6 Best USB 3.0 Docking Stations for Laptops (2023 Review)

Docking stations with USB 3.0 ports are known for their fast file transfer speeds and wide compatibility range. You could get a transfer speed of up to 5Gbps by slotting your USB flash drive into any USB3.0 port. You can also plug in your keyboard and mouse, and some ports in select models allow for fast charging for your smartphones.

Best USB 3.0 Docking Stations for Laptops: Our Top 6 Recommendations

Enjoying all the benefits of USB 3.0 requires getting the right gear – a top-notch USB 3.0 docking station in this case. The bad news, however, is that the market is filled with so many options, both good and bad. And making the right choice becomes a tedious task.

You’d have to consider the durability, compatibility, portability, and several other features that require you to scan through thousands of reviews to be able to make the right choice. With this guide, things become a lot easier. We have done all the needed research and curated this list of the 6 best USB 3.0 docking stations for laptops.

1. Dell USB 3.0 Docking Station (D3100)

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The Dell USB 3.0 Docking Station (D3100) is the best hub to go for if you’re looking for a durable option with stable connections and a lot of ports that meet your needs. It comes with a sturdy build that should withstand the slightest falls and still provide top-notch performance.

This docking station might be the biggest you will ever come across in the market. While it weighs just 10.1 ounces which is considerably light, it measures 20.7 x 15 x 11.2 inches. This is a bit too long for a docking station, and that means you would have less space to set up other devices. However, its lightweight and functionality give it an upper hand over most competitors.

Most of its ports are located on one end to reduce desk clutter but you will find a couple of USB ports on the other end. Still, you won’t have to worry about a bunch of USB cables messing up your workspace.

At the front of the dock are three super-speed USB 3.0 ports for fast data transfers. There is also a headphone input and output jack.

On the rear, from right to left, you will find dual USB 2.0 ports for connecting your low-frequency external USB devices such as a mouse or keyboard. Next is an RJ-45 Ethernet port. You should get internet speeds of 1,000Mbps with this port. Right after that, you will find the dual HDMI ports with support for 4K display. There is also a DisplayPort (DP) output. You should be able to set up a triple display mode with all the ports plugged in.

While the Dell USB 3.0 Docking Station (D3100) is built for Dell laptops, it is compatible with select brands using Windows and macOS systems.

Pros:

Easy setup
Small and portable
Lightweight and durable build
Supports three active monitors

Cons:

Expensive
No SD/TF card slots

2. Plugable USB 3.0 Universal Laptop Docking Station

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The most outstanding feature of the Plugable USB 3.0 Universal Laptop Docking Station is its tower-like design which will save some desk space even with all the ports in use. This sleek design is a big bonus for those with a small space to spare, and it makes up for the extra price on this device. This hub measures 8.5 x 5 x 4 inches and weighs just 13 ounces. It is compact and lightweight but should be easy to pack for long travels.

The Plugable USB 3.0 Universal Laptop Docking Station sports a good number for all your connection needs. There are 11 ports of connectivity, however, there is no SD/TF slot for your cards. This is quite disappointing considering this hub costs a little more than most docking stations within its category. Luckily, this docking station assures of one of the best performance ever and this is evident in the thousands of five-star reviews it garnered from most users.

On this dock, you will find the usual USB 3.0 ports. There are just two and they support fast transfer speeds for your movies and other large file types. As for the USB 2.0 ports, you get four options on the hub. If you want to plug in your keyboard, mouse, or printer, this where they would go.

You could set up a dual monitor display with this hub using its built-in HDMI and DVI outputs. In the box, you will find DVI to VGA and DVI to HDMI adapters. The HDMI alone support resolutions of up to 2560 x 1440 at 50Hz. With both ports, you will get video quality of 1920 x 1200 at 60Hz. You will also find an Ethernet port with support for Gigabit speed.

The Plugable USB 3.0 Universal Laptop Docking Station is compatible with a wide range of laptop brands. You should be able to get it working on your laptop as long it is based on Windows XP, 7, 8, or 10. It also comes with a 2-year limited warranty.

Pros:

Tower-like design saves space
Plug and play installation
2-year warranty
Sharp 2K at 60Hz display

Cons:

A bit pricy
Not support for Surface RT, macOS, and Linux laptops

3. WAVLINK USB 3.0 Universal Laptop Docking Station

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If you’re looking for a docking station that is a lot more compact and easy to pack, then the WAVLINK USB 3.0 Universal Laptop Docking Station is a great option to consider.

The WAVLINK USB 3.0 Universal Laptop Docking Station measures 8.5 x 3.5 x 1 inches and weighs 12 ounces. It comes with all the needed ports and top-notch display quality on its display ports.

This hub comes with dual USB 3.0 ports with data transfer speeds of up to 5Gbps. One of the USB 3.0 ports offer support for Smart Sleep Mode of Fast Charging to 1.5A. Through this port, you can charge your smartphone and get a full battery in a shorter time period. There are also four USB 2.0 ports in this hub for connecting peripherals like keyboard and mouse.

Display ports on this dock include DVI and HDMI outputs. The HDMI output offers resolutions of 2560 x 1440 at 50Hz while the DVI Output clocks at 2048 x 1152. Connecting both ports to dual monitors will offer resolutions of 1920 x 1200 at 60Hz. You can switch to a VGA port using the DVI to VGA converter. The VGA output only supports resolutions of 1920 x 1080 at 60Hz.

There is also a Gigabit Ethernet RJ-45 port. The word “Gigabit” here means that it would support speeds of up to 1,000Mbps. You may get lower internet speeds depending on your local network. This slot comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack so you can always tune in to your favorite songs and movies.

The WAVLINK USB 3.0 Universal Laptop Docking Station is only compatible with laptops on Windows XP, 7, 8, or 10. It won’t support macOS, Surface RT, and Linux laptops.

Pros:

Built-in HDMI and DVI outputs
Lightweight and portable
Affordable
12-month warranty

Cons:

No support for Surface RT, macOS and Linux laptops
No SD/TF card slots

4. Kensington USB 3.0 Dual Display Docking Station

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This is a docking station with a tower-like design, and you should find this option more impressive than most. It supports more than just Windows laptops but also Microsoft Surface laptops and MacBooks which is a big plus. Aside from that, everything else is just the same with the Plugable Docking Station with the same tower-like design. There are no SD/TF slots and you won’t find any USB-C ports either.

This hub would save you a lot of space, especially if you’re planning to plug in many things at the same time. It measures 3.00 x 9.50 x 6.50 inches and would have to be set up vertically. However, it is a bit heavy and weighs 2.1 pounds. In some docking stations, being bulky makes for a tougher and more durable build, and the Kensington USB 3.0 Dual Display Docking Station offers such reliability.

You will find just two USB 3.0 ports on the front. As usual, they support 5V/0.9A and will offer fast transfer speeds. Right below these ports are the microphone and headphone jacks.

At the rear of the hub are most of its ports including four USB 2.0 ports with transfer speeds of up to 480Mbps. These ports are best for connecting your low-frequency USB devices such as printer and mouse rather than transferring files. Also, they do not support fast charging. You will also find a single HDMI port and a single DVI port at the rear. When both are connected to your monitors, they offer resolutions of 2048 x 1152 at 60Hz.

This docking station comes with DVI to VGA and DVI to HDMI adapters so you can switch to your preference. There is also a Gigabit Ethernet port for your internet connection needs.

Pros:

Compatible with most laptop OS
Tower-like design prevents clutter
Easy installation
Durable build

Cons:

A bit pricy
No SD/TF card slots

5. Plugable USB 3.0 Horizontal Docking Station

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This isn’t a Plugable docking station with a tower-like design and it isn’t the most affordable option in the market either. However, the Plugable USB 3.0 Horizontal Docking Station does come with some upsides. First, there are 12 ports of connectivity for all your external devices; and second, it has a tough exterior and durable build quality that will withstand most forms of abuse.

This docking station comes with six USB 3.0 ports (this also means there are no USB 2.0 ports, but you won’t miss them). You can connect just about anything including your thumb drive, mouse, keyboard, and external SSD.

You can set up dual monitors with this docking station using the DisplayPort (DP) port and HDMI port. With both connected, you would get 4K displays at 60Hz. You will also find 3.5mm headphone and microphone jacks. For fast and reliable network speeds, there is a Gigabit Ethernet port.

The Plugable USB 3.0 Docking Station isn’t the lightest option in the market since it weighs around 1.76 pounds. Also, it isn’t the most portable docking station you will come across. It measures 11.14 x 6.93 x 2.24 inches so it won’t fit right into your pocket. However, this docking station offers compatibility for most laptops brands using Windows OS.

Pros:

Nice build quality
Good number of ports
Dual 4K Display
2-year warranty

Cons:

No SD/TF slots
Not compatible with macOS and Linux systems

6. VisionTek VT1000 Universal USB 3.0 Laptop Docking Station

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While the VisionTek VT1000 Universal USB 3.0 Laptop Docking Station comes with fewer ports than most, it has got the right build quality to go with its price tag. It is extremely portable, measuring just 5.95 x 2.8 x 0.8 inches; however, there is a little weight to it. This hub weighs 1.25 pounds which isn’t that heavy but still not very light. It also comes with a Kensington lock slot for extra security.

The VisionTek VT1000 Universal USB 3.0 Laptop Docking Station is all about display ports for connecting your monitors. It comes with three display ports of different types. There is a single VGA port, an HDMI port, and a DisplayPort (DP) output for connecting your monitors. Next to the display ports is the Gigabit Ethernet port with network speeds of up to 1000Mbps.

There only three USB 3.0 ports on this hub. You would get fast transfer speeds of up to 5Gbps for your file transfers. The USB ports are also compatible with all external USB devices including USB flash drive, keyboard, and mouse.

An impressive perk to this docking station is that it is compatible with all major operating systems including Windows, Chromebook, Microsoft Surface, and macOS. There is also a 2-year limited warranty on the hub to assure you of its quality and durability.

Pros:

Small and portable
Excellent build quality
Plug and play installation

Cons:

A bit heavy
No SD/TF card slots