Best laptop docking stations in 2025: Our top Thunderbolt and USB docks to enhance your laptop

Docking stations are more than a way to improve your laptop's limited port selection. The best docking stations will completely reinvent your setup, providing power, port variation, and support for multiple external monitors to greatly expand your productivity and enjoyment of games and media.

CES 2025 is January 7-10, and we're sure to see some new docking stations launch, including some new high-end Thunderbolt 5 docking stations. If you're looking to pair a docking station with a gaming laptop with Thunderbolt 5 or a high-end content creation laptop like the MacBook Pro 16 M4, it's worth waiting to see the latest hardware.

However, if you don't fall into one of those categories, there are still outstanding deals to start the year, so now is a great time to buy your next (or first) docking station. The real question is, which dock should you buy?

As a member of Laptop Mag's review team, I review every docking station, making sure they meet the manufacturer's claims and provide an excellent experience for the end user. My judgment is based on my hands-on experience and the real-world performance I've encountered with each dock.

This buying guide includes the best docking stations I've reviewed and highlights the best-in-class options across a range of categories, from speedy Thunderbolt 4 docks to affordable options that don't skimp out on features or performance.

Do you need help or further information before you decide which dock is right for you? Our handy FAQs section answers many common questions buyers have when making a purchasing decision.

With that in mind, let's dive into our selection of the best laptop docking stations in 2025.

Best Docking Stations 2025: The list in brief

Curated by

Curated by

Rael Hornby

Rael Hornby brings decades of tech enthusiasm to the table with a broad history of technical support, web design, and journalism under his belt. As Laptop Mag's special projects editor and resident reviewer of accessories and peripherals, he's responsible for getting hands on with any docking stations that come our way and putting them through their paces — ensuring they perform as claimed and that the often high asking price of this hardware results in fantastic value for our readers.

The best laptop docking stations in 2025

Best overall

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There are very few things I could fault Plugable's TBT4-UDZ docking station on, but, in contrast, the list of platitudes I could give it is almost as long as this product's official name: the Plugable Thunderbolt 4 & USB4 Quad Display Docking Station—a name that leaves very little to the imagination yet proudly displays its stronger features from the get-go.

I loved using Plugable's Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 docking station, and I was particularly impressed by its overall versatility. Its awesome array of 16 ports sports variety in spades, with a mix of display options and a welcoming blend of modern and legacy ports. Where the TBT4-UDZ lacks variety is in the performance of each one of those ports, with top-tier speeds pouring out of every input.

As the dock's name implies, the TBT4-UDZ packs super-fast Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 ports, allowing data transfer rates of up to 40Gbps to and from compatible machines. Speeds like this are the death knell of sluggish progress bars as you transfer large files back and forth, making it an excellent option for those who deal in video or creative content or for those who use external storage.

Plugable's dock also incorporates a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port for ultra-fast and solidly reliable data speeds over an RJ45 connection. This stand-out feature is otherwise rare in most of the docks on this list, which are limited to 1Gbps. This ensures your host machine will be given the maximum opportunity to make the most of your internet connection or LAN.

Whether stood or laid flat, I effortlessly incorporated this dock into a number of different setups, which provided me with plenty of room for expansion. With dozens of ports at my mercy, I could manage a plethora of peripherals and a genuine arsenal of accessories.

I was also greatly impressed by the dock's support for external monitors. It offers connections to handle up to four external displays (2 x HDMI and 2 x DisplayPort) at resolutions up to 4K and refresh rates of 60Hz.

While my typical day-to-day setup doesn't require anywhere near that amount of displays to hand, there are absolutely folks out there who need every last inch of screen space possible when it comes to juggling huge amounts of information spread across multiple spreadsheets or multitasking across several apps without needing to switch between open windows to do so. The experience was flawless, and a genuine eye-opener into the productivity boosts available as you expand your virtual workspace.

Plugable's docking station is a 15-port masterpiece: a premium product that delivers a premium experience without cranking the price up to eye-watering levels. Alongside the CalDigit Thunderbolt Station 4 mentioned elsewhere in this list, it's one of my favorite docking stations of our selection, and it often finds its way back into my setup when I'm not making space for whichever dock is next up for review.

For a complete rundown of this dock's features, ports, and performance, see our full Plugable Thunderbolt 4 & USB4 Quad Display Docking Station review.

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Best budget

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It's hard to deny the impact that a docking station can make on your setup, but it's easy to talk yourself out of it if you're buying on a budget that can't stretch to some of the more expensive models out there.

However, not everybody needs to buy big in order to get the most bang for their buck. If you're looking for a dock to manage a more modest setup, then the Dell Dual Charge Dock will not only serve you well, but also provide an excellent 12W Qi wireless charging cradle in the process.

When I reviewed the Dell Dual Charge Dock at the end of 2023, I was amazed at how effortlessly it found a home on my desk and at how quickly it because a vital piece of equipment for keeping my smartphone topped up throughout the day at the same time as my laptop with its 90W of Power Delivery.

While Dell's docking station might be small, its potential for managing your setup and keeping a host of devices powered is anything but. This 8 port expansion offers mostly legacy USB Type-A ports (though video outputs, ethernet, and a USB Type-C port also feature), which are ideal for managing wired/wireless mice or keyboards an a host of other common peripherals. It can also manage up to two external displays with its HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 video outputs.

Even though it's small, the Dell Dual Charge Dock offers some impressive cable management to boot, ensuring that you can have a busy workspace that remains clear and clutter free.

It's sub-$100 price is a rarity for docking stations with this level of function and quality behind them, and while it's by no means a perfect product, it does so much right that it becomes difficult to hold its lack of an SD/micro SD card reader against it, or even that it features a tethered host cable.

The Dell Dual Charge Dock is impressive value for money, refusing to leave you feeling short changed for picking up an affordable option. It's not just a dock, its the point of power for your setup, and it can also double up as a handy display stand for other devices while on charge, too.

If the Dell Dual Charge Dock's asking price is still too rich for your blood, don't fret! I'd recommend checking out our selection of the best USB Type-C hubs instead for a look at some smaller and more affordable options.

For a complete rundown of this dock's features, ports, and performance, see our full Dell Dual Charge Dock review

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Best premium

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Logitech's Logi Dock is the docking station so good that they almost named it twice. It's no easy task for a docking station to generate excitement. Hardware like this is designed to be functional, and its design and additional features are often seen as an aftersight.

However, Logitech has seemingly pulled off the impossible with the Logi Dock, creating a device that is stunning to have featured in your setup and serves many purposes along the way.

Not only is Logitech's offering a fantastic premium product, but it excels in connectivity: It uniquely offers Bluetooth 5.1 pairing of up to 7 additional devices beyond its eight-port expansion. Of those ports, three are USB Type-C, two are USB Type-A, and the remaining two are HDMI and DisplayPort outputs that support resolutions up to 4K with HDR and a 60Hz refresh rate.

You may notice that none of the ports mentioned were Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 compatible, which, I can't lie, would have really pushed the Logi Dock to all-new heights. However, it would likely have pushed its cost in a similar direction, and the Logi Dock already has a premium price tag.

Far be it from me to turn my nose up to a solid USB Type-C dock, though. Especially when there's so much more on offer here than a simple case of port expansion. This dock is also outfitted with custom 55mm neodymium drivers, making it a stereo soundbar with no right sounding as impressive as it does for being part of a docking station setup.

But that's the trick Logitech has pulled here. The Logi Dock isn't just a docking station; it's also a fully-fledged conferencing tool with a built-in noise and echo-canceling beam-forming mic array, simplifying your setup for both work and entertainment. It's a little bit of everything, and it does it all impressively well, but it does come with a challenging price tag.

This kind of multi-functionality is hard to come by regarding docking stations, but it's one of the things I enjoy coming across most. Docking stations can get a little dry and bland sometimes, and there's nothing wrong with that. They are, after all, meant to blend into the background and quietly manage your setup from the shadows. However, when manufacturers think outside the box and combine their docks with other accessories or peripherals, they address one of a dock's primary tasks, which is often overlooked: Cable management.

Cable management isn't exactly at the top of the list of things reviewers take a docking station to task for, but I'm not like most reviewers. I believe that the hardware responsible for managing your connections should do a decent job of keeping things neat and tidy as it does so. It reflects the thought that went into the dock itself, after all.

I'm also a firm believer that there's no better cable management than being able to replace the need for specific cables to be there in the first place. The Logitech Logi Dock is a docking station first and a mic and speaker bar second, eliminating the need for separate devices cluttering your setup.

For a complete rundown of this dock's features, ports, and performance, see our full Logitech Logi Dock review.

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Best Thunderbolt 4

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Whether you own a Thunderbolt 4 computer, USB4 Chromebook, or Apple Silicon MacBook, the CalDigit Thunderbolt Station 4 is a fantastic solution for your workstation needs—especially if those needs require you to have access to some of the fastest data transfer rates until Thunderbolt 5 docks begin making an appearance.

However, its power does lead to a considerable drawback: its price. The TS4 is one of the more expensive options on this list, and considering the already high price of docking stations, that's saying something. Performance is what you're paying for here, and you'll get it in spades, along with plenty of ports and a considerable power supply.

The TS4 offers an incredible 18 additional ports (17 after the host port is connected), including an SD and microSD card reader, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, and a myriad of audio and USB Type-A/Type-C ports.

It's port expansion heaven, which sounds so dull it could make trainspotting look like Monday Night Football, though I promise you that's far more exciting than I made it sound.

Throw a dart at this dock, and you're likely to hit a port offering impressively fast speeds. This makes it the perfect option for professional power users who need a full array of accessories to maximize their productivity and performance.

That productivity can be further enhanced with support for up to two external displays. A DisplayPort 1.4 connection will allow for an external display with up to 8K resolution, or it can work in tandem with a USB-C DP port to power two displays with 4K resolutions at a refresh rate of 60Hz. You can even drive an external display for your Chromebook if it has a USB4 connection.

Better still, the TS4 is a veritable desktop power station, offering 98W of host charge and a number of powered ports to keep your peripherals and sidekick devices juiced up throughout the day. Included among that number is a USB Type-C port that offers 20W of Power Delivery alone, ideal for keeping your smartphone or tablet topped up throughout the day.

The CalDigit Thunderbolt Station 4 isn't the latest Thunderbolt dock to release, but no matter how many more I've come across, I always return to the TS4 as my favorite.

Based on performance alone, it's one of the best options. Still, factor in its tiny footprint, vertical/horizontal positioning, excellent cable management, and wealth of power for your host machine and other devices, and you have a brilliant docking station — one well worth its place on this list.

For a complete rundown of this dock's features, ports, and performance, see our full CalDigit Thunderbolt Station 4 review.

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Best USB Type-C

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The Anker 675 USB-C Docking Station is a sleek and deceptively crafty device that effortlessly blends into your setup by posing as a modern monitor stand. However, it's also an exceptional docking station, pulling double duties as an excellent port expansion and charging solution that offers top-tier cable management.

Anker's dock has been one of my favorites to review this year, as I'm always impressed when a docking station goes the extra mile to cover as much ground as possible. Multipurpose docking stations like the Anker 675 allow you to make the most of smaller desks or more confined work areas by taking on multiple roles within your setup.

With this dock in place, not only did I not need a separate monitor stand to ensure my screen was positioned correctly, but I also didn't need to worry about finding a place to charge my smartphone either, thanks to a built-in Qi-certified 10W wireless charging panel embedded into the aircraft-grade aluminum shelf.

However, while I personally use a monitor arm for my display, I still found great use for the Anker 675 to neatly house my most used accessories and peripherals—keeping my desk and work area looking immaculate in the process. Aiding that further is the Anker 675's incredible cable management system, which includes an underside cable caddy to keep wires tucked neatly out of sight.

If you're a power user and want multiple displays simultaneously, then Anker's dock might not be everything you're hoping for. This dock only supports one external display, but it does so at 4K resolutions and 60Hz. The Anker 675's sturdy frame is great for monitors up to 24 inches, but it can support whichever size display you prefer as long as it doesn't exceed the aluminum frame's 22-pound weight limit.

While each of the Anker 675's available ports is speedy (with plenty of them also offering decent charging options beyond the 100W of Power Delivery to the host machine), they are limited in number. This is another reason this dock would be excellent for smaller setups.

However, there's still plenty of space to connect a mouse and keyboard, with ports left over for additional peripherals. There's even a built-in SD/microSD card reader so you can quickly access flash memory if your laptop doesn't offer a reader of its own.

It might not be the most powerful dock available, with no Thunderbolt 4 support. But Anker's dock is definitely among the most useful, going above and beyond to manage your setup and ensure that every bit of space you have is made good use of.

For a complete rundown of this dock's features, ports, and performance, see our full Anker 675 USB-C Docking Station review.

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Best gaming

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Despite the Razer branding, this Thunderbolt 4 dock isn't marketed as a gaming docking station, but its gamer aesthetic and high-performance ports and video output make it an ideal option for those looking to level-up their setup or battlestation.

The Thunderbolt 4 Dock Chroma oozes Razer's modern gamer chic with its monolithic aluminum chassis. However, while strikingly modern and sleek, this is a Razer product, and no Razer product is quite complete without a peppering of RGB lighting. For the Chroma, this means rich underglow lighting from a 12-zone RGB strip that traces the base of the dock along the sides and front.

This striking feature makes the Razer Thunderbolt 4 Dock Chroma look absolutely stunning against the typically hum-drum appearance of its contemporaries, and can be customized to show various colors in a range of patterns—the Razer Synapse app even allows for advanced customization that can color match to certain areas of your screen, adding a small but noticeable level of ambient lighting to your setup.

It's not all about this dock's looks. Razer's Thunderbolt 4 Dock Chroma is also an incredibly speedy Thunderbolt docking station that offers three additional downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports that provide power, fantastic data transfer rates of up to 40Gbps, and excellent video output options.

There's no HDMI or DisplayPort outputs on Razer's dock, meaning if you're not using a USB Type-C or Thunderbolt monitor then you'll need to pick up an adapter to link up an external display. However, the dock's speedy Thunderbolt 4 ports also offer impressive bandwidth that can provide high resolution support and super fast refresh rates to up to two monitors at once.

If you're running at 4K resolutions, then Razer's dock will provide refresh rates of up to 60Hz. Razer's dock can also deliver refresh rates of up to 144Hz or 240Hz for monitors with QHD or FHD resolutions, respectively. This makes it a fantastic option for gamers who want all the benefits of an excellent Thunderbolt 4 dock, without sacrificing on buttery smooth game-friendly performance.

The major downside of Razer's Thunderbolt 4 dock is its 90W of Power Delivery. It falls far short of keeping even a modest gaming laptop fully charged under load, and will force you to keep using your proprietary charger if you want to avoid cutting your play time short.

While this likely isn't too much of a hassle, as most gaming laptops will take up semi-permanent positions at a desk for most, it can be frustrating to know that this dock's charging potential, which is a big factor in its $299 (at the time of reviewing) price tag, is something you won't be able to make regular use of.

For a complete rundown of this dock's features, ports, and performance, see our full Razer Thunderbolt 4 Dock Chroma review.

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Best for MacBook

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Let me tell you about Satechi's Dual Dock Stand—a device that performs triple duty as a docking station, ergonomic laptop stand, and external SSD enclosure. As mentioned earlier, I'm a big proponent of multi-purpose devices like this. I firmly believe that an excellent all-in-one solution is far easier to manage than three separate devices.

Decked out in Space Metal Grey, Satechi's dock is the ideal MacBook companion visually and a vital accessory for functionality. It offers everything you'd need from a workstation set up with a zero-footprint design that fits snugly under your MacBook, greatly expanding your device's potential and comfort without becoming a distraction.

The Dual Dock Stand's built-in SSD enclosure isn't just ideal for augmenting the storage of your MacBook. Thanks to this dock's lightweight build, tethered host cables, and portability, it can also act as an external SSD, helping to transfer data between devices quickly.

The charge offered by Satechi's dock isn't as high as that of other entrants to this list, offering just 75W of charge to the host machine. However, with Apple's latest MacBooks taking advantage of the impressively efficient Apple Silicon chipsets (M1 > M3), this is enough power to keep most MacBooks topped up easily across your standard working day.

However, there are trade-offs to be made. Satechi's dock is a bit of a port hog for one. It'll require both of your left-hand Thunderbolt ports to run at its fullest potential. This means that if you want to take full advantage of the speeds offered by that standard, you won't be able to do so while the dock is connected.

Of the nine ports it offers in return, none allow you to take full advantage of the host machine's Thunderbolt-capable speeds. You'll be limited to speeds you'd find with any other USB Type-C hub or dock, which could be a deal breaker for power users looking to maximize their productivity and take full advantage of the bandwidth available on their host machine.

If that's a deal breaker for you, I would advise seeking a dedicated Thunderbolt 4 dock like the CalDigit Thunderbolt Station 4 mentioned earlier in this list.

Many docking stations will work with a MacBook, and if you're interested in seeing which are the best for the Apple ecosystem specifically, check out our selection of the best docking stations for MacBooks. All the previously mentioned docks on this list also work with MacBooks. It's just that this dock is specifically designed to work primarily with Apple's laptops.

For a complete rundown of this dock's features, ports, and performance, see our full Satechi Dual Dock Stand review.

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Comparison chart

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Recently reviewed

Not every docking station we review makes it to this list, but that's not to say they aren't worth an honorable mention at the very least. While some of the following docking stations may not be the best laptop docking stations in their category, that's not to say they aren't some fantastic options regardless.

Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Pro Dock

Score: ★★★★½

Why isn't it on this list? The Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Pro Dock is incredibly similar to our top docking station pick in terms of performance, ports, and power. It also adds several minor tweaks that just make the experience a little smoother, but they come at the expense of a higher price tag.

Pros: Great speeds; Quad-display support; 96W of Power Delivery; Vertical or horizontal placement; 15-in-1 port solution

Cons: Front-facing host port can lead to cable clutter; slightly improved on, but more expensive than the Plugable TBT4-UDZ that tops our list

See our full Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Pro Dock review.

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Dell Thunderbolt Dock (WD22TB4)

Score: ★★★★

Why isn't it on this list? Dell's Thunderbolt Dock is a very impressive option when it comes to port expansion, but it'll only work at its best when paired with a Dell laptop — which is why it tops our best docking stations for Dell XPS laptops list, instead.

Pros: Great power delivery; varied and fast ports; solid selection of video outputs; modular design for easy upgrades

Cons: 130W charge limited to Dell devices; No SD/micro SD card reader; tethered host cable

See our full Dell Thunderbolt Dock (WD22TB4) review.

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Plugable TBT4 & USB4 HDMI Docking Station

Score: ★★★★½

Why isn't it on this list? Plugable's TBT4 & USB4 HDMI Docking Station is worthy of a place on most best docking station lists. However, with stiff competition in the Thunderbolt 4 category, it falls ever so slightly short of our featured CalDigit TS4 Station pick — that said, it's cheaper than CalDigit's dock and remains a fantastic option.

Pros: Versatile display outputs; 100W Power Delivery; 20W USB-C charging; Sleek and chic design; Good port selection

Cons: Middling port speeds

See our full Plugable TBT4 & USB4 HDMI Docking Station review.

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Plugable Dual HDMI Docking Station (UD-4VPD)

Score: ★★★★

Why isn't it on this list? Plugable's UD-4VPD is a fantastic docking station for those who want large resolutions and fast frames rates with top notch port speeds, but its limited port selection holds it back from other USB4/Thunderbolt 4 options like the CalDigit TS4 on this list.

Pros: Dual 4K/120Hz monitor support; 100W of Power Delivery; 2.5Ghz Ethernet; USB4 (40Gbps) speeds; Premium, high-quality build

Cons: Slim on ports; Runs warm

See our full Plugable Dual HDMI Docking Station (UD-4VPD) review.

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BenQ beCreatus Hybrid Docking Station

Score: ★★★★½

Why isn't it on this list? If you're looking for a docking station that can do something other docks can't by linking up to modern consoles or other HDMI devices to make the most of a limited amount of displays, then the BenQ beCreatus Hybrid Docking Station should be your go-to dock.

However, its slower ports and niche dynamic make the Razer Thunderbolt 4 Dock Chroma on this list a more universal pick.

Pros: Dual host (laptop and HDMI) for work and play; Triple monitor support up to 4K @ 120Hz; Great port selection; Great charging options

Cons: Ports could be faster; Pricey for what it is

See our full BenQ beCreatus Hybrid Docking Station review.

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FAQs

• Q: What is a laptop docking station?
  A: Docking stations are primarily hardware port extensions for your PC or laptop. Their core feature is to grant access to more ports with a wider port type selection. This gives you more options for maximizing your machine's productivity, efficiency, and potential by making more peripherals and accessories available at any one time.
  
  In addition to this, most modern docking stations allow you to manage a number of external displays to expand your screen space with ease. They can also supply your laptop (and often accessories, too) with a steady stream of power. This means you can sidestep the use of your laptop's proprietary charger and, highlighting a dock's impressive cable management potential, cut down on the amount of wires in use.
  
  However, some docks offer additional features like doubling as an ergonomic laptop stand, improving audio potential with built-in speakers, or subtly taking its place on your desk while acting as a monitor stand.
  
• Q: Do I need a docking station?
  A: We can't say for certain that you "need" a docking station, but we can say that most people looking to build a computing setup around a laptop probably should have a docking station.
  
  Considering the number of available ports on modern laptops and their lack of legacy USB I/O, it's likely that you will eventually come unstuck when relying solely on your laptop to manage a host of peripherals, accessories, and external displays.
  
  A docking station manages all of that for you, greatly increasing the number of ports you can use and the variety of ports you have to hand. Not only this, they can help you manage external monitors to great effect, catering to additional screen real estate for productivity, and higher refresh rates for gaming.
  
• Q: Why are docking stations so expensive?
  A: While a docking station might not look deserving of its price tag from the outside, the inside can house as many chips as the laptop it's connecting to.
  
  Docking stations are incredibly complex hardware that needs to manage several streams of traffic simultaneously, including data, video, and often audio, while supplying a steady stream of power to the host machine and any connected peripherals.
  
  As such, higher-quality docking stations can quickly increase prices. However, that increased asking price will often translate into expanded performance, more ports, and better support for faster, higher-resolution external displays.
  
  We answer this question in more depth in our article: "Why are docking stations so damn expensive?"
  
• Q: Can I use a docking station with my MacBook?
  A: Absolutely! Each dock listed on this page should work fine with Apple devices. However, it's worth noting that due to limitations with certain Apple M-Series chipsets, the number of external displays you can use will vary.
  
  If you're unsure, check how many displays can be connected to your MacBook beforehand.
  
• Q: Can I use a docking station with my gaming laptop?
  A: You can use a docking station with your gaming laptop. However, while you'll still be able to use the expanded port options for peripherals or external hard drives, you'll likely encounter an issue with power delivery.
  
  Most current docking stations charge the host machine with up to 100W. While this is fine for most mainstream laptop models, your gaming laptop is likely to require a little more juice to power itself as it performs more strenuous gaming-related tasks.
  
  Future devices that use Thunderbolt 5 or USB4 2.0 as a standard will be much more accommodating to gaming laptops thanks to an expanded Power Delivery range of up to 240W.
  
  Until then, you're likely to get the best experience by using your gaming laptop's proprietary charger for power needs and using a docking station for its expanded port selection.
  
  We answer this question in more depth in our article: "Do you need a docking station for gaming?"
  
• Q: Which types of docking stations are the fastest?
  A: Presently, Thunderbolt 3/4 and USB4 (40Gbps) docking stations are the best pick if you want the fastest data transfer speeds and best overall performance.
  
  In the future, these docks will likely be overtaken by Thunderbolt 5 and USB4 2.0 docking stations, which may offer speeds of 80Gbps and improved power delivery of up to 240W.
  
• Q: What are the differences between a Thunderbolt/USB4 docking station and a USB-C docking station?
  A: One of the key differences between these types of docking stations is data transfer speed. Thunderbolt 4 docking stations have access to transfer speeds of 40Gbps, double that of the fastest standard USB-C port speeds. USB4 docks can achieve similar speed levels but can be capped at 20Gbps, so check its specifications before buying.
  
  These expanded speeds are great for faster, snappier, and more responsive connections and reduce the risk of a performance bottleneck. While USB-C docks can offer a similar number of high-spec ports to a Thunderbolt dock, the increased bandwidth of a Thunderbolt connection allows for more of those ports to work near their maximum potential simultaneously.
  
• Q: How many external monitors can I connect to a docking station?
  A: Currently, docking stations typically support up to four external displays.
  
• Q: Do all laptops support external displays through docking stations?
  A: No, not every laptop can support external displays. If you own a laptop with a Thunderbolt port, connecting a docking station to that port will allow you to extend your screen without issues.
  
  However, if your laptop doesn't use a Thunderbolt connection, you must ensure that your USB-C port supports DisplayPort over USB-C (DisplayPort Alt Mode).
  
• Q: How do I know if my laptop supports DisplayPort over USB-C (DisplayPort Alt Mode)?
  A: Typically, you can tell if your laptop supports DisplayPort over USB-C by looking at the symbol next to the port. If you spot the DisplayPort logo (a letter ‘D’ overlaid with the letter ‘P’), you should have no issues extending your display.

If you don't see the DisplayPort logo next to your USB-C port but notice a lightning bolt symbol instead, this means that this is a Thunderbolt port. Once again, Thunderbolt ports like this should have no issues supporting external displays.

If you can't see any symbols or logos next to your laptop's ports, check the manual or documentation that came with it for information on port specifications.

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How we test docking stations

Every item we review at Laptop Mag is subject to a variety of synthetic and real-life tests to ensure the product operates as claimed and meets the needs and wants of our readers. Docking stations are not different, though there's more involved in our testing process than simply running through a checklist of a manufacturer's claims.

When it comes to docks, we judge a product's performance based on five metrics: power, ports, performance, presentation, and price.

Firstly, we ensure that a docking station delivers the expected charge by connecting it to various laptops (with increasing power demands) and observing how well they maintain their charge throughout a working day. We also use USB power meters to measure the wattage of the charge heading to the host machine.

Secondly, we use the dock's ports to accommodate peripherals, monitors, and accessories across various setups to test how the number of available ports fares depending on the use case. This helps us to determine a dock's ideal use case, with port number and variety all playing a role in determining how it can best be used.

We then test each of these ports, ensuring they perform to the standards claimed by the manufacturer. This can involve transferring files back and forth to and from an external SSD onto the host machine and connecting multiple monitors to the dock's video outputs to ensure there is no noticeable lag or visual hiccups.

Then, we consider how well the dock handles cable management, a key but often overlooked feature. This also takes into account port placement and the dock's overall design and layout.

Finally, we use these metrics to judge the value of each dock against its MSRP to ensure it's a worthy investment. Docking stations are notoriously expensive pieces of hardware to invest in, so we want to ensure that every docking station we recommend delivers the quality that its price tag might suggest.

With this in mind, we score each dock using a 5-star rating, and we select the best docks within certain categories to appear on this page.

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Why trust Laptop Mag?

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We are 100% independent and have decades of experience to help you buy with confidence. In fact, Laptop Mag has been testing and reviewing products for three decades and continues to deliver trustworthy reviews you can rely on.

Our experienced writers and editors scour information about the laptop and put it through its paces to determine which is best for you. But before they start, the testing team subjects each system to a rigorous regimen of synthetic and real-world tests to see how a system handles the type of work and games you’re most likely to throw at it.

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