Laptops have lengthy rivaled desktops when it comes to energy. However these slim and moveable machines lack one thing their tower-shaped cousins are inclined to have in abundance: ports. Docking stations allow you to plug in screens, mice, keyboards, storage gadgets and extra utilizing only a single port in your laptop computer. And in the event you're somebody who relocates together with your laptop computer usually, a docking station makes it simpler to get all of your equipment related once more if you’re again at your desk. We examined out greater than 15 extremely rated docking stations and regarded monitor assist, quantity and kind of ports, design and value that can assist you decide which one is the very best docking station on your house or workplace setup.
Desk of contents
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Greatest docking stations
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What to search for in a docking station
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How we examined docking stations
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Different laptop computer docking stations we examined
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Docking station FAQs
Greatest docking stations
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What to search for in a docking station
Before everything, contemplate what you have to plug in. This can seemingly be the deciding issue if you go to really purchase a docking station. Do you want three screens for an expanded work view? A fast strategy to add photographs from an SD card? Are you seeking to plug in a webcam, mic and streaming mild, whereas concurrently profiting from sooner Ethernet connections? Are you hooking up a gaming laptop computer to a number of shows and peripherals? When you’ve settled on the kind of ports you want, you might also need to contemplate the era of these ports as nicely; even ports with the identical form can have completely different capabilities. Right here’s a quick overview of the connectivity completely different docking stations provide.
Monitor ports
Exterior screens usually want considered one of three ports to connect with a PC: HDMI, DisplayPort or USB-C. HDMI connections are extra widespread than DisplayPort and the cables and gadgets that use them are typically extra reasonably priced. The most well-liked model of the DisplayPort interface (v1.4) can deal with greater resolutions and refresh charges than the commonest HDMI model (2.0). All the show docking stations with HDMI ports that we advocate right here use model 2.0, which might deal with 4K decision at 60Hz or 1080p as much as 240Hz. The DisplayPort-enabled docks assist both model 1.2, which permits for 4K decision at 60Hz, or model 1.4, which might deal with 8K at 60Hz or 4K at 120Hz.
It’s also possible to use your dock’s downstream (non-host) Thunderbolt ports to hook up your screens. In case your exterior show has a USB-C socket, you’ll be able to join straight. You probably have an HDMI show or DisplayPort-only monitor, you should utilize an adapter or a conversion cable.
In fact, the variety of screens you’ll be able to join and the resolutions/charges they’ll obtain depend upon each your laptop’s GPU and your screens — and the extra screens you plug in can carry down these numbers as nicely. Make sure you additionally use cables that assist the bandwidth you’re hoping for. MacOS customers ought to remember that MacBooks with the usual M1 or M2 chips assist only one exterior monitor natively and require DisplayLink {hardware} and software program to assist two exterior shows. MacBooks with M1 Professional, M2 Professional or M2 Max chips can run a number of screens from a single port.
USB ports
Most docking stations provide a couple of USB Sort-A ports, that are nice for peripherals like wired mice and keyboards, bus-powered ring lights and flash drives. For sooner knowledge switch speeds to your flash drive, go for USB-A sockets labeled 3.1 or 3.2 — or higher but, use a USB-C Thunderbolt port.
Sort-C USB ports are available many various flavors. The Thunderbolt 3, 4 and USB4 protocols are newer, extra succesful specs that assist energy supply of as much as 100W, a number of 4K shows and knowledge switch speeds of as much as 40Gbps. Different USB-C ports are available a variety of variations, with some supporting video, knowledge and energy and a few solely in a position to handle knowledge and energy. Switch charges and wattages can fluctuate from port to port, however most docks record the wattage or GB/s on both the dock itself or on the product web page. And once more, attaining the quickest speeds will depend upon components just like the cables you utilize and the gadgets you’re transferring knowledge to.
Almost each dock out there in the present day is a USB-C docking station, connecting to a pc through USB-C, usually Thunderbolt, and people host ports are almost at all times labeled with a laptop computer icon. In addition they enable energy supply to your laptop computer: out there wattage varies, however most docks are rated between 85 and 100 watts. That must be sufficient to maintain most computer systems powered — and it additionally means you received’t must take up an additional laptop computer connector for charging.
Different ports
None of our at the moment really useful laptops embrace an Ethernet jack; a docking station is an effective way to get that connection again. Everyone knows objectively that wired web is quicker than Wi-Fi, however it may take working a fundamental pace comparability take a look at to actually get it on a intestine stage. For reference, on Wi-Fi I get a few 45 megabit-per-second obtain pace. Over Ethernet, it’s 925 Mbps. For those who pay for a high-speed plan, however solely ever join wirelessly, you’re in all probability leaving a number of bandwidth on the desk. Each docking station I examined consists of an Ethernet port, and it might be the connector you find yourself getting probably the most use out of.
Simply two of our favourite laptops have SD card readers, and in the event you want a fast strategy to add information from cameras or audio recorders, you could need to get a dock with a type of slots. Of the docks we examined, about half had SD readers. For now, most (however not all) laptops nonetheless embrace a 3.5mm audio jack, however in the event you want wired headphones and need a extra accessible place to plug them in, many docking stations will present.
Once you’re counting up the ports on your new dock, do not forget that most corporations embrace the host port (the one which connects to your laptop) within the whole quantity. So in the event you’re in search of a dock with three Thunderbolt connections, remember to verify whether or not considered one of them might be used to plug in your laptop computer.
Design
Most docking stations have both a lay-flat or upright design. Most docks put the extra “everlasting” connections in again — resembling Ethernet, DC energy, monitor connections and some USBs. Up-front USB ports can be utilized for flash drive transfers, and even performing as a charger on your cellphone (simply make certain the port can ship the facility you want). USBs within the rear are greatest for keyboards, mice, webcams and different belongings you’re more likely to at all times use. Some docks place the host port up entrance, which could make it simpler to plug in your laptop computer if you return to your desk, however a bunch port in again could look neater total.
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How we examined docking stations
We began out by taking a look at on-line critiques, spec sheets from varied manufacturers and docking stations that our fellow tech websites have lined. We thought-about manufacturers we’ve examined earlier than and have preferred, and weeded out something that didn’t have what we contemplate a contemporary suite of connections (resembling a dock with no downstream USB-C ports). We narrowed it right down to 12 contenders and I examined every dock in a house workplace, utilizing an M1 MacBook Professional, a Dell XPS 13 Plus and an Acer Chromebook Spin 514.
I plugged in and evaluated the standard of the connections for 12 completely different peripherals together with a 4K and an HD monitor, a 4K and an HD webcam, plus USB gadgets like a mouse, keyboard, streaming mild and mic. I plugged in wired earbuds, and transferred knowledge to a USB-C flash drive and an exterior SSD. I ran fundamental pace checks on the Ethernet connections in addition to the file transfers. I judged how straightforward the docks have been to make use of in addition to the assorted design components I described earlier. I made spreadsheets and had sufficient wires snaking round my work space that my cat stayed off my desk for 3 weeks (a brand new file).
As new docking stations come out and we discover fashions worthy of testing, (there are a pair from Ugreen now we have our eye on), we'll replace this information accordingly.
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Different laptop computer docking stations we examined
Plugable TBT4-UDZ
Once I pulled the Plugable TBT4-UDZ Thunderbolt 4 out of the field, I used to be satisfied it will make the minimize: It has a sensible upright design, a sexy steel end, and the host connection is TB4. Whereas there are many USB-A and monitor ports, there’s only one downstream USB-C. A contemporary dock, notably one which prices $300, ought to allow you to run, say, a USB-C cam and mic on the identical time. In any other case, it’s fairly limiting.
Anker 575 USB-C
At $250 (and extra usually $235), the Anker 575 USB-C might make for price range decide for Home windows. It carried out nicely with the Dell XPS 13 Plus, however had bother with the third display, the 4K webcam and headphone jack when related to the MacBook Professional. It’s fairly compact, which suggests it could possibly get wobbly when a bunch of cables are plugged in, however it has a wide variety of ports and was in a position to deal with my fundamental setup nicely.
Belkin Join Professional Thunderbolt 4
Belkin’s Join Professional Thunderbolt 4 Dock is a contender for a Thunderbolt 4 different. It has almost the identical ports because the AD2010 (minus the microSD slot) and a sexy rounded design — however it’s $90 extra, so I’d solely advocate getting it in the event you discover it on sale.
Acer USB Sort-C Dock
Acer’s USB Sort-C Dock D501 prices $10 greater than our Kensington decide for Chromebooks, however it performs equally and is value a point out. It has almost the identical ports (together with the somewhat limiting single downstream USB-C) however each the Ethernet and knowledge switch speeds have been sooner.
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Docking station FAQs
Are docking stations value it?
Docking stations are value it in case you have extra equipment to plug in than your laptop computer permits. Say you might have a USB-C digicam and mic, plus a USB-A mouse, keyboard and streaming mild; only a few trendy laptops have sufficient connections to assist all of that directly. A docking station could make that setup possible whereas additionally supplying you with further ports like a gigabit Ethernet connection, and supplying energy to your laptop computer. Nonetheless, in the event you simply want a couple of further USB sockets, you may be higher off going with a hub, as these are typically cheaper.
How a lot does a laptop computer dock value?
Laptop computer docking stations are typically greater and costlier than easy USB-A or USB-C hubs, because of the broader array of connections. Yow will discover them as little as $50 and so they can get as costly as $450. An inexpensive value for a dock with a wide variety of ports from a good model will common round $200.
How do I arrange my laptop computer dock?
Most docking stations are plug and play. First, join the DC energy cable to the dock and a wall outlet. Then search for the “host” or upstream port on the dock — it’s virtually at all times a USB-C/Thunderbolt port and sometimes branded with an icon of a laptop computer. Use the offered cable to connect with your laptop. After that, you’ll be able to join your peripherals to the dock and they need to be prepared to make use of together with your laptop computer. A couple of docking stations, notably those who deal with extra complicated monitor setups, require a driver. The directions that include your dock will level you to a web site the place you’ll be able to obtain that companion software program.
Does a laptop computer cost on a docking station?
Almost all docking stations mean you can cost your laptop computer by way of the host connection (the cable working from the dock to your laptop). That functionality, plus the upper variety of ports is what separates a docking station from a hub. Docks can cross on between 65W and 100W of energy to laptops, and almost all embrace a DC adapter.
Are all docking stations appropriate with all laptops?
No, not all docking stations are appropriate with each laptop computer. In our checks, the Chromebook had the largest compatibility points, the Dell PC had the least, and the MacBook fell someplace in between. All docks will record which manufacturers and fashions they work with on the net product web page — remember to additionally verify the era of your laptop computer as some docks can’t assist sure chips.
What are some widespread docking station manufacturers?
Kensington, Anker, Pluggable and Belkin are respected and well-known manufacturers making docking stations for all laptops. Lenovo, Dell and HP all make docks that may work with their very own computer systems in addition to different manufacturers.
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