Lori Grunin/CNET.
Our top choice for creatives, this CalDigit can deal with up to 2 4K at 60Hz (4,096 x2,160 pixels with 30-bit color) monitors with its full-size DisplayPort and Thunderbolt 3 port. Or you can connect a single 5K at 60Hz display screen with Thunderbolt 3 port. You also get 5 USB-A ports, Gigabit Ethernet, earphone and mic jacks, optical audio out and an SD card slot that supports speeds up to 312Mbps..
If you wish to expand your laptops port choices along with dock your Nintendo Switch, the $70 Dock Pro 60 is all you require. The slim, little, light-weight dock has two USB-C ports, one of which supports power input. Connect your laptop (or Switch) to the other USB-C port and utilize the docks HDMI port to connect to a TV or external (resolutions up to 4K UHD at 30Hz will work) and youre all prepared to begin work or having fun with family and friends on a bigger screen. There are also 2 USB-A ports.Note, though, that this does require a USB-C 15-volt, 2.6-amp power supply if youre using it as a Switch dock, such as the one that features the Switch. With a laptop, you can utilize a USB-C power adapter with the docks 60-watt passthrough power delivery.Bonus for Samsung Galaxy gadget users: The Dock Pro 60 supports Samsung DeX so you can utilize your phone or tablet with a desktop-style experience and an external display..
Josh Goldman/CNET.
A USB-C hub or docking station can save you from continuously relying and swapping dongles on Bluetooth. A multiport adapter or powered USB hub has way more to provide than an extra USB port– it can turn a single USB-C connection on your laptop computer or desktop into the attach for a monitor, keyboard, mouse
and Ethernet. It can also let you compose and check out to sd card or other external drives.Narrowing down your many options and finding the finest USB-C center comes down to understanding how portable you need it to be, your desired data transfer speed and precisely what connections you require. Here are some of our favorite USB-C docking stations that weve checked. Well continue to upgrade this list as we find new USB hub designs to suggest. And if youre looking to charge your USB-C devices, here are the very best options weve tested. Find out more: Best USB-C PD chargers of 2022 Is a USB-C port the like a USB port? The USB port most recognize with is USB Type-A. Sometimes called a regular or standard USB port, it is rectangular and needs you to plug in your cable television with the right side up so tabs inside the connectors are effectively aligned. The newer USB-C port is a little oval that utilizes a reversible port so that you dont need to turn it around to get the right position. While the port might appear the exact same from device to device, not all USB-C ports are the same. Thunderbolt 3 or 4 gadgets will only be fully supported by a computer system with the corresponding Thunderbolt USB-C port. You cant simply look at the port and know exactly what you have. Inspect with your computer maker for what your laptop (or desktop) model supports prior to you buy a USB-C dock or adapter..
Josh Goldman/CNET.
Check out more: Best USB-C PD battery chargers of 2022 Is a USB-C port the same as a USB port? In back are 85- and 15-watt Thunderbolt 3 ports and in front is an 18-watt USB-C power shipment port. It has double USB-C ports with 60-watt power shipment, 2 USB-A ports, microSD and SD card slots and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. In back youll find three USB 3.1 Gen 2 type-A ports, 2 HDMI ports (one 4K, one 1080p), an Ethernet port and jacks for mic input and headphone output. Connect your laptop (or Switch) to the other USB-C port and utilize the docks HDMI port to link to a Television or external (resolutions up to 4K UHD at 30Hz will work) and youre all prepared to start work or playing with buddies and household on a larger screen.
Built into the left side is a 5Gbps USB-C port along with 2 USB 3.0 ports (also up to 5Gbps), a full-size HDMI output supporting up to 4K resolution at 30Hz and SD and microSD card slots. Just link the attached USB-C cable to a USB-C port on your laptop and youre done. It will draw power from your laptop computer when its plugged in, but there is a USB-C power passthrough on the left foot for up to 100-watt power shipment.
The PowerExpand Elite is part USB-C dock and part charging station. In back are 85- and 15-watt Thunderbolt 3 ports and in front is an 18-watt USB-C power shipment port. A Thunderbolt 3 port supports as much as a 5K-resolution display at 60Hz while its HDMI 2.0 port can support a screen approximately 4K resolution at 60Hz. Or you can run a USB-C-to-HDMI double splitter and link two 4K screens at 30Hz so you can add to three screens between the HDMI port and Thunderbolt 3 ports. Youll also have 4 USB-A ports, a Gigabit Ethernet jack and MicroSD and SD card reader. A 3.5 mm combo jack deals with audio output and input.To supply adequate juice to run whatever, however, the PowerExpand Elite has a large 180-watt power adapter. Also, the fanless style indicates the body is one big heat sink so it can fume when its totally loaded. You can stand it vertically to assist keep it cooler. The Thunderbolt 3 port supports 5K at 60Hz while the HDMI port supports a resolution of 4K at 60Hz.
Josh Goldman/CNET.
A remarkable compact docking station that reveals off whats possible with a single Thunderbolt 4 port. There are also 4 USB-A ports: Three in the back that are USB 3.2 Gen 2 (for speeds up to 10Gbps) and one USB 2.0 in front for fast-charging gadgets. The USB ports handled a 4K cam, an external storage drive and the wireless receiver for my mouse and keyboard, which can be utilized to wake the PC.
Sarah Tew/CNET.
Josh Goldman/CNET.
A lot of small USB-C hubs have short attached cables. Thats fine if your laptop computer is on a desk and not on a laptop computer stand and that desk has a lot of area straight next to your laptops USB-C port. For those who could utilize some additional cable television reach, though, the Lention C37 is ideal.The USB gadget is light-weight and still compact but has a 1-meter cable television (3.3 feet). It has dual USB-C ports with 60-watt power delivery, 2 USB-A ports, microSD and SD card slots and a 3.5 mm earphone jack. On the end is an HDMI output that supports 4K at 30Hz or lower resolutions at 60Hz..
This USB-C hub has all the essentials most would need for workplace or house use at a sensible cost, especially if your laptop is limited to only USB-C ports. There are 3 USB-A ports, including one with power delivery, sd and microsd card slots and an HDMI out that supports resolutions approximately 4K at 30Hz. At the end is a Gigabit Ethernet connection with an activity LED (something other hubs this size usually leave off). What sets it apart from others at this size are the useful labels printed on top of the anodized aluminum case. There is a 100-watt USB-C pass-through for power shipment, with 15 watts used to power the hub. The hub is light-weight, which makes it excellent for travel, however also indicates any cables you plug into it might cause it to slide around your desk– a typical concern with hubs this size. If youre looking for a single hub to cover whatever from an external screen and wired web access to charging your phone, this has you covered..
Josh Goldman/CNET.
Joshua Goldman/CNET.
In back youll find 3 USB 3.1 Gen 2 type-A ports, 2 HDMI ports (one 4K, one 1080p), an Ethernet port and jacks for mic input and headphone output. A single USB-C port is on the ideal side. True to its name, you can connect it to your laptop computer and it will near-instantly begin mirroring your display without needing a motorist set up.
Bring your house up to speed with the current on automation, security, utilities, networking and more.