with DisplayPort 1.4 Alt Mode. It also lists two Thunderbolt 4 video outputs, plus two DisplayPort outputs and HDMI. Non-Dell standard USB-C charging rises from 90W to 96W. The maximum display count in the YAML rises from two to four, with notes that the high-end display modes depend on the host platform, DSC, cables, operating system, and monitor EDID.

Those are the reasons the WD25TB4 wins this comparison. They are not cosmetic changes. They affect the desks people actually build: faster wired networking, more modern monitor wiring, more room for Thunderbolt accessories, and better fit for current Dell business laptops.

Design and Desk Fit

Both docks are Dell office products first. Neither is trying to be a creator-focused aluminum block like the CalDigit TS4, and neither includes lifestyle extras such as card readers or an audio jack. These are work-desk docks built around power, monitors, Ethernet, and USB peripherals.

The WD22TB4 has one standout design advantage: its modular architecture. The product YAML describes a swappable Thunderbolt host module as a major design pro. That is useful if you like Dell’s modular dock idea or if your organization already standardized on that chassis. It also has a compact, professional design listed at 8.1 x 3.5 x 1.1 inches.

The WD25TB4’s design advantage is more about the newer Pro Dock layout. The YAML calls out Dell’s current cable design and lists a 0.83 m cable. It does not have the WD22TB4’s modular host-module claim, and it is not the Smart Dock version with Dell’s remote-management layer. That distinction matters: if you need Dell Device Management Console features, the product data points you toward the SD25TB4, not the WD25TB4.

For an individual buyer, the WD25TB4 layout is easier to recommend because it gives you the newer ports without charging more at list price. For an IT department with existing WD22TB4 deployments, the modular design may still be a reason to keep the older dock in service.

Design winner: Depends on what you value. WD22TB4 wins for modularity. WD25TB4 wins for a newer everyday port layout.

Display Support: WD25TB4 Has the Bigger Ceiling

Display support is the biggest functional difference between these two Dell docks.

The WD22TB4 product data is straightforward. It lists one 8K@30Hz display on Windows, one 5K@60Hz display, or two 4K@60Hz displays via DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.0. That is a good Thunderbolt 4 office spec. For many people, it is exactly what they need: two external monitors at 4K and 60Hz.

The WD25TB4 product data goes further. It lists maxDisplays as 4. Its configurations include one 8K-class display at 60Hz on capable hosts, dual-display support with a note that Dell documents dual 6K@60Hz in some Pro Thunderbolt 4 configurations, triple 4K@60Hz, and four 4K@60Hz. It also records the caveat repeatedly: those modes depend on the host platform, Display Stream Compression support, cables, operating system, and monitor EDID.

That caveat is not filler. It is the main buying caution for the WD25TB4. A dock with several video outputs does not guarantee every laptop can drive every monitor combination. The WD25TB4’s own product data warns that four-display support depends on the host, DSC, cables, operating system, and monitor EDID. The WD22TB4 is less ambitious but also simpler: dual 4K@60Hz is the headline.

Mac users need extra caution with both docks. The WD22TB4 YAML says base M1, M2, and M3 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models are limited to a single external display. The WD25TB4 YAML says Apple Silicon display count depends on the Mac model and that MST-style extended desktop behavior differs from Windows. In plain English: do not buy either Dell dock expecting it to bypass Apple’s native external-display limits.

Display winner: Dell WD25TB4. It has the higher listed display ceiling and more current display outputs. The WD22TB4 is still fine for dual 4K desks.

For more broad monitor advice, see our guide to the best docking stations for dual monitors.

Ports and Expansion

The WD25TB4 wins the port comparison, but the difference is not just the number of holes on the back.

Both docks list four USB-A ports. The WD25TB4 lists all four as USB-A 3.2. The WD22TB4 lists three USB-A 3.2 ports and one USB-A 2.0 port. That gives the WD25TB4 a cleaner USB-A spec for modern peripherals.

On USB-C and Thunderbolt expansion, the WD25TB4 has the more flexible configuration. Its YAML lists one USB-C 3.2 port with 15W power delivery, another USB-C 3.2 port with 7.5W power delivery, and two Thunderbolt 4 ports under video. The WD22TB4 lists one USB-C 3.2 port and one USB-C 4.0 port with 15W power delivery. The YAML does not present the WD22TB4 as having the same two-downstream-Thunderbolt layout as the WD25TB4.

For displays, both docks have two DisplayPort 1.4 outputs. The WD25TB4 adds HDMI 2.1, rear USB-C DisplayPort 1.4 Alt Mode, and two Thunderbolt 4 outputs in its video list. The WD22TB4 has HDMI 2.0 and no separate rear USB-C display output in the product data.

Networking is also an easy win for the newer dock. The WD22TB4 lists RJ45 at 1GbE. The WD25TB4 lists RJ45 with both 1GbE and 2.5GbE speeds. If your office network, NAS, router, or switch supports 2.5GbE, that upgrade can matter more than an extra USB port. Large file transfers and local backups feel different at 2.5GbE than at ordinary Gigabit.

Neither dock includes a 3.5mm audio jack or a card reader. This is a tie, and it is one reason Dell docks can feel sparse next to more general-purpose docks. If your desk needs wired speakers, a headset jack, SD cards, or microSD cards, plan on a small USB accessory either way.

Port winner: Dell WD25TB4. It has 2.5GbE, HDMI 2.1, two Thunderbolt 4 ports in the video list, rear USB-C display output, and a more modern USB-A layout.

Charging: Dell Users Get 130W Either Way

Charging is closer than display support and ports.

Both docks are built around a Dell-first power story. The WD25TB4 product data says it provides 130W charging for compatible Dell laptops and 96W for non-Dell laptops. The WD22TB4 product data says it provides 130W ExpressCharge for Dell laptops and 90W USB-C Power Delivery for non-Dell laptops.

So if you use a compatible Dell laptop, the headline number is the same: up to 130W. That is the reason many Dell buyers consider these docks in the first place. A lot of universal Thunderbolt docks top out below what larger Dell business and workstation laptops can accept through Dell’s own charging path.

For non-Dell laptops, the WD25TB4 has a small but real advantage: 96W instead of 90W. That does not turn it into a heavy workstation charger, and the WD25TB4 YAML still warns that non-Dell laptops are limited compared with Dell’s 130W mode. But if you are using a MacBook, ThinkPad, HP, Framework, or another standard USB-C laptop, the WD25TB4 has the better number in the product data.

Both docks require external power through a DC barrel input. Neither is a travel hub meant to run from the host laptop alone.

Charging winner: Dell WD25TB4 by a small margin. Dell laptop charging is tied at up to 130W. Non-Dell USB-C charging favors the WD25TB4 at 96W versus 90W.

Windows, Mac, Linux, and ChromeOS Compatibility

The WD25TB4 and WD22TB4 both avoid DisplayLink. Their driver type is listed as None. That is good if you want native Thunderbolt behavior rather than a software-video dock.

Windows is the safest platform for both, especially Dell Windows laptops. The WD22TB4 YAML says Windows gets full support, 130W charging on Dell laptops, and Dell Dock Manager. The WD25TB4 YAML says Dell laptops get the strongest firmware, power button sync, MAC address pass-through, and charging integration. If this dock is going on a Dell Latitude, Dell Pro, XPS, or Precision desk, Windows is the environment these products are clearly designed around.

macOS is more complicated. The WD22TB4 product data says it works but is not officially supported by Dell, with single-display behavior on base M1, M2, and M3 Macs and 90W charging. The WD25TB4 product data says Thunderbolt connectivity works for basic dock functions, but Dell’s Apple USB-C limitations still matter: no MST extended desktop through ordinary DP and HDMI paths, no MAC address pass-through, and Apple Silicon display-count limits. It also notes non-Dell and Mac systems are capped at 96W charging.

Linux and ChromeOS appear in both products’ compatibility sections. The WD25TB4 specifically mentions Ubuntu and Red Hat Enterprise Linux support for current business docks, with display count depending on the active internal panel and GPU path. The WD22TB4 says it works with most Linux distributions and supports Thunderbolt-equipped Chromebooks.

The practical recommendation is simple. If you are in a Dell Windows environment, the WD25TB4 is the better new buy. If you are on Mac, neither dock is a clean Mac-first answer. The WD25TB4 still has better hardware on paper, but you need to build around Apple’s display limits rather than around Dell’s maximum Windows display table.

Compatibility winner: Dell WD25TB4 for current Dell Windows desks. Tie for Mac caution, because both need careful display planning.

Value and Upgrade Logic

The WD25TB4 has an unusual advantage over many newer replacements: the list price in the YAML is lower. It lists at $299.99, while the WD22TB4 lists at $319.99. Street prices can move, but when the official product data gives the newer, better-equipped dock a lower MSRP, it is hard to recommend buying the older one new unless the older one is discounted.

The WD25TB4 also has the higher editorial score: 7.9/10 versus 7.5/10. That score difference lines up with the spec differences. The newer dock has 2.5GbE instead of 1GbE, HDMI 2.1 instead of HDMI 2.0, a higher listed display ceiling, and slightly stronger standard USB-C charging for non-Dell laptops.

The WD22TB4 still has two value cases. First, if you already own it and it works, there is no urgent reason to replace it for a normal dual-4K desk. Second, if you specifically value the modular host-module design, the WD22TB4 has that documented advantage. A heavily discounted WD22TB4 can also make sense for a simple two-monitor Dell setup.

But for a normal new purchase, the WD25TB4 is the better value. You are not paying extra for the newer dock in the listed data. You are paying less and getting the better port mix.

Value winner: Dell WD25TB4. Higher score, lower listed MSRP, newer connectivity, and broader display positioning make it the default pick.

Reasons to Still Choose the WD22TB4

The WD25TB4 wins, but the WD22TB4 is not obsolete for every buyer.

Choose the WD22TB4 if your setup is simple and already matches what its YAML lists: a Dell laptop, one or two 4K displays, Gigabit Ethernet, USB peripherals, and Dell’s 130W charging path. In that setup, the WD25TB4’s extra display ceiling may not matter.

The WD22TB4 also keeps the modular-design argument. If you like the idea of a detachable Thunderbolt host module, or if your organization standardized on the WD22TB4 chassis, that can matter more than HDMI 2.1 or 2.5GbE.

It is also the safer choice only if the price is meaningfully lower. Because the WD25TB4 has a lower MSRP in the YAML, the older WD22TB4 needs a real discount to be the better buy. A small discount is not enough if you are giving up 2.5GbE and the newer display layout.

Finally, the WD22TB4 may be easier to reason about for a basic dual-monitor desk. Its product data is less ambitious: up to two displays, dual 4K@60Hz, and known Dell dock behavior. The WD25TB4’s four-display ceiling is attractive, but it comes with more host-platform caveats.

Verdict: Dell WD25TB4 Wins for New Buyers

The Dell WD25TB4 is the better Dell Thunderbolt 4 dock for most people buying today. It wins on score, list price, Ethernet speed, HDMI generation, standard USB-C charging, downstream expansion, and maximum display support in the product data. It keeps the core Dell advantage that made the WD22TB4 popular: up to 130W charging for compatible Dell laptops.

The WD22TB4 remains a solid dock, especially for existing deployments. It still offers native Thunderbolt 4, Dell 130W charging, dual 4K@60Hz, a 3-year warranty, and a modular design that the WD25TB4 product data does not claim. If your desk only needs those things, upgrading is optional.

For new Dell desks, though, the WD25TB4 is the cleaner recommendation. It is the dock to choose if you want Dell’s newer non-smart Thunderbolt 4 Pro Dock without paying for the SD25TB4 Smart Dock management layer.

Choose the Dell WD25TB4 if:

• You are buying a Dell Thunderbolt 4 dock new in 2026
• You want 2.5GbE instead of ordinary Gigabit Ethernet
• You need HDMI 2.1, rear USB-C display output, or two downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports
• You want the higher listed display ceiling for capable Windows Thunderbolt systems
• You use a non-Dell laptop and want up to 96W standard USB-C charging instead of 90W
• You want the higher-scoring Dell dock at the lower listed MSRP

Choose the Dell WD22TB4 if:

• You already own it and it handles your dual-monitor desk reliably
• You only need up to two 4K@60Hz displays
• You specifically value the modular Thunderbolt host-module design
• You find it at a meaningful discount compared with the WD25TB4
• Your office has already standardized on WD22TB4 accessories, firmware workflow, and deployment behavior

For a wider view of Dell alternatives, read our Dell WD22TB4 review, our Dell WD25TB4 review, and the Dell UD22 vs WD22TB4 comparison. If you are still shopping outside Dell, our best Thunderbolt 4 docking stations page is the next place to look.