Our pick
This dock has a myriad of useful ports, including USB-A, USB-C, and an SD card slot. It can charge a 15-inch MacBook Pro at full speed or a Surface Laptop Studio at close to that.
Ports and features
| two Thunderbolt 3 (one pass-through) | Gigabit Ethernet |
| one USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 | audio-in |
| one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 | audio-out |
| five USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 | S/PDIF digital optical audio |
| one DisplayPort | 87-watt charging |
| one SD card reader |
The CalDigit TS3 Plus has the best combination of ports, size, and shape that we’ve found, and it’s more affordable than ever. It has 15 ports, including a second Thunderbolt port that allows you to hook up two 4K monitors at 60 Hz with ease. This is the only dock with an S/PDIF connector for those who want high-quality audio. Whereas most docks have a strictly horizontal orientation, taking up precious desk space, the TS3 Plus can also stand vertically, minimizing its footprint.
Budget pick
This Monoprice dock costs significantly less and has a more impressive array than other docks in its price range.
Ports and features
| one Thunderbolt 3 | one audio-in/out |
| one USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 | two DisplayPort |
| two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 | one SD card reader |
| one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 | one microSD card reader |
| Gigabit Ethernet | 60-watt charging |
Consider Monoprice’s Thunderbolt 3 Dual DisplayPort Docking Station if you don’t need a Thunderbolt pass-through port for connecting high-speed accessories such as an external Thunderbolt hard drive, and if you’re okay with fewer USB-A connectors and slightly slower charging than on our top pick. Although that may sound like a lot of sacrifices, the array of ports on this dock remains impressive, especially in comparison with similarly priced models; nothing else in the sub-$200 range matches it. And with its two DisplayPort connectors, you can run two 4K monitors at once.
Upgrade pick
Equipped with 18 total ports, this Thunderbolt 4 dock allows you to connect whatever you want to your laptop, with plenty of connections left over.
Ports and features
| three Thunderbolt 4 | one audio-in |
| five USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 | one audio-out |
| three USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 | one audio-in/out |
| one DisplayPort | one SD card reader |
| 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet | one microSD card reader |
| 98-watt charging |
Want to upgrade from an older dock or need something with more power and ports? The CalDigit TS4 has a total of 18 ports, including three Thunderbolt 4 ports, three USB-C ports, and five USB-A ports. Additionally, it supports 98-watt charging, more than enough power to charge even the biggest of standard laptops. Like the TS3 Plus, the TS4 can lie flat on your desk or stand vertically, so it has a smaller footprint than most docks.
