The best MacBook docking station round-up

Buying a laptop docking station is a lot more straightforward than a MacBook alternative. On one hand, a lot of docks are cross-compatible between Windows and Mac operating systems. On the other, the age of the MacBook and the kind of processing chip it uses may ultimately determine whether you can access the full functionality of a docking station.

In terms of costs, expect to pay under $100 for a cheap docking station. But if you want a Thunderbolt 4 MacBook dock, expect to pay around the $300 mark. For all the bells and whistles of a high-end MacBook dock, you can pay up to around $700. Scroll on for our favourite MacBook docking station picks for Australia.

One of the best MacBook docking stations in Australia is the trickiest to find. Your best bet for nabbing the CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt Dock is the official Apple Store, Amazon or select online retailers. But what you get is an impressive MacBook dock with lots of pros. There are 18 ports, split practically across the front and back of the docking station, which can be stood up or laid flat. Our favourite inclusion is the speedy 2.5Gbps Ethernet port for faster local transfers between compatible devices. For a single external display, the TS4 supports up to an 8K external monitor. Alternatively, connect two 6K external monitors (or lower resolutions). The 98 Watts of power delivery (PD) is enough to keep your MacBook juiced up.

For alternatives, check out the cheaper Plugable TBT4-UD5 below, the OWC Thunderbolt Hub or the Corsair TBT200.

The Plugable USBC-7IN1E is a great place to start if you have an older MacBook or are keen to dip your toe in the docking station waters without spending hundreds of dollars. While that cheaper price does come with compromises, notably a comparatively low seven ports, there’s a lot to like about this Plugable dock beyond its cheap asking price. For starters, the 87W power delivery is enough to charge everything except the most powerful newer-model MacBooks. The selection of ports includes HDMI for an external monitor, USB 3.0- ports, Ethernet as well as an SD and MicroSD card reader. We also like that the USBC-7IN1E is compact enough to be practically portable.

Alternatively, consider the pricier DockCase Visual Smart USB-C 7-in-1 Hub, Mokin ‎MUC503-3301 or Selore UC0513.

If you’re in a home with a mix of Windows laptops and MacBooks, a USB-C docking station is a great choice to support multiple platforms. While there are cheaper options, the Logitech Logi Dock is an impressive product because it’s more than just a typical MacBook docking station. As a dock, you get seven ports on the back, including an impressive 100W of power delivery, which is plenty of juice. But the Logi Dock is also cleverly a speaker and microphone with an eye-catching design. That means better audio playback and clearer comms when you’re in video calls, plus the extra heft should help keep the Logi Dock firmly in place on your desk.

For USB-C MacBook dock alternatives, consider the cheaper Satechi ST-DDSM, Alogic DX3 or the HP USB-C G5 Dock.

For our preferred MacBook Thunderbolt dock, scroll to the top of the page. For a cheaper alternative that should be easier to source in Australia, consider the Plugable TBT4-UD5. This docking station comes with up to 100W of power delivery, plus a healthy selection of ports. Connect multiple external monitors for compatible MacBooks, a range of USB ports with different speeds, SD or MicroSD cards, headphones, and a wired Ethernet cable. The flat design ensures the TBT4-UD5 isn’t taking up too much desk space, plus it’s a good docking station for those who want to alternate between a MacBook and Windows PC for work and play.

Alternatively, pay a bit more for the bulkier Kensington SD5700T or the port-stacked vertical Satechi ST-DT4PMM-AU.

Budget docking stations are typically smaller and easier to take with you, but that doesn’t mean they were necessarily designed with portability in mind. Cue the entry of the Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Mini. The connection cable may be short, but even that’s part of a design that screams mobility. Everything you need is on a smartphone-sized dock you can slip into a bag alongside your MacBook. Connect up to two external monitors, two USB-A devices and a wired Ethernet cable. While it doesn’t have a tonne of ports, this Belkin docking station is clearly built for people who shift their MacBooks between home and work configurations.

Alternatively, save money with the Plugable USBC-7IN1E outlined above or the Wavlink WL-UMD302, or try a pricier option like the Gigimundo LK10.

MacBook docking stations have more disclaimers than PC docks, though there is generally at least partial cross-compatibility between the two. It’s important to note that Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3, USB-C and USB4 ports are identical and relevant devices, including docking stations, should work interchangeably.

But while that’s convenient, it’s not the full story. Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 ports offer up to 40Gbps of bandwidth. For docking stations, that’s not just data transfer, it also potentially impacts the resolution and frame rates of external monitors. This shouldn’t be anything to worry about if your MacBook offers one of these speedier ports, but it is if you’re only using USB-C to connect. Keep an eye out for a lightning-bolt symbol near the ports or text like ‘T4’ to help separate Thunderbolt ports from USB-C.

The other main disclaimer is that the regular versions of M1, M2 and M3 MacBooks only support one extended-mode external display. If you want more than one external monitor on these MacBooks, you may need to use a software workaround like DisplayLink, particularly on USB-C docking stations. Outside of these considerations, consider what you’ll use the MacBook docking station for in terms of ports and whether it needs to be portable to help choose the right one for you. Whichever dock you have in mind, check its compatibility with your MacBook, read reviews and dig into user comments for any reported issues.