Best Notebook Docking Station. A guide to buying the most popular Docking Stations to expand the functionality of your laptop.
Do you need at least two monitors for your work? Do you want a feature-rich PC? Then you are in the right place at the right time. Docking Stations allow you to expand your laptop's connectivity options by making it even more versatile by adding USB ports, Ethernet LAN and video connections.
Best Notebook Docking Station
If you are going to buy the best PC docking station, you need to make sure that all the features and ports you need are there. With the best notebook docking stations, you can enjoy a laptop that has the connectivity of a larger desktop PC.
Read on and you'll find out which are the best laptop docking stations that can provide you with everything you need to stay productive and turn your trusted notebook into a complete work machine.
1. StarTech Docking Station Thunderbolt 3 Dual-4K
doors: 2 Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.0, Gigabit Ethernet, DisplayPort, USB Tipo A, 2 mini jack da 3,5 mm.
For
- Thunderbolt 3
- Many doors
Cons
- Expensive
StarTech claims its Thunderbolt 3 docking station is the most advanced dock ever. This device was designed to work with thinner notebooks and uses only one cable.
As the name suggests, it supports due display 4K (at 60Hz) and harnesses the raw power of Thunderbolt 3, offering 40 Gbps bandwidth, bearing in mind portability. But that is not all. It can be used with up to three USB 3.0 devices and also offers Gigabit Ethernet functionality. You can also charge mobile devices and benefit from Direct DisplayPort integration.
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2. Targus Docking Station con porte USB
doors: USB 3.0, HDMI, DVI, USB 2.0, 2 mini jacks of 3,5 mm.
For
- Fast USB 3.0 connections
Cons
- Not a huge range of ports
- The Ethernet connection requires an adapter
Targus offers this dual video docking station with built-in charging capabilities for laptops compatible with most 90W notebooks. So even if you've forgotten your charger, you can still use this stylish device.
You can connect two displays to this dock, and in terms of ports, you get a pair of USB 3.0 ports, along with a pair of USB 2.0 connectors, as well as two powered USB 2.0 and Gigabit Ethernet ports. Targus also offers a multiplexer adapter which makes this USB-C docking station compatible.
Buy on Amazon3. Kensington USB 3.0 Docking Station
doors: USB 3.0, HDMI, DVI, USB 2.0, porta Ethernet.
For
- Easy to use
- High-speed data transfer
Cons
- Expensive
Kensington is a brand known for developing a reputation for its docking stations. The latest USB 3.0 model can be used with laptops MacBook o Windows.
This device will allow you to turn one USB port into six (it has four USB 2.0 ports in the back and a pair of USB 3.0 in the front). You also have a DVI connector and adapters for use with HDMI or VGA cables, and there's an optional multi-display adapter for connecting more than one monitor.
It is certainly one of the best laptop docking stations right now.
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4. Toshiba Dynadock V3.0 +
doors: USB 3.0, DVI, Ethernet port.
For
- Good price
- Design
Cons
- Lack of doors
Toshiba is another big tech name that provides notebook docking stations. Dynadock V3.0 is one of the company's most popular offerings and is aimed at Windows laptop users who want to benefit from extended functionality.
Like most docking stations nowadays, Dynadock offers 4 USB 3.0 ports. There's also a DVI connector (with adapters for HDMI or VGA) along with an Ethernet port, and the dock uses a cable connection for ease of use and portability. Dynadock sports a vertical design that allows it to fit into any cramped desk space.
Buy on Amazon5. Dock via Microsoft Surface
doors: 2 x Mini DisplayPort, Gigabit Ethernet, 4 x USB 3.0, audio out jack.
For
- Elegant
- Ideal for Microsoft Surface products
Cons
- Expensive
Microsoft is a company known mainly for its ability to produce software, but in recent years it has been increasingly working on the hardware front. The Surface range of tablet hybrids demonstrates this perfectly. If you have one, you'll be happy to know that you can also take advantage of a great docking station.
Surface Dock lets you turn your Surface convertible into a full-fledged desktop PC. It is compatible with Surface Pro 3, Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book. As for connectivity, there are two Mini DisplayPorts, a Gigabit Ethernet port, four USB 3.0 ports, and an audio-out jack. This dock, however, isn't particularly cheap.
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6. J5Create Ultra Station per MacBook Air e iPad
doors: 2x USB 3.0, USB 2.0, VGA, HDMI, Ethernet, 2 x jack audio.
For
- Thin design
- "Wormhole" functionality
Cons
- Not particularly elegant
J5Create Ultra Station it really is a neat and compact dock, it is nothing more than a slim bar to attach to the back of your notebook with a variety of connectivity options for Windows and MacBook laptops. It offers a pair of USB 3.0 ports (one of which is powered for charging) and a USB 2.0 port, along with VGA and HDMI ports, Ethernet, as well as speaker and microphone jacks.
It's not all. There is also a good USB connection "wormhole”Which allows you to connect to another computer - in addition to your laptop - and do things like share files by simply dragging and dropping them from one machine to another. This can also be used to share keyboard and mouse between devices and works across multiple platforms (i.e. you can connect and share items between a Windows notebook and a MacBook).
Buy on Amazon7. Dell Usb 3.0 Ultra Hd Triple Video Docki
doors: 3x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0, DisplayPort, 2x HDMI, Ethernet, 2 x jack audio.
For
- Design
- Supporto display 4K
Cons
- Works best with Dell products
- Expensive
Although there are universal notebook docking stations, many models are built by manufacturers specifically for their notebooks. Dell's USB 3.0 dock is one example. It works with most of the company's latest Inspiron series notebooks, and like most of the competition, it uses USB 3.0 as its predominant port - it has three USB 3.0 connectors, along with two USB 2.0 ports.
As the name suggests, 4K displays are catered for, and you get a DisplayPort along with a pair of HDMI ports, meaning you can connect a total of three external monitors (one of them 4K) if you wish. Dell bundles an HDMI to DVI adapter, to support older displays that still use DVI, and this dock also boasts an Ethernet port with audio / headphone jack.
Buy on Amazon8. Plugable UD-3900 Universal Docking Station notebook
doors: 2 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0, HDMI, Ethernet, audio.
For
- Low price
- Good display resolution
Cons
- Limited display support
- Only works with Windows notebooks
The USB 3.0 plug-in universal laptop docking station for Windows is an affordable option for those who want extra connections. Specifications include a SuperSpeed USB 3.0 (5 Gbps) link from PC to dual video, as well as connections for Ethernet, audio in / out, and two USB 3.0 ports. The HDMI port can support a single display up to 2560 x 1440 pixels, if two displays are set, everything is reduced to a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels.
It is only compatible with Windows laptops. Further limitations are that it cannot be mixed with non-DisplayLink USB graphics adapters, such as MCT, j5 or SMSC. It also does not support dual-link DVI or Displayport connections, HDCP, or playback of protected Blu-ray Discs. Despite these limitations it is a useful piece of hardware for many uses.
Buy on Amazon9. Wavlink Universal Docking Station
doors: 2 x USB 3.0, 4 x USB 2.0, HDMI, Ethernet, audio.
For
- It supports HMDI and DVI / VGA
- 6 USB ports
Cons
- Price
La docking station universale Wavlink it is a very versatile kit and compatible not only with Windows machines but also with Intel based Macs. It includes dual monitor outputs and supports HMDI and DVI / VGA displays with resolutions up to 2048 x 1152. In theory this means you can expand your laptop to have three monitors.
Six USB ports are available, two of which are Superspeed USB 3.0, the other four are USB 2.0 for use with other hardware such as printers, scanners or digital cameras. There is also an Ethernet port, as well as audio jacks for earphones and a microphone.
Buy on Amazon Buy on AmazonDocking Station for best-selling Windows and MacBook laptops on Amazon
Below are the Amazon bestsellers of docking stations for Windows and MacBook notebooks. Take advantage of this list before reaching for your wallet.
