Introduction to Best Thunderbolt-3
If you have a high-end laptop, then the chances are that you will have all kinds of high-performance input and output ports on its side. Even if it doesn’t, and all you get is Thunderbolt 3 ports with your laptop, you can still connect all kinds of devices. This is possible because Thunderbolt 3 is a highly versatile and high-speed connector that can work with all kinds of devices.
But for connecting different peripherals to the Thunderbolt 3 port of your laptop, you will also need a Thunderbolt 3 dock. These docks essentially act as an adapter for converting your single Thunderbolt 3 port into multiple ports of all types and speeds. Thus, we are here with the 5 best Thunderbolt 3 docks alongside a complete buying guide so that you can get the right one by the end of this list.
Reviews of Best Five Thunderbolt 3 Docks
1. Plugable 14-in-1 USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 Dock
Plugable offers one of the best Thunderbolt 3 docks made for desktop usage. Because it includes a total of 14 ports, you can easily connect all kinds of devices. To be exact, you will find a 10 Gbps USB type C port, 6 USB 3.0 Type-A ports, 2 HDMI 2.0 ports, 2 DisplayPort ports, ethernet port, SD card reader, micro SD card reader, and even a 3.5 mm jack. These ports are located on the back as well as front for easy access.
While this Thunderbolt 3 dock is a bit large in size and requires a power adapter, its larger size is justified thanks to its power delivery support. Because it can charge your laptop at 96 watts, you do not require to use your laptop charger separately. As for its display ports, they can be used to connect dual displays at once. Plugable also includes a 2-year warranty for peace of reliability and peace of mind.
Best Features:
- Includes USB type A, USB type C, HDMI, DisplayPort, Ethernet, SD card reader, micro SD card reader, audio ports
- Comes with a 2.6 ft Thunderbolt 3 cable
- Supports dual 4K 60 Hz displays
- Offers 96-watt power delivery charging
- Includes a 2-year long warranty
Pros:
- Highly versatile with 14 ports
- Single cable connection even for charging
- Offers ports on the front and the back
Our Take: Perfect for connecting a large number of devices over a single cable with charging support
2. Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Mini W/ Thunderbolt 3 Cable
Belkin makes all kinds of laptop accessories and adapters, including a Thunderbolt 3 dock. But unlike other options, this is a mini dock that is primarily made for portable usage. Even at its given size, you get a total of 5 ports, including a USB 2.0 type A port, USB 3.0 type A port, 2 HDMI 2.0 ports, and an ethernet port for networking. For connecting this Thunderbolt 3 dock to your laptop, you can use its inbuilt 6.8-inch cable.
Even at a highly portable and travel-friendly size, Belkin offers full 40 Gbps speeds supported by Thunderbolt 3 for excellent performance. And thanks to its dual HDMI ports, you can connect up to 2 4K 60 Hz displays simultaneously. Since Belkin is a reasonably reputable brand of laptop accessories, you also get a 2-year warranty included with it.
Best Features:
- Includes USB type A, HDMI, ethernet ports
- Comes with a 6.8-inch Thunderbolt 3 cable
- Supports dual 4K 60 Hz displays
- Offers full 40 Gbps Thunderbolt 3 speeds
- Includes a 2-year warranty
Pros:
- Quite compact and small
- Inbuilt Thunderbolt 3 cable for ease of use
- Works with 2 4K 60 Hz displays at once
Our Take: Highly compact and travel-friendly Thunderbolt 3 dock for taking along with your laptop
3. Dell USB 3.0 Ultra HD/4K Triple Display Docking Station
Since most laptops only come with a single video output port, you might want to get a Thunderbolt 3 dock just for connecting multiple displays, which is exactly what Dell offers. It is one of the only Thunderbolt 3 docks made for connecting up to 3 4K displays at the same time. This is possible thanks to its 5 USB type-A ports, 2 HDMI 2.0 ports, DisplayPort port, ethernet port and audio port.
Unlike most other Thunderbolt 3 docks, this one works over USB 3.0 port which means that you can use it even with a laptop that lacks Thunderbolt 3. And since it even has its own power adapter, you can use it with ease as long as you have a supported Dell laptop. You will also find a 2 ft USB 3.0 cable in the box, which is always handy. And similar to its laptops, this Dell dock also includes a 1-year warranty.
Best Features:
- Includes USB type A, HDMI, DisplayPort, ethernet, audio ports
- Comes with a 2 ft USB 3.0 cable
- Supports triple 4K 60 Hz displays
- Includes a 1-year warranty
Pros:
- Works with three 4K displays at the same time
- Connects even over USB 3.0 for high versatility
- Decent number of USB ports
Our Take: Great option for connecting 3 displays at once along with ethernet and USB devices with ease.
4. Elgato Thunderbolt 3 Pro Dock – With 50 Cm Thunderbolt Cable
While Elgato is primarily a brand of capture cards and streaming devices, it also offers a few high-end, Thunderbolt 3 docks. And in comparison to other options, this one is made for those who want to use multiple USB type C and Thunderbolt 3 devices. This is because you get 2 USB 3.0 Type-A ports, 2 USB 3.0 type C ports, 2 Thunderbolt 3 ports, DisplayPort port, ethernet port, SD card reader, micro SD card reader, and dual 3.5 mm audio jacks for high versatility.
Even though this Thunderbolt 3 is not compact by any means, you do get support for dual 4K displays with it. Another great thing about this Thunderbolt 3 dock is that it includes a 20-inch cable in the box for easy connectivity.
You also get the support for power delivery charging at up to 85 watts with this Thunderbolt 3 dock. Thanks to its sturdy aluminum construction and a 2-year long warranty, you can expect the dock to stay functional for quite a long time.
Best Features:
- Includes USB type A, USB type C, Thunderbolt 3, DisplayPort, Ethernet, SD card reader, micro SD card reader, audio ports
- Comes with a 20-inch Thunderbolt 3 cable
- Supports dual 4K 60 Hz displays
- Offers 85-watt power delivery charging
- Includes a 2-year warranty
Pros:
- Great for using modern USB Type C devices
- Charges your laptop over a single cable
- Sturdy aluminum construction with a long warranty
Our Take: Versatile Thunderbolt 3 dock with power delivery charging and a vast range of USB type C and Thunderbolt 3 ports
5. CalDigit TS3 Plus Thunderbolt 3 Docking Station
When you are talking about Thunderbolt 3 docks and related accessories, CalDigit is most likely the first option that comes to your mind. As for its Thunderbolt 3 dock, it is one of the most versatile options for easily connecting a large number of devices. You can do so using its 5 USB 3.1 Type-A ports, 2 USB 3.1 type C ports, 2 Thunderbolt 3 ports, digital audio port, DisplayPort port, ethernet port, SD card reader, and dual audio ports.
Despite the lack of any HDMI connector on the back, you can still connect dual 4K 60 Hz displays with this Thunderbolt 3 dock. This is possible thanks to its included USB Type C to HDMI adapter. You can also use this Thunderbolt 3 dock to charge your laptop at up to 87 watts via power delivery. And similar to most other Thunderbolt 3 docks, this Caldigit one also includes a 2-year warranty.
Best Features:
- Includes USB type A, USB type C, Thunderbolt 3, HDMI, DisplayPort, Ethernet, SD card reader, digital audio, audio ports
- Comes with a 2.3 ft Thunderbolt 3 cable
- Supports dual 4K 60 Hz displays
- Offers 87-watt power delivery charging
- Includes a 2-year long warranty
Pros:
- Large number of ports of various types
- Comes with a USB type C to HDMI adapter
- Decent charging speeds over power delivery
Our Take: Easily connect a large number of devices with a versatile choice of ports and connectivity options
Buying Guide for the Best Thunderbolt 3 Docks
Many PC users use their laptops on a desk alongside monitors, peripherals, storage devices, and more. While you can connect all of these devices separately, Thunderbolt 3 allows you to connect all of these over a single cable. In order to do this, you will need to get one of the 5 best Thunderbolt 3 docks stated above. You can choose one of these based on these factors:
Ports and Connectivity
When you are buying something like a Thunderbolt 3 dock, you would want to have multiple ports and connectivity options in it to make sure that you can connect all kinds of devices with it. Thus, you should look out for ports like USB type A, USB type C, Thunderbolt 3, HDMI, DisplayPort, SD card reader, ethernet, audio ports, and more. Any dock that offers fast ports with recent port versions is going to be more practical than those with older and slower ports.
Form Factor
You should also check the form factor of your Thunderbolt 3 dock if you are going to use it with your laptop. While most of them are fairly large and made for desk usage, you can also find a few mini docks that can be great for portable usage. Such mini Thunderbolt 3 docks can easily fit in your laptop bag so that you can take them with you.
Thunderbolt 3 Cable
In order to connect your Thunderbolt 3 cable with your laptop, you will also need to use a Thunderbolt 3 cable for the same. As a result, many Thunderbolt 3 docks come with included cables which include both inbuilt cables as well as removable ones for versatility. Although, if your dock doesn’t come one, you also need to consider that as Thunderbolt 3 cables are on the premium side.
Power Delivery
If you are using your laptop all day long, you are also going to need to charge it so that it does not run out of power. And while you can connect your laptop charger, that is not a viable option if you want a single cable connected to your laptop for ease of use. Thus, it is recommended to go with Thunderbolt 3 docks which come with power delivery support. This simply means that they can also charge your laptop over the Thunderbolt 3 connector. You can find power delivery charging speeds of 60 to 100 watts in many models, where a higher charging speed is always better.
Conclusion
A great thing about Thunderbolt 3 is that this single port supports the connection with all sorts of peripherals, storage devices, monitors, networking devices, eGPUs, and much more. But to connect all these various devices, you will need something like the best Thunderbolt 3 docks listed here.
While it may not be affordable, the Plugable Thunderbolt 3 dock is highly versatile. You get a total of 14 ports, including USB type A, USB type C, HDMI, DisplayPort, SD card readers, Ethernet, audio ports, and more. In fact, it even supports 96-watt power delivery charging for a single cable connection to your laptop.
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