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.
The company finally debuted its long-awaited new Mac Pro and with it, a $5,000, 32-inch 6K Retina display, the Pro XDR. (That's short for Extreme Dynamic Range, har har.) (That's short for Extreme. If you have a recent Mac Mini or Mac Pro, chances are it'll work with pretty much any monitor out there. Some monitors are a bit better-suited for Mac users, including USB-C connectivity, making it easy to connect your Mac to the monitor.
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
New Mac Pro Price
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
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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The Macbook Pro is one of Apple’s masterpieces. It’s a sophisticated piece of technology that can be great for many tasks like iOS or Mac OS X app development, photo and video editing, graphic designing, and music production.
However, the Macbook Pro’s sharp display could be somewhat restrictive due to its small size, which is why many people like to get a dedicated monitor for their Macbook Pro.
In this article, we will discover some of the best monitors for Macbook Pro and why you’d want to buy each of them. Let’s start!
Monitor
Price
Size
Resolution
HDR
Refresh Rate
Response Time
Panel Type
Speakers
Connectivity
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BenQ PD3220U
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32”
54K UHD (3840 x 2160)
Yes
60Hz
5ms
VA
Yes
USB Type-C, HDMI, USB 3.0, and DisplayPort
LG UltraFine 27MD5KB-B
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27”
5K (5120 x 2880)
No
60Hz
14ms
IPS
Yes
USB Type-C and USB 3.0
Dell Ultrasharp U3818DW
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38”
WQHD+(3840×1600)
No
Best Displays For Mac Pro
60Hz
5ms
IPS
Yes
USB Type-C, HDMI, USB 3.0, and DisplayPort
ViewSonic VP3268-4K PRO
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32”
4K UHD (3840 x 2160)
Yes
60Hz
7ms
IPS
Yes
DisplayPort, Mini DisplayPort, HDMI inputs, and USB 3.0
Samsung U28E590D
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28”
4K UHD (3840 x 2160)
No
60Hz
1ms
TN
Yes
DisplayPort and HDMI
Lenovo L24i-20
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24”
FHD (1920×1080)
No
60Hz
7ms
IPS
No
HDMI and VGA
Best Value
Best Value
Samsung U28E590D 28 inch 3840×2160 60 hz 1msFreeSyncNoTNPROS
4K UHD displayOne billion colorsFast response time
CONS
Thick bezelsNo USB Type-C or other USB ports
+ Read MorePremium
Best Premium
BenQ PD3220U 32 inch3840 x 2160 60hz 5ms
FreeSync
Yes
VA
PROS
4K UHD displayP3 wide color gamutDisplay ModesUSB Type-C
CONS
A bit expensive
+ Read More
Best Budget
Best Budget
Lenovo L24i-20 24 inch 1920×1080 60hz 7ms
FreeSync
No
IPS
PROS
CompactFrameless display
CONS
No HDRLimited resolutionLimited ergonomic adjustmentsNo USB Type-C or DisplayPort
+ Read More
1. BenQ PD3220U – Best Overall Monitor for Macbook Pro