Depending on your needs, you can find cheap laptop docking stations that will output to dual HD monitors over a standard USB, or more expensive docking stations that support USB Type-C and 4K monitors that will work not only with your current laptop but also with your next one. Not quite sure if you need a docking station? You can take a look at our USB-C hub vs. docking station and Thunderbolt 4 explainer to learn about all of the ports out there and which ones you’ll want. For ports you know you need, check out our best USB Type-C hubs and best USB Type-C accessories and cables. Even better, adding these docking stations found below will make some of the best laptops under $500 even more worth it. CES 2023 is kicking off, and there is a new wave of docking stations with a bunch of next-gen ports to check out. We’re sure to see new docking stations make the list, but in the meantime, check out the best docking stations you can grab.
The best laptop docking stations you can buy today
Plugable’s last USB-C Triple 4K Docking Station was a hit, so much so that stock has completely run out. With its latest UD-ULTC4K docking station, I can imagine it being a hot commodity thanks to its fair price and nifty upgrades. Now with a host of upgrades to turn any USB-C supported laptop into a powerhouse, the new Plugable USB-C Triple 4K Docking Station is better than ever before with extra HDMI and DisplayPort inputs, a 100W Power Delivery (PD) boost, an essential SD Card Reader, and an extra USB-C port with 20W PD and up to 10Gbps transfer rates. Oh, and four USB-A 3.0 ports for good measure. Plugable listened to customer demands and greatly expanded the capabilities of its most popular docking station, and the result is the most well-rounded docking station I’ve reviewed. See our full Plugable USB-C Triple 4K Display Docking Station review Is the Anker Apex Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station too ahead of the curve? Yes, but it’s also a versatile hub that can improve your current work setup while helping you prepare for the next generation of laptops set to become the norm. Its Thunderbolt 4 ports are convenient and speedy, while the 12-in-1 hub’s other ports allow you to charge and connect plenty of PC accessories and monitors. Anker’s dock is let down by an expensive $300 price point for a device that can’t be fully utilized without a Thunderbolt 4-supported laptop. However, give this suitcase imposter some time and it’s sure to shine. For those looking for a Thunderbolt 4 docking station at a more affordable price while sacrificing extra ports, check out our review of the Anker PowerExpand 5-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Mini Dock. See our full Anker Apex Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station review If you’re after a versatile dock with a focus on Thunderbolt 4 connections, then the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Dock won’t disappoint. Its unassuming design easily blends into any work or personal setup, and its port placement allows for a relatively clean, wire-tidy desk. Sure, it’s a bit late to the game, but that doesn’t make it any less powerful. Connecting to two 4K displays while having your laptop charge with 96W Power Delivery, having multiple PC peripherals ready to use without taking up laptop ports, and recharging your smartphone or tablet on the fly makes for a versatile setup, and this Thunderbolt 4 Dock gives you access to that. See our full Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Dock review The Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dock is made for ultrabooks like the Dell XPS 13 9310. Not only does it vastly expand the number of ports and slots on one of the best laptops on the market, but it gives it the 90W power and additional perks the notebook requires. While there are still those who may not have monitors or peripherals with Thunderbolt 4, 3, or USB-C connectivity, many devices will soon make having a Thunderbolt 4 port the standard. Thunderbolt 4 connectivity is here to stay, and the SD5700T makes for a fantastic portable companion that will future-proof your setup for years to come. See our full Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 docking station review The Plugable Dual 4K Display Docking Station is a fantastic docking station for its (discounted) price, especially for those who have a plethora of USB-A accessories and want to use them all at once on their laptops. Its dual monitor connectivity options are welcome, the two types of SD card readers won’t go unnoticed by content creators, and its 100W PD charging can speedily top up your laptop. This sleek, unassuming docking station was built to suit the needs of many laptop users looking to expand their desk setup. There are more USB-A ports than one could ask for, constant 100W charging via the USB-C host port, and two HDMI and two DisplayPort outputs with 4K at 60Hz support. It even throws in an SD card reader and a microSD card reader, along with a Gigabit Ethernet port for good measure. The highlight of it all is its competitive price, although it’s clear this has affected the type of ports it boasts. There are no Thunderbolt 4, USB-C, nor USB-A 3.2 ports, but for your run-of-the-mill connectivity needs and dual 4K display support, Plugable shows its docking station mastery once again See our full Plugable Dual 4K Display Docking Station review Considering Plugable’s other offerings, we weren’t surprised that its Thunderbolt 3 Docking Station is excellent. It’s the best we’ve tested so far, with a reasonable price, the ability to be used both vertically and horizontally and a DisplayPort to HDMI adapter in the box. It charges a laptop while powering up to two 4K displays or a single 5K monitor and has a few extra USB 3.0 ports for legacy peripherals. Ugreen’s 13-in-1 docking station is an impressive kit for expanding the I/O in your work-from-home setup. The chassis is refined and rocks a smaller size for better portability, and the multitude of ports on board makes it really useful. The triple display support makes this ideal for any multitasking-intensive jobs and any creatives will warmly welcome the SD and microSD card slots. Plus, each display output delivers as advertised on a 4K 60Hz picture, which makes for the tasty premise of a true three-display setup, looking like you’re about to hack into the matrix like a productivity machine. See our full Ugreen 13-in-1 docking station review Kensington’s SD4100v USB 3.0 Dual 4K Docking Station will be handy for laptops with USB-A ports — so, just about every laptop apart from modern ultra-slim systems. It has a useful number of USB-A ports that let you plug in any peripheral t, and its dual 4K monitor support works like a charm. While its non-removable stand is annoying, it sits firmly on any desk, and the long 3m USB-B to USB-A host meant I could put it out of sight. If you simply desire plenty of USB-A ports and some extra displays to use with your laptop, the SD4100v USB 3.0 Dual 4K Docking Station does a fine job. See our full Kensington SD4100v USB 3.0 Dual 4K Docking Station review The Kensington SD1650P USB-C Single 4K Portable Docking Station is the “something more” owners of multiple devices should be interested in. Not only does the hybrid dock charge your Windows laptop with impressive 100W pass-through power while adding several ports, but it can also do the same for a MacBook, iPad, and even an Android tablet. If it supports USB-C connectivity, Kensington’s dock will, more likely than not, work like a charm. The SD1650P Portable Docking Station’s compatibility is hard to beat, and since it can work off a devices’ power supply without needing a power adapter (you’ll lose the 100W power pass through), the device is a fantastic choice for travelling professionals. The ability to immediately give virtually all your devices extra ports, video output options, and a power supply using one USB-C port makes this hybrid portable dock one of the best USB-C hubs on the market, especially for MacBook users. It’s a shame the price and limited selection of ports lets the SD1650P Portable Docking Station down, especially when other hubs are significantly more affordable. For those in need of a highly versatile device, the dock is worth your hard-earned cash, especially with its 100W pass-through power, which rivals even pricier docking stations. See our full Kensington SD1650P USB-C 4K Portable Docking Station review If you’re in the market for a laptop with seamless connection speeds, but want a few more ports and an easy way to charge multiple devices at the same time, the Plugable Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 Hub has your back. Not only is it a small accessory that will easily fit on anyone’s desk, but it’s a pocketable powerhouse that makes the most out of anything with a USB-C port. Plugable’s TBT4-HUB3C hub delivers an additional three Thunderbolt 4 ports that can charge devices, transfer data, and link up to fancy external monitors all at the same time. You don’t necessarily need Thunderbolt 4 either, seeing as it’s backward compatible with Thunderbolt 3, along with other USB-C type connections, and connects via USB-C. See our full Plugable Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 Hub review The Targus USB-C Universal Quad 4K Docking Station, also known as the Four Head 4K Dock, doesn’t just offer the standard two or three video inputs to transform your laptop into a multi-screen setup, but eight different ports. With four DisplayPort 1.2 on top of another four HDMI 2.0 inputs, the docking station can support a single 5K and four 4K displays — plus your laptop screen. Targus’ screen hoarder also comes with a mix of noteworthy USB-A 3.2 and USB-C 3.2 ports to connect all the peripherals any laptop user would need and charge other devices such as a smartphone or tablet. Oh, and there’s a 3.5mm audio jack and Ethernet slot for good measure. What it doesn’t offer is the latest generation of connectivity, Thunderbolt 4, along with a worthwhile price tag. Regardless, if you’re after maximum screen real estate, Targus’s docking station delivers the plots of visual land. See our full Targus USB-C Universal Quad 4K Docking Station review Plugable’s 7-in-1 USB Charging Hub (USBC-HUB7BC) acts as a fantastic docking station to free up ports on your laptop and adds even more PC peripherals such as keyboards and mice. It also acts as a standalone charging hub to juice up devices such as your smartphone. It stands out for bringing dual functionality to each of its seven ports, an enviable feature a majority of USB-C hubs and other docking stations don’t completely provide. For those who require a hub with more than enough USB-A ports to charge multiple accessories at once, all while transferring files between different devices, the Plugable 7-in-1 USB Charging Hub is a great choice. See our full Plugable 7-in-1 USB Charging Hub review It’s unfair to call Targus’ USB-C Dual 4K Docking Station an actual “docking station,” as it doesn’t have nearly enough ports to contend with those formidable accessories. But I can see why Targus has called it one. It boasts 100W Power Delivery and two HDMI 2.0 inputs with 4K capabilities at 60Hz — that’s not something many USB-C hubs can do. MacBook Air or Dell XPS 13 owners are due an awakening for port expansion, but any laptop user will get a kick out of how simple yet handy Targus’ dock can be in most circumstances. The USB-C Dual 4K Docking Station is a hybrid USB-C hub in disguise. It could have benefitted from an extra USB-A port, (as well as better port management), but it’s still an incredibly handy accessory any laptop and tablet user will get great use out of. See our full Targus USB-C Dual HDMI 4K Docking Station review The StudioDock is a unique docking station. Technically, it’s an overpriced dock for those who don’t have an iPad Pro or 4th-gen iPad Air. If you do though, along with an iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch, this turns into the best docking station for an Apple ecosystem/desktop setup. It even has the Apple aesthetic for good measure. It doesn’t have the most ports, but there are enough to create an iPad-centric workspace thanks to its Qi wireless charging stations. It could certainly be used as a replacement desktop setup thanks to Apple’s millions of apps optimized for iPadOS, keyboard and mouse support, along with the StudioDock’s USB-A/USB-C ports and SD card reader. The StudioDock is a fantastic addition to the iPad for those willing to spend a pretty penny on a hub for your Apple ecosystem. See our full Kensington StudioDock iPad docking station review If you’re looking to turn your iPad or Android tablet into something more than a device for consuming content, the ESR 8-in-1 Portable Stand Hub gives your slate the ports and stand it needs to become an important part of your work setup. It’s small enough to be placed anywhere on a desk, it has the right ports that multiple kinds of professionals will make good use out of, and it can even be used to connect to laptops while a tablet sits on top of it. The hub’s reasonable pricing makes it more than worth it, although finding your own power supply to make use out of its 100W Power Delivery is let down. Still, its 120-degree tilt is a nice bonus and will do wonders for many work setups that utilize a tablet. See our full ESR 8-in-1 Portable Stand Hub review Never have any of them looked as good or accommodated as many pieces of equipment as the Corsair TBT100 Thunderbolt 3 Dock. Its premium design screams office, but it’ll look just as good manning a gaming station. Plus, it’s got a plethora of ports just waiting to connect several monitors, a couple of headsets and a laptop. However, at $259, the TBT100 has a steep entry price which might give many home office workers and gamers pause. But if you can look past the price, the Corsair TBT100 Thunderbolt 3 Dock is an essential piece of tech. See our full Corsair TBT100 Thunderbolt 3 Dock review The Humanscale M/Connect 2 is something you’re more likely to see in your office than your home, although those two are more likely to be one in the same these days. It’s a full-scale ergonomic solution with USB Type-C for charging (and a USB Type-A adapter, if you’re not ready for the new standard just yet) and supports dual 4K monitors. Its clamp design allows you to keep the majority of your cables under your desk, allowing for a neat workspace. It starts around $300, though you’ll have to pay more for a monitor arm to attach to it. See our full Humanscale M/Connect 2 review
