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.
- Docking Stations For Macbook Pro 2017
- Docking Stations For Mac
- Docking Stations For Macbook Pro With Retina Display And Touch Bar
- Docking Stations For Macbook Air
- Apple Docking Station
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.
Browse mac+docking+station on sale, by desired features, or by customer ratings. Its inclusions across the entire Mac line make Thunderbolt 3 docks usable in many instances, but arguably its main audience is for buyers of the MacBook Pro range, to expand the selection of ports.
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 [email protected] 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
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
Docking Stations For Macbook Pro 2017
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.
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Apple is known for taking big leaps when it comes to revolutionizing their products. Take their computers for example.
The newly released MacBook Pro looks almost alien when side-by-side with its ancestors. The touch bar brings the Pros to a whole new level while still giving us a sophisticated look.
The one thing people notice the most are the lack of ports. The old generations of MacBook had just about every port you could possibly think of: USB ports, Ethernet, SD and micro SD card slots, HDMI, and Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C).
However, the new MacBook Pro only has Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) slots, which mean that you’re going to have to purchase additional adapters in order to use USB.
This is where the docking stations come into the picture. Docking stations are basically adapters to connect your other devices to your MacBook.
The best thing about it is it tidies up all the cords that will be connected to your MacBook. In this case, you get a cleaner and
If you need help finding the best docking station for MacBook Air and Pro, we’ve got you covered in this article.
10 Best Docking Stations For MacBook Air and Pro
1. TOTU
This device is built for high-speed performance. For this device, two of your USB-C ports will be used simultaneously.
However, it has 8 power ports that you can use to connect to different devices.
From USB 3.0 ports to lightning, Thunderbolt and even a convenient SD card slot for easier access. The wide range of available ports surely makes it worth every penny.
The sleek aluminum design with the Space Grey color finish complements well with your MacBook Pro and gives it a cleaner look.
Additionally, the device includes a travel pouch which makes it ideal for traveling.
2. Anker
If you want a design that’s sleek and compact then this device is for you. Using the best technology, Anker has engineered this docking station to deliver the best possible performance.
It is definitely a total game-changer.
This device is a power user’s solution for hyper-productivity. With the 7 available ports, there is surely one for every device that you need to plugin.
And to ensure the long-time enjoyment without having to worry about further issues, this device comes with 18-month warranty service.
3. MagBac
MagBac provides for a cleaner and sleek working station. It promotes versatility with the multiple ports available to use, 8 ports with different uses, to be exact.
It’s designed with high-quality aluminum and aspace gray finish to withstand the usual wear and tear.
The size does not impact quality at all. It has a power delivery of up to 100W which charges up devices such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones very easily.
Moreover, with MagBac’s compact design, just drop it in your bag then you can work anywhere!
4. Belkin
Belkin has been a pioneer for innovation and technology for over 35 years. Their products have been tested and are proven to be durable and reliable devices.
This one is no exception. It’s designed and optimized for MacBook Pro 2016/17 running OS X Sierra with the ability to charge and power your MacBook Pro with a single Thunderbolt 3 cable up to 85W.
With a stylish design and silver finish, what more can you ask for?
5. Lasuney
Lasuney’s docking hub has set the standard of connectivity with 10 available ports!
Lightweight and compact, it is designed for user convenience. The best feature of Lasuney is that it also charges your laptop and other devices to ensure that you are geared up when you leave your desk.
If you want to keep your docking hub and laptop in somewhat the same shade, you don’t have to worry then. Lasuney comes with a gray finish that perfectly complements your MacBook Pro for example.
6. QGeeM
Do you have multiple devices connected to your MacBook Pro?
QGeeM just solves that problem of yours. It is engineered to maximize the use of the 2 HDMI 4K ports, VGA output port, 2 USB 3.0 ports, 2 USB 2.9 ports, Ethernet, TF and SD card readers, and USB-C ports.
All that with a 100W power delivery both for charging and display expansion at the same time.
This device is extremely reliable, and it’s great that you don’t have to purchase all of those extra cable cords.
7. Henge Docks
Considering this device’s sophistication, this one ranks at the top. It’s specifically designed for your Macbook and it features a USB-C dock.
Say goodbye to slow charging! And with ten ports available in just one single connection, it’s all about user convenience.
Even better, it’s designed to be used as a laptop stand, giving you more space at your workstation.
8. CableCreation
CableCreation provides your computer with additional ports, enabling it to connect to more devices. Because it’s so lightweight and compact, it’s perfect for taking places with you.
The highlight of this device is its unique square shape, unlike the common rectangular ones, it gives you an edge!
9. Satechi
With only the best materials and components used to construct this powerful device, Satechi ensures durable, reliable, high-quality performance for customer satisfaction.
The ports have a stand-alone, fast charging ability that charges your devices 40% faster than a typical USB 3.0.
You do not only get the best performance, but you will also get your money’s worth because the device can withstand the usual wear and tear for long-lasting usage.
10. Uni
Providing you up to 100W of power for safe and quick charging, this device is not to be underestimated.
It has three SuperSpeed USB 3.0 ports so your workspace remains organized. It also has access ports that make plugging in a breeze.
And those other ports that you did not know you need? Well, this device has them all at your disposal anytime!
FAQs that you should know about
1. Should I get the 12-port docking hub right away?
In looking for the best docking stations for MacBook you should look into which of the ports do you exactly need. In most cases, there might be a port or two that you won’t really need.
If that’s the case, choose the ones that have your needed ports. They might be cheaper too, you know.
2. Which among the list is the best for my MacBook?
Docking Stations For Mac
There is no telling which among the ones on this list is the best. It might differ on what exactly are your needs.
Docking Stations For Macbook Pro With Retina Display And Touch Bar
If you need to have multiple devices plugin, the multiple ports available might be the one for you. It is important though that you research first before buying it.
3. Are there docking stations for other Apple products?
In this article, we have listed down our picks for the best docking stations for MacBook.
Thankfully, there are also docking stations for the iPad. Check out this article for the best one there is in the market right now!
Bottom Line
Docking Stations For Macbook Air
If you want to stop juggling countless adapters and cable cords while still getting all of your devices connected with each other, give one of these docking stations a try.
Honestly, they’re all great. You’ll have to do your own research to find the perfect docking station that fits your needs.
Apple Docking Station
Did you find this article useful? Do you use docking stations for MacBook? Let us know in the comments section below!