your laptop never has enough ports, especially if it is the macbook air this guide was written in. That forces you to carry a series of dongles so you can plug everything in. Fortunately, there is a better way. USB hubs can expand the number and type of ports available, and USB docks let you turn a laptop into a full workstation with just one plug. After testing several different USB hubs and docks, these are the best we’ve found for different needs.
Looking for other gadgets and gizmos for the home office? We have a number of guides that can help, such as our The best team to work from home, best usb flash driveand The best portable external storage drives raids.
May 2023 update: We added the Anker 568 and Anker 778 docks.
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Do you need a hub or a dock?
There’s a gray area between USB hubs and docks, since they technically do (mostly) the same thing: add more ports and connectors to your computer. However, there are some small differences and it is worth understanding them before buying one.
usb hubs they are smaller, cheaper dongles that can add additional USB ports, SD card readers, display outputs, or a headphone jack. These often do not provide additional power, so you may not be able to charge the devices connected to them. They’re also portable enough to throw in your laptop bag for use at home and on the go.
USB ports they tend to be larger, more expensive, and designed to spend most of your time on your desk. They often come with their own power supply so they can charge other devices and have multiple monitor outputs and Ethernet connections. If you frequently use your laptop at a desk, a dock can let you quickly connect it to a keyboard, mouse, monitors, and any other peripherals you need simultaneously.
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