Dell laptop docking station buyer’s guide
Best docking station for Dell laptop models, and also those compatible with other brands
This Dell laptop docking station guide will explain all you need to know about docking stations, both Dell made and other brands, and also list the best Dell laptop docking stations currently available on the market. By the end, you should know whether or not you need a docking station for your laptop, if it should be a Dell one, and if so, which model you should buy.
What does a Dell docking station do?
A docking station, whether it’s Dell-made or from a different brand, basically makes using a laptop in an office environment (one in your home or an external place of work) almost as seamless as if you had a desktop already set up. It is a hub that you connect your laptop to, which then branches of other connections to monitor screens and any other peripheral devices you have room for. You can then either use the laptop display in conjunction with the external monitors or close the lid and work as if you were using a desktop PC hooked up to the screens. Some laptops even have their own power supply, meaning you don’t have to plug in your laptop separately. All you have to do is plug in one connection between your laptop and the docking station and you’re all set up, ready to start working.
Our Top Picks
Dell laptop docking station list
In-depth Review
Dell 3100 Ultra HD/4K Triple Display Docking Station
Dell 3100 Ultra HD/4K Triple Display Docking Station
This Dell 3100 Ultra HD/4K docking station might be lacking a USB-C port and additional power supply, but besides that it has a great array of ports and sockets, supporting up to a maximum of three 4K displays via 2x HDMI ports and 1x DisplayPort.
The device also comes with a dedicated 3.5mm audio jack, and is very light and easily portable, as well as being compact and unobtrusive on the desktop.
Dell E-Port Plus Advanced Port Replicator for E Series Latitudes
Dell E-Port Plus Advanced Port Replicator for E Series Latitudes
The Dell E-Port Plus Advanced Port Replicator for E Series Latitudes is a girthy bit of kit, and not as nice to look at compared to some of the newer Dell docking stations on this list, however, what it lacks in aesthetics it makes up for in functionality and value for money, and it’s not even that heavy.
It supports five USB ports in total (2x USB 3.0, 3x USB 2.0) as well a VGA socket, 2x DisplayPort and even 2x DVI-D ports. This is not to mention the whopping number of other peripheral ports available, the RJ-45 Ethernet socket, and the 3.5mm audio jack.
To power all these potential devices, the Dell E-Port Plus Advanced has its own dedicated 240W power supply.
The only real downside of this machine is the relative lack of compatibility with a wide number of laptops. As the name suggests it’s designed with the Dell E Series laptops in mind, though is compatible with a range of others, just not as many as we’d like. Make sure you double-check in the product listing to check if your laptop will work in conjunction.
Dell WD19TB Thunderbolt Docking Station
Dell WD19TB Thunderbolt Docking Station
The Dell WD19TB Thunderbolt Docking Station is a chunky customer. It’s by far the heaviest Dell laptop docking station we have here and is also very expensive, but you do get access to Thunderbolt 3 support. Besides this it has one USB-C 3.1 port as well as a USB-A 3.1 socket, an HDMI port for a monitor with audio out, and a 3.5mm audio/headphone combi-jack.
The power supply supports up to 130W of devices, and you do get a well-built piece of kit for your money.
Dell WD15 4K Monitor Dock
Dell WD15 4K Monitor Dock
The Dell WD15 4K Monitor Dock not only comes with a good array of USB ports, including three USB 3.0 SuperSpeed sockets, two USB 2.0, and one USB-C port, but also has multiple options for 4K monitor output.
The USB-C port also doubles as a Mini DisplayPort connection, though unfortunately this is capped at a 60Hz max refresh rate. Besides this though you get the usual HDMI and VGA ports, which have no such caps, allowing you to support three 4K monitors in total. A RJ-45 Ethernet socket and 3.5mm Audio Jack round off the selection nicely.
You also get 180W to power any external devices, though the downside is that the docking station is by far the heaviest selection on this page, coming in at a whopping 9.48lb. Certainly not easily portable.
Final Word
This has been our Dell laptop docking station guide. We hope that it’s helped you make your choice as to which product is right for you, or at the very least, illuminated the magical world of docking stations that bit more. Do also have a look at our other laptop articles for all brands, including laptop how-to articles.