Best laptop docking stations of 2021

Date:
Tue, 10 Aug 2021 16:57:50 +0000

Description:
Our list of the best laptop docking stations money can buy.

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The best laptop docking stations of 2021 can make using your laptop so much more comfortable and convenient. They can instantly expand the functionality of your laptop, adding more ports and allowing you to connect external monitors - all while charging your laptop as well.

All of the best laptop docking stations you find on this page will be particularly useful for remote workers and anyone who has now find they are working from home a lot more. These handy peripherals, like USB-C docks , can effectively turn your laptop into a feature-packed desktop replacement.

Slim and light laptops, like the MacBook, often come with a limited selection of ports, so these docking stations are an ideal solution if you struggle to plug in extra USB devices. This is why we've included several of the best MacBook docking stations in our roundup.

So, what do you need to look for when shopping for the best laptop docking stations? Well, you need to make sure that whatever solution youre looking at will provide any features and ports you may need in your day-to-day workload. With the best laptop docking stations, you can have the best of both worlds:
a portable laptop that has the connectivity of a bulkier desktop PC.

With this guide, well dive into all the best laptop docking stations thatll give you everything you need to stay productive and to turn your trusted laptop into a fully-featured work machine.

Make sure you check out our guide to the best laptops as well, where we highlight the top devices money can buy. You might also be interested in
these 5 productivity gadgets that your laptop will love On the budget? A Chromebook might be a great fit for you.

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work? $27,000 worth of prizes up for grabs. One lucky winner will collect
this once-in-a-lifetime prize chest. T&Cs apply, prize details can be found here . Best laptop docking stations - at a glance StarTech Thunderbolt 3 Dual-4K Docking Station Targus USB 3.0 Dual Video Docking Station with Power Kensington USB 3.0 Docking Station Toshiba Dynadock V3.0+ Microsoft Surface Dock Dell USB 3.0 UHD Triple Video Docking Station Wavlink Universal Docking Station Corsair TBT100 Thunderbolt 3 Dock J5Create JUD500 USB 3.0 Ultra Station Plugable UD-3900 Universal Laptop Docking Station 1. StarTech Thunderbolt 3 Dual-4K Docking Station

The most advanced docking station ever? Ports: 2 Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.0, Gigabit Ethernet, DisplayPort, USB Type A, 2 3.5mm mini jack Thunderbolt 3 Plenty of ports Quite expensive

StarTech claims its Thunderbolt 3 docking station is the most advanced dock ever. Often, docking stations require multiple leads, but StarTechs latest offering avoids that. The device has been designed to work with thinner notebooks and uses only one cord.

As the name suggests, it supports dual 4K displays (at 60Hz) and harnesses
the raw power of Thunderbolt 3, offering 40Gbps bandwidth while keeping portability in mind. Thats not all, though. It can be used with up to three USB 3.0 devices and you also get Gigabit Ethernet capability. Theres also the ability to charge mobile devices, and you benefit from Direct DisplayPort integration. This accessory will set you back 312, which is a hefty whack,
but not a bad investment if youre in the market for a powerful dock. 2.
Targus USB 3.0 Dual Video Docking Station with Power

Dock and charge Ports: USB 3.0, HDMI, DVI, USB 2.0, 2 3.5mm mini jack Speedy USB 3.0 connections Useful tip storage Not a huge range of ports Ethernet connection needs adaptor

Targus offers this Dual Video Docking Station which wont break the bank, and comes with integrated laptop recharging facilities that are compatible with most 90W notebooks. So even if youve forgotten your charger, youll be good to go with this nifty device.

You can hook up two displays to this dock, and in terms of ports, you get a pair of USB 3.0 ports, alongside a pair of USB 2.0 connectors, plus two powered USB 2.0 ports, and Gigabit Ethernet. Targus also offers a Multiplexer Adaptor which makes this docking station USB-C compatible. 3. Kensington USB 3.0 Docking Station

Well known brand Ports: USB 3.0, HDMI, DVI, USB 2.0, Ethernet port Easy to
use High speed data transfers Expensive

Kensington is a well-known and respected brand which has developed a reputation for its docking stations. Its latest USB 3.0 model can be used
with MacBook or Windows laptops.

This device will let you transform one USB port into six (it sports four USB 2.0 ports around the back, and a pair of USB 3.0 affairs on the front). You also get a DVI connector and adapters to use it with either HDMI or VGA
leads, and theres an optional multi-display adapter for hooking up more than one monitor.

It sits nicely next to your laptop, and is affordably priced it really is
one of the best laptop docking stations around right now. 4. Toshiba Dynadock V3.0+

Another big-name dock Ports: USB 3.0, DVI, Ethernet port Upright design saves space Good price Lack of ports

Toshiba is another big tech name that makes laptop docking stations. The Dynadock V3.0 is one of the firms most popular offerings, and is targeted at Windows laptop users who want to benefit from expanded capabilities.

Like most docking stations nowadays, the Dynadock offers USB 3.0 ports, although more than many as you get four of these here. There is also a DVI connector (with adapters for HDMI or VGA) along with an Ethernet port, and
the dock uses one cable connection for ease-of-use and portability. And because the Dynadock sports an upright design, itll fit nicely on even the most cramped desk environment. 5. Microsoft Surface Dock

Microsoft's accomplished dock Ports: 2 x Mini DisplayPort, Gigabit Ethernet,
4 x USB 3.0, audio-out jack Stylish Ideal for Microsoft Surface products Pricey

Microsoft is a company known primarily for its software prowess, but in
recent years, it has been increasingly working on the hardware front. The Surface line-up of tablet hybrids demonstrates this perfectly. If you own
one, youll be happy to learn that you can also reap the rewards offered by a docking station.

The Surface Dock will let you turn your Surface convertible into a fully-fledged desktop PC. Its compatible with the Surface Pro 3, Surface Pro
4 and Surface Book. Connectivity-wise, there are two Mini DisplayPorts, one Gigabit Ethernet port, four USB 3.0 ports and an audio-out jack. This dock doesnt come particularly cheap, though. 6. Dell USB 3.0 UHD Triple Video Docking Station

A dock for Dell's own Ports: 3x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0, DisplayPort, 2x HDMI, Ethernet, 2 x audio jack Nice design 4K display support Works best with Dell products Expensive

Although there are universal laptop docking stations out there, of course, many models are built by manufacturers for their own notebooks. Dells USB 3.0 dock exemplifies this. It works with most of the companys latest laptops in the Inspiron series and, like much of the competition, uses USB 3.0 as the prevalent port it has three USB 3.0 connectors, along with two USB 2.0
ports.

As the name suggests, 4K screens are catered for, and you get a DisplayPort along with a pair of HDMI ports, meaning you can hook up a total of three external monitors (one of them 4K) if you wish. Dell bundles an HDMI to DVI adapter, to support older displays still using DVI, and this dock also boasts an Ethernet port along with audio/headphone jacks. (Image credit: Wavlink) 7. Wavlink Universal Docking Station

A powerful and flexible docking station Ports: 2 x USB 3.0, 4 x USB 2.0,
HDMI, Ethernet, audio Supports HMDI and DVI/VGA 6 USB ports Budget pricing

The Wavlink Universal Docking Station is a very versatile piece of kit that
is compatible not just with Windows machines but also Intel-based Macs. It includes dual display outputs for monitors, and it supports HMDI and DVI/VGA displays with resolutions of up to 2048 x 1152. In theory this means you can expand you laptop to have three display monitors.

There are also no less than six USB ports, two of which are Superspeed USB 3.0, with the other four being USB 2.0 for use with other hardware such as printers, keyword, scanner, or a digital camera. There's also an Ethernet port, as well as earphone and mic audio sockets. This is a strong and
flexible piece of hardware that comes in at a surprisingly low price. (Image credit: Corsair) 8. Corsair TBT100 Thunderbolt 3 Dock

85W power delivery and all the ports you need Ports: 2x HDMI 2.0, Ethernet,
2x USB Type A, 2x USB-C, 3.5mm, SD card reader, Kensington lock 85W charging Can connect up to two monitors Expensive

If youre willing to splurge on the docking station, Corsairs TBT100 is an excellent option with a host of ports that will let you connect up to two 4K monitors, two USB-C devices, and a UHS-II SD card reader, to start. It also offers 85W charging ideal for 15-inch laptops and smaller. Thats while
keeping things slim in the form factor department.

Its not a perfect dock, and Corsairs quality control could be better as some users have experienced intermittent disconnections, but those without issues have a robust docking station ideal for multi-tasking.

Read the full review: Corsair TBT100 Thunderbolt 3 Dock 9. J5Create JUD500 USB 3.0 Ultra Station

Neat and compact Ports: 2x USB 3.0, USB 2.0, VGA, HDMI, Ethernet, 2 x audio jack Slim design 'Wormhole' feature Not the most glamourous

The J5Create Ultra Station is a neat and compact dock indeed, being a thin
bar which you can attach to the back of your notebook. It provides a variety of connectivity options for Windows laptops and MacBooks: you get a pair of USB 3.0 ports (one of which has power for charging) and a USB 2.0 port, along with VGA and HDMI ports, Ethernet, plus speaker and mic jacks.

However, thats not all. Theres also a nifty wormhole USB connection that allows you to hook up another computer as well as your initial laptop and
do things like share files by simply dragging and dropping them across from machine to machine. This can also be used to share your keyboard and mouse between devices, and works cross-platform (i.e. you can hook up and share things between a Windows notebook and MacBook). (Image credit: Plugable) 10. Plugable UD-3900 Universal Laptop Docking Station

Budget option for high-res HMDI Ports: 2 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0, HDMI, Ethernet, audio Low price Good display resolution Limited display support Windows only

The Plugable USB 3.0 Universal Laptop Docking Station for Windows makes for a strong budget option for those who want extra connections. The specs include
a SuperSpeed USB 3.0 (5Gbps) link from PC to dual video, as well as connections for Ethernet, audio input/output, and two USB 3.0 ports. The HDMI port can support a single display of up to 2560x1440, though if two displays are set up this reduces the maximum resolution to 1920x1200.

However, it is only compatible for Windows machines. Additional limitations are that it cannot be mixed with non-DisplayLink USB graphic adapters, such
as MCT, j5, or SMSC. It also doesn't support DVI dual-link or Displayport connections, HDCP, or the playback of protected Blu-ray disks. Despite these limitations it's still a useful piece of budget hardware that's good for many uses. Check out the best gaming laptops We've also featured the best standing desk .



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