Laptops are so much more convenient than desktop computers for the very obvious reason of portability – you can’t (or certainly shouldn’t) lug a desktop PC between your home and office or on holiday with you.
The laptop’s limitation, though, is screen size and often a lack of ports to plug devices into. Some laptops have just one or two ports included as standard, and you need one of those for charging.
And there are plenty of people who prefer a mouse to the laptop’s trackpad, and even a full-size keyboard to tap away on – of course, there are Bluetooth keyboards and mice that don’t require a side port on the laptop.
The perfect setup would be a laptop for flexibility, plus one or more larger external displays, some USB ports for adding hard drives or a printer, and an Ethernet port so you can enjoy wired Internet access rather than flaky Wi-Fi.
The solution is a dock or docking station that includes all these ports, and lets you connect your laptop to it with one cable.
In this review roundup, we’ll look at the best docks for USB-C laptops. Some laptops – notably Apple’s MacBook range – include a faster variant of USB-C called Thunderbolt 3 (T3). Such laptops can use USB-C docks, but the T3’s higher bandwidth (40Gbps vs USB-C’s 5 or 10Gbps) will be lost if not using a dedicated T3 dock.
USB-C laptops won’t work with most Thunderbolt 3 docks, although there are a couple reviewed here (from Caldigit and StarTech.com) that will work with both. That makes them a great choice for hot-desking and mixed workflow environments. Office IT doesn't have to buy different docks for different use cases - one dock can work on anything, and without adapters or drivers.
T3 laptops can use any of the USB-C docks reviewed here, but will lose some of their bandwidth advantage on the lower-spec docks.
Owners of Thunderbolt 3 laptops - such as Apple MacBooks (Air, and 13in, 15in and 16in Pro) - should also read Macworld's roundup of the best Thunderbolt 3 docking stations. It's aimed at MacBooks but the docks mostly work with any T3 laptops unless specified.
Useful Ports On The Dock
USB-C: First, you need to connect your USB-C laptop to the dock, which takes up one of the dock’s USB-C ports, unless the dock has its own attached cable.
Some docks feature extra USB-C ports to attach compatible devices or connect to a USB-C display. You can also buy a USB-C to HDMI or USB-C to DisplayPort adapter to use this extra port to add an external display; see below.
Also look for docks with USB PD, which stands for Power Delivery - this is a key feature on a full docking station. And then match that with the wattage your laptop needs to charge at full power. Most Windows laptops require 60W, but some larger laptops are begging for as much as 85W. Docks that can handle that much charging power can be more expensive as they need a larger power supply.
If the dock doesn’t have PD, then it will be drawing power from your laptop to run the other devices. The same will happen with PDs with a lower wattage than the laptop. An 87W laptop can be charged by a 60W USB PD, but at a slower pace.
(Windows PC users must check if their USB-C port is capable of laptop charging as not all PC manufacturers have added this functionality to their USB-C ports, limiting them to data or display only.)
We also list the total wattage of the power supply, as this will often allow the charging of connected bus-powered devices.
Standalone charging: This means the dock can charge devices, such as a phone or tablet, even when the laptop is disconnected.
USB-A: This is the ‘old’ USB standard that’s still used by many devices, such as hard drives, memory sticks, and printers. Work out how many of these you need when selecting the right dock for you.
Display: You'll want to hook your laptop up to an external display for more screen space. Why not boost that 13in laptop screen to a 32in 4K monitor? Some external displays use USB-C, so you can connect via a laptop's spare port or via one on the dock. Most docks, however, include either DisplayPort or HDMI ports, or a mix of both. And you can attach USB-C to HDMI or USB-C to DisplayPort adapters, too.
Most dual-monitor setups allow for two displays at 1080p HD resolution, but the best high-resolution displays are 4K. 4K at 60Hz is the best for gaming and high-graphics performance, while 4K at 30Hz is good enough for more productivity-based tasks - but not as great as at that higher rate.
Natively, USB-C struggles to handle 4K at 60Hz, so falls back to 30Hz as its maximum. Some companies have got around this by using DisplayLink driver, but this does mean you need to install extra software. For laptops that have only a 5Gbps USB-C port, 4K at 60Hz is out of the question. So check your laptop specs. (Thunderbolt 3 laptops have no problem getting 4K at 60Hz.)
Most mid- to high-end displays now have DisplayPort and HDMI built into the monitor, allowing users to choose the connector they want to use. The resolution is the same on HDMI and DisplayPort, but DisplayPort can be more stable and capable in certain situations. Read more on HDMI vs DisplayPort.
Gigabit Ethernet: With an Ethernet port on the dock you can connect to wired Internet, which is usually much faster than Wi-Fi.
SD or Micro SD Card Reader: We usually think of these as camera memory/storage cards, and one of these reader ports will allow you to quickly slip in your photo-laden card for immediate access from your laptop. However, more usefully, SD or Micro SD Cards are also an incredibly inexpensive way of adding portable storage to your laptop. Take a look on Amazon for affordable SD and Micro SD Cards (Amazon UK or Amazon US), where you can buy 256GB for around £30 or $40.Adding that amount of storage to a laptop would normally cost you around £150.
1. CalDigit USB-C Pro Dock
- $249.95
- USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 laptop compatible
- 85W PD charging, plus standalone charging
- USB-C (and 40Gbps Thunderbolt 3) to the host
- 2 x DisplayPort 1.2 (dual 4K at 60Hz to T3 laptops; or dual 1080p or a single 4K at 30Hz display to a USB-C laptop)
- 3 x USB-A (5Gbps); 1 x USB-C (10Gbps)
- SD Card Reader
- Gigabit Ethernet
- 3.5mm Analog Audio In & Out
- 150W power supply
Best for mixed USB-C and Thunderbolt 3
While it's called a "USB-C" dock, Caldigit's USB-C Pro Dock hides a secret in its "Pro" title.
This modern docking station uses the latest Thunderbolt 3 chipset called “Titan Ridge”, which allows the dock to work on both Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C. Normally USB-C laptops can't use Thunderbolt 3 docks. T3 laptops can use USB-C docks but at a reduced bandwidth - USB-C runs at 5-10Gbps, but T3 at 40Gbps.
This flexibility means that Thunderbolt 3 laptops get to use all their bandwidth while USB-C laptop owners can use the same dock, and not have to buy a plain USB-C docking station. And since it works with USB-C, it can turn an iPad Pro into a full computer experience since it can charge the iPad Pro, connect a 4K monitor, keyboard, mouse and hard drives.
The USB-C Pro Dock has two built-in DisplayPort connectors for directly adding dual 4K (at 60Hz if using a Thunderbolt 3 laptop) monitors to your laptop without the need for any USB-C Video Adapters. USB-C laptops can run dual displays at HD (1080p) or a single 4K monitor at 30Hz.
If you want to connect a non-DisplayPort display, such as HDMI, you will need an Active DisplayPort to HDMI cable.
Unlike most USB-C docks, it also charges at 85W, enough for most larger laptops. Standalone charging functionality allows the dock to charge USB devices, such as a phone, tablet or smartwatch, at up to 7.5W without the laptop connected.
For even more ports, Caldigit's TS3 Plus is another excellent Thunderbolt 3-only option.
2. StarTech.com Universal Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C Host Docking Station
- $357.99
- USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 laptop compatible
- 60W PD charging, plus standalone charging
- USB-C (and 40Gbps Thunderbolt 3) to the host
- 2 x DisplayPort 1.2 (dual 4K at 60Hz to T3 laptops; or dual 1080p or a single 4K at 30Hz display to a USB-C laptop)
- 3 x USB-A (2x 5Gbps; 1 x 10GBps); 2 x USB-C (10Gbps)
- Gigabit Ethernet
- 3.5mm Analog Audio In & Out
- 65W power supply
Like the Caldigit Pro Dock above, the StarTech.com Universal Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C Host Docking Station (TB3CDK2DP or TB3CDK2DPUE) can work with both T3 and USB-C laptops without limiting bandwidth.
It also shares the benefits of dual DisplayPorts. Thunderbolt 3 laptops can run two 4K 60Hz monitors (4,096 x 2,160), while USB-C Laptops can handle two HD displays (1080p) or one 4K 30Hz monitor (3,840 x 2,160).
The StarTech dock features one more 10Gbps USB-C port than the Caldigit Pro Dock.
It lacks an SD Card reader, and maxes out power at 60W (compared to CalDigit's 85W). This should be ample for most laptops but top-end laptops will charge more slowly. And the Caldigit dock has a much more powerful total power supply (150W vs 65W) so can charge other connected devices simultaneously.
3. Dell USB-C Mobile Adapter (DA300)
- $75
- USB-C laptop compatible (works with T3 laptops at lower bandwidth)
- USB-C cable to the host (no laptop PD charging)
- DisplayPort 1.2; HDMI 2.0; VGA; (4K @ 30Hz, 1080p @ 60Hz)
- 1 x USB-A (10GBps); 1 x USB-C (10Gbps)
- Gigabit Ethernet
- No power supply
Dell's DA300 Mobile USB-C Adapter is a much dinkier dock than most of the docks reviewed here. You could simply pop it in your pocket (it weighs 80g) and use both at home and away, although one at each location, pre-connected to your other devices, would make sense.
It comes with its own USB-C cable, and can rotate, so the ports you need closest are where you want them.
There's no power supply, so no PD charging. That means connected devices will take their power from your laptop - which can, of course, still be charged in a regular manner by its own charger.
It can support 4K resolution at 60Hz, with laptops that support DP1.3 and above with 4K displays. It will work with just about any display you are confronted with (DisplayPort, HDMI, USB-C, and even ye-olde VGA) so is great in the business person's briefcase for those tricky meeting room presentation situations.
And it's pretty cheap, too, if you can live without it charging your laptop while in use, and you don't need multiple external displays.
4. Plugable USB-C Triple Display 4K Docking Station
- $279.99
- USB-C laptop compatible (works with T3 laptops at lower bandwidth)
- 60W PD charging
- USB-C to the host (5Gbps)
- 2 x DisplayPort 1.2 (dual 4K at 60Hz to USB-C and T3 laptops)
- 1 x HDMI 1.2 (4K at 30Hz to USB-C and T3 laptops)
- 4 x USB-A (5Gbps); 1 x USB-C (10Gbps)
- Gigabit Ethernet
- 2 x 3.5mm Analog Audio In & Out
- 100W power supply
Best for three external displays
Plugable's USB-C Triple Display 4K Docking Station does what its name says it can - it is stuffed full of fancy technology that enables it to run three external displays from a USB-C laptop, with two at full 60Hz 4K.
It uses a combination of USB-C DisplayPort Alternate Mode ("Alt Mode") for the HDMI port and DisplayLink USB graphics for its two DisplayPorts.
This brings with it some complexity and compatibility issues on certain versions of the macOS, but with some driver installed, all should be well.
Aside from the display wizardry, as a dock it's a little underpowered - with just a 5Gbps USB-C 3.1 Gen.1 connection to the laptop. That will seriously downgrade. a Thunderbolt 3 laptop's bandwidth, and we'd have preferred 10GBps for USB-C laptops.
But you'll be buying this dock for its triple-display or dual 60Hz 4K capabilities over USB-C.
5. Pengo USB-C Dock
- £119.99
- USB-C laptop compatible
- 60W PD charging
- USB-C to the host
- 1 x DisplayPort 1.2 (4K at 30Hz); 1 x HDMI 1.4 port (4K at 30Hz); or use both for dual 1080p at 60Hz
- 2 x USB-A (5Gbps)
- SD Card Reader
- Gigabit Ethernet
- 5mm Analog Audio In & Out
- 70W power supply
The Pengo USB-C Dock is an inexpensive solution, with a fairly full set of ports for connecting and powering your favourite devices.
The display options allow for two external displays, but only at 1080p HD resolution. For 4K you can use either the HDMI or DisplayPort connection, although not at the top-quality 60Hz required for high-end graphics or gaming.
If you need more than two USB-A ports, you’ll have to look elsewhere, but a couple should be enough for most people – especially if you use a wireless keyboard and mouse.
60W PD, Gigabit Ethernet and SD Card reader mean this dock has all the basics, if not the very top-end performance. It doesn't feature standalone charging, as it needs to be connected to the laptop.
The aluminium design is small and lightweight, and features rubber padding at the bottom to prevent from slipping, sliding, and scratching your desk.
6. Moshi Symbus Q Compact USB-C Dock with Wireless Charging
- $169.95
- USB-C laptop compatible
- 60W PD charging
- USB-C to the host (5Gbps)
- HDMI 2.0 (4K @ 30Hz, 1080p @ 60Hz)
- 2 x USB-A (5Gbps)
- Gigabit Ethernet
- 90W power supply
This wireless charging supports iPhones at 7.5W and Samsung phones at 9W for fast charging. And it can charge through cases up to 5mm thick.
It doesn't have Audio In/Out but Bluetooth might suit you better than wired for sound anyway.
We found the Symbus Q to be a very stable compact docking station. It has a built-in, short cable so needs to be fairly close to your laptop.
There's also a model (just Symbus) that doesn't include Qi wireless charging, from Amazon.
7. Plugable USB-C Mini Docking Station
- $129.00
- USB-C laptop compatible
- 85W PD charging
- USB-C to the host (5Gbps)
- HDMI 1.4 (4K @ 30Hz, 1080p @ 60Hz)
- 4 x USB-A (5Gbps)
- Gigabit Ethernet
- 3.5mm Analog Audio In & Out
- 100W power supply
It performs well on charging but is a little underwhelming for adding external displays. It uses HDMI 1.4 rather than HDMI 2.0, and supports one external 4K display at 30Hz (3,840-×-2,160 pixels) or at 1080p HD at 60Hz.
This dock can support a VESA mount, so can be attached to the back of a monitor if you want to hide this plain box away, and save desk space.
8. Plugable USB 3.0 Dual 4K Display Horizontal Docking Station
- $149
- USB-C laptop compatible
- USB-C to the host (5Gbps; no laptop PD charging)
- 2 x DisplayPort 1.2 (dual 4K at 60Hz); 2 x HDMI 2.0 (dual 4K at 60Hz)
- 6 x USB-A (5Gbps)
- Gigabit Ethernet
- 3.5mm Analog Audio In & Out
- 40W power supply
It also boasts not just two HDMI ports but two DisplayPorts, too. You can't use all four at the same time, but it does offer flexibility without having to attach adapters to fit the connector on the external screens you want to add to your laptop setup.
While only USB-C (and not Thunderbolt 3) this dock does offer dual 4K at the full 60Hz. Note that to do this it uses a DisplayLink USB Graphics chipset that requires DisplayLink drivers to be installed onto your laptop to function correctly.
(Also, despite the capability to run 4K at 60Hz, Plugable doesn't recommend it for gaming, HD video playback or high-end graphics work as users might suffer "reduced frame rates and other problems".)
While laden with ports, this docking station cannot power the host laptop - although it does have a power supply that's required to run all the devices attached to its ports.
This inability to power the laptop marks this dock down in our scores.
It works with Windows 10, 8.1, and 7 systems, but not Macs, Chromebooks or Linux laptops.
9. TRENDnet USB-C HD Docking Cube
- $79.99
- USB-C laptop compatible
- USB-C to the host (5Gbps; no laptop PD charging)
- 1 x HDMI 1.2 (4K at 30Hz; or 1080p)
- 3 x USB-A (2x 480Mbps; 1 x 5GBps)
- Gigabit Ethernet
- 18W power supply
If all you need is the ability to add a second screen (via HDMI) and connect to a wired Internet connection via Gigabit Ethernet, plus have a few USB-A ports, then this little dock will do the job.
The USB-A ports aren’t super fast - only one is USB 3.0 (5Gbps) - but you can attach flash drives, a printer, keyboard or mouse, and so on.
The 18W of power is not enough to charge your system while it is in use, so it won’t charge your laptop at the same time. If your laptop has more than one USB-C port, then you can use that to power the laptop. If it has just one, then your laptop will drain power while hooked up to this dock.
It works with Windows and Mac laptops, although MacBooks with faster Thunderbolt 3 ports will be restricted by the slower USB-C connection.
Sadly, the price via Amazon is high in the UK (£135) compared to just $79 in the US.
If you want a basic dock that you’ll hardly notice on your desk (apart from the bright blue light, that is), this docking cube is a decent (and, we'll say it again, tiny!) solution if you can find it for a good price.
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