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7.16 ORICO MiniLink M45P – Top-Tier Docking Station for Mac Mini M4/4 PRO
$80.99 AliExpress Β· Orico Official Store Buy Amazon See price
7.16
Rating
1 x M.2 SSD slot 2 x USB-A 2.0 ports 2 x 3.5 mm TRS jacks (Audio) Power Supply: 5V / 3A 1 x M.2 SSD slot 2 x USB-A 2.0 ports 2 x 3.5 mm TRS jacks (Audio) Power Supply: 5V / 3A
Connectivity
November 2025
Release date

ORICO MiniLink M45P – Top-Tier Docking Station for Mac Mini M4/4 PRO

Alexander Moiseenko Avatar
Alexander Moiseenko
Affiliate links β€Ί
13.04.2026Β·v1.0.0
ORICO MiniLink M45P docking station

The ORICO MiniLink M45P is a top-tier docking station for Mac mini M4/4 Pro. It comes with extra ports and an m.2 drive slot. You can place it above or below your mini PC, so it doesn’t take up extra space. While it’s designed for the Mac mini, it’s not limited to just that. You can connect it to a Mac, a Windows PC or laptop, or even an Android tablet or phone.

Discount Code:Β ORICOK5MINI
Discount:Β $5 USD
Valid Period:Β May 6, 2026 (00:10) – June 30, 2026 (23:59)

Reviews for ORICO MiniLink M45P: Amazon

Use cases

I’ll highlight 4 main use cases for the ORICO MiniLink M45P:

  1. Mac mini.
  2. Windows PC and laptop.
  3. TV.
  4. Android phone and tablet.

I don’t have a Mac mini, but it looks like a great combo in the ads. The docking station attaches above or below the mini PC. It doesn’t take up any extra space. This setup looks really seamless. At first glance, I thought the Mac mini and Orico dock were one device.

I can test the other use cases. Here’s my quick take on each one:

  • Windows PC – super convenient. My main PC is under my desk, so reaching the back ports is a pain. The Baseus 8-in-1 hub helps with most of my connection needs. With the ORICO MiniLink, I get similar features. I only use USB ports 99% of the time. But the ORICO only has two USB 2.0 ports, while the Baseus has three USB 3.0 ports. On the plus side, it has separate ports for headphones and a microphone. Plus, there’s a slot for an SSD.
laptop USB ports
  • Windows laptop – handy. I don’t use my laptop often, but three USB ports are often not enough. Two USB ports are right next to each other. They’re only good for cables. If you plug in a USB flash drive, you can’t use the second port. With the ORICO MiniLink, you won’t run out of USB ports. You can also add more storage with an SSD.
  • TV – convenient. The ports behind my TV are easy to reach. But it’s annoying to plug in headphones or flash drives every time. The ORICO MiniLink solves this. You can connect external drives, headphones, and a microphone. However, for storage only, regular USB hubs are better. They’re cheaper, at least.
TV ports
  • Android phone and tablet. It’s a questionable solution for phones. Only if you need to transfer data to or from the internal storage. For tablets, the ORICO MiniLink is a better fit. Especially for models with 10+ inch screens. The docking station works as temporary or permanent data storage. You can also connect peripherals like a mouse and keyboard. This creates a handy, compact “station” for video, text, and internet. But this setup will only appeal to a small number of users.

Features – what can the docking station do?

ORICO MiniLink M45P - connectivity ports

ORICO MiniLink comes in a few versions with different specs:

  • MiniLink M45P has 5 ports: one m.2 SSD slot, two USB-A 2.0 ports, and two 3.5mm TRS jacks. It needs 3A/5V power.
  • MiniLink M49M has 7 ports: two m.2 SSD slots, three USB-A 3.2 ports, and a TF/SD card reader (version 4.0). It needs 12V power and has an on/off button.
  • MiniLink M49P has 9 ports: one m.2 SSD slot, two USB-A 3.2 ports, two 3.5mm TRS jacks, two USB-A 2.0 ports, and a TF/SD card reader (version 3.0). It needs 12V power and has an on/off button.
  • There’s also a larger MiniTower version that connects two 3.5-inch HDDs. And the Minimate – it’s a MiniLink form factor, but only for data transfer with a built-in SSD.

Docking station teardown video.

ORICO MiniLink M45P - features
Features. 6.10 The station features one slot for an NVMe drive, supporting data transfers up to 40 Gbps over Thunderbolt 4. It also includes two USB 2.0 ports with a basic charging protocol delivering up to 7.5W, and two separate 3.5mm jacks for headphones. This station is compatible with popular devices like PCs, laptops, TVs, phones, and tablets.
Learn more.
Storage. 8 You get one slot for NVMe M.2 drives, supporting capacities up to 8TB. The maximum read speed clocks in at 40 Gbps. The cover for the drive bay is held by magnets and removes easily by hand. We’re still measuring the SSD’s operating speed.
Learn more.
USB. 5 For connecting peripherals, you’re limited to just two USB 2.0 ports, with no fast charging support – they max out at 7.5W. This is enough for essentials like a mouse, keyboard, or external SSD, and can slowly charge a phone or smartwatch. The ports are packed in close, so some USB flash drives might block adjacent connections, and forget about using SD card readers here.
Learn more.
Audio. 5 There are two separate 3.5mm ports, one for a microphone and one for headphones, both 3-pin. If you use 4-pin headphones, sound comes through with overly high frequencies, so you’ll want a 3-pin adapter for those. The audio port quality is pretty budget-friendly, topping out at 16-bit and 48 kHz.
Learn more.
Compatibility. 10 The ORICO MiniLink M45P is potentially compatible with all mobile and desktop devices. We tested it on Windows PCs and laptops, a VIDAA OS TV, and Android phones and tablets.
Additional features. 2.5 Beyond a port for up to 15W of additional power, the station doesn’t offer much else. The ORICO MiniLink M45P skips extra functions or ports like card readers, HDMI, or Ethernet, sticking to just that 15W auxiliary power input (3A/5V). No cable or charger is included; any USB-C port and phone charger will work.

Comparison with Competitors

ORICO MiniLink M45P - comparison with competitors

The competitor comparison is mostly theoretical. There aren’t many other docking stations like these yet. Let’s just look at the main features and which station is better.

Model lineup comparison: ORICO MiniLink M45P vs MiniLink M49M vs MiniLink M49P.

More details

Comparing with competitors: ORICO MiniLink M45P vs UGREEN CM841 vs MOVESPEED DK5A1 vs ACASIS M001.

More details

Build quality

ORICO MiniLink M45P docking station
ORICO MiniLink M45P station
ORICO MiniLink M45P
Build quality. 8.75 It features active cooling, which is a nice bonus on hot summer days. The station is convenient and takes up very little space, especially when paired with a Mac mini, where it only adds to the vertical footprint. Build quality and materials are flawless, though the case is a bit prone to fingerprints and the rubberized feet easily collect dust. Overall, it looks great and I have no complaints about its aesthetics.
Learn more.
Temperature. 10 I didn’t notice any significant heating from the dock station, even when the room temperature was between 23-25 degrees Celsius. The aluminum body and built-in fan work together to effectively dissipate heat, with the fan kicking in automatically when needed. You can hear the fan if you’re within 5-10 cm in a quiet room, but with background noise or from about 30 cm away, it’s completely inaudible.
Convenience. 8 The ORICO MiniLink M45P is a compact and convenient dock station. Paired with a Mac mini, it’s a perfect 10/10 for convenience. When used with other devices, the station is a bit on the large side, but it doesn’t cause any significant discomfort during use.
Durability. 9 The build feels sturdy and reliable, with no complaints about the construction or materials. Over time, the built-in fan will likely get clogged with dust, requiring you to disassemble the station for cleaning. Unfortunately, you can’t just unscrew a couple of screws; you’ll have to pry off the plastic base, as demonstrated in the video at the start of the review. It’s a mystery why Orico didn’t make disassembly simpler – I suspect the engineers didn’t fully consider the process.
Design. 8 The station has a good, modern look that will easily blend into any room, whether it’s an office or an apartment. It’s currently only available in a silver finish.

The Verdict

ORICO MiniLink M45P portable station

Is the ORICO MiniLink M45P at $90 a MyChooz pick? Yes, I can recommend it. It’s a top-tier docking station for Mac mini M4/4 Pro. You get active cooling and up to 40 Gbps data transfer.

The main reasons to buy are active cooling, a durable aluminum body, and up to 40 Gbps data transfer. It’s good for memory expansion and connecting peripherals. On the downside, its features are limited. You only get a slot for a fast SSD and a couple of USB 2.0 ports. The headphone and microphone jacks are budget-level. Also, the fan will get dusty over time. You’ll need to disassemble the station to clean it.

The ORICO MiniLink M45P makes sense for a Mac mini. For a PC, laptop, or TV, you should check out the higher-end ORICO MiniLink versions. They have more ports. Or look at more functional docking stations and affordable USB hubs.

ORICO MiniLink M45P Use Cases: Cold storage – yes. Peripheral expansion – with caveats. Mobile device charging – with caveats.

Reviews for ORICO MiniLink M45P: Amazon

What are the alternatives?

  • UGREEN CM841 has more ports, but lower NVME speed and no active cooling. It’s a good budget option. It will cover all your peripheral connection needs.
  • MOVESPEED DK5A1 has more ports and HDMI. But it has lower NVME speed and no active cooling. For a similar price, you get even more features. Plus, you can connect an extra monitor.
  • ACASIS M001 has more ports, HDMI, lower NVME speed, and active cooling. The brand is less known. But its features are just as good as MOVESPEED. With the Pro version, you can connect two extra monitors.
  • Check out the ORICO MiniLink M49M and M49P. At the time of this review, during AliExpress sales, they are cheaper than the base model. Both models are better in every way. They also offer more ports for connecting devices.

Definitely let me know what you think about the new ORICO MiniLink M45P. I’d love to chat with you in the comments. Enjoy your sound, and I’ll see you on MyChooz. Bye!

Overall Score 7.16
Functionality
6.10 β–Ά
USB 5.00
Audio 5.00
Storage 8.00
Extra Features 2.50
Compatibility 10.00
Build
8.75 β–Ά
Usability 8.00
Design 8.00
Durability 9.00
Thermals 10.00
Reasons to buy:
  • Active cooling
  • Durable aluminum frame.
  • Up to 40 Gbps data transfer.
Reasons not to buy:
  • Few expansion ports
  • USB 2.0 ports
  • Difficult to disassemble for fan cleaning

ORICO MiniLink M45P – Specs:

  • ORICO MiniLink M45P release date – January 2025.
  • ORICO MiniLink M45P launch price – $119
  • Build: unibody
  • Ports: 1Γ— USB4/Thunderbolt 4 host (40 Gbps), 1Γ— M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD (up to 8 TB, 2230/2242/2260/2280), 2Γ— USB-A 2.0 (480 Mbps), 3.5mm headphones + 3.5mm microphone
  • Power: from host (Mac mini) or an optional external adapter up to 15W.
  • Materials: aluminum alloy, plastic
  • Dimensions: 127 Γ— 127 Γ— 25 mm.

What’s in the Box

ORICO MiniLink M45P - what's in the box
  • ORICO MiniLink M45P
  • USB-C to USB-C cable (15 cm, supports 40 Gbps)
  • SSD heatsink
  • Thermal pad
  • User manual

Popular Questions:

ORICO MiniLink M45P – how to connect to Android?

To connect to an Android phone or tablet, use an OTG cable or adapter. Connect the accessory to your mobile device’s USB port. Then, connect to the docking station with any USB cable. It’s important to use a data transfer cable.

Still have a question about the ORICO MiniLink M45P?

Ask your question in the comments, and I’ll answer you.

Alexander Moiseenko326 posts
Responsible for measurements, calibration and testing. Engineering approach to sound.
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