Getting a docking station for your HP Pavilion Laptop enables you to extend your screen to external monitors, connect your peripheral, and connect an Ethernet LAN cable. You may find your laptop lacking in some of these areas, and this makes getting the best docking station very important.
Best Docking Stations for HP Pavilion: Our Top Picks
To make the right pick out of the numerous options available, you’d have to consider compatibility, plug-and-play setup, and a wide range of ports, among other features.
There are so many docks that offer these features, and this makes picking the right choice a little tough. Also, there are many brands that hype their models, and pack a lot of ports into their dock, but offer substandard quality and poor connections that could be frustrating to use despite the low price tag.
We understand all these and that’s why we came up with this list of the 6 best docking stations for HP Pavilion laptops. These options have the best track record and would work with other HP laptop models as well as models from other brands.
1. HP USB-C Dock G5
The HP USB-C Dock G5 is one of the best solutions for enhancing workflow. This docking station has one of the best designs you will ever come across. It is a compact dock that will only claim a small amount of space on your desk.
This hub measures 4.8 x 4.8 x 1.77 inches, so it is small enough to fit in your pocket and move around with. However, it is not the lightest option you will come across – it weighs 1.50 lbs – which makes it a bit heavier than most compact options in the market. Still, the HP USB-C Dock G5 is built to be tougher and more durable, so you should expect the best performance from this docking station even if you drop it a few times.
Moving on from the design, the HP USB-C Dock G5 has a good number of ports for your needs. Note that this docking station comes from the HP laptop brand, so you will find fewer connection types to work with. This is something that is common with laptop docking stations from laptop brands. You won’t find SD/TF slots for your memory cards but you will find every other port here.
As usual, you will find a single USB Type-C port on the front of the hub. Next are triple USB 3.0 ports at the back, but you also get a single USB 3.0 port on the side. For extending or mirroring your laptop screen, there are dual DisplayPort outputs and a single HDMI port. You can enjoy high internet speed using the RJ-45 Ethernet port. The last connection port is your 3.5mm headphone/microphone jack.
The HP USB-C Dock G5 is compatible with most HP laptop models, including those from other brands running on Windows 7, Windows 10, and macOS. It also comes with a one-year limited warranty.
Pros:
- Works with Thunderbolt-enabled networks
- Compact and portable
- Easy to install
- Great build quality
Cons:
- Works best with HP products
- Small range of ports
2. Lasuney Triple Display 13-in-1 USB C Hub
The Lasuney Triple Display 13-in-1 USB C Hub is an option for users looking for a lot more connection options than just the usual offers on most docking stations. This dock offers a wide range of ports without compromising its portability and weight. It measures just 7.09 x 3.94 x 1.06 inches, and while it won’t fit easily into your pocket, it is extremely lightweight at 6.6 ounces.
As with most Lasuney docking stations, this option is compatible with a wide range of laptop brands and models including HP, Acer, Huawei, Dell, Lenovo, and Apple.
On one end of the hub are three USB 3.0 ports. They all offer transfer speeds of 5Gbps. For low-rate USB devices, there are dual USB 2.0 ports. You will also find SD/TF slots for your cards. On the other end of the dock are dual HDMI ports. These along with the DP port offer resolutions of 4K at 30Hz. You will get the best video quality of 4K at 60Hz when using the DP1.4.
There is also an RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet port. This should give you a way out of slow Wi-Fi connections. It should also help you connect to the internet if you don’t have an Ethernet port on your laptop. This port offers impressive browsing speeds of 1,000Mbps. You should be able to stream, download, upload, and surf the internet with ease. The last connection option is a 3.5mm audio and mic designed up to CTIA standards to meet the requirements of most music equipment – giving you true and complete sound quality.
Pros:
- Triple 4K output
- Lightweight and portable
- Does not generate heat with heavy use
- Premium design
Cons:
- The ports are on all sides of the dock
- Flimsy cable
3. Dell USB 3.0 Docking Station (D3100)
If durability and excellent performance top your list over other factors like portability and affordability, then the Dell USB 3.0 Docking Station (D3100) might as well be the best docking station you would ever lay your hands on.
This docking station was built with Dell laptops in mind, but it offers just the same excellent performance on HP laptops. It comes with all the necessary connection ports and as usual, there is no SD/TF slot on the device.
The most concerning feature of the Dell USB 3.0 Docking Station (D3100) is its size. This hub unbelievably weighs 10.1 ounces, so you can move it about with just one hand, however, it won’t fit right into your pocket. It measures 20.7 x 15 x 11.2 inches which is a bit too much for a docking station.
The upsides are its ports. At the front are three USB. 3.0 ports for your USB external devices including a 3.5mm headphone jack. The USB 3.0 ports will help with faster file transfer when connected to your SSD or flash drive.
At the back, you will find more ports. This location is a lot more convenient since it would leave fewer cables on your desk and reduce clutter. There are two USB 2.0 ports for your keyboard and mouse. You will also find your RJ-45 Ethernet port for your network connections. You would get speeds of up to 1000Mbps with this port.
For Ultra HD 4K displays, there are three display options. You connect via the dual HDMI ports or through the single DisplayPort output. You will find an HDMI to DVI adapter in the box in case you prefer that type of connection.
Pros:
- A good number of ports
- Triple monitor setup
- Exceptional build quality
- Lightweight
Cons:
- Works best with Dell products
- Large size
4. MOKiN USB C Adapter Docking Station
Things get even cheaper with the MOKiN laptop docking station. If you’re looking for a model that won’t cost you too much for a high-quality device then you need to get your hands on the MOKiN USB C Adapter Docking Station. There are no serious cons and you still get a good number of ports to connect all your devices.
The docking station is also compatible with a wide range of laptop brands and models, including HP, Microsoft Surface, Apple, and Lenovo. It also offers Thunderbolt 3 support with a maximum bandwidth of 40Gb/s.
The thing about cheap devices is that there is always a catch to their affordability. In the MOKiN USB C Adapter Docking Station, it is all about the number of USB ports. There is only a single USB 3.0 port and dual USB 2.0 ports on this hub. You will enjoy data transfer speeds of 5Gbps with the USB 3.0 ports while the USB 2.0 ports are most suitable for your low-frequency USB devices. There are also SD/TF slots. You can slot in cards with a maximum memory of 512GB. The hub will read both cards simultaneously, allowing you to access your files without restrictions.
This hub offers high-end video quality of 1920 x 1080/60Hz through its three display modes. You can connect three monitors to its dual HDMI ports and single DP port.
Pros:
- Extremely affordable
- Nice build quality
- Support for 4K display
- Compact and lightweight
Cons:
- Fewer ports on the dock
- Screen lag using three display modes
5. UtechSmart USB Type C Adapter Docking Station
The UtechSmart USB Type C Adapter Docking Station comes with ports on every angle, allowing you to connect your mouse, monitors, keyboards, and card readers without running out of ports. This dock is also built with portability in mind. It is extremely lightweight – weighing just 5.75 ounces, and would fit right into your pocket like a smartphone. This port is only 6.7 x 3.7 x 1 inch, so setting it up on your desk or traveling with it shouldn’t be a problem.
The UtechSmart USB Type C Adapter Docking Station allows for triple display action using its triple display modes (extend mode, mirror mode and video wall mode). Its dual HDMI ports allow for 4K display when one or both is in use. They offer resolutions of 3840 x 2160 at a 30Hz refresh. The last display option is a VGA port. When all three are connected, you will enjoy top-notch picture quality with resolutions of 1920 x 1080 at 60Hz.
The UtechSmart USB Type C hub comes with a Thunderbolt 3 port for PD charging. On one end, you will find its dual USB 3.0 ports and dual USB 2.0 ports. You can connect just about any USB-enabled device through these ports. There is also a Gigabit RJ45 port with possible network speeds of up to 1,000Mbps.
Pros:
- Triple display flexibility
- Blazing-fast data transfers
- Ultra-portable
- Built-in SD/TF slots
Cons:
- Heats up during heavy use
- Slow SD card transfer speeds
6. Lasuney USB Type C Adapter Docking Station Dongle
If you’re looking for an affordable and compact docking station that delivers top-notch performance, allows for stable connections, and comes with a good number of ports, then the Lasuney USB Type C Adapter Docking Station is the option to go for.
This hub is extremely tiny at 4.3 x 2.2 x 0.6 inches and weighs just 4.6 ounces. It should fit right into your pocket for you to travel with. In addition to its compact and portable design is its offer of ports.
The Lasuney USB Type C Adapter Docking Station would allow you to connect to your monitor through its two HDMI ports, with both offering 4K video for high-quality viewing. There is also a DP output for you to set up a triple display mode.
Right beside the DP output is its Ethernet port. Browsing speeds of 1,000Mbps can be achieved with this port, making it a great option for laptops without an Ethernet port.
There are also USB ports to connect your external USB devices. You will find two USB 3.0 ports. Here, you can connect your USB flash drive, SSD card, and other storage devices that use a USB port. The USB 3.0 ports are the best option for file transfers since they allow for speeds of up to 5Gbps. The dual USB 2.0 ports, on the other hand, are best for your keyboard, mouse, and printer connections.
The Lasuney USB Type C Adapter Docking Station comes with SD/TF slots for reading your cards. You can slot in both cards at the same time and the docking station would read both simultaneously.
This docking station is compatible with a wide range of HP laptop models that include Spectre, Elitebook, Envy, Zbook, and Probook. It would also work for most models of other laptops such as Asus, Samsung, Lenovo, Acer, Huawei, Dell, and Apple.
Pros:
- Lightweight and portable
- 4K output
- Premium build
- Horizontal design
Cons:
- Not compatible with MacBook Pro
- Slow connection