One of the best docking stations for laptops in 2025

Laptops have lengthy rivaled desktops by way of 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 displays, mice, keyboards, storage gadgets and extra utilizing only a single port in your laptop computer. And in the event you’re somebody who relocates with your laptop usually, a docking station makes it simpler to get all of your equipment related once more while you’re again at your desk. We examined out greater than 15 extremely rated docking stations and thought of monitor assist, quantity and sort of ports, design and worth that can assist you decide which one is the very best docking station in your dwelling or workplace setup.

Greatest docking stations

What to search for in a docking station

At first, take into account what it’s worthwhile to plug in. This may doubtless be the deciding issue while you go to truly purchase a docking station. Do you want three screens for an expanded work view? A fast option to add pictures from an SD card? Are you trying to plug in a webcam, mic and streaming mild, whereas concurrently making the most of quicker 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 wish to take into account the technology of these ports as nicely; even ports with the identical form can have completely different capabilities. Right here’s a short overview of the connectivity completely different docking stations provide.

Monitor ports

Exterior displays usually want one in every of three ports to connect 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 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). The entire 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 can too 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 instantly. If in case you have an HDMI show or DisplayPort-only monitor, you need to use an adapter or a conversion cable.

After all, the variety of displays you possibly can join and the resolutions/charges they’ll obtain rely on each your pc’s GPU and your displays — and the extra displays you plug in can convey down these numbers as nicely. Be sure you additionally use cables that assist the bandwidth you’re hoping for. MacOS customers ought to understand that 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 provide just a few USB Kind-A ports, that are nice for peripherals like wired mice and keyboards, bus-powered ring lights and flash drives. For quicker 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.

Kind-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 differ 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, reaching the quickest speeds will rely on elements just like the cables you utilize and the gadgets you’re transferring knowledge to.

Almost each dock accessible in the present day is a USB-C docking station, connecting to a pc by way of USB-C, usually Thunderbolt, and people host ports are practically all the time labeled with a laptop computer icon. In addition they permit energy supply to your laptop computer: accessible wattage varies, however most docks are rated between 85 and 100 watts. That needs to be sufficient to maintain most computer systems powered — and it additionally means you received’t should 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 an effective way to get that connection again. Everyone knows objectively that wired web is quicker than Wi-Fi, nevertheless it would possibly take working a fundamental 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. For those who pay for a high-speed plan, however solely ever join wirelessly, you’re most likely leaving quite a lot of bandwidth on the desk. Each docking station I examined contains an Ethernet port, and it may very well 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 option to add information from cameras or audio recorders, it’s possible you’ll wish 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 favor wired headphones and need a extra accessible place to plug them in, many docking stations will present.

Whenever you’re counting up the ports in your new dock, do not forget that most firms embrace the host port (the one which connects to your pc) within the whole quantity. So in the event you’re in search of a dock with three Thunderbolt connections, you should definitely verify whether or not one in every of them will likely 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 — similar to 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 in your telephone (simply be sure the port can ship the ability you want). USBs within the rear are finest for keyboards, mice, webcams and different stuff you’re prone to all the time use. Some docks place the host port up entrance, which could make it simpler to plug in your laptop computer while you return to your desk, however a bunch port in again might look neater general.

How we examined docking stations

We began out by on-line opinions, 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 favored, and weeded out something that didn’t have what we take into account a contemporary suite of connections (similar to 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 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 varied design elements 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 report).

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.

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 could make the lower: It has a sensible upright design, a beautiful metallic 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, significantly 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 may make for a great funds decide for Home windows. It carried out nicely with the Dell XPS 13 Plus, however had hassle with the third display screen, the 4K webcam and headphone jack when related to the MacBook Professional. It’s fairly compact, which implies it could possibly get wobbly when a bunch of cables are plugged in, nevertheless it has a wide selection of ports and was capable of deal with my fundamental setup nicely.

Belkin Join Professional Thunderbolt 4

Belkin’s Connect Pro Thunderbolt 4 Dock is a contender for a Thunderbolt 4 various. It has practically the identical ports because the AD2010 (minus the microSD slot) and a beautiful rounded design — nevertheless it’s $90 extra, so I’d solely suggest getting it in the event you discover it on sale.

Acer USB Kind-C Dock

Acer’s USB Type-C Dock D501 prices $10 greater than our Kensington decide for Chromebooks, nevertheless it performs equally and is value a point out. It has practically the identical ports (together with the fairly limiting single downstream USB-C) however each the Ethernet and knowledge switch speeds have been quicker.

Docking station FAQs

Are docking stations value it?

Docking stations are value it you probably 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 fashionable laptops have sufficient connections to assist all of that without delay. 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. Nevertheless, in the event you simply want just a few further 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 greater and costlier than easy USB-A or USB-C hubs, due to the broader array of connections. Yow will discover them as little as $50 they usually can get as costly as $450. An inexpensive worth for a dock with a wide selection 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 all the time a USB-C/Thunderbolt port and sometimes branded with an icon of a laptop computer. Use the supplied cable to connect with your pc. After that, you possibly can join your peripherals to the dock and they need to be prepared to make use of along with your laptop computer. A number of docking stations, significantly 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 will let you cost your laptop computer via 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 cross on between 65W and 100W of energy to laptops, and practically 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 most important 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 — you should definitely additionally verify the technology of your laptop computer as some docks can’t assist sure chips.

What are some fashionable 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 can 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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