Surface Pro 4 Docking Station Best Buy
As great as the newest flagship tablet from Microsoft is, the two Thunderbolt 4 ports on your Surface Pro 9 (or USB-C on the Microsoft SQ3-powered 5G model) might not be enough. You will need a dongle or a dock for connections to printers, monitors, and other accessories, as the lone Thunderbolt 4 ports will be used up quickly. That's why we're here to help with some suggestions for docking stations for the Surface Pro 9.
surface pro 4 docking station best buy
The best Surface Pro docks and docking stations can turn your Windows 2-in-1 into the centerpiece of a potent workstation. The Surface Pro 8 and Pro 9 now feature Thunderbolt 4, opening it up to the best TB4 docks on the market, including the CalDigit TS4.
The Surface Pro 8 finally added Thunderbolt 4 ports, opening the Surface line up to a bunch of new docks. The new ports carried over to the Surface Pro 9 as well. As it stands now, the best docking station for the newest Surface Pro models is the CalDigit TS4. It has a wide range of ports, it charges your Pro while you work, and it's built to last.
The Surface Dock 2 doesn't hold up well to many of the overall best docking stations on the market, but it has one trick that Surface Pro owners might want to check out. It connects via the Surface Connect port on your PC, leaving the other ports open. If you have an older Surface Pro without USB-C, this might be your saving grace.
The best Surface Pro docks and docking stations have now moved on to Thunderbolt 4 connectivity. For the latest device, I recommend checking out the CalDigit TS4. It has the most ports, the most charging power, and the best design. The Kensington SD5780T is a great alternative if you can't get your hands on our top pick or if you want lock slots and bracket mounting options.
The docking stations for Surface Pro 3, Pro 2, and Pro (1st gen) models (as well as Surface 3) are designed so you can switch quickly from your Surface on the go to using it as a full desktop PC. If you have a Surface Dock, see Use Surface Dock.
Connect a video cable from your monitor to the Mini DisplayPort on the docking station.If your monitor cable doesn't have a Mini DisplayPort connector, you'll need to buy another cable or an adapter. For more info on adapters, go to Connect Surface to a TV, monitor, or projector.
Connect any audio accessories, such as wired speakers or headphones. Without external speakers, you may not hear audio when you're using your Surface. To learn how to switch to the built-in speakers on your Surface, go to Troubleshoot Surface Dock and docking stations.
This hands-on review of today's 12 best laptop docking stations can get you hooked up in a hurry. We pored over product specs, consumer reviews, and the marketing claims made by manufacturers, eventually settling on top-tier products that work with the most common computers and peripheral hardware. We also cataloged common characteristics such as product size and orientation, port types, and location, as well as the power supply and monitor resolution. This system of analysis all but ensures that one will select the best possible product for their needs and budget.
The VAVA USB C Docking Station, 12-in-1 Type C Hub is a fantastic deal, balancing high-end features with a manageable price tag. The unit comes with a built-in USB-C cable to connect to your computer, which means that it'll charge your battery (with 65 watts of power) as you work with devices attached to the laptop docking station. The myriad of ports on the VAVA will accommodate up to three screens at a time (with some limitations) while managing devices connected via USB 3.0, USB 2.0, HDMI, and audio ports.
The economic ikling USB C Hub supports both Windows and macOS laptops, and, as the name suggests, it connects via a built-in USB-C cable. This connection type allows the station to charge (up to 87 watts) the computer's battery while connected. The laptop docking station supports wireless charging for a phone, too. Thus, the ikling makes the most of the desktop real estate and the often limited time to charge one's devices. Given that this device also has an impressive array of ports ranging from USB 3.0 to VGA, it might seem odd that it didn't rate higher in our estimation.
On the surface, the ikling has all the trappings of the higher-rated devices reviewed here. However, our investigation shows that this device does not have the same attention to detail and quality components. For example, the port layout encompasses the perimeter of the unit, producing a mess of wires when many devices are attached. Additionally, the monitor ports (VGA and HDMI) have a lower resolution which drop-off even further when more than one screen is in use. While we won't claim that this machine is of a superior design and construction, we do think it offers good value to those who can't afford a high-end docking station.
Our analysis of laptop docking stations is organized along four lines of investigation that collectively cover every aspect of laptop docking station use and functionality. The compatibility metric looks at laptop operating system compatibility and limitations. The dock physicalities metric looks at dock dimensions, orientation, and port locations. The port type metric catalogs the various port types housed in the units, laptop connection type, and power source. Finally, the displays metric investigates the number of monitors the units support, the connection type, and resolution.
The laptop docking market is saturated, and as a result, picking the right device to meet your needs can be challenging. That's where we can lend a helping hand. This review of docking stations is an in-depth analysis of the leading devices on the market. We researched, bought, and tested each unit. Our evaluation included the range of functionality, including port types, charging method, as well as dock size and orientation. Additionally, we evaluated the number of displays supported and the corresponding resolution and refresh rate. Read on for the details of our analysis, including which models performed the best and why.
The first thing to do when shopping for a docking station is to ensure it meets the requirements of one's laptop operating system. The most common operating systems used today are Windows and macOS. Most docking stations reviewed here support both of these operating systems. However, the Plugable USB 3.0 and USB-C Universal is limited to Windows machines.
Connecting one's laptop to a monitor is perhaps the most common cause for purchasing a docking station. As such, we evaluated the connection ports supporting these devices, the number of monitors the docks can accommodate, and the resolution that the docks will maintain when one or more monitors are in use. As a general rule, the resolution goes down with each additional monitor added. With few exceptions, these docks max out at two monitors. Common connection ports are DVI, HDMI, VGA, DP, USB-C, and Thunderbolt.
A final but important consideration is whether the dock has a charging port or if it will draw power from the laptop. Some might not find passthrough charging inconsequential as they always carry a charger. However, we found it annoying to plug into a "convenient" docking station and then get down on our hands and knees to plug our laptops into an electrical outlet. As such, we favored machines like the CalDigit TS3 Plus, Anker 777, and ikling because they have their own power source and charge the laptop when connected.
"would have preferred 3 HDMI ins, but got an adapter for the 1 Display port - passthrough charge is only 100W so it doesn't charge the work Dell laptop (takes 130W) - otherwise, works quite well for my 3 monitor setup and is much faster than my prior docking station for data transfer"
Other USB-C docks work with Chromebooks but few are certified and so many lack some functionality. To be sure, opt for a certified Chromebook docking station like this one from one of our favourite dock manufacturers.
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 or USB-C Windows tablet into a full computer experience since it can charge the tablet, connect a 4K monitor, keyboard, mouse and hard drives.
At Laptop Mag, we test tons of peripherals, which is why we're experts on the best USB Type-C hubs. With a single USB Type-C hub, you can add USB Type-A ports, HDMI inputs, Ethernet jacks, and SD memory readers to some of the best laptops or best Chromebooks that have forsaken larger ports.Even with a small USB Type-C hub, you can change how your device is used entirely when you give it some necessary ports. We did the testing to guide you through the best USB Type-C hubs you can buy.We highly recommend the EZQuest USB-C Multimedia Hub, offering a multitude of ports and 100W power delivery in a sleek, travel-friendly design, along with Kensington's SD1650P USB-C Portable Docking Station or Targus' USB-C Dual HDMI 4K Docking Station.For everything you need to know about USB-C Cable types, we've got you covered. Wonder what the difference between a USB-C hub and a docking station is? Check our explainer. CES 2023 is kicking off, and there is a new wave of USB-C hubs with a bunch of next-gen ports to check out. We're sure to see new hubs make the list, but in the meantime, check out the best USB-C hubs you can grab.
The best laptop docking stations mean you don't have to worry about how many ports your laptop has. These days, the best ultrathin laptops (opens in new tab), such as the MacBook Air, LG Gram 17 and HP Elite Dragonfly, have barely any slots at all. But with a docking station, you can still connect all the monitors and peripherals to your laptop you need. Phew!
Below, you'll find the best laptop docking stations available today, for a range of budget. But which will be right choice for you? Well, there are a number of factors to consider before making your final decision. 041b061a72