Getting a docking station with dual monitor display compatibility comes with a wide range of perks. It gives you extra screen space to handle more programs on the monitor screen than you would on your laptop screen.
These wider screens help you see MS Word document texts even better and give you enough space to work on graphics. Not to mention the extra connectivity options that come with the docking stations.
Best Docking Stations for Dual Monitors: Our Top Picks
When shopping for the best docking monitor for dual monitors, you may want to consider compatibility, ease of installation, durability, stable connection, and the reliability of the connection ports. Normally, you can get all this information by reading through pages and pages of reviews on different models, but why should you?
We’ve already tested, reviewed, handpicked, and compiled a reliable list of the 7 Best Docking Stations for Dual Monitors just for you.
You can start below and search for any option that suits your needs:
1. Plugable USB 3.0 Universal Laptop Docking Station
Plugable USB 3.0 Universal Laptop Docking Station is a compact dongle that won’t take much desk space and help keep your workspace neat. You won’t have to worry about cables messing up your workspace, thanks to the tower-like design. This docking station is just as lightweight as it is portable. It measures 8.5 x 5 x 4 inches and weighs only 13 ounces. It is easy to move around and sturdy enough to remain in place once you set it up.
This docking station is equipped with 11 ports at the front and the rear. You will find dual USB 3.0 ports at the front, which allow for amazing file transfer speeds. You will also find an Audio Out port and an Audio In port.
The main ports are at the rear. There are four USB 2.0 ports at the top for connecting your keyboard, mouse, and other peripherals. Right below that is an Ethernet port with support for Gigabit speed. Going lower, you will find the DVI port. You will be able to convert DVI to HDMI and DVI to VGA using adapters. The last option is the HDMI port. Both the DVI and HDMI support 1920 x 1200 resolutions at 60Hz. The HDMI port alone offers a better display of up to 2560 x 1440 at 50Hz.
This Plugable USB 3.0 Universal Laptop Docking Station comes at the right price for those looking for dual monitor display and on a strict budget. It has the right build quality to go with its offer of ports. There are no SD/TF card slots in this option but it does pretty well with what it has to offer.
Installation is very straightforward and you won’t have to fidget just to set it up. This docking station is compatible with Windows XP, 7, 8, and 10 systems. However, if you own a macOS, Microsoft Surface RT, or Linux device, you might want to consider checking out the other options on this list.
One of the best features of this hub is that it comes with a 2-year warranty attached to it.
Pros
- 2-year warranty
- Built-in HDMI and DVI outputs
- Sleek design
- Durable build
Cons
- A bit expensive
- Not compatible with macOS, Linux, and Surface RT
2. Falwedi Triple Display 12-in-1 USB-C Hub
If you’re more concerned about display ports, then the Falwedi Triple Display 12–in-1 USB-C Hub would make for a good pick. This hub comes with three display ports for you to connect up to three monitors. With two monitors on display, you can enjoy 4K resolution at 30Hz.
The ports on this hub are placed on all its sides. This might not make for the neatest workspace but considering the affordable price tag, that shouldn’t be much of a problem. On one side, you will find dual HDMI ports, a single USB port, and a connection port for your mobile device. At the opposite end, there are SD/TF card slots for easy access to your files. This hub can read both cards simultaneously. You will also find dual USB ports here.
The adjacent end of the dongle houses the USB-C cable and the 3.5mm audio jack. The last end of this rectangular docking station is where you will find the Ethernet port and the VGA port. The USB ports on this hub support data transfer speeds of up to 5Gbps and you can plug in your keyboard, flash drive, and other external USB devices.
The Falwedi Triple Display 12-in-1 USB-C Hub is compatible with a wide range of laptop brands and models. It will work on Lenovo, Dell, HP, Samsung, Asus, Huawei, Surface, Google Chromebook, Alienware, MI, Acer, and MSI laptops. It is only compatible with some of the popular models of these laptops so you should check the compatibility list before buying.
Pros
- Compatible with a wide range of laptop brands
- Good number of ports
- Affordable
- Compact and lightweight
Cons
- Short USB-C cable
- Looks cheap
3. Kensington USB 3.0 Dual Display Docking Station
The Kensington USB 3.0 Dual Display Docking Station flaunts a similar design to the Plugable USB 3.0 Universal Laptop Docking Station on this list. However, it surpasses the Plugable USB 3.0 Universal Laptop Docking Station one area. It is compatible with not only Windows PCs but also macOS and Surface laptops. You will get a slightly cheaper price with the Plugable Docking Station but the extra compatibility makes up for the few extra bucks.
The Kensington USB 3.0 Dual Display Docking Station comes with ports on the front and at the rear but its tower-like design ensures that it won’t take up much space or clutter your workspace.
The front of the hub houses dual USB 3.0 ports that offer transfer speeds of up to 5Gbps. They are also backward compatible to USB 2.0 so you can plug in other external USB devices. Right below that are dual 3.5mm ports for your audio and mic.
Moving to the rear, you will find most of the ports that this docking station offers. There are four USB 2.0 ports here with transfer speeds of up to 480Mbps. Right below that is the Ethernet port with support for up to 1,000Mbps. Next is the DVI-I port. If you prefer an HDMI connection, you can find the HDMI port just below that. There are DVI to HDMI and DVI to VGA adapters included in case you prefer anything other than a DVI port.
On a single monitor setup, you will get 1920 x 1200 at 60Hz video quality. Video quality with a dual monitor setup is even better at 2048 x 1152 at 60Hz.
Pros
- Sleek design saves space
- Backwards compatible dual USB 3.0 ports
- Audio 2.0 for enhanced sound
- Compatible with Windows and macOS
Cons
- Setup process is tedious
- Drivers are not impressive
4. WAVLINK USB 3.0 Universal Laptop Docking Station
With all its ports on one side, the WAVLINK USB 3.0 Universal Laptop Docking Station would keep your desk spacious and neat as possible while providing connections for all your ports.
Starting with the most important, you will find built-in DVI and HDMI outputs both with resolutions of up to 1920 x 1200 at 60Hz. With a single HDMI display, you can achieve resolution of up to 2560 x 1440 at 50Hz. You can also use a DVI to VGA converter with this model. The VGA output offers resolutions of 1920 x 1080 at 60Hz.
The WAVLINK USB 3.0 Universal Laptop Docking Station comes with six USB ports. Two of these are USB 3.0 ports with data transfer speeds of up to 5Gbps. The remaining USB ports are USB 2.0.
The last port here is the Gigabit Ethernet RJ-45 port with speeds of up to 1000Mbps. At the other side of the hub is the 3.5mm audio jack. This would help you connect your headphones and listen to your favorite tunes and movies.
The WAVLINK USB 3.0 Universal Laptop Docking Station lacks quite a few ports, considering its significant price tag. You won’t find any SD or TF card slot on this device and this means you won’t be able to get files off your memory cards.
What the docking station lacks in ports, it makes up for in durability. It is built to be tough and to withstand falls and scratches. This dongle measures 8.5 x 3.5 x 1 inches and weighs 12 ounces. It is incredibly lightweight, so you can move it around with ease. Due to its portability, you might be able to fit it in your pocket or carry it in a small bag.
Lastly, it has a 12-month limited warranty attached to it. You might get a replacement or have it fixed if your warranty claim goes through.
Pros
- Built-in HDMI and DVI outputs
- Compatible with most Windows PCs
- 12-month warranty
- Lightning-fast transfer and network connection speeds
Cons
- No SD/TF card slots
- Only two display port options
5. MagBac Dual Monitor Laptop Docking Station
There are only 10 ports on this laptop docking station but they are enough for you to set up a triple monitor display.
There are two HDMI ports on the side with a VGA port on the adjacent side. A single HDMI connection offers an amazing video quality of 3840 x 2160 at 30Hz. With dual HDMI display connection, you will get 1920 x 1200 at 30Hz maximum. The VGA port, on the hand, offers display resolution up to 1920 x 1080 at 60Hz. While extend mode would work with your laptop, MacOS laptops can only use mirror mode with this docking station.
What’s more, there are two USB 3.0 ports and just one USB 2.0 port on this docking port. This is not too many for heavy users, but considering the affordable price tag, these options are good enough. The USB 3.0 ports support transfer rates of up to 5Gbps. You can connect your USB driver, printer, external disk, and other USB external devices through any of the USB ports.
You will find the micro SD and TF slots to be extremely handy. They support almost all types of SD card formats, giving you easy access to photos and other media. The MagBac Dual Monitor Laptop Docking Station is compatible with most of the latest laptops from brands like Apple, Google Chrome, Dell, Asus, Lenovo, and Huawei featuring a Type C port.
The MagBac Dual Monitor Laptop Docking Station is small enough to fit into your pocket and lightweight enough to move around with. It measures just 6.14 x 2.12 x 0.66 inches. At 4.8 ounces, you won’t have to put this docking station in a bag to move it around. Your jean pocket would fit just fine. While it is lightweight and portable, it is also durable.
Pros
- Affordable price
- Compatible with many laptop brands
- Dual HDMI external display output
- Lightweight and portable
Cons
- Short USB-C cable
- Power adapter not included
6. Plugable USB 3.0 Universal Laptop Docking Station
The Plugable USB 3.0 Universal Laptop Docking Station is a bulky device weighing 1.9 pounds and measuring 11 x 6.8 x 2.2 inches. It won’t fit right into your pocket but it is still portable enough for you to move around. The bulky size actually makes it more durable. Rather than some docking station made out of cheap plastic, this hub is built to be sturdy and durable. It would survive quite a few falls and still maintain its top-notch functionality.
Aside from its top-quality build, this docking station offers a good number of ports. There are 11 ports that allow you to connect any external device you want. You will find the usual USB, display, and audio ports. Unfortunately, there are no SD/TF card slots on this device. This might not be a deal-breaker but it is not a big plus either. Considering the price tag on this device, an SD/TF card slot would have been a great addition.
You will find a single HDMI port resolution of up to 2560 x 1440 at 50Hz when connected alone. There is also a DVI output to connect your monitor. Both display ports allow for Dual HD monitor display with resolutions of up to 1920 x 1200 at 60Hz.
There are dual USB 3.0 ports where you can add a thumb drive, an external SSD, and many other external USB devices. These ports allow for faster file transfer speeds. To connect your keyboard, printer, and other peripherals, there are four USB 2.0 ports.
You will also find a one Gigabit Ethernet port. With your Ethernet cable plugged in, you can enjoy fast network speeds of up to 1,000Mbps. There is also a 1 x 3.5mm audio jack that allows you to listen to music and watch movies. To connect a microphone, this hub provides a 3.5mm microphone jack.
Within the box, you will find just everything you need to get started. It comes with the connecting cables, power cable, and adapters for converting your display options from DVI to HDMI and DVI to VGA.
The Plugable USB 3.0 Universal Laptop Docking Station makes good on its promise of quality. Even at that, it still offers a 2-year warranty that will assure you of the durability and top-notch performance of the docking station.
Pros
- Slim and portable
- Dual monitor display
- Easy to set up
- Cheap and affordable
Cons
- Requires driver installation
- Laptop cannot be charged through the dock
7. Tobenone USB-C Docking Station
Featuring 13 ports for connecting your devices, the Tobenone USB-C Docking Station is an option that makes up for its expensive price with the right functionality.
Among its 13 ports, are dual HDMI port and a VGA port for extending your laptop display to a monitor. This docking station allows for dual 4K external monitor display with resolutions of 3840 x 2160 at 30Hz/60Hz using one HDMI connection.
There are four USB 3.0 ports – two at the front and two at the rear – on this hub. They all allow for transfer speeds of up to 5Gbps. The dual USB 2.0 ports can be used to connect your mouse and keyboard. There is also a high-speed Ethernet port with transfer speeds of up to 1,000Mbps. You will find the 3.5mm audio jack at the rear along with the USB-C port.
The is Tobenone USB-C Docking Station designed to take up only a small amount of space so you can still set up other devices on your space. Most of its ports are located at the front so you should have less clutter to worry about. This device measures 6.18 x 5.83 x 2.95 inches and it is portable enough to pack. It weighs 1.2 pounds, which is a little more than some options, but it isn’t too heavy either.
This docking station allows for 87W charging for your connected USB-C laptop/notebook. It also offers fast charging for all connected devices, including your smartphone.
The Tobenone USB-C Docking Station docking station isn’t the most affordable option on the market; however, it lacks some features you would find in more affordable hubs. There are no SD/TF slots to read off your memory cards on this docking station.
Pros
- Easy installation without requiring drivers
- Dual HDMI and VGA display ports
- Multiple USB3.0 ports
- Ultra-fast data transfer speeds of up to 5Gbps
Cons
- Few USB 2.0 ports
- No SD/TF card slot