As time passes, computing on laptops has begun taking on new norms and forms. Most creative professionals these days have transitioned from office desks to home offices. And even remote workspaces, like coffee houses. However, when the functionality offered by your laptop is not sufficient, you may need more connectivity ports to carry out your work. It could design, video edition, music production, or other intensive projects. However, you may also not want to be stuck with managing tangled cables and adapters, especially if you are always shifting from one workstation to the next.

This is where a best usb-c docking station, comes in handy. They essentially allow you to route any connections for charging, data transfer, or audio and display output through one hub, instead of having to use multiple complex setups. This, in turn, increases your laptop’s plug-in capacity, allowing to manage multiple tasks and projects. So, we decided to put together this quick guide on our top picks of the best docking stations you could buy in 2021. And also what some of the main benefits are when it comes to owning a docking station.

Best Docking Stations To Buy Today

If you are looking for a simple and effective docking station that will solve all of your connectivity needs, then the option that should be first on your shopping list is the (CB-D53) Docking Station from Lention. However, do not let its compact and slim design fool you. This universally compatible docking station is powerful enough to provide 100W Power Pass-Through, 1x HDMI port, Gigabit Ethernet, 3.5mm Audio, 3 USB 3.0, and 2 USB 2.0, all in one compatible device. It is also highly ideal for those who need a docking station that offers fast charging capabilities. The Type C charging port can pass through up to 100W power, thus providing extra power to USB peripherals for better stability and quicker charging. Additionally, if you need to connect to external monitors, it offers an HDMI port that can deliver up to 4K high-performance output. It also includes a convenient 3.5mm audio input & output jack that supports mics, earphones, or sound-box. All this combines into one easy-to-use station. Furthermore, it is a macbook pro standing dock model that comes with a removable stand. This makes it ideal for both vertical or horizontal orientation. And can also be of big help to those who would like to increase free space on any workstation or desk.

Alternatively, if you consider yourself to be more a tablet or iPad user than a laptop user, then the CB-D42 iPad Standing Dock is the perfect choice for you. This affordable docking station is more suitable for those who tend to work in remote workstations and prefer to use smaller setups. The standing dock is high compatible with a wide range of tablet devices that support USB-C connectivity. Moreover, despite a minimal design, it is also powerful. As it offers 2x USB 3.0 ports that can support up to 5Gbps data transfer speed, Micro SD / SD dual card readers, 1x HDMI port, 1x USB-C charging port, and 1x 3.5mm Audio port. This makes it a rather convenient accessory, especially if you need to connect a wide number of external devices at once. The HDMI port can also support a maximum of 4K video output. And it also comes with a 3.5mm AUX port for easy audio output connectivity. As such, if you tend to work remotely, then you can simply carry this dock to act as a screen display for your tablet. After which, connect an external keyboard, plug in your earphones and just like that, you can continue working! It is most definitely the most versatile model on this guide that those with specific monitor port requirements will appreciate. Additionally, it is a 100w docking station that acts as a convenient charging station for any external devices.

However, if you are looking for the most premium option, then you can’t wrong with the most expensive model that Lention has to offer, which is the (D92) Docking Station. It offers up the ultimate level of functionality for your laptop, providing an impressive 6 USB 3.0 ports, Gigabit Ethernet and a dual 4K displays output, that supports HDMI and DisplayPort output. This means you can connect up to 4 different screens at once. Thus making it the perfect choice if you need to handle multiple professional creative projects. These mostly include tasks such as music production or video editing. It also comes with a separated input and audio output, which is ideal for connecting speakers, microphones or headphones. Additionally, both dual DisplayPorts offer 5K resolution. However, keep in mind that this display mode is best suited for web browsing or productivity display, but not recommended for gaming. The docking station is also universally compatible with both macOS and Windows OS systems and also supports most laptops with USB-C or USB-A ports.

What Are The Main Benefits Of Owning A Docking Station?

1. Improves Connectivity

Most laptops don’t have sufficient connectivity ports and over the years with manufacturers like Apple constantly slimming down their laptops, those ports have only gotten fewer. This begs the question, if you need to connect an external mouse, keyboard, speaker, or microphone at once, what do you do? The answer is a docking station. You only need one single connection and your world is expanded tenfold, thereby simplifying your work processes significantly. Plus, even after you are done, you don’t have to unplug each device one at a time. You simply disconnect the docking station from your laptop and you are all ready to go.

2. Improves Accessibility

There are some external devices that you may want to connect to your laptop, but may not be compatible with your laptop or Mac. For example, when it comes to transferring files from digital cameras, this can be tricky. As most tend to be incompatible with your Mac. However, a docking station that comes with an SD Card input, for example, will ensure that you can do so quite easily.

3. Convenience

These docking stations tend to be small devices that can easily be attached to your laptop anytime. Hence, they are easy to carry and commute with. This is especially useful if you are a professional who may need extended functionalities for your laptop or iPad, at any given time. You simply plug in all the devices that you use like a monitor, printer, keyboard, or mouse. This in turn can help you gain productivity, instead of having to connect all devices individually.