Docking stations can power all these at once, along with your laptop, as they are plugged into the wall to deliver power. They are mainly used to turn your laptop into a desktop replacement, being able to support up to 8K resolution or dual 4K at 60Hz, audio connectivity, SD card readers, and a lot of USB-A or USB-C devices. These deliver connectivity for everything, offering upwards of ten ports for all kinds of peripherals. While they mainly offer more USB-A 3.0 ports, seeing as most PC peripherals rely on USB-A connectivity, you’ll find plenty of the best hubs with SD card slots, HDMI and DisplayPort inputs, and Gigabit Ethernet ports.ĭocking stations are a step up from USB-C hubs in some ways, but are generally less portable and more expensive. A good hub is typically small and lightweight to match the portability of a laptop, and is perfect for professionals who are constantly on the move. While many laptops may already sport multiple ports - from USB-C and HDMI 2.0 to the most recent Thunderbolt 4 connectivity - many of the best laptops sacrifice these for a more stylish, lightweight form factor (we’re looking at you, MacBook Air and Dell XPS 13).Ī USB-C hub is mainly used to expand the number of ports on your laptop and is generally powered by the laptop itself.
Both have been designed to extend the range of peripherals your laptop can connect to. The difference between these two connectors is, when it comes down to it, minuscule.
