May 03, 2020 We have been testing out Kensington's latest SD5350T Thunderbolt 3 Docking Station, which touts things like 4K, fast charging and lots of USB to play with. We are going start off with the over-all design of the unit and then we will run through this as well make our way physically around it, discussing each port (or set of ports). Apr 04, 2020 The Kensington SD5300T TB3 Docking Station is another cross-platform dock, supporting both macOS and Windows 10, that provides support for a single 5K monitor or dual 4K displays at 60Hz. As an added plus to the whole package, the dock can be mounted to the back of any VESA-compatible external display (via a mounting plate, sold separately. The Kensington USB 3.0 Dual 2K Docking Station turns one USB port into six so you can access all of your peripherals, including keyboard, mouse, printer, external hard drive, and more. And with dual HD video.
Although the latest MacBook Pros are powerhouse devices that are perfect for all kinds of work on-the-go, one drawback is that they lack legacy ports. This brings about the need for USB-C hubs and docking stations for those times when you're at home or work and need to connect multiple peripherals to your device such as monitors, keyboards, etc. Do more with your machine with these best docking stations for MacBook Pro.
1. Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Mini Dock Station – Editor's Choice
Create a powerful workstation with this compact dock that connects to your laptop through a single tethered cable. You can connect two 4K monitors using the dual HDMI ports at 60Hz.
It's perfect for enjoying fast, HD visuals across multiple screens. Use peripherals like a keyboard, mouse, etc., via the USB-A 3.0 and USB-A 2.0 ports. And enjoy a reliable and secure network connection through the gigabit ethernet port.
Pros
- 40 Gbps data transfer speed
- Dual 4K video support
- Compact size
Cons
- No memory card reader
Price: $127.16
2. Kensington Docking Station
You can quickly convert your MacBook into a powerful desktop computer by using this Thunderbolt 3 docking station from Kensington. The powerful Thunderbolt 3 technology helps you transfer your data at speed up to 40Gbps. You can easily download a 4K movie in just 30 seconds.
With multiple ports, an SD card reader, and single 5K/4K video output, you can connect monitors, hard drives, mouse, keyboard, and other USB peripherals. Moreover, you can charge your laptop with up to 60W power delivery.
Pros
- Thunderbolt 3 (2.3 foot) cable included.
- Perfect for photo transfers
- SD card reader
Cons
- HDMI does not work without an adapter
Price: $248.63
3. LINEDOCK USB-C Docking station
Here's a sleek charging dock that features nine ports for your MacBook Pro/Air or iPad Pro. Moreover, it doubles up as a massive portable battery: hard-drive and 100W charger.
It offers up to 8 hours of extra battery life, 60W Power Delivery, 100W Pass-Through Charging, and up to 1TB onboard SSD storage. This makes it an ultra-convenient all-in-one choice.
Pros
- Also, a hard drive, charger, and portable battery
- Sleek and lightweight
- 99 percent plastic-free
- One year warranty
Cons
- Expensive
Price: $349.00
4. LandingZone Docking Station
This dock is only compatible with the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar. It connects to the USB Type-C and Audio port on your laptop. The included 96W LandingZone US Power Adapter powers the docking station and can also charge your MacBook under most conditions.
You can connect multiple monitors to the HDMI 1, HDMI 2, Mini DisplayPort, or USB Type-C Passthrough port. A total of 3 external monitors can be connected to this charging dock.
Pros
- Elegant design
- Range of ports
- Comes with power adaptor
Cons
- Build not sturdy
Price: $237.15
5. WAVLINK Thunderbolt 3 Dock
This charging dock provides 180 Watt DC Power Supply and delivers 85W power to charge your laptop and USB peripherals. The secondary Thunderbolt 3 port provides 15W of power for downstream devices.
It boasts 4x USB 3.0 ports for a super transfer speed of up to 5Gbps and 900mA of power. At the same time, it's got an integrated SD/Micro SD card reader that makes it easy to copy photos and videos from your camera to your laptop.
Pros
- 12 ports
- Integrated SD Card reader
- Compact size
Cons
- Slows down with multiple devices consented
Price: $195.86
6. Elgato Thunderbolt 3 Pro Dock
Connect everything to your MacBook Pro at once with this handy docking station. It has two Thunderbolt 3 ports for extended Thunderbolt versatility, including a 5K display.
It supports dual displays of up to 4K at a smooth frame rate of 60Hz. There are also two dedicated USB-C ports and two front USB 3.0 ports. Further, it has a Dock utility app that eliminates the need to keep ejecting devices one by one.
Pros
- One cable
- Dual display
- Has a Dock utility app
Cons
- Expensive
Price: $339.99
7. Cable Matters Aluminum Thunderbolt 3 Dock
Check out this 60W single-cable docking solution that supports dual 4K displays at 60Hz displays. It is compatible with an HDMI port and a Thunderbolt 3 port using an active USB-C to video adapter.
It's an essential companion for professionals and lets you maximize the utility of a single Thunderbolt 3 port to add dual 4K@60Hz displays, 5 USB 3.0 ports, a memory card slot, Gigabit Ethernet network connectivity, and a combo audio port.
Pros
- Sleek look
- SD card reader
- Fully-featured
Cons
- A bit pricey
Price: $229.99
8. Elgato Thunderbolt 3 Dock
Connect everything to your MacBook Pro with this handy dock that's got all the ports you need. Elgato dock boasts extended versatility, including 5K display support, dual display support, and up to 2x 4K resolution.
It has high-power device support for iPad, SuperDrive, and more. It extends connectivity, audio, video, and networking. Further, it has an easy ejection software button to ensure data safety.
Pros
- Versatility
- Easy ejection button
- Compact size
Cons
- Slows down with multiple devices connected
Reset Kensington Docking Station
Price: $249.99
9. StarTech Thunderbolt 3 Docking Station
This charging station is great for video editing and other Ultra HD tasks. This dual-4K monitor docking station supports 40Gbps speeds and 4K resolution on two monitors.
It's easy to set up and deploy with universal Thunderbolt 3 Dock with automatic driver setup & MAC address changer utility, including Thunderbolt 3 host cable and USB-C to DisplayPort cable to connect a second DP monitor.
Pros
- Easy installation and deployment
- 85W power delivery
- Variety of ports
Cons
- Slows down with too many devices connected
Price: $249.97
10. CalDigit TS3 Plus Thunderbolt 3 Dock
As a pro user, you need a dock that helps you connect multiple devices and peripherals. CalDigit successfully fulfills your requirements as this docking station has ten ports of connectivity.
A striking feature is 85W powerful laptop charging. Moreover, you can also charge other USB peripherals. Even if you are not connected to a Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C laptop, the pro dock charges a computer to 85W.
Pros
- Stand-alone charging
- 85W laptop charging
- Ethernet connection
Cons
- Internet speed issues
Price: $249.99
Summing Up!
So, did this help you pick out the best docking station for your MacBook Pro? Let us know your choice in the comments below.
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I have been writing about tech for over 10 years now. I am passionate about helping people solve their tech problems with easy and practical solutions. At iGeeksBlog, I write and edit how-to guides and accessory reviews for all things Apple. My work has previously appeared in Live IT and Woman's Era magazines. When not working, I love reading and traveling.
Kensington Docking Station Sd400v
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