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Since I fully switched to using a laptop for work, I’ve had a single idea in mind – a workstation that can be moved to any place in the world with minimal effort. The foundation for this setup is currently the ASUS ProArt P16, but everything else required a highly capable USB hub. For example, the Wavlink WL-UTD58-M. To be precise, the WL-UTD58-M is one of the first devices on the market to support Thunderbolt 5. This standard has two key characteristics. First, it is largely exclusive to devices based on Intel processors (with AMD support being very rare). Second, it offers speeds of up to 80 Gb/s, or even up to 120 Gb/s in the case of “dual-channel mode,” which we will discuss later.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Specifications
- Contents: user manual, 1-metre Thunderbolt 5 cable, Thunderbolt 5 clamp, power supply
- Compatibility: Thunderbolt 5, Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3, USB4
- SSD slot: 2280, M.2 M-Key, PCIe NVMe 4×4 (4×3 in terms of speed)
- Ports: Thunderbolt 5 UFP, Thunderbolt 5 DFP ×3, USB-A 10 Gb ×4, RJ45 2.5 Gb, SD 4.0, 3.5 mm combo jack, M.2 slot
- Material: aluminium
- Power: up to 180 W
- Dimensions: 21.9×9.7×3.5 cm
Video review of the Wavlink WL-UTD58-M
Price and positioning
The cost of solutions at this level is around $300, placing the Wavlink WL-UTD58-M in the upper tier of the market as one of the most expensive and advanced USB hubs available. At the same time, it is positioned as a flagship option within its category, targeting users who require maximum throughput and up-to-date interfaces.
However, the price may vary depending on two factors. The first is whether there is an M.2 SSD slot. In configurations without this feature, the hub is labeled WL-UTD58, i.e., without the “M” suffix. In such cases, the product description specifies a 12-in-1 hub rather than a 13-in-1 version. The second factor affecting the price is Ethernet speed. Available variants include 1 Gbps, 2.5 Gbps, or a full 5 Gbps option.
Package contents
Regarding the hub’s package, it can be stated outright that it is not intended for portable, travel-oriented use. This is not only due to its weight, but also because the package does not include any carrying accessories, such as a case or even a simple soft pouch. On the positive side, the bundle does include a very large (500 g) 180 W power supply, a one-meter Thunderbolt 5 cable with an additional retention clip, as well as a thermal pad and a reasonably good magnetic screwdriver.
Why the last two items? Because the Wavlink WL-UTD58-M is the first USB-C hub in my collection that features a slot for an SSD. There is one drawback, however: it only supports NVMe PCIe 4.0 2280 drives; smaller sizes don’t fit properly, and the SATA format isn’t supported at all.
Good news – the NVMe slot looks absolutely excellent, with a black-and-red design that stands out visually. In terms of cooling, it is effectively handled by the entire body of the Wavlink WL-UTD58-M, since the package includes a thick thermal pad. I will show the test results later, but I can say in advance that I have no complaints so far.
Appearance and peripherals
The design of the Wavlink WL-UTD58-M also produces consistently positive impressions. The matte metal finish (most likely steel, as it does not resemble aluminium) is effectively combined with trapezoidal cutouts that reveal a grey heatsink underneath.
On the edges (left and right sides), there are additional ventilation openings intended for active cooling. As I understand it, the left side serves as intake, while the right side acts as exhaust. I’m intentionally phrasing it as “as I understand it,” because I was not able to trigger the fan during testing – possibly it only activates under higher temperatures, such as in summer conditions. On the bottom, there are rubberized feet and a cover for the SSD slot.
Front side: a 3.5 mm audio jack, an independent SD/microSD UHS-II card reader, two USB Type-A ports (10 Gbps), a Thunderbolt 5 UFP port with a screw-lock mechanism, one Thunderbolt 5 DFP port for charging with up to 30 W output, a power indicator, and a power button.
Rear side: two additional USB Type-A ports (10 Gbps), a 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port, a Kensington lock slot, a large 20 V barrel power input, and two additional Thunderbolt 5 DFP ports without specified charging power ratings.
Technologies
Let’s pause and analyze what we are looking at. A single Wavlink WL-UTD58-M hub provides three “output” Thunderbolt 5 ports, each supporting 80 Gbps. Why so many? Because one of the aspects of Thunderbolt 5 that I have not yet had the chance to discuss is its maximum bandwidth, which reaches up to 120 Gbps.
More precisely, I did mention this earlier, but didn’t have the opportunity to explain it in detail. Thunderbolt 5 uses PAM-3 technology (Pulse Amplitude Modulation with three levels). This improves signal stability, but in our specific case it allows Thunderbolt 5 to allocate up to 80 Gbps of bandwidth separately and exclusively for a single task, specifically display output to monitors. The remaining 40 Gbps is reserved for other data transfer tasks.
In other words, achieving the full 120 Gbps bandwidth requires either very high-end, demanding displays, or multiple less demanding ones.
This, however, leads to the main limitation of the Wavlink WL-UTD58-M. There are no HDMI or DisplayPort outputs on the device. So how are displays connected? Over Thunderbolt 5. There are three ports in total, and the hub supports up to three 4K 144 Hz displays.
Yes, this requires specific USB-C to DisplayPort/HDMI cables, which tend to be expensive and relatively short. Beyond that, there are no additional constraints. Want to connect three DisplayPort monitors? Or three HDMI monitors? There are no issues. At the moment, this appears to be one of the most universal solutions available.
In addition, USB-C to DisplayPort/HDMI adapters are generally cheaper, and cable length becomes less of a limitation in that case.
I also want to separately highlight the screw-lock mechanism for the upstream connector. It is made of plastic, but feels reliable, and it can be tightened using the included screwdriver, which is better in quality than the one bundled with my previous Thunderbolt 5 device.
Testing the Wavlink WL-UTD58-M
I will split the testing process into two parts. The first is on the ASUS G16 using the Thunderbolt 5 port. The second is on my ASUS ProArt P16, which only features USB4. For the first test, I used a Micron 2500 2TB SSD (model MTFDKBA2T0QGN-1BN1AABGA), based on 3D QLC NAND and without DRAM caching.
It is a thin, single-sided drive, but even so, the thermal pad caused the chassis to flex, and closing the cover felt noticeably uneasy. On the other hand, double-sided SSDs would not introduce any bending issues, since there is no metal contact from the bottom side.
In real-world testing, SSD performance in the hub on the G16 reached up to 6000 MB/s, similar to what I observed with the previous Thunderbolt 5 enclosure. The Micron 2500 has a peak rated speed of up to 7500 MB/s, so we are seeing roughly a 20% loss, which is not an issue for me at all. To be honest, I would even be fine with 1500 MB/s, since for my workflow capacity has always been the priority rather than speed (within reasonable limits, of course).
Regarding temperatures: I deliberately ran the CrystalDiskMark test under the most demanding settings in multiple consecutive loops in order to maximize the SSD’s thermal load. Even so, I did not reach 65°C. The hub itself did not exceed 50°C either, although the power supply was positioned closest to the measurement area (the recording was done using a Blackview Xplore 1 Pro).
This is important because the Wavlink WL-UTD58-M includes active cooling, which only engages once the internal temperature exceeds 50°C. I was unable to reach that threshold using synthetic testing, even with full 80 Gbps load. And this is despite, I should emphasize, fully saturating the link.
Theoretically, the Wavlink WL-UTD58-M could be pushed above 50°C if used in extreme ambient conditions such as a desert environment, while simultaneously running all three Thunderbolt 5 DFP ports at maximum load – something I was not able to reproduce in practice.
And yes, the WL-UTD58 is now working as my main hub on a laptop that only has 40 Gbps instead of 80 Gbps. The limitation is straightforward: SSD performance is roughly cut in half. As I already mentioned, this is not something that bothers me in practice at all.
Drawbacks
The Wavlink WL-UTD58 has several aspects that I would describe less as outright issues and more as design trade-offs. However, they are still present. For example, there is no clear justification for placing the Thunderbolt 5 upstream port on the front instead of the rear. Front-facing ports are typically meant for connections that are used occasionally, not for a cable that remains permanently attached. In practice, this also affects the overall aesthetic consistency of the setup, which may matter to some users.
Additionally, the hub is not compatible with any USB standards slower than USB4/Thunderbolt 3. This is not a limitation imposed by the manufacturer itself, but rather a consequence of the USB-IF ecosystem. However, it still remains a practical drawback. It would also be preferable if the Wavlink WL-UTD58-M included at least a basic USB-C to HDMI adapter in the box. Out of the box, the hub is effectively incompatible with roughly 99.9% of monitors on the market.
Summary
Yes, this hub is expensive. Yes, it is not perfect. But having four USB-A ports, three universal Thunderbolt 5 upstream/output options, and even an internal SSD slot is genuinely impressive. Cooling is excellent, and the design is solid. Is the Wavlink WL-UTD58-M worth its $300 price tag? If you have a Thunderbolt 5 laptop, then why not?
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Where to buy the Wavlink WL-UTD58-M