Laptops have lengthy rivaled desktops by way of energy. However these slim and moveable machines lack one thing their tower-shaped cousins are likely to have in abundance: ports. Docking stations allow you to plug in displays, mice, keyboards, storage gadgets and extra utilizing only a single port in your laptop computer. And in case you’re somebody who relocates with your laptop typically, a docking station makes it simpler to get all of your equipment linked once more once you’re again at your desk. We examined out greater than 15 extremely rated docking stations and regarded monitor assist, quantity and sort of ports, design and value that can assist you decide which one is the perfect docking station to your dwelling or workplace setup.
Desk of contents
Greatest docking stations
What to search for in a docking station
Initially, take into account what you must plug in. This may seemingly be the deciding issue once you go to truly purchase a docking station. Do you want three screens for an expanded work view? A fast technique to add photographs from an SD card? Are you trying to plug in a webcam, mic and streaming mild, whereas concurrently profiting from sooner Ethernet connections? Are you hooking up a gaming laptop to a number of shows and peripherals? When you’ve settled on the kind of ports you want, you may additionally need to take into account the era of these ports as properly; even ports with the identical form can have totally different capabilities. Right here’s a quick overview of the connectivity totally different docking stations supply.
Monitor ports
Exterior displays sometimes want one in every of three ports to hook up with a PC: HDMI, DisplayPort or USB-C. HDMI connections are extra frequent than DisplayPort and the cables and gadgets that use them are generally extra inexpensive. The most well-liked model of the DisplayPort interface (v1.4) can deal with increased resolutions and refresh charges than the most typical HDMI model (2.0). All the show docking stations with HDMI ports that we suggest right here use model 2.0, which may 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 may deal with 8K at 60Hz or 4K at 120Hz.
You may also use your dock’s downstream (non-host) Thunderbolt ports to hook up your displays. In case your exterior show has a USB-C socket, you possibly can join straight. When you have an HDMI show or DisplayPort-only monitor, you should utilize an adapter or a conversion cable.
In fact, the variety of displays you possibly can join and the resolutions/charges they’ll obtain depend upon each your pc’s GPU and your displays — and the extra displays you plug in can deliver down these numbers as properly. Be sure you additionally use cables that assist the bandwidth you’re hoping for. MacOS customers ought to needless to say MacBooks with the usual M1 or M2 chips assist only one exterior monitor natively and require DisplayLink hardware and software to assist two exterior shows. MacBooks with M1 Professional, M2 Professional or M2 Max chips can run a number of displays from a single port.
USB ports
Most docking stations supply a number 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 capable of handle knowledge and energy. Switch charges and wattages can range 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 employ and the gadgets you’re transferring knowledge to.
Almost each dock obtainable at the moment is a USB-C docking station, connecting to a pc by way of USB-C, typically Thunderbolt, and people host ports are almost at all times labeled with a laptop computer icon. Additionally they permit energy supply to your laptop computer: obtainable 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 gained’t need to take up an additional laptop computer connector for charging.
Different ports
None of our at present recommended laptops embrace an Ethernet jack; a docking station is a good way to get that connection again. Everyone knows objectively that wired web is quicker than Wi-Fi, however it would possibly take working a primary pace comparability test to essentially 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. In case you pay for a high-speed plan, however solely ever join wirelessly, you’re in all probability leaving plenty of bandwidth on the desk. Each docking station I examined consists of an Ethernet port, and it could possibly be the connector you find yourself getting essentially the most use out of.
Simply two of our favourite laptops have SD card readers, and in case you want a fast technique to add information from cameras or audio recorders, you could need to get a dock with a kind 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 case you choose wired headphones and need a extra accessible place to plug them in, many docking stations will present.
While you’re counting up the ports to your new dock, keep in mind that most corporations embrace the host port (the one which connects to your pc) within the whole quantity. So in case you’re on the lookout for a dock with three Thunderbolt connections, be sure you test whether or not one in every of them shall 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 — reminiscent of Ethernet, DC energy, monitor connections and some USBs. Up-front USB ports can be utilized for flash drive transfers, and even appearing as a charger to your cellphone (simply be certain that the port can ship the facility you want). USBs within the rear are greatest for keyboards, mice, webcams and different belongings you’re prone to at all times use. Some docks place the host port up entrance, which could make it simpler to plug in your laptop computer once you return to your desk, however a number port in again might look neater general.
How we examined docking stations
We began out by on-line critiques, spec sheets from numerous manufacturers and docking stations that our fellow tech websites have lined. We thought of manufacturers we’ve examined earlier than and have appreciated, and weeded out something that didn’t have what we take into account a contemporary suite of connections (reminiscent of a dock with no downstream USB-C ports). We narrowed it all the way 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 totally 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 primary pace exams on the Ethernet connections in addition to the file transfers. I judged how simple the docks had 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 document).
As new docking stations come out and we discover fashions worthy of testing, (there are a pair from Ugreen we have now our eye on), we’ll replace this information accordingly.
Different laptop computer docking stations we examined
Plugable TBT4-UDZ
After I pulled the Plugable TBT4-UDZ Thunderbolt 4 out of the field, I used to be satisfied it could make the reduce: It has a sensible upright design, a horny 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 typically $235), the Anker 575 USB-C might make for price range choose for Home windows. It carried out properly with the Dell XPS 13 Plus, however had bother with the third display, the 4K webcam and headphone jack when linked to the MacBook Professional. It’s fairly compact, which implies it might get wobbly when a bunch of cables are plugged in, however it has a wide variety of ports and was capable of deal with my primary setup properly.
Belkin Join Professional Thunderbolt 4
Belkin’s Connect Pro Thunderbolt 4 Dock is a contender for a Thunderbolt 4 various. It has almost the identical ports because the AD2010 (minus the microSD slot) and a horny rounded design — however it’s $90 extra, so I’d solely suggest getting it in case you discover it on sale.
Acer USB Sort-C Dock
Acer’s USB Type-C Dock D501 prices $10 greater than our Kensington choose for Chromebooks, however it performs equally and is price a point out. It has almost the identical ports (together with the reasonably limiting single downstream USB-C) however each the Ethernet and knowledge switch speeds had been sooner.
Docking station FAQs
Are docking stations price it?
Docking stations are price it in case you have extra equipment to plug in than your laptop computer permits. Say you’ve a USB-C digital camera and mic, plus a USB-A mouse, keyboard and streaming mild; only a few trendy laptops have sufficient connections to assist all of that without delay. A docking station could make that setup possible whereas additionally providing you with additional ports like a gigabit Ethernet connection, and supplying energy to your laptop computer. Nevertheless, in case you simply want a number of additional USB sockets, you is perhaps 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 larger and dearer than easy USB-A or USB-C hubs, due to the broader array of connections. You could find them as little as $50 they usually 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 nearly at all times a USB-C/Thunderbolt port and sometimes branded with an icon of a laptop computer. Use the offered cable to hook up with your pc. After that, you possibly can 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 advanced monitor setups, require a driver. The directions that include your dock will level you to a web site the place you possibly can obtain that companion software program.
Does a laptop computer cost on a docking station?
Almost all docking stations assist you to cost your laptop computer by means of the host connection (the cable working from the dock to your pc). That functionality, plus the upper variety of ports is what separates a docking station from a hub. Docks can go on between 65W and 100W of energy to laptops, and almost all embrace a DC adapter.
Are all docking stations suitable with all laptops?
No, not all docking stations are suitable with each laptop computer. In our exams, 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 web product web page — be sure you additionally test 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.
This text initially appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/equipment/best-docking-station-160041863.html?src=rss
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