The best laptop docking stations

Working from home can be a challenge if you don't have the right equipment - most of us have a quality laptop, but stocking up on the correct gear, such as a laptop docking station, can make it a real pleasure and, dare we say it, a bit of a doddle.

The issue that many people face is that there's just so much stuff needed to WFH that it can be a tad overwhelming. For most of us, we'll also be running a couple of monitors, a keyboard and mouse, and maybe an external drive, printer and webcam. What do all of these things require? Ports. Running low on ports is a real issue faced by anyone working on laptops. Luckily, laptop docking stations exist.

Laptop docking stations - sometimes called laptop hubs - provide all the advantages of a full-blown PC setup, without tying you down. They have extra peripherals such as USB-C docks, can send some signal to external monitors, and charge your laptop all at the same time. Simply put, a docking station will expand the capabilities of your laptop overnight. We rank it highly as a piece of essential working-from-home tech.

The best laptop docking stations at a glance:

• Best docking station for connectivity: CalDigit TS3 Plus Thunderbolt 3 Dock - View at Amazon
• Best docking station for monitor support: Dell D3100 Docking Station 3.0 - View at Amazon
• Best docking station for minimal clutter: Corsair TBT100 Thunderbolt 3 Dock - View at Amazon

A shortage of ports is a particular issue with otherwise excellent Chromebooks and MacBooks. Due to the advent of cloud-based tech and working on the go, these laptops have seen fit to reduce the ports available on the system. Fine in some circumstances, but an issue once you start using them for work. So, if you're struggling to use multiple devices due to limited connectivity, a docking station is a great solution. We've listed the best laptop docking stations in terms of connectivity, quality and price. Check out our top picks below.

FAQs

What to look for in a docking station

Good connectivity: Connectivity is equal to the number of ports available on the dock, but also be sure to look out for a good range of ports. Make sure that the docking station you select will support all your monitors and devices comfortably, and then some.

Laptop charge: Most docking stations will have the capacity to charge a lightweight laptop. However, if you have a Macbook Pro or another bigger device, be sure to opt for a docking station with up to 85W charging capacity.

Dual-monitor support: Nowadays, most of us are operating with two monitors. If this is the case for you, keep an eye out for the number of monitors the docking station can support, as well as the supported display resolution.

Is a docking station good for charging other devices?

We mentioned that a docking station can charge a relatively lightweight laptop, but it's not limited to just that. You can connect other devices to it as well, such as some phone chargers. The catch, however, is that it's far from speedy. It will help to keep a low-on-charge phone running, and might be able to boost it further, but the more you plug in the more voltage is being used elsewhere.

Marina Avraam is a contributor to What's The Best, and also writes for Yours.co.uk, heatworld and Closer across beauty, tech, and lifestyle.

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