MacBooks are Apple’s best-selling Macs for good purpose: They provide glorious efficiency they usually’re constructed for journey. Gone are the times of a lesser-powered laptop computer that complemented a extra highly effective desktop Mac. MacBooks are a person’s main pc and that MacBook can double as a desktop Mac at your private home or work desk.
That MacBook setup at your main work location could be elaborate, with exterior storage units and shows, charging stations on your iPhone and Apple Watch, audio system, microphones, cameras, and extra. In that case, even the MacBook Professional doubtless doesn’t have sufficient ports to attach all of your gear. That’s the place a docking station is available in, offering extra ports and simplifying the connection course of while you return to your desk.
And there are different advantages to them. In case you’re undecided in the event you want a docking station, listed below are 5 the explanation why you need to get one. In case you do determine that you simply want one, test our listing of the most effective Thunderbolt and USB-C docking stations on your MacBook. Our information will assist you determine whether or not you want a dock or a hub (sure, there’s a distinction), clarify the specs to search for, and advocate merchandise so that you can think about.
The MacBook Air has two Thunderbolt/USB-C 4 ports. The MacBook Professional is extra versatile, with as much as three Thunderbolt/USB-C 4 ports, an HDMI port, and an SDXC Card slot. All MacBooks have a 3.5mm audio jack. These ports could be sufficient while you’re working remotely however you in all probability want extra while you’re at your desk. (See our definitive information to the ports in your Apple units if you would like extra specifics on the MacBook Air and MacBook Professional ports.)
Want extra ports? You may get loads from a dock, maybe much more than you want.
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A docking station dietary supplements your MacBook with extra ports–some docks provide extra ports than you’ll ever want. Want extra USB-C ports? USB-A? Thunderbolt? HDMI? It’s straightforward to discover a dock that provides these ports. You may even discover docks with ethernet, DisplayPort, audio jacks, card readers, and extra.
If in case you have an exterior show, exterior storage units, a wired community connection, a digicam, an all-in-one, high-end audio system, and even your iPhone, and also you want extra ports to attach all of them to your MacBook, a dock is a good funding.
A number of exterior shows
For homeowners of a MacBook with a base M1, M2, or M3 chip (and sure future base M chips), this could be a extra essential purpose than having extra ports. The M1 and M2 MacBooks and the M3 MacBook Professional assist just one exterior show, whereas the M3 MacBook Air can run two shows however the the laptop computer must be closed.
A docking station can assist you to join extra shows. You may’t get simply any dock, nonetheless; it should assist DisplayLink or InstantView, which requires their associated software program drivers to be put in on the MacBook. The 2 applied sciences have limitations, comparable to non-optimized efficiency or the shortcoming to show protected content material from streaming companies. Study extra about DisplayLink and InstantView.
Some docks, such because the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station, have know-how that enables a base M-series MacBook to run multiple exterior show.
Satechi
Nevertheless, in the event you use your exterior shows largely for productiveness features, utilizing a dock could be a viable resolution. See our suggestions for MacBook multiscreen docks. It’s also possible to study extra about connecting two or extra exterior shows to a M1, M2, or M3 MacBook.
Plug and play ease
In case you already use each port in your MacBook while you’re at your desk, it’s a must to unplug all of them when it’s good to go work remotely. Then while you return to your desk, it’s a must to plug all that gear again in. Positive, this can be a trivial duties that don’t take up lots of time, however it’s a trouble, and all that unplugging and plugging in causes put on and tear in your cables, cable connectors, and the MacBook ports.
With a dock, the whole lot plugs into it, and you’ve got one cable that plugs into your MacBook. That’s it. When it’s time to go, just one cable must be unplugged. Whenever you return, just one cable must be plugged in. It’s not a trouble, saves time, and cuts down on put on and tear.
Devoted charging stations
I simply coated how the whole lot plugs right into a dock–that may embrace chargers on your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods, and the rest, together with the MacBook itself. Apple chargers connect with a USB-C cable, and with a dock, you possibly can unplug these chargers from the wall socket, put them away, after which plug the USB-C charging cable into the dock. In case you’ve been plugging these USB-C cables into the MacBook, plug it into the dock as an alternative.
Docks have an influence cable that plugs into energy, so it may possibly present all of the vitality wanted to cost your units. With simply the dock plugged in, it’ll liberate sockets in your surge protector (you might be utilizing a surge protector, proper?).
Ethernet assist
MacBooks (and most PC laptops) don’t have an ethernet port. Most individuals don’t want it. But when Wi-Fi is just too inconsistent and gradual on your wants, you in all probability depend on a wired ethernet community connection.
As a substitute of getting a USB-to-ethernet adapter, get a dock that has an ethernet port. The dock itself is your adapter and you’ll plug your cable into the dock. Many docks provide Gigabit Ethernet ports that helps to 1 Gbps and are some .
Some docks have an ethernet port for connecting to a wired community.
Mark Hachman / IDG
You’ll discover different options in docks that might be helpful: KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) switching, safety features and Kensington locks, assist for older ports, storage bays, and extra. A docking station is such an incredible funding, even informal Mac customers can discover a purpose to get one. In case you need assistance discovering a dock, try our listing of the most effective Thunderbolt and USB-C docking stations on your MacBook.