Because not all docking stations will work with your laptop, you must exercise caution when selecting a docking station. If you’re not sure how to choose one or what factors to consider when buying, you should read this post. The portable computer’s limitation is screen size and, in many cases, a lack of ports to plug devices into. Some laptops come with only one or two ports as standard, and one of those is required for charging. Tablets, on the other hand, have even fewer ports for device expansion. Many people prefer a mouse to the laptop’s trackpad, as well as a full-size keyboard to tap away on—of course, Bluetooth keyboards and mice do not require a side port on the laptop. We’ve compiled a list of the best USB Type-C hubs with exceptional features for your laptop.
Here is the list of Best USB Type-C hubs
Plugable USB C Docking Station
Easily one of the best USB Type-C hubs available on the market, the Plugable’s previous USB-C Triple 4K Docking Station was so popular that it sold out completely. With its latest UD-ULTC4K docking station, we can see it becoming a hot commodity due to its reasonable price and useful upgrades. 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. An extra USB-C port with 20W PD and up to 10Gbps transfer rates to turn any USB-C supported laptop into a powerhouse. There are also four USB-A 3.0 ports for good measure. Plugable responded to customer feedback by significantly expanding the capabilities of its most popular docking station, resulting in the most well-rounded docking station we’ve reviewed.
Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Dock
If you’re looking for a versatile dock with a focus on Thunderbolt 4 connections, the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Dock will not let you down. Its understated design blends into any work or personal environment, and its port placement allows for a relatively clean, wire-free desk. It’s a little late to the game, but that doesn’t make it any less effective. Connecting to two 4K displays while charging your laptop with 96W Power Delivery, having multiple PC peripherals ready to use without taking up laptop ports, and charging your smartphone or tablet on the fly all add up to a versatile setup, and this Thunderbolt 4 Dock provides access to all of that.
Ugreen USB-C Triple Display Docking Station
Another dock that supports up to three external displays is the Ugreen USB-C Triple Display Docking Station, which requires DisplayLink drivers for Macs. Because it does not come with a power supply, this small dock requires a USB-C charger to function. A 100W PD charger is required to reach the potential 85W laptop charging Power Delivery on offer here. One HDMI port and the DisplayPort support 4K at 60Hz, and the second HDMI port can push up to 8K at 30Hz in Windows. The HDMI 2.1 port can achieve 60Hz at resolutions less than 8K, such as 4K, 5K, or 6K. There are also front-mounted USB-C and USB-A ports capable of transferring data at 10Gbps, which is faster than many USB-C docks. There are two slower but still usable 5Gbps USB-A ports on the back. Still, it is one of the best USB Type-C hubs that you can consider.
Twelve South StayGo
The Twelve South StayGo is a powerful portable dock that fits in your pocket. Although it lacks its own power supply, you can connect it to your laptop’s charger for passthrough charging at up to 85W. It has HDMI for connecting an external display (4K at 30Hz), three USB-A ports, an SD Card reader for simple and inexpensive backup storage, and Gigabit Ethernet – everything you need and more. It even includes its own neat, short travel USB-C cable for protection, as well as a 1m USB-C cable for normal desktop use. It’s also available in black or white.
Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter
While no Apple-branded docking station is available for use with your MacBook, Apple does sell its USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter. Although it pales in comparison to the options provided by the model above, it is significantly less expensive and covers all of the essentials. In a pinch, you could also use a compatible USB-A hub to expand it further. Of course, if you use it with a MacBook Air, you’ll be limited to the one extra USB-C port it doesn’t already occupy. However, if you connect to a more port-heavy MacBook Pro, you may be able to run two or more external monitors if any of those monitors support Thunderbolt-based input. Overall, it is one of the best USB Type-C hubs that you can buy.
ORICO Thunderbolt 3 M.2 Dual-bay Docking Station
This ORICO docking bay is unique in that it can accept M.2 SSD drives and make them available to any connecting device, in addition to all of the other peripherals that this dock can accept. However, Thunderbolt does not provide the same performance as an internally connected NVMe drive, and the two slots cannot be used for NVMe PCIe drives because the second slot can only accept an M.2 SATA SSD. Regardless of the M.2 NVMe drives installed in this dock, the best speeds are likely to be around 2750MB/s reads and 1500MB/s writes. It may be more of a problem because the charging limit for connected laptops is only 60W, making it only suitable for thin Ultrabook designs without discrete GPUs onboard. With a high MSRP and a slew of limitations, the ORICO Thunderbolt 3 M.2 Dual-bay Docking Station may be catering to a niche audience, even if it is beautifully made.
Dell Thunderbolt Dock WD22TB4
The WD22TB4 from Dell is a Thunderbolt 4 dock with a twist: a swappable module (with two Thunderbolt 4 ports out of the box) that allows for future changes as your IT department sees fit. In addition to the power connector, the rear panel houses two DisplayPort 1.4 ports, one HDMI 2.0 port, a USB-C multifunction DisplayPort, two USB-A 3.2 ports, and a gigabit Ethernet port. The 1.1-by-8.1-by-3.5-inch dock has two USB 3.2 ports on the front, one Type-C and one Type-A with Power Share. It supports display resolutions of up to 5,120 by 2,880 pixels at 60Hz and delivers 180 watts of power, allowing Dell laptops with Express Charge technology to be charged to 80% in one hour or 35% in 20 minutes. Currently, this is one of the best USB Type-C hubs that you can buy right now.
Accell Thunderbolt 4 dock
Given how unexpected some of our transitions to a work-from-home setup were, it’s very common to find users with so little desk space that even the smallest docking stations can barely fit. In those cases, the Accell Thunderbolt 4 dock is a perfect match…literally. Its low-profile, shallow design belies the fact that it has as many connections as it does. It can support up to two displays or a single 8K monitor with full Thunderbolt 4 support across data and display connections. Perhaps most importantly, it comes with its own power supply. This means you can leave your laptop’s included charger in its bag, where you’re most likely to need it when you’re back on the road.
Dockcase Smart Hub 7-in-1
The Dockcase Smart Hub if you want to make the most of your USB Type-C port. This device converts a single USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 or higher port into three 5Gbps USB-A 3.0 ports, one USB-C charging port, an HDMI 2.0 port capable of driving a 4K monitor at 60Hz, and SD card reader and microSD card slots that can be used concurrently. It also has a 1.3-inch colour LCD display that can be rotated 90 degrees to display port status, device types, and real-time chip temperature. The Dockcase is made of zinc alloy and tempered glass and is also available in a cheaper integrated version with a 100-watt USB-C cable that is not detachable for use with AC adapters. Still, it is one of the best USB Type-C hubs that you can consider.
StarTech Thunderbolt 4 Dock
StarTech already produces some useful equipment for those who push the boundaries of Thunderbolt and USB technology. Despite being a little late to the Thunderbolt 4 party, StarTech has created a dock that provides maximum user flexibility as well as enough charging power to handle even the most demanding laptops. This dock is far from underpowered, with 96W of power available for the host system, 15W for each of the three Thunderbolt downstream connections, and more for triple USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports. The designer aimed to make it sufficient for all users’ needs, regardless of whether they needed to connect displays, storage, or any other peripherals.
Final Words
The Best USB‑C Docking Stations for you will be determined by the factors that are important to you and the purpose of the docking station. To find the best docking station for you, we compared important docking station specifications such as price, connection types, power, video outputs, ports, audio input/output, and wired ethernet. This guide includes a list of popular, well-reviewed dock options.
