Are you wondering about turning your laptop into a portable powerhouse? You’re going to need the best laptop docking station. For people who are hearing the name of a docking station for the first time, let us clear it precisely for you.
A laptop docking station is alternatively referred to as a universal port replicator. It is precisely a hardware device that enables your portable computers to connect with other devices easily.
Moreover, it also allows its users with a laptop computer to convert into a desktop computer when they’re at the office or at home. If you’re reading this guide, it means you already know a little or enough about laptop docking stations.
However, you’re confused and cannot decide on a particular piece. This is where the TechDetects guide about best laptop docking stations will rescue you and make it easy for you to pick the most suitable device.
We’re going to present a list of the top 5 best laptop docking stations from different companies and we truly hope that this guide will help you pick a suitable option. Without any further delay, let’s get into the list of the top 5 best laptop docking stations to buy in 2022.
Top 5 Best Laptop Docking Stations to buy in 2022
Plugable USB-C Triple Display Docking Station
Price: $189 USD
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The first best laptop docking station that we’re going to discuss is perhaps one of the most advanced products on this list. The USB-C Triple Display Dock from Plugable is one of the finest docking stations you can get in 2022.
4K output:
One of the biggest talking points of this device is that it gives you a 4K output and is compatible with three monitors. It also has the ability to charge your USB Type-C laptops and it also supports a 4K monitor.
There are three video outputs in this dock such as 1x HDMI 1.4 output capable of 4K 30Hz, 1x HDMI 1.3, and 1x DVI/VGA outputs that support 1080p display at a speed of 60Hz.
Vertical position:
This particular laptop docking station is oriented in a vertical position and you cannot keep the dock under your laptop or monitors. However, the overall performance and its ability to support three displays simultaneously is making us fall for this device.
Final thoughts:
This triple monitor dock is one of the most popular laptop docking stations on the market. You can also add a Gigabit Ethernet connection and include 3.5mm headphone and microphone ports.
It also allows you to add multiple USB ports. Moreover, the company is also offering a 2-year limited parts and labor warranty as well as
Seattle-based email support.
For us, it ticks almost all the boxes of a great laptop docking station. Therefore, we’d highly recommend it to all the customers looking to turn their laptop into a powerful portable machine and can spend up to $180.
Benefits:
• 4K output
• 3 monitor dock
• Charges laptops with USB Type-C
• Supports 1080p display at 60 Hz
Drawbacks:
• Less ports than others
Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dock
Price: $327.06 USD
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If finding the best docking station for thunderbolt 4 connectivity and beyond is a problem for you, let us solve that problem for you by introducing the Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dock. It is one of the very few docking stations on the market that are offering both 8K and 4K output.
Multiple ports:
The biggest attraction in this docking station is perhaps its multiple Thunderbolt 4 ports. Although, it gives you a single 8K 30Hz and Dual 4K 60Hz output as well. Not only that, you’d also get a 90W power delivery.
Slick design:
The slick design of this machine is also pretty popular and it offers a very strong build quality alongside a variety ports to keep you connected. This particular docking station is supposedly very suitable for ultrabooks such as the Dell XPS 13 9310.
Final thoughts:
This best docking station also works brilliantly with non-Thunderbolt USB-C laptops. However, it doesn’t work with a Thunderbolt 3 Windows laptop. It supports dual monitors 4K UHD (60Hz) and single monitor 8K (30Hz) for Thunderbolt laptops.
It has a 180 Watt Power Supply that gives you a 90W power to charge your machine and also gives you some additional power to run peripherals like hard drives.
Overall, it is one of the priciest docking stations on the list and is suitable for people who can afford to buy a device that costs around $320.
Benefits:
• Multiple ports
• Sleek design
• 90W power battery
• Supports 8K and 4K
Drawbacks:
• A little expensive
Humanscale M/Connect 2
Price: $608.50 USD
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So far, we’ve only discussed normal docking stations with no designated use. However, the Humanscale M/Connect 2 is one of the best docking stations for office use.
There are many things to note about this device and you should grab a pen and paper as we’re about to discuss this phenomenal device.
Ergonomic solution:
As discussed above, the Humanscale M/Connect 2 is particularly suitable for large corporate offices. It is known as a full-scale ergonomic solution with USB Type-C for charging and it also gives you a 4K support.
The great cable management of this device is one of its biggest luxuries besides handling and adjusting your display easily.
Clamp design:
One of the main things to notice about this device is its clamp design that enables you to keep all the wires and cables under your table.
You’d get a pretty neat and clean workspace and for a device that costs around $600, these are pretty important and crucial features. Although, you will have to pay some extra bucks in order to attach a monitor arm to it.
Final thoughts:
There are approximately 12 ports in this device and its 4K support will definitely attract a lot of customers. It also offers you a USB Type-C support but, the overall setup is not easy to put together. You’d require some expert advice and clean technical hands to set it up.
It is offering a balanced price of less than $680 on Amazon but, there are many things this docking station is not offering and are available in other less expensive options. If you’ve the money, you can unquestionably go for this device.
Benefits:
• 4K support
• Ergonomic solution
• Neat & clean design
• USB Type-C support
• Approximately 12 ports
Drawbacks:
• Very expensive
• Difficult setup
Targus Universal DV1K-4K Docking Station
Price: Starting@ $99.99 USD
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Targus Universal DV1K-4K docking station is considered as one of the finest docking stations for space.
The design is pretty subtle and the overall performance is also quite fascinating. Unlike the aforementioned device, it gives you 11 ports but there are many other things you can enjoy in this machine.
Compact design:
Mostly, almost all the docking stations have a very common drawback. They take up a lot of space on your table and make it difficult for you to keep working comfortably.
The Targus Universal DV1K-4K Docking Station is something specially designed to save a lot of space with the help of its compact and delicate design.
4K output:
Besides smooth performance, this best laptop docking station gives you 4K output as well as six USB 3.0 ports. The 4K support is only limited to a single display and this dock is small enough to fit under your monitors.
It is a more than useful choice for all the power users and you’d definitely get a lot of good features in this machine.
Final thoughts:
The Targus’ DV1K-4K docking station is easy to tuck away under your laptop and this little well-built docking station has already impressed many on the market. One of the most important things of this device is its nonslip surface that saves your system from sliding down.
The grip of the dock is very strong and we expect nothing but quality from this machine. This best Targus docking station is also one of the most affordable machines on the market.
Benefits:
• 4K support
• Compact design
• Strong grip on laptop/computer
• Six USB 3.0 ports
• Suitable for power users
Drawbacks:
• Expensive
• 4K support for one monitor only
Dell D6000 Universal Dock
Price: $174 USD
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Alright boys and girls, the last docking station that we’re going to discuss is from one of our favorite tech companies called Dell.
Besides their amazing laptops and other electronic gadgets, they have also produced docking stations such as the Dell D6000 Universal Dock to earn the respect and trust of customers like us once again.
Three 4K monitors:
Firstly, it is a docking station with more than 10 ports and it supports both USB 3.0 and USB Type-C. Moreover, one of the main specifications of this device is its ability to power up at least three 4K monitors.
As the old saying goes, do not judge a book by its cover and we’d say that do not judge a Dell device because of its simple looks.
Non-removable cable:
It comes with a non-removable cable and some credible reports also suggest that it can power up a single 5K monitor as well. So far, we’ve heard about powering up 4K monitors but the ability to power up a 5K monitor single-handedly can only be a work of genius.
That is exactly why, we rate the minds behind Dell very highly and expect that its products will produce a top-notch performance.
Final thoughts:
This particular device from Dell gives you the luxury of powering up at least three 4K monitors and with more than 10 ports and support for both USB 3.0 and USB Type-C, this docking station from Dell clearly stands out in its performance.
It will handle three 4K screens over its USB Type-C and we believe that it is important to know that the cable isn’t detachable and the adapter is very clumsy as well. Dell is a fantastic company and their devices are enjoying a great sales network around the globe.
We haven’t found any big issues in this device except for its non-removable cable and ungainly adapter. Still, there are many features of this machine that are worth sharing and such as its ability to handle a 5K monitor and power up to three 4K devices as well.
Benefits:
• Three 4K monitors
• Reliable
• Simple & compact design
• One 5K monitor
• 11 ports
Drawbacks:
• Ungraceful adapter
• Non-removable cable
Our top 3 picks:
Picking the best laptop docking station in 2022 cannot be a straightforward task. While trying to compile this list of the top 5 best laptop docking stations, we came across a lot of deserving options that could have been added to this guide.
Nevertheless, we’ve tried our level best to pick devices that are going to be liked by a majority of the customers. We’ve also taken different budgets into account before picking these devices. If we were asked to pick the top 3 devices out of these five, you might put us into a lot of trouble.
Still, we will make it easier for you by picking our favorite top 3 laptop docking stations from this list. The first prize in our humble opinion goes to the Humanscale M/Connect 2 as it gives you a clamp design and offers a brilliant ergonomic solution.
The second spot goes to the Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dock because of its multiple ports, 90W power delivery and a slick design. We’ve kept the Dell D6000 Universal Dock at the third spot as we’ve a slight bias towards this company and its overall features are not bad either.
Conclusion: Best Laptop Docking Stations
There are a couple of things to note before buying a laptop docking station. The price range of this industry is extremely unstable and you need to find a proper device before spending too much on a machine that you don’t like.
Make sure that your docking station does not cover a lot of space on your table and holds a great grip on your laptop/computer. These are a few things that need to be considered before you go out to buy a new laptop docking station.
We hope that this analytical guide was of a lot of help for you and it will assist you in picking the most suitable device. Alright then, see you soon in our guide. Until then, goodbye and good luck with whatever you choose.