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.
Hide and Show the Dock with a Keyboard Shortcut. MacOS includes a built-in keyboard shortcut that lets you enable or disable the 'Automatically hide and show the Dock' toggle: Option (⌥) + Command (⌘) + D. Press that keyboard shortcut combination and you'll see your Dock disappear, sliding off the edge of the screen. Those iPads use the same 30 pin dock connector, so I am going to say that there is a high probability that the keyboard dock will work with an iPad 2 and 3 and early iPad 4 models that still used the 30-pin Dock connector. Not sure if the keyboard dock is still compatible with iOS 7 and greater or not. 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. 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. To use the Keyboard dock, you must remove the iPad from the case each time, and this leads to wear on the case. The Apple Wireless Keyboard is the same price as the Keyboard Dock, but is far more versatile. If you must buy an Apple keyboard for your iPad, do not get the Keyboard Dock.
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.
Backup disk full mac. 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. Download nordvpn mac.
Pros
Mac Keyboard Dock Pro
- Easy installation and deployment
- 85W power delivery
- Variety of ports
Mac Keyboard Docking Station
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.
You may also like to read these
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. Mac mini dolphin emulator. When not working, I love reading and traveling.
- https://www.igeeksblog.com/author/mehak/Using 'Rebuild' Feature of Database Utility in Mac Entourage
- https://www.igeeksblog.com/author/mehak/
- https://www.igeeksblog.com/author/mehak/
- https://www.igeeksblog.com/author/mehak/
