Ports on ports on ports —

Guidemaster: Picking the right Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C dock for your desk

Ars tests a bunch of docks and hubs to see which are worthy of a spot on your desk.

USB-C 3.1 docks

Best overall

Cable Matters USB-C Dual 4K DisplayPort Docking Station

Specs at a glance: Cable Matters USB-C Dual 4K DisplayPort Docking Station
Price $169
Ports 2 x USB-C 3.1 Gen 2
1 x USB-A 3.1 Gen 2
2 x USB-A 3.0
2 x USB-A 2.0
2 x DisplayPorts
1 x Gigabit ethernet
1 x microSD card slot
1 x SD card slot
Power delivery 80W
Display options Dual display support—4K mode: 2 x 4K@30Hz, 1 x 4K @60Hz, HD mode: 2 x FHD@60Hz, 1 x 4K@30Hz (macOS only supports one external display)
Dimensions 7.85×2.76×1.02 inches
Compatibility macOS, Windows 10

Cable Matters excelled in this category with its versatile USB-C dock. Arguably its best feature is its set of DisplayPorts, allowing Windows machines to connect to two 4K displays at once, with both running at 30Hz. In addition, it has five USB-A ports, two USB-C ports, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and both SD and microSD card slots.

This particular dock gives you more control over data transfer speeds and external display quality with its dynamic bandwidth switch. Depending on your needs you can choose from the HD or 4K modes: the former lets you connect two HD monitors at 60Hz or 4K monitor at 30Hz while supporting transfer speeds up to 10Gbps. The latter lets you connect two 4K monitors at 30Hz or or one 4K monitor at 60Hz while supporting transfer speeds of 60Mbps (typical of USB 2.0 ports). It’s a useful feature, particularly for those who have 4K monitors but still want control over how quickly their system transfers data.

That combined with the two DisplayPorts justify this dock's slightly expensive price tag. It also has a sturdy design that’s similar to Cable Matter’s Thunderbolt 3 dock—the metal-encased slab curves downward at its ends, giving it the friendly shape of a flattened hill. It comes with a metal stand as well, allowing you to place it vertically or horizontally on your desk. I also appreciate its power button because, unlike other docks, it lets you control power consumption without unplugging the entire unit when you don’t need it.

Good

  • Dual DisplayPorts and dynamic bandwidth switch.

Bad

  • No HDMI port.
Cable Matters USB-C Dock product image

Cable Matters USB-C Dock

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Runner up

Kensington SD2000P USB-C Nano Dock

Specs at a glance: Kensington SD2000P nano dock
Price $99
Ports 2 x USB-C 3.1 Gen 1
3 x USB-A 3.1 Gen 1
1 x HDMI
1 x DisplayPort++ 1.2
1 x Gigabit ethernet
1 x Kensington lock slot
Power delivery 60W
Display options One display (4K @ 30Hz)
Dimensions 4×4×1 inches (102×102×25 mm)
Compatibility macOS, Windows 10, Chrome

Kensington's SD2000P USB-C Nano Dock is a solid option for those who don't want to spend close to $200 for Cable Matter's dock, or for those who don't need as much power or versatility in such a dock. But make no mistake, the Kensington nano dock may be small but it packs a lot of value into its tiny frame. First and foremost, its data transfer speeds were close to those of Cable Matters' dock, so you won't sacrifice too much speed if you opt for this $109 dock instead.

It also takes up much less space than our top pick in general. While none of the docks we recommend in this guide are huge, there's something to be said about smaller docks that also have fast data speeds and a variety of ports. Kensington's nano dock is a simple 3.86×3.86-inch square that manages to fit two USB-C ports two USB-A ports, a DisplayPort++ and an HDMI port on it as well as a few other useful ports like an Ethernet port and a lock slot. It won't take up a lot of space on your desk, and you could have it disappear into your work area by mounting it on a VESA system (additional accessory required).

The Kensington nano dock also supports up to 60W laptop charging and connectivity to one external, 4K @ 30Hz monitor. If your host PC supports alt mode over USB-C, you can connect a projector to this dock as well.

While there are USB-C docks that have many more bells and whistles than Kensington's nano dock, the former is likely a solid dock for most users who want an accessory that helps them do more with their current PC than they can do with its built-in ports. It's small size, and equally small price tag, make it an even more attractive option.

Good

  • Compact dock with a good number of ports at a good price.

Bad

  • Only supports on external display.
Kensington SD2000P Nano Dock product image

Kensington SD2000P Nano Dock

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Best travel hub

OWC USB-C Travel Dock

Specs at a glance: OWC Travel Dock (Gen 2)
Price $54.99
Ports 2 x USB-A 3.1 Gen 1
1 x USB-C 3.1 Gen1
1 x HDMI
1 x SD card reader
Power delivery 100W (via passthrough)
Display options One display (4K @ 30Hz)
Dimensions 3.2×3.2×0.7 inches (80×80×17 mm) inches
Compatibility macOS, Windows 10, Chrome

OWC's USB-C Travel Dock takes what you think you know about travel dongles and hubs and turns it on its head. We often think of "travel" accessories as things that sacrifice some usability in favor of portability. OWC's device does that to a degree, but it acts more like a typical dock than any other travel hub we tested. It's compact, carries multiple ports, and has data speeds that come close to those of desk-bound devices.

The 3.1×3.1-inch square fits comfortably in the palm of my hand, and it has a USB-C cable attached to it that hides in a cavern in the dock's underside. That means you don't need to remember a USB-C cable to connect it to your computer—but if you choose to bring your PC's power cable and adapter, OWC's dock supports 100W power delivery via its other USB-C port. You can charge your laptop while using the dock without any extra hassle.

Three sides of the OWC dock contain its ports: one USB-C port for PD pass-through, two USB-A 3.1 Gen 1 ports, one HDMI port, and one SD card reader. We only wish it had an Ethernet port because that would truly make it a device that toes the line between travel and stationary accessory. In addition to driving an external 4096×2160 display at 30Hz, the OWC travel dock will transfer data nearly as quickly as most of the regular docks we tested. It was also leaps and bounds faster than the travel hubs we tested, all of which were traditional dongles that stick as many ports as possible into their small frames.

Those devices aren't all bad (check out our alternative travel dock below for one we actually liked), but they sacrifice speed so much so that traditional docks blow them all out of the water. OWC's travel dock strikes a good balance between portable and practical with its smart yet compact design, speedy internal tech, and more-than-reasonable $55 price tag.

Good

  • Powerful yet conveniently compact USB-C hub at an excellent price.

Bad

  • No Ethernet port.
OWC USB Travel Dock product image

OWC USB Travel Dock

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Alternative travel hub

VAVA USB-C hub

Specs at a glance: VAVA USB-C hub
Price $59.89
Ports 1 x USB-C
3 x USB-A 3.0
1 x HDMI
1 x SD card reader
1 x microSD card reader
1 x Gigabit Ethernet port
Power delivery 100W (power delivery charging—requires adapter)
Display options One display (up to 4K)
Dimensions 2×0.5×4 inches
Compatibility macOS, Windows

VAVA's USB-C adapter has everything you could want (and reasonably expect) in a travel-sized hub. The company managed to fit the most essential ports in a slim little rectangle. With three USB-A ports, one USB-C port, one HDMI port, an SD card reader and microSD card reader, and a drop-down Ethernet port, most users can connect anything and everything they'd need on the go. I particularly appreciated the drop-down design of the Ethernet cable, which keeps the device thin without sacrificing a hardware Internet option.

While it cannot charge your laptop on its own, VAVA's hub does include a USB-C charging port that can connect to a power cable. It supports 100W power delivery, allowing you to charge your PC while also connecting numerous peripherals all through one USB-C port.

VAVA's device used to be our favorite travel hub because it produced much faster data transfer speeds than the other similar hubs we tested. However, OWC's Travel Dock now surpasses it by a lot, with benchmark scores closer to those of stationary desk docks. While both devices are compact and portable, VAVA's has the advantage of being more like a traditional adapter. This makes it great for users who don't have a lot of space to spare in their travel bags, or those who simply like to travel as light as possible.

Good

  • Slim and compact design with a drop-down Ethernet port.

Bad

  • No DisplayPort.
VAVA USB-C Hub product image

VAVA USB-C Hub

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