The Anker 575 is a USB-C (DisplayPort Alt Mode) docking station — not Thunderbolt — delivering 85W of host charging, triple-display output, gigabit Ethernet, and SD readers. Despite not being Thunderbolt, it is one of the most popular and reliable docks in the Framework community for both FW13 and FW16, including on Linux.
The Anker 778 (model A83A9) is a 12-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 docking station delivering 100W of host charging, a downstream TB4 port, dual DisplayPort and HDMI 2.1 outputs, and gigabit Ethernet. A community member reports it "much more reliable" than a Dell WD19TB on a Framework 16, running three monitors without issue.
The Anker Apex 12-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station delivers 90W of host charging and a wide selection of ports in a compact, cool-running enclosure. Community members report it working great on Windows and Fedora with reliable power delivery and peripheral connectivity.
The Anker Prime Thunderbolt 5 Dock (model A83B5) is a Thunderbolt 5 docking station that delivers 140W of host charging, two Thunderbolt 5 downstream ports, and up to 120Gbps of aggregate data bandwidth, alongside 2.5GbE Ethernet, SD/TF card readers, and a choice of HDMI 2.1 or DisplayPort 2.1 output. It is confirmed working with the Framework Laptop 16, where it runs at Thunderbolt 4-equivalent speeds over the FW16's USB4 host ports.
The AOOSTAR EG02 is a dual-mode eGPU dock that connects a desktop graphics card over either Thunderbolt 5 or a native OCuLink (PCIe 4.0 x4) link, using an Intel JHL9480 Thunderbolt 5 controller. It is an open-frame dock that accepts ATX/SFX power supplies (not included) and provides 140W host charging over the Thunderbolt 5 connection. It is distinct from the AOOSTAR AG02, which is USB4-only.
The Barrel Jack DC-In Module is a community-designed Framework expansion card that lets you power a Framework laptop (or any 20V USB-PD device) using a Dell or HP barrel jack laptop power supply. The schematic was created by Arya (CRImier), with the board layout by a-little-wifi, who also tweaked the original schematic.
The CalDigit TS3 Plus is a legacy Thunderbolt 3 docking station providing 87W of host charging, 2.5GbE Ethernet, an optical S/PDIF output, and 15 ports in total. It remains a solid, affordable choice (especially used) for single-monitor Framework setups.
The CalDigit TS4 is a high-end Thunderbolt 4 docking station providing 98W of host charging, 2.5GbE Ethernet, dual 4K/6K or single 8K display support, SD/microSD readers, and an extensive set of USB ports. It is one of the most frequently recommended docks in the Framework community and is confirmed working nearly perfectly across multiple Framework laptops.
The Dell Pro Thunderbolt 5 Smart Dock (model SD25TB5, Dell part 210-BRQS) is a Thunderbolt 5 docking station delivering up to 240W of power delivery to non-Dell systems, 2.5GbE Ethernet, dual DisplayPort 2.1, HDMI 2.1, and 4K@240Hz display support. It is confirmed working with the Framework Laptop 16, with 240W charging, 2.5GbE networking, and a 4K@240Hz display all reporting no issues.
The Dell WD22TB4 is a Thunderbolt 4 docking station providing up to 130W of host charging and DisplayPort MST for reliable multi-monitor output. A community member reports that after the Framework 13 BIOS 3.05 update it "just works" — including the dock's normally Dell-proprietary power button, which now powers on the Framework.
The Dual USB-C Expansion Card is a long-running community project to create an expansion card with two USB-C ports for Framework laptops. Since Framework only offers single-port USB-C expansion cards, the community has been working on dual-port designs since June 2021. Multiple independent efforts have emerged over the years, each with different approaches, capabilities, and outcomes.
The Framework Laptop 16 is a larger, performance-oriented laptop announced at the Next Level event in March 2023. It features an expansion bay that can attach PCIe components such as a dedicated GPU, a fully customizable keyboard with interchangeable input modules and optional numpad, and 6 expansion card slots. Initially planned to ship in Q4 2023, it began shipping in February 2024 with AMD Ryzen 7040 series processors. It was named a TIME Best Invention of 2023.
Announced in August 2025, the second generation Framework Laptop 16 features AMD's Zen 5-based Ryzen AI 300 series processors. It adds an optional Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU module with 8 GB GDDR7 (and a 12 GB GDDR7 variant added April 2026), both backwards compatible with the 2024 model. Shipments began in December 2025 (delayed from the original November target).
The Full Power Magnetic Charging Card is a community-designed DIY expansion card that brings Apple MagSafe-style magnetic charging to Framework laptops. Created by Sean Nagle (Sean_N) in October 2021, it was one of the earliest and most popular community expansion card projects, using a 3D-printed enclosure and off-the-shelf parts to enable breakaway magnetic charging at full USB-C power delivery wattage.
The Lenovo Thunderbolt 5 Smart Dock 7500 (model 40BA0265US) is a Thunderbolt 5 docking station offering 120Gbps bandwidth, dual DisplayPort 2.1 plus HDMI 2.1 output, 2.5GbE Ethernet, and PD 3.1 power delivery up to 180W to the host (a 265W charger is included). It can drive up to three 8K@60Hz displays plus a 4K@60Hz display, and is confirmed working "perfectly" with the Framework Laptop 16 on Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2, charging the FW16 at 180W.
The Minisforum DEG2 is a dual-mode open-frame eGPU dock that connects a desktop graphics card over either Thunderbolt 5 or a native OCuLink (PCIe 4.0 x4) link, selected via a hardware switch. It uses an Intel JHL9480 Thunderbolt 5 controller and adds a downstream Thunderbolt 5 port, 2.5GbE Ethernet, and an M.2 2280 slot. It is the Thunderbolt 5 successor to the Minisforum DEG1, which is OCuLink-only.
The OSHE Magnetic Charging Card is a community-developed MagSafe-style magnetic charging expansion card, announced by the Open Source Hardware Enterprise (OSHE) at Michigan Technological University on April 13, 2026. It brings breakaway magnetic charging to Framework laptops via a custom two-part PCB design with ESD protection.
The OWC 14-Port Thunderbolt 3 Dock (OWCTB3DK14PSG) provides 85W of host charging, dual Thunderbolt 3 ports, a mini DisplayPort 1.2 output, five USB-A ports, gigabit Ethernet, and SD/microSD readers. A community member reports it working reliably on Pop OS 22.04 driving dual 1440p monitors, and noted it delivered close to its claimed power output.
The Plugable TBT4-UDZ is a Thunderbolt 4 docking station delivering up to 96W of host charging. It is driver-less (no DisplayLink) and, importantly, uses a single display output rather than DisplayPort MST — which Plugable explicitly recommends for AMD/Linux stability.
The Plugable TBT5-AI is a Thunderbolt 5 eGPU enclosure marketed for local AI inference, pairing an 850W ATX 3.1 power supply (80+ Gold, 600W dedicated to the GPU) with a PCIe 4.0 x4 slot and a built-in Thunderbolt 5 dock. It provides 96W host charging, a downstream Thunderbolt 5 port, 10Gbps USB-A/C ports, and 2.5GbE Ethernet. It is TAA compliant and supports Thunderbolt 5, Thunderbolt 4, and USB4 (eGPU-capable) Windows 11 hosts with Intel 11th-gen+ or AMD Zen 4+ CPUs.
The Power Supply Card is a Tool Card from HW Media Lab LLC that fits a programmable bench power supply into a Framework Expansion Card form factor. It is designed to work with the DockFrame modular USB-C hub or plugged directly into any USB-C host, sourcing power entirely from USB-C Power Delivery.
The Razer Core X is a Thunderbolt 3 eGPU enclosure that accepts a full-size desktop PCIe graphics card and provides up to 100W of power delivery back to the host laptop. It is the most widely used and best-documented eGPU enclosure in the Framework community, confirmed working across the Framework 13 (Intel and AMD) and the Framework 16. A variant, the Razer Core X Chroma, adds a gigabit Ethernet port and a 4-port USB-A hub.
The Razer Core X V2 (model RC21-0227) is a Thunderbolt 5 eGPU enclosure that accepts a full-size desktop graphics card and a standard ATX power supply (both sold separately), delivering 140W of PD 3.1 host charging and up to 120Gbps uni-directional bandwidth. It is the Thunderbolt 5 successor to the original Razer Core X (TB3), and works with Thunderbolt 5, Thunderbolt 4, and USB4 hosts that support eGPUs.
The Sonnet Breakaway Box 750ex is a Thunderbolt 3 eGPU enclosure built around an Intel DSL6540 controller (PCIe 3.0 x4 to Thunderbolt), pairing a 750W power supply with support for high-end double-width graphics cards. It is documented working with a Framework Laptop 13 (Ryzen 7840U) driving an RTX 4070 on Windows, with users achieving the full 32 Gbps PCIe tunnel using an active Thunderbolt 4 cable.
The Sonnet Breakaway Box 850 T5 (model GPU-850T5) is a Thunderbolt 5 eGPU enclosure built around an Intel JHL9580 controller, pairing an 850W power supply with support for triple-wide graphics cards and a built-in Thunderbolt 5 dock. It delivers 80Gbps bi-directional bandwidth, 100W of host charging, and downstream connectivity including 5GbE Ethernet. It is the Thunderbolt 5 successor to the Sonnet Breakaway Box 750ex (TB3/4, 750W), and works with Thunderbolt 5, Thunderbolt 4, and USB4 Windows 11 laptops.
The TH3P4G3 is a Thunderbolt 3 eGPU dock (bare board) using a PCIe 3.0 interface, popular as a budget one-cable option because it supports power delivery to the host and Thunderbolt daisy-chaining. Framework community members report it working "like a charm" on AMD Framework 13 laptops after switching away from problematic Lenovo enclosures.