[ad_1]
Computing on a laptop has taken on new norms and forms. Many professionals have moved from office desks to home offices and back again. Sometimes work can get done on a coffee or kitchen table, or in the corporate-office common areas and conference rooms. But at other times, you need a proper desktop-style setup with multiple monitors, more USB ports, and maybe even an Ethernet jack for a more stable internet connection.If you don’t want to manage a pack of dongles and adapters for everything from external displays to USB hubs, a docking station is your best solution short of buying a separate desktop PC. Check out our list of the top Windows docking platforms below to find the best accessory for your needs. It’s exhaustively researched and based on both our rigorous editorial standards and our extensive experience testing laptops. (For a higher-level overview of docking station options, check out our deep-dive guide to picking a laptop docking station; if you have a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, see our rundown of the best MacBook docking stations.)
Recommended by Our Editors
Anker 568 USB-C Docking Station
What’s better than a price cut (from $249.99 when we first listed it to $124.99 today)? A formidable array of ports if you have a new laptop with a USB4 port. The 11-in-1 Anker 568 dock combines a 40Gbps upstream USB-C port with 100 watts of charging, two 10Gbps USB-C ports (each with 30 watts of charging), two 5Gbps USB-A 3.1 ports, an Ethernet port, two USB 2.0 ports, two DisplayPorts, and an HDMI port.The monitor ports let you connect three 4K displays to your laptop, while a Kensington NanoSaver lock slot keeps the dock from walking away from your desk. The Anker comes with a 1-meter USB4 cable and carries an 18-month warranty.
Dell Thunderbolt Dock WD22TB4
Dell’s sleek WD22TB4 ($299.99) is a Thunderbolt 4 dock with a difference: a swappable module (containing two Thunderbolt 4 ports out of the box) that allows future changes as your IT department desires. The rear panel also contains two DisplayPort 1.4 ports, one HDMI 2.0 port, a USB-C multifunction DisplayPort, two USB-A 3.2 ports, and a gigabit Ethernet port as well as the power connector.Up front, the 1.1-by-8.1-by-3.5-inch dock offers two USB 3.2 ports, one Type-C and one Type-A with PowerShare. It supports display resolutions up to 5,120 by 2,880 pixels at 60Hz and provides 180 watts of power delivery, recharging Dell laptops with ExpressCharge technology to 80% in one hour or 35% in 20 minutes.
IOGear Dock Pro 100 USB-C 4K Ultra-Slim Station
Combining a slew of ports with up to 85 watts of Power Delivery 3.0 pass-through, the IOGear Dock Pro 100 USB-C 4K Ultra-Slim Station ($149.95) offers three USB 3.0 Type-A ports and three video outputs—DisplayPort and HDMI (both limited to 30Hz for 4K) plus 1080p VGA. You also get a gigabit Ethernet port, SD and microSD memory card slots, and a USB-C pass-through.The Dock Pro 100’s name comes from its 100 watts of power pass-through, but the dock itself draws 15 watts, leaving 85 watts for your laptop. The docking station measures 0.5 by 11 by 2.9 inches and weighs 0.65 pound.
Ugreen Revodok Max 13-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station
Some call it a baker’s dozen. Some call it an unlucky number. Ugreen calls 13 a winning number with its Revodok Max Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station ($399.99), which gives a Thunderbolt 4-equipped laptop three ports capable of driving an 8K monitor at 30Hz or 4K display at 60Hz—one Thunderbolt 4, one HDMI 2.1, and one DisplayPort 1.4.You also get two 10Gbps USB-C 3.2 ports (one with device charging), a 10Gbps USB-A 3.2 port, an audio jack, and an SD/TF flash-card slot up front. Around the back are two 5Gbps USB-A 3.0 ports and a Gigabit Ethernet port. (If you’re counting, the 12th and 13th ports are the 60-watt Thunderbolt 4 connection to your host and the 140-watt AC adapter connector.)
J5Create M.2 NVMe USB-C Gen 2 Docking Station
Its 10Gbps USB-C interface isn’t as fast as a laptop’s internal PCI Express connection, but J5Create’s model JCD552 M.2 NVMe USB-C Gen 2 Docking Station ($149.99) is a unique way to expand your notebook’s storage: The 1-by-12.5-by-3.1-inch gray and black aluminum dock has a compartment for an NVMe or SATA M.2 solid-state drive (up to size 2280; not included). It connects to your laptop using two USB-C cables and offers 100 watts of Power Delivery pass-through.The docking station has 4K DisplayPort and HDMI video outputs, a gigabit Ethernet port, SD and microSD card slots, and three USB Type-A ports (one 5Gbps and two 10Gbps) in addition to the M.2 SSD slot. A security cable lock slot keeps it from walking away from your desk.
Kensington SD2600T Thunderbolt 4 Dual 4K Docking Station
Thunderbolt 4 is a cutting-edge connector, so why not Thunderbolt 4×4? Kensington’s SD2600T Dual 4K Nano Docking Station ($179.99) has four Thunderbolt 4 ports—one upstream to connect and provide 65 watts of charging power to your laptop, and three downstream allowing dual 4K monitors or a single 8K monitor with 60Hz refresh rate. The device also has a front-mounted USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port with 5V/1.5A fast charging for your smartphone.Intel VT-d DMA protection blocks peripheral devices from unauthorized access to system memory. The SD2600T dock is a compact 0.9 by 4.8 by 2.8 inches and comes with an 0.8-meter Thunderbolt 4 cable.
Targus USB4 Triple Video Docking Station with 100W Power
If your laptop has a USB4 port, Targus has a flexible desk accessory for you: The company’s USB4 Triple Video Docking Station ($249.99 model DOCK460) combines up to 100 watts of power delivery with one HDMI 2.1 and two DisplayPort 1.4 ports, supporting one 8K monitor at 60Hz or two 8K at 30Hz or three 4K displays at 60Hz. The 1.4 by 7.7 by 3.6-inch device also has one 10Gbps USB-C 3.2 port, two 10Gbps USB-A 3.2 ports (one with fast charging), two 5Gbps USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, an audio jack, and a 2.5Gbps instead of the usual 1Gbps Ethernet port. A lock slot keeps it from leaving your desk, while a VESA mounting bracket lets you hide the dock behind one of your many new monitors.
Monoprice 7-in-1 USB-C Multiport 4K HDMI Adapter
Laptops with USB-C ports compatible with the DisplayPort 1.4 Alt Mode can add a bonanza of connectivity for only $39.99 with the Monoprice 7-in-1 USB-C Multiport 4K HDMI Adapter. This pocket-size (0.6 by 5.4 by 1.3 inches) peripheral provides an HDMI video output supporting resolutions up to 4K at 60Hz (30Hz with DisplayPort 1.2); one USB-C and two USB-A ports with data transfer rates up to 5Gbps; another USB-A port with 7.5-watt charging power; SD and microSD card slots; and a gigabit Ethernet port.The Monoprice 7-in-1 offers up to 100 watts of USB-C Power Delivery pass-through and works with Thunderbolt 3 as well as USB-C ports; the two flash card slots can be used simultaneously. Its attached USB-C cable is 6.7 inches long.
Plugable USB-C Dual HDMI Display Docking Station (UD-MSTH2)
At just $139.95, it’s an entry-level dock, but Plugable’s UD-MSTH2 USB-C Dual HDMI station packs a lot of connectivity. The Windows laptop and Chromebook accessory offers two HDMI ports for dual 4K/60Hz displays, three 5Gbps USB 3.0 ports (two Type-A and one Type-C), a USB 2.0 port, and audio and Ethernet jacks. It also provides 65 watts of laptop charging.The dock requires no software drivers (though updated MST graphics drivers are recommended, and the dock is not recommended for macOS) and comes with a 1-meter USB-C cable as well as an AC adapter and power cable. It’s backed by a two-year warranty.
Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station with DisplayLink
Want to decorate your desk with anything from a single 8K display up to four 4K monitors, all with a 60Hz refresh rate? Check out Satechi’s $299.99 Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station, which can drive two screens via Thunderbolt 4 and two via HDMI with DisplayLink software. The device combines a Thunderbolt 4 upstream port for your laptop (with up to 96 watts of charging) with three Thunderbolt 4 downstream ports (up to 15 watts) and two HDMI 2.0 ports.It also provides two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, an Ethernet port, an SD card slot, and an audio jack. The device comes with an 0.8-meter Thunderbolt cable.
Humanscale M/Connect 3 Pro Dock
Humanscale is best known for ultra-ergonomic office chairs and other furnishings such as sit/stand desks, but it’s lavished the same attention to detail on your notebook desk setup. The M/Connect 3 is a modular hub that clamps onto the rear edge of your desk with quick-connect ports above and more permanent connections below. It’s available in white, black, or silver in three versions—one just with USB-A and USB-C charging ports, one whose ports handle both charging and data transfer, and the flagship Pro Dock seen here.The front of the $622 dock has three USB 3.2 ports (one Type-A and two Type-C) with 4.5 watts of charging, with a 12-watt USB-A and 30-watt USB-C port on the side. (The last drops to 15 watts when the adjacent Type-A port is in use.) The south half of the hub has three more USB 3.2 ports (two Type-A and one Type-C) plus two DisplayPort connectors, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and a bridge cable port. For an extra $26, the M/Connect 3 comes with one of Humanscale’s monitor mounting arms.
More Key Laptop Accessories and How-To Advice
5 Windows 11 Tips and Tricks You Need to Know
[ad_2]
