Laptops and tablets are much more convenient than desktop computers, and this is for a very obvious reason for portability-you can't (or certainly shouldn't) carry a desktop computer with you between home and office or on vacation.
However, the limitations of portable computers are the screen size and often lack a port for plugging in the device. Some laptops only come with one or two ports as standard, and you need one of them for charging. Tablet PCs have fewer ports for device expansion.
There are many people who prefer a mouse to a laptop trackpad, and even a full-size keyboard-of course, there are also Bluetooth keyboards and mice that do not require a laptop side port.
The perfect setup is the flexibility of a laptop, plus one or more larger external monitors, some USB ports for adding hard drives or printers, and an Ethernet port so you can enjoy wired internet access while Not unstable Wi-Fi.
The solution is a docking station or docking station that contains all these ports, allowing you to connect your laptop or tablet to it with a single cable.
The setup is simple. Just connect your laptop or tablet to the docking station, and it can instantly access all the ports of the docking station, just like they are on a laptop-except for having so many ports, it will actually make your laptop The computer is as thick as a brick.
In this review roundup, we will look at the best docks for USB-C laptops and tablets. Some laptops—especially Apple's MacBook series—include a faster USB-C variant called Thunderbolt 3 (TB3) or Thunderbolt 4 (TB4). Such a laptop can use a USB-C docking station, but if the dedicated T3 docking station is not used, the higher bandwidth of Thunderbolt (40Gbps vs. 5Gbps or 10Gbps for USB-C) will be lost.
Many docking stations are compatible with Apple's iPad Pro and iPad Air (4th generation) and USB-C Windows tablets.
If you don't want a complete docking station, just a convenient USB-C adapter or dongle, check out our roundup of the best USB-C hubs. We have included a few "hubs" here because they are generally cheaper but as powerful as a dock.
Ordinary USB-C laptops cannot be used with most Thunderbolt 3 or 4 docking stations, although here are some comments (from Caldigit and StarTech.com) that can be used with both. This makes them an excellent choice for remote offices and mixed workflow environments. Office IT does not have to buy different docking stations for different use cases-one docking station can handle everything without adapters or drivers.
T3 laptops can use any of the USB-C docking stations described here, but will lose some bandwidth and display advantages on low-spec docking stations.
Owners of Thunderbolt 3 or 4 laptops (such as Apple MacBook (Air, 13-inch, 15-inch and 16-inch Pro)) should also read Macworld’s review of the best Thunderbolt 3 docking station or our own best Thunderbolt 4 docking station . Unless otherwise stated, Dock is mainly suitable for any TB3/TB4 laptop.
After we listed the best USB-C docking stations, we explained what each port can do for you.
Caldigit USB-C HDMI Dock – The best value of mixing USB-C and Thunderbolt 3
Although it is called the "USB-C" dock, Caldigit's USB-C HDMI dock is compatible with Thunderbolt 3 and 4 laptops and any USB4 certified device.
This modern docking station uses the latest Thunderbolt 3 chipset called "Titan Ridge", which allows the docking station to work on Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C. Generally, USB-C laptops cannot use Thunderbolt 3 docking stations. T3 laptops can use USB-C docking stations, but the bandwidth will be reduced-USB-C runs at 5-10Gbps, while T3 runs at 40Gbps.
This flexibility means that Thunderbolt 3 laptops can use all bandwidth, and USB-C laptop owners can use the same docking station instead of having to buy a normal USB-C docking station. Because it supports USB-C, it can turn an iPad Pro or USB-C Windows tablet into a complete computer experience because it can charge the tablet, connect a 4K monitor, keyboard, mouse, and hard drive.
The USB-C HDMI Dock has two built-in HDMI connectors, allowing you to directly add dual 4K (60Hz if you are using a Thunderbolt 3 laptop) monitor to your laptop without any USB-C video adapters. USB-C laptops can run high-definition (1080p) dual monitors or 30Hz single 4K monitors.
If you want to connect a DisplayPort monitor, the similar Caldigit USB-C Pro Dock is a very close match, but it uses DP instead of HDMI.
Unlike most USB-C docks, the charging power of the USB-C HDMI dock is also 94W, which is enough to meet the needs of most high-end laptops. The power of the DisplayPort USB-C Pro model is slightly less than 85W.
The independent charging function allows the docking station to charge USB devices (such as mobile phones, tablets, or smart watches) with up to 7.5W of power without connecting to a laptop.
This is an excellent USB-C docking station in itself, and T3/T4/USB4 compatibility is a future-oriented mixed environment advantage.
Read our full Caldigit USB-C HDMI Dock review
Anker PowerExpand Elite Dock – The best USB-C/Thunderbolt docking station with multiple ports
If you need more ports than Caldigit USB-C HDMI or Pro docking stations, Anker's PowerExpand Elite Thunderbolt 3 docking station can provide 13 ports.
With its Titan Ridge chipset, it is also USB-C compatible, making it a neat and compact vertical docking station.
Since macOS does not support MST (Multi-Stream Transport), PowerExpand Elite can connect up to three external displays on a Windows laptop.
The HDMI and Thunderbolt/USB-C ports will connect two displays (Thunderbolt laptops are 4K at 60Hz), and the third external display will use a USB-C port (4K at 30Hz). Unless your monitor itself has a USB-C connection, you will need to use a Thunderbolt and USB-C connection adapter (not included).
One seemingly trivial feature we like is the easy-to-reach switch, which will help save energy, extend the battery life of the device, and prevent the base from becoming overheated when not in use overnight.
Both USB-C ports are 10Gbps Gen 2 and some of the docking stations only have 5Gbps Type C ports.
Read our complete Anker PowerExpand Elite Dock review.
Plugable's USB-C three-monitor 4K docking station-best for three external monitors
Plugable’s USB-C triple display 4K docking station (UD-ULTC4K) is as its name suggests — it’s full of fancy technology that allows it to run three external displays from a USB-C laptop, two of which run at full 60Hz 4K run.
It combines the USB-C DisplayPort alternate mode ("Alt mode") of the HDMI port and the DisplayLink USB graphics of the two DisplayPorts.
This brings some complexity and compatibility issues on some versions of macOS, but after installing some drivers, everything should be fine.
In addition to display magic, as a docking station, its power is a bit underpowered-only 5Gbps USB-C 3.1 Gen.1 is connected to the laptop. This will severely reduce the bandwidth of Thunderbolt 3 laptops. We prefer the 10GBps of USB-C laptops.
But you will buy this docking station to achieve three-screen display or dual 60Hz 4K function via USB-C.
Read our complete pluggable USB-C three-screen 4K docking station review
HyperDrive GEN2 12-port USB-C hub – a great value USB-C docking station with 12 ports
Based on speed and bandwidth, USB-C has many styles: from Gen1 5Gbps standard to 10GBps Gen2.
The HyperDrive Gen2 USB-C Dock has 12 ports and is great value for money. However, you need to bring your own USB-C wall charger (up to 100W) because this docking station does not have a power source.
It uses the compact metal shape that Thunderbolt 3 docking station loves, but brings this level of multi-port flexibility into the USB-C world.
Its two USB-A ports support 10Gbps bandwidth, but the other two are much lower 480Mbps USB 2.0.
There are many video options (two HDMI and one DisplayPort), but Mac users should remember that with USB-C, they can only have one external display unless they download a third-party DisplayLink driver.
Twelve South StayGo USB-C Hub – The best portable USB-C dock
This lightweight and compact USB-C docking station calls itself a hub, in order to belittle itself. Twelve South StayGo is indeed a powerful portable docking station that can fit in your pocket.
Yes, it does not have its own power supply, but you can connect it to a laptop charger (or other charger) for direct charging with up to 85W of power.
It has HDMI (4K 30Hz) for connecting an external display, three USB-A ports (one of which can be used to charge the phone), an SD card reader for adding simple and inexpensive backup storage, and Gigabit Ethernet ——All basic functions and more.
It even comes with its own neat, short-range USB-C cable for protection, and comes with a 1m USB-C cable for normal desktop use.
Read our full 12 South StayGo USB-C hub review
OWC USB-C Travel Dock E – The best compact USB-C Dock
This portable USB-C docking station has six ports and has at least one port you should need. E stands for Ethernet-a port that most USB-C adapters lack.
It is connected to the laptop via a short 15 cm cable. If you need a longer cable, it is best to use a base without an integrated cable. But for travel purposes, the docking station with its own cable allows you to avoid the need to carry additional cables with you.
The USB-C and USB-A ports are 5Gbps; you will find 10Gbps USB and more such ports on some docking stations, but this compact size is not the case.
The 92W pass-through charging is impressive. If you don’t have a wall charger with you or can’t use a socket, you can choose to use the laptop’s bus power.
It weighs only 174 grams (6.1 ounces) and is compact enough to fit in the trouser pocket. When you are not traveling, it is perfect for taking up very little desktop space.
Caldigit USB-C SOHO Dock – The best portable USB-C dock for external displays
Caldigit has done this again with its miniature SOHO (Small Office Home Office) docking station, which outperforms other USB-C docking stations with an external 4K display that supports 60Hz, instead of the low-quality 30Hz limitation that usually exists with USB-C .
It does this by using separate channels for video and USB-which means it can provide a consistent 4K 60Hz display while providing 10Gbps USB performance.
Yes, 10GBps. The SOHO Dock has the fastest USB port: both USB-A and USB-C ports have a rated bandwidth of 10Gbps, while most of these ports have a bandwidth of 5Gbps.
It also has DisplayPort and HDMI ports to provide flexibility when adding external displays to the laptop.
Compared with the equally portable Twelve South StayGo, SOHO Dock does not have many USB ports, but if you only need one of them and speed is important to you, then it is hard to beat.
Since this base does not have its own power supply, the laptop can be powered by connecting a wall charger to the base, depending on the function of the charger.
Read our full Caldigit USB-C SOHO Dock review
PNY all-in-one USB-C docking station-the lightest USB-C docking station with power supply
The portable PNY all-in-one USB-C docking station is compact (12-x-7-x-1.4 cm) and ultra-light, and can be connected to an external monitor via HDMI or VGA.
It comes with a short, integrated USB-C cable, making it a one-stop tool for your connection requirements, without the need to carry a separate cable to connect to your laptop.
Compared with other travel bases, it is significantly lighter (107 grams vs. 151 grams), and shorter but the same length.
Although Twelve South StayGo also has a USB-A port, it is well matched in terms of port and power supply. Its SD and microSD cards can be read at the same time, while PNY can only read one card at a time-this pair Most people rarely become problem users.
It does have a VGA port, which may be useful for older monitors or projectors.
We do prefer the two cables that come with StayGo (although neither is integrated) because one of them provides a convenient 1m length compared to PNY's rather meager 12cm.
In other words, its extremely low brightness and VGA are likely to appeal to those who travel to multiple destinations and use mixed display options.
Read our complete PNY 9-in-1 mini portable USB-C hub review
Lention USB-C docking station – USB-C docking station for Windows laptops
The Lention USB-C universal docking station is designed to be placed under your laptop, so it does not take up extra desktop space. It also has a flip cover that can easily hold a tablet, but it's different from a laptop.
It has three USB-A ports-one is 480Mbps for USB 2.0, and the other two are for 5Gbps USB 3.0. The spare USB-C port is used to connect to a wall charger because the docking station does not have its own power supply. It cannot be used to connect different USB-C devices.
What makes this docking station special is its three different video options: HDMI, DisplayPort and VGA. A Windows PC can be connected to three external monitors at the same time, although the resolution will go back to 720p HD quality instead of 1080p or 4K, which is possible with fewer monitors connected.
Although the DisplayLink software can be used on a Mac, Lenion does not recommend using multiple monitors for a Mac, and when using two monitors on a Mac at the same time, only mirror images can be used-so we will not evaluate it in a better situation Whether this dock is suitable for use with Mac dock is available.
But it is fine for Windows, as long as the computer supports DisplayPort alternate mode.
Moshi Symbus Q – The best USB-C dock for wireless phone charging
This is a small base (11.6 x 7.2 x 3.2 cm) with ingenious tricks that we have never seen on other products-it doubles as a Qi wireless charger for your phone!
This wireless charging supports fast charging of 7.5W iPhone and 9W Samsung mobile phones. It can be charged through a shell with a thickness of up to 5 mm.
It has no audio input/output, but Bluetooth may be more suitable for you than wired.
We found that Symbus Q is a very stable compact docking station. It has a built-in short cable, so it needs to be very close to your laptop.
There is also a model (Symbus only) that does not include Qi wireless charging from Amazon.
HyperDrive GEN2 6-port USB-C hub
This little USB-C hub is very sturdy. Its metal shell is ridged to keep the dock cool.
Although the port is not overloaded, its six cover the basic elements: HDMI for external displays, a fast 10Gbps, a separate USB-A port for an additional device, SD and microSD card readers (full speed), A 3.5 mm audio slot and USB-C can provide up to 100W of power-enough to meet the needs of any high-end laptop.
Unlike most USB-C docking stations, the most notable is that the HDMI connection can handle 4K at 60Hz.
Wired Internet does not have Gigabit Ethernet, so it is only suitable for Wi-Fi enthusiasts. A USB-A port may be considered stingy, but for a portable USB-C docking station, it is not suitable for a large number of device connections.
StarTech USB-C Multiport Adapter Mini Docking Station
If you need a docking station with flexible video options, this small and portable docking station has DisplayPort, HDMI and VGA ports.
It will only connect to an external display, but any one of its three video ports can be used.
It also has fast 10Gbps USB-A and USB-C ports, including a wrap-around integrated cable connection that can be connected to your laptop or tablet.
Plug in your USB-C wall charger to get 60W laptop PD charging and 15W charging for the dock itself, or use the laptop's own power supply to run the dock.
There are two USB-A ports and Gigabit Ethernet, but no SD card reader.
Read our full StarTech.com USB-C multiport mini dock review
StarTech Thunderbolt 3 USB-C Docking Station-Universal Docking Station
Like Caldigit Pro Dock, StarTech universal Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C host docking station (TB3CDK2DP or TB3CDK2DPUE) can be used with T3 and USB-C laptops without limiting bandwidth.
It also has the advantage of dual DisplayPort. Thunderbolt 3 laptops can run two 4K 60Hz displays (4,096 x 2,160), while USB-C laptops can handle two high-definition displays (1080p) or one 4K 30Hz display (3,840 x 2,160).
StarTech docking station has one more 10Gbps USB-C port than Caldigit Pro Dock.
It has no SD card reader and has a maximum output power of 60W (compared to CalDigit's 85W). This should be sufficient for most laptops, but high-end laptops will charge more slowly. The Caldigit docking station has a more powerful total power supply (150W and 65W), so it can charge other connected devices at the same time.
Dell DA300-Compact mobile USB-C hub
Dell's DA300 mobile USB-C adapter is a smaller docking station than most of the docking stations reviewed here. You can simply put it in your pocket (weighing 80 grams) and use it at home and when you are out, although one for each location, pre-connected to your other devices, makes sense.
It comes with its own USB-C cable and can be rotated, so you need the nearest port to be where you want it.
There is no power supply, so there is no PD charging. This means that the connected device will get power from your laptop-of course, the laptop can still be charged regularly with its own charger.
This is why we prefer Twelve South StayGo as our favorite portable USB-C docking station, although with this docking station you will get higher frame rates on 4K monitors.
Because it has a 10Gbps USB-C connection to the laptop, it can support 4K resolution at full 60Hz, and laptops that support DP1.3 and higher are equipped with 4K displays. It is suitable for almost any display you encounter (DisplayPort, HDMI, USB-C, even ye-olde VGA), so it is very suitable for business briefcases, suitable for those tricky meeting room presentation situations.
And it's also very cheap, if you can charge your laptop without it while in use, and you don't need multiple external monitors.
Pluggable USB-C mini docking station-compact mini hub
This is another very small docking station (9.5cm-x-8.9cm-3.2cm), it is heavy on the USB-A port, but there is no spare USB-C port because it uses one of it to connect to the notebook computer.
It performs well when charging, but is a bit impressive when an external display is added. It uses HDMI 1.4 instead of HDMI 2.0, and supports a 30Hz (3,840-×-2,160 pixels) external 4K display or 60Hz 1080p HD.
This docking station can support VESA installation, so if you want to hide this ordinary box and save desktop space, you can connect it to the back of the monitor.
USB-C: First, you need to connect a USB-C laptop to the docking station, which occupies a USB-C port on the docking station, unless the docking station has its own connection cable.
Some docking stations have additional USB-C ports for connecting compatible devices or connecting to USB-C displays. You can also purchase a USB-C to HDMI or USB-C to DisplayPort adapter to use this additional port to add an external monitor; see below.
USB-C has two bandwidths of 5Gbps or 10Gbps. If data transfer speed is important, look for a dock with a higher rating. There are many USB speed grades, so please pay attention to the technical specifications.
Also look for a docking station with USB PD, which stands for Power Delivery-this is a key function of a complete docking station. Then match it to the wattage your laptop needs to charge at full power. Most Windows laptops require 60W, but some larger laptops require up to 85W. Bases that can handle so much charging power may be more expensive because they require a larger power source.
If the dock does not have a PD, then it will get power from your laptop to run other devices. The same can happen to PDs with lower power than laptops. An 87W laptop can be charged via a 60W USB PD, but the speed is slower.
(Windows PC users must check whether their USB-C ports can charge their laptops, because not all PC manufacturers add this feature to their USB-C ports, restricting them to only for data or display.)
We also list the total wattage of the power supply, as this usually allows charging connected bus-powered devices.
Thunderbolt: Exactly like USB-C, Thunderbolt is a faster connection standard-certified as 40Gbps. Thunderbolt 4 is backward compatible with Thunderbolt 3 and has some additional benefits, such as a smarter daisy chain and the ability of the docking station to contain up to four TB4 ports.
Independent charging: This means that the docking station can charge devices such as mobile phones or tablets, even when the laptop is disconnected.
USB-A: This is the "old" USB standard still used by many devices, such as hard drives, memory sticks, and printers. When choosing the right base for you, figure out how many you need. Like USB-C, USB-A also has different speeds: from the lowest 480Mbps to the most common 5Gbps and the latest fast 10Gbps.
Monitor: You need to connect your laptop to an external monitor to get more screen space. Why not upgrade the 13-inch laptop screen to a 32-inch 4K monitor? Some external monitors use USB-C, so you can connect via a spare port on your laptop or a port on the docking station. However, most docking stations include DisplayPort or HDMI ports, or a mixture of the two; some include the old VGA standard. You can also connect USB-C to HDMI or USB-C to a DisplayPort adapter.
Most dual-monitor setups allow two monitors to be displayed at 1080p HD resolution, but the best high-resolution monitor is 4K. 4K at 60Hz is best for gaming and high graphics performance, while 4K at 30Hz is sufficient for more productivity-based tasks-but not as good as higher rates.
Pay attention to the DisplayPort or HDMI version, because in terms of higher resolution and refresh rate, the higher version has greater capabilities.
HDMI 1.4: Supports up to 4K (3840-x-2160) at 30Hz, or 1080p HD at 120Hz.
HDMI 2.0: Supports up to 4K at 60Hz
DisplayPort 1.2: Supports up to 4K at 60Hz
DisplayPort 1.3: Supports up to 4K at 120Hz or 8K at 30Hz
DisplayPort 1.4: Supports up to 8K at 60Hz and HDR
Originally, it is difficult for USB-C to handle 4K at 60Hz, so it will fall back to 30Hz as its maximum value. Some companies have solved this problem by using DisplayLink drivers, but this does mean that you need to install additional software. Caldigit's SOHO Dock uses separate channels for data and video, so it can reach 60Hz on a 4K monitor.
For laptops with only 5Gbps USB-C ports, 4K at 60Hz is impossible. So please check your laptop specifications. (Even on two monitors, Thunderbolt 3 laptops can get 4K at 60Hz without a problem.)
Most mid-to-high-end displays now have DisplayPort and HDMI built into the display, allowing users to choose the connector they want to use. The resolution of HDMI and DisplayPort are the same, but DisplayPort can be more stable and powerful in some cases. Read more about HDMI and DisplayPort.
Please note that Mac only supports one external display via USB-C (two via Thunderbolt 3), although you can bypass this limitation by installing the DisplayLink driver.
Gigabit Ethernet: Through the Ethernet port on the docking station, you can connect to the wired Internet, which is usually much faster than Wi-Fi.
SD or Micro SD card readers: We usually think of them as camera memory/memory cards, and one of the card reader ports allows you to quickly insert a card with photos for immediate access from your laptop. However, more usefully, SD or Micro SD cards are also a very cheap way to add portable storage to laptops. Check out reasonably priced SD and Micro SD cards (Amazon UK or Amazon US) on Amazon, where you can buy 256GB for approximately £30 or US$40. Adding this amount of storage to a laptop will usually cost you about £150.
Tablet PCs: Many of these docking stations are suitable for USB-C tablets, such as iPad Pro and Windows tablets, but first check whether the Windows tablet has USB-C and appropriate video options. Also, check out the best tablet stand.
Most relevant link: uknews today, government news, financial news