Newer MacBooks are sorely lacking in ports, but you can easily upgrade your experience with a full featured and flexible USB-C dock that not only offer more ports but can turn your Macbook into a desktop workstation.
Apple’s decision to switch solely to two or four Thunderbolt 3/USB-C ports (depending on which MacBook Pro you purchase) has meant the removal of the MagSafe 2 charging port, the HDMI port, the standard USB port, and even the humble SD card slot. Whether you used those ports every day or once in awhile, that’s a lot of lost utility there. That’s where buying a separate USB-C dock can help substantially by adding flexibility to your MacBook and how you use it. It’s also a useful alternative to updating all your peripherals to match the Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C format.
The following docks are designed not just to simple add in a few more ports for peripherals but to mate your MacBook Pro to your desk where you can enjoy a host of additional features like: headphone and microphone jacks, extra USB ports, video ports to attach external monitors, and Ethernet connectivity to enjoy the speed and stability of a hard line internet connection. (If you’re just here because you really want a few extra USB ports on your device though, we’ve even included a few hub-style options at the very end that are a lot more budget friendly than a full dock but still quite full featured.)
Elgato Thunderbolt 3 Dock ($289)
The Elgato Thunderbolt 3 Dock is tough and sturdy, with a wealth of options that will turn your laptop into a powerful desktop machine at home.
It includes two Thunderbolt 3 ports, as well as three USB 3.0 ports to cover your most obvious needs. Plugging in your external hard drive just got more straight forward, but so did hooking up a 5K Thunderbolt 3 display. Where the Elgato gets more practical is through its additional slots. There’s a built-in DisplayPort for relevant screen setups, and a Gigabit Ethernet socket too. The latter being a convenient addition after Apple removing Ethernet adaptors from its range for the last few years. There’s also an amplified stereo audio port too, that boosts your sound quality surprisingly well. It’s a great way…
Sasha Harriet
I have a crazy passion for #music, #celebrity #news & #fashion! I'm always out and about on Twitter.
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