The perfect docking stations for laptops in 2025

Laptops have lengthy rivaled desktops by way of energy. However these slim and transportable 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 units and extra utilizing only a single port in your laptop computer. And in case you’re somebody who relocates with your laptop usually, a docking station makes it simpler to get all of your equipment linked once more if you’re again at your desk. We examined out greater than 15 extremely rated docking stations and thought of monitor assist, quantity and kind of ports, design and worth that will help you decide which one is the perfect docking station in your residence or workplace setup.

Desk of contents

Greatest docking stations

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What to search for in a docking station

Firstly, think about what you have to plug in. This can possible be the deciding issue if you go to truly purchase a docking station. Do you want three screens for an expanded work view? A fast method to add images from an SD card? Are you seeking to plug in a webcam, mic and streaming mild, whereas concurrently making the most of 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 might also need to think about the era of these ports as nicely; 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 usually want one in all three ports to hook up with a PC: HDMI, DisplayPort or USB-C. HDMI connections are extra frequent than DisplayPort and the cables and units that use them are typically extra inexpensive. The most well-liked model of the DisplayPort interface (v1.4) can deal with increased 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 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.

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 may join immediately. If in case you have an HDMI show or DisplayPort-only monitor, you need to use an adapter or a conversion cable.

In fact, the variety of displays you may 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 convey 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 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 Kind-A ports, that are nice for peripherals like wired mice and keyboards, bus-powered ring lights and flash drives. For sooner information 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 information switch speeds of as much as 40Gbps. Different USB-C ports are available a variety of variations, with some supporting video, information and energy and a few solely in a position to handle information and energy. Switch charges and wattages can range from port to port, however most docks checklist 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 units you’re transferring information to.

Almost each dock out there right this moment is a USB-C docking station, connecting to a pc by way of USB-C, usually Thunderbolt, and people host ports are almost at all times labeled with a laptop computer icon. Additionally they enable energy supply to your laptop computer: out there 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 must take up an additional laptop computer connector for charging.

Different ports

None of our presently recommended laptops embody 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 test to essentially get it on a intestine stage. For reference, on Wi-Fi I get a couple of 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 most likely leaving loads 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 essentially the most use out of.

Simply two of our favourite laptops have SD card readers, and in case you want a fast method to add recordsdata from cameras or audio recorders, you might 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 embody a 3.5mm audio jack, however in case you want wired headphones and desire a extra accessible place to plug them in, many docking stations will present.

Once you’re counting up the ports in your new dock, do not forget that most corporations embody the host port (the one which connects to your pc) within the complete quantity. So in case you’re in search of a dock with three Thunderbolt connections, you should definitely examine whether or not one in all 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 — comparable 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 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 stuff 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 if you return to your desk, however a number port in again might look neater total.

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How we examined docking stations

We began out by 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 appreciated, and weeded out something that didn’t have what we think about a contemporary suite of connections (comparable 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 totally different peripherals together with a 4K and an HD monitor, a 4K and an HD webcam, plus USB units like a mouse, keyboard, streaming mild and mic. I plugged in wired earbuds, and transferred information to a USB-C flash drive and an exterior SSD. I ran fundamental 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 varied 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 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.

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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 lower: It has a sensible upright design, a sexy 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 similar 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 a great funds 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 linked to the MacBook Professional. It’s fairly compact, which implies it may 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 Connect Pro 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 suggest getting it in case 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, however it performs equally and is value a point out. It has almost the identical ports (together with the moderately limiting single downstream USB-C) however each the Ethernet and information switch speeds had been sooner.

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Docking station FAQs

Are docking stations value it?

Docking stations are value it when you’ve got extra equipment to plug in than your laptop computer permits. Say you’ve gotten 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 providing you with further ports like a gigabit Ethernet connection, and supplying energy to your laptop computer. Nonetheless, in case you simply want a number of 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 larger and dearer than easy USB-A or USB-C hubs, because of the broader array of connections. You’ll find them as little as $50 and so they can get as costly as $450. An affordable worth 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 supplied cable to hook up with your pc. After that, you may join your peripherals to the dock and they need to be prepared to make use of together with your laptop computer. A number of docking stations, significantly people who deal with extra advanced monitor setups, require a driver. The directions that include your dock will level you to an internet site the place you may 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 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 move on between 65W and 100W of energy to laptops, and almost all embody a DC adapter.

Are all docking stations appropriate with all laptops?

No, not all docking stations are appropriate 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 checklist which manufacturers and fashions they work with on the net product web page — you should definitely additionally examine 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.