A docking station is an accessory that lets users use their laptops by connecting additional peripheral devices. It helps the users connect several input/output devices to their machine to get a desktop-like working feel. The right laptop docking station offers a powerful build quality while being lightweight. Moreover, it should have all modern ports needed for all-in-one connectivity between multiple devices without any issues.
Our team has worked closely to research and review some of the best possible options that offer a bag of features at affordable pricing without compromising actual functionality. We have listed our top seven picks to take the guessing out of your hands. Read more about our top picks to find the perfect docking station for your home office.
How we choose our top picks?
Our team has compared more than 1000 products and 7 brands and looked out the best 7 picks for you. Our team has inspected every product based on their specifications, built quality, storing capacity, warranty, and pricing. The specifications like material, durability, and so forth are likewise analyzed during the examination. View the best 7 Laptop Station that we picked after the point-by-point examination.
Products:
Premium Options
High-quality options for longer use:
Affordable Options
Budget-friendly options while being lightweight and easy to carry:
Plugable USB C Triple Display Docking Station— Best Overall
Pros
- Ideal for laptops without USB-C
- Affordable
- Plenty ports
- Supports two monitors
Cons
- No 4K support
- No charging
Price (RRP): $219.95
Plugable Docking Station features 3 HDMI video outputs, including HDMI output capable of 4K 30Hz while using Display-Link USB graphics technology. With a compatible USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 laptop, this docking station can charge your device, connect up to 3 monitors. This multiport docking station also supports “Alternate Mode” for one display at the full performance of your system’s graphics processor. Compatible with USB Type-C and Thunderbolt 3 Macs and other systems which support USB-C DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Backed with a 2-year warranty for limited parts.
Specs
- Model Number: UD-3900PDZ-EUA
- Wattage: 60 watts
- Dimensions: 23.2 x 14.7 x 8.8 cm
- Weight: 1.27 kg
TDBT USB-C Docking Station— Best for 4K Monitor
Pros
- Supports- Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C hosts
- Fast Charging- 100W
Cons
- Gets heated after a few minutes
- Needs tighter ports for a stronger hold
Price (RRP): $67.99
TDBT USB-C Docking Station is a single USB-C connection that expands interfaces. One cable can set up your working from home space. The stations allow you to install M.2 SATA SSD to extend the storage or backup your important files. To get 4K 60Hz output requires that your computer have a GPU that supports DisplayPort DP 1.4. The VGA port also lets you connect an old projector to your laptop. It Supports PD 3.0, which provides fast Charging to your computer – a perfect companion for your laptop. Plug and play; no driver installation is required.
Specs
- Model Number: HYBRIDHUB-S
- Memory Storage: 2 TB
- Wattage: 100 watts
- Dimensions: 12.29 x 5.51 x 1.6 cm
- Weight: 204 g
Customer Review
Excellent service, excellent product that provides the ports I needed.
Source: Amazon
Wavlink Universal Laptop Docking Station— Best for 5K Monitor
Pros
- Multiple adapters outputs offer improved flexibility
- Gigabit Ethernet provides a fast wired network connection
- Dual HDMI USB C adapter offers wider compatibility
Cons
- Not suitable for gaming purposes
- Mediocre build quality
Price (RRP): $189.99
This Wavlink Universal Laptop Docking Station allows you to connect up to two 4K additional monitors and eleven accessories through a single USB cable. It provides you with the highest resolution video with an incredible 14.7 million pixels, giving you an amazing feast vision, clearly showing every detail, like personally being on the scene. It also provides 15 ports that provide excellent connectivity, which gives you all your needs in a sleek, compact design.
Specs
- Model Number: UG69DK1V
- Dimensions: 23 x 16 x 12 cm
- Weight: 1.16 kg
Customer Review
I have Microsoft and Dell laptops – this Docking Station supplies power to all laptops, but it did not supply internet the Dells from the ethernet port; Microsoft Surface worked ok from the start. The overall unit seems solid and especially good for dual monitors plus laptop screens and the power supply for all devices.
Source: Amazon
Plugable Universal Laptop Docking Station— Best for Dual Display
Pros
- Equipped with a DVI port
- Fast USB performance
Cons
- Expensive
- Display-Link is extremely picky
Price (RRP): $129.95
Plugable Universal Laptop Docking Station is a single USB 3.0 connection from a host PC to this USB dock which provides a dual video output. The docking station is compatible with Windows 10, 7, and macOS 10.14+. An additional adapter is required for USB-C systems. Plug and play driver installation can be done via Windows Update. The Dock does not charge the host PC. For use with web and efficiency software. Highly not recommended for gaming. It cannot be mixed with non-Display-Link USB adapters. Whereas, Display-Port connections are not supported. Backed with a 2-year warranty for limited parts.
Specs
- Model Number: UD-3900-AU
- Dimensions: 22 x 13 x 11 cm
- Weight: 820 g
Customer Review
Using a Surface Laptop works extremely well for 2 screens on extended mode. So far, no issues.
Source: Amazon
Omars USB C Docking Station— Best Under $110
Pros
- Dedicated microSD card slot
- USB Type-C connectivity
- No external power source required
- Compact and lightweight
Cons
- No fast charging
- It cannot be used with laptops having any USB Type-C port
Price (RRP): $109.99
Omars USB C Docking Station has perfectly combined the function of USB hub and docking station. Compared to other docking stations on the heavier side, this station supports triple display, lightweight, portable, and powerful with multiports. Built-in advanced chip with low power consumption and higher data transfer efficiency. The powered USB hub provides a high-speed charging experience allowing you to charge your Type C devices to indicate status. While FCC, CE and RoHS certified, this station has stable output, temperature protection, and anti-over current and anti-short circuits. This station is backed up with a 12-month guarantee.
Specs
- Model Number: OMHUBGY11PLX
- Wattage: 100 watts
- Transfer Rate: 5120 Megabytes Per Second
- Dimensions: 11.4 x 6.23 x 1.65 cm
- Weight: 106 g
Customer Review
Works as intended, able to free up space in my laptop while just plug one cable in. half the price compared to other brands. Super easy to set up.
Source: Amazon
HARIBOL Docking Station— Best Budget-Friendly
Pros
- Strong build quality
- Supports 4K output
- Separate mic and speaker out
- Works with both Windows and macOS
- Multiple USB 3.0 ports
Cons
- No USB Type-C port
- No USB power delivery for fast Charging
Price (RRP): $56.98
HARIBOL Docking Station allows you to mirror or expand your MacBook to 2 monitors, TVs, projectors simultaneously with resolution up to [email protected] It also supports three display screens in the mirror or expands mode. Bring a theatre experience and triple the efficiency. 3 USB 3.0 ports support up to 5 Gbps, connected with your smartphone, tablet, and hard drive. The PD port supports 87W/20V/3A. The powered USB hubs provide a high-speed charging experience that allows you to charge your Type C devices. The built-in SD and TF slot allows easy access to files from universal SD and TF cards. Note: Type C PD port is only meant for charging.
Specs
- Voltage: 20 Volts
- Number of Ports: 8
- Dimensions: 17 x 7 x 0.8 cm
- Weight: 70 g
Customer Review
Works well on my MacBook Pro 2018 laptop. Does not recognize the USB drive connected. Changed the USB C cable and a 30w PD charger, but the USB drive still doesn’t get recognized.
Source: Amazon
WAVLINK Docking Station— Value for Money
Pros
- DVI port
- Dedicated microphone
- Slim Design
- Multiple USB Ports
- Affordable
Cons
- No USB Type-C port
- Does not support macOS
Price (RRP): $198.99
WAVLINK Docking Station is a great docking station for those planning to use either one or 3 external monitors with their laptops. NOTE: WAVLINK does not work with macOS and only be used with laptops running on Windows OS. This device also allows you to extend two 4K monitors or a single ultra 5K monitor to provide the highest resolution video with an incredible 14.7 million pixels, providing you with an amazing visual feast and showing every detail clearly as like be personally on the scene. It also has 13 ports of incredible connectivity, which meets all your needs in a user-friendly design.
Specs
- Voltage: 240 Volts
- Dimensions: 28.5 x 16.5 x 9.1 cm
- Weight: 1.45 kg
Customer Review
The title of the product says it includes power delivery, however it does not. Avoid if that’s what you’re looking for!
On Mac, Display-Link Manager is required even for USB-C monitors.
Source: Amazon
Compare the Top Laptop Docking Stations:
| Product Name | Price (RRP) | Pros |
|---|---|---|
| Plugable USB C Triple Display Docking Station | $219.95 |
|
| TDBT USB-C Hub with M.2 SATA SSD Enclosure | $67.99 |
|
| Wavlink Universal USB-C/USB 3.0 Ultra 5K Laptop Docking Station | $189.99 |
|
| Plugable USB 3.0 Universal Laptop Docking Station | $129.95 |
|
| USB C Docking Station Triple Display | $109.80 |
|
| HARIBOL Triple Display USB C HUB with 2 HDMI | $56.98 |
|
| WAVLINK USB-C Ultra 5K/Dual 4K Aluminum Universal Docking Station | $198.99 |
|
Source: Amazon (July 2021)
Our methodology
7 brands examined
Over 1,000 products compared
8 products chosen
- Our team researched the many brands available in Australia that produce the best laptop docking stations.
- We poured over hundreds of online reviews in July 2021 to see which products gave customers the best results.
- Our editorial team selects the products on this list based on their benefits and features. Items are not selected based on commercial relationships.
Brands Compared
To choose the best laptop docking stations, we examined the following brands:
- DELL
- HARIBOL
- Omars
- Plugable
- Targus
- VAVA
- WAVLINK
We then carefully read hundreds of online reviews given by customers who have bought and tried these products. We looked at the features of each heater to see how it performed.
We then chose the 8 best products in terms of quality, cost, and special features, based on our research.
Take note: We have not compared all products on the market, and we may receive compensation when you click links on our site or purchase products or services from partners. However, we value our editorial independence, and all reviews and comparisons are based on an unbiased analysis of our research.
Conclusion
The docking stations that we have listed offer some of the best features and are affordable too! If you are looking for a new one or planning to buy one to replace the existing station, then these options are some of the best docks you should consider. The TDBT USB-C Docking Station is our top pick from the list because of its User-friendly feature while extremely easy to use. While being Affordable, this compact and lightweight station can help you achieve the goal. Those Looking for a cheaper option should prefer HARIBOL Docking Station since it has a strong body while being Affordable and Can be easily carried anywhere!
Frequently asked questions
What does a docking station do?
A docking station for a laptop is a useful accessory, where one can connect multiple -monitors and accessories simultaneously. Compared to desktops, laptops have a limited number of ports, adding more ports indirectly.Do docking stations work with all laptops?
Most docking stations for laptops are based on USB hubs 3.0 technology. Hence, it must work with most laptops with a USB 3.0 port. However, some docking stations will only work with Windows OS. So, make sure that it is compatible with macOS or Linux before purchasing.How much does a docking station cost?
The price of a docking station can vary from brand to brand, and the price mostly depends on the features being provided. A typical docking station is priced around $100, which depends on offers and deals. It might even cost a bit less as well.Do docking stations charge your laptop?
No! Not every docking station has the function to charge your laptop. However, some can, especially the one which comes equipped with USB power delivery support of 100W, can charge modern gadgets.
