Most docking stations have either a lay-flat or upright design. So if you’re looking for a dock with three Thunderbolt connections, be sure to check whether one of them will be used to plug in your laptop. When you’re counting up the ports for your new dock, remember that most companies include the host port (the one that connects to your computer) in the total number. For now, most (but not all) laptops still include a 3.5mm audio jack, but if you prefer wired headphones and want a more accessible place to plug them in, many docking stations will provide. Of the docks we tested, about half had SD readers. Just two of our favorite laptops have SD card readers, and if you need a quick way to upload files from cameras or audio recorders, you may want to get a dock with one of those slots. ![]() Every docking station I tested includes an Ethernet port, and it could be the connector you end up getting the most use out of. If you pay for a high-speed plan, but only ever connect wirelessly, you’re probably leaving a lot of bandwidth on the table. For reference, on Wi-Fi I get about a 45 megabit-per-second download speed. We all know objectively that wired internet is faster than Wi-Fi, but it might take running a basic speed comparison test to really get it on a gut level. None of our currently recommended laptops include an Ethernet jack a docking station is a great way to get that connection back. That should be enough to keep most computers powered - and it also means you won’t have to take up an extra laptop connector for charging. They also allow power delivery to your laptop: available wattage varies, but most docks are rated between 85 and 100 watts. Nearly every dock available today connects to a computer via USB-C, often Thunderbolt, and those host ports are nearly always labeled with a laptop icon. And again, achieving the fastest speeds will depend on factors like the cables you use and the devices you’re transferring data to. Transfer rates and wattages can vary from port to port, but most docks list the wattage or GB/s on either the dock itself or on the product page. Other USB-C ports come in a range of versions, with some supporting video, data and power and some only able to manage data and power. The Thunderbolt 3, 4 and USB4 protocols are newer, more capable specifications that support power delivery of up to 100W, multiple 4K displays and data transfer speeds of up to 40Gbps. Type-C USB ports come in many different flavors. For faster data transfer speeds to your flash drive, go for USB-A sockets labeled 3.1 or 3.2 - or better yet, use a USB-C Thunderbolt port. Most docking stations offer a few USB Type-A ports, which are great for peripherals like wired mice and keyboards, bus-powered ring lights and flash drives. ![]() M2 Pro and M2 Max Macs can run multiple displays from a single port. M2 MacBooks (the newer Airs and 13-inch Pro) can handle two external monitors, but each monitor needs its own onboard port (i.e., a dock plugged into a single port can’t power two monitors). MacOS users should keep in mind that the MacBook Air with the standard M1 chip supports just one external monitor. Be sure to also use cables that support the bandwidth you’re hoping for. Of course, the number of monitors you can connect and the resolutions/rates they’ll achieve depend on both your computer’s GPU and your monitors - and the more monitors you plug in can bring down those numbers as well. If you have an HDMI or DisplayPort-only monitor, you can use an adapter or a conversion cable that has one of each type of connector. If your external display has a USB-C socket, you can connect directly. You can also use your dock’s downstream (non-host) Thunderbolt ports to hook up your monitors. The DisplayPort-enabled docks support either version 1.2, which allows for 4K resolution at 60Hz, or version 1.4, which can handle 8K at 60Hz or 4K at 120Hz. ![]() All of the docking stations with HDMI sockets that we recommend here use version 2.0, which can handle 4K resolution at 60Hz or 1080p up to 240Hz. The most popular version of the DisplayPort interface (v1.4) can handle higher resolutions and refresh rates than the most common HDMI version (2.0). HDMI connections are more common than DisplayPort and the cables and devices that use them are sometimes more affordable. External monitors typically need one of three ports to connect to a PC: HDMI, DisplayPort or USB-C.
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